Westminster Mall
A former enclosed shopping mall in Westminster, Colorado, that opened in 1977 and was demolished during redevelopment beginning in 2011.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Westminster Mall was an enclosed regional shopping mall in Westminster, Colorado, a suburb northwest of Denver. It opened in 1977 with Joslin's as its principal department-store anchor and approximately 30 other stores. During the 1980s and 1990s, the property expanded substantially, adding new department stores, specialty retailers, a larger food court, restaurants, a cinema, and additional interior circulation. By the late 1990s, the complex had grown to approximately 1.2 million square feet of gross leasable area and was described as one of the largest malls in the Denver metropolitan area. At its peak, the center was notable for having six department-store anchors: Joslin's, May-Daniels & F. (later Foley's and Macy's), Mervyn's, Broadway Southwest, JCPenney, and Montgomery Ward. Sears subsequently replaced Broadway Southwest after that chain's final Colorado store closed. The mall's anchor lineup changed repeatedly as department-store companies consolidated or exited the market. May-Daniels & F. became Foley's in 1993, and Foley's was converted to Macy's in 2006. Joslin's was converted to Dillard's after a 1996 remodeling and a subsequent acquisition of the surrounding property. Broadway Southwest closed in 1996 and was replaced by Sears, which relocated from Northglenn Mall. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001 after the chain's national liquidation, while Mervyn's departed the property in the mid-2000s amid the retailer's broader retrenchment. Macy's closed in early 2009. Fashion Bar, another significant tenant, had already left in 1997. The loss of anchors and other major tenants left Westminster Mall increasingly vacant. By 2009, the center was reported to be only about half occupied. The owners acquired the vacant Mervyn's building in June 2009 as part of a redevelopment effort, but the property's decline continued. In 2011, the City of Westminster was reported to have purchased the mall for redevelopment. Demolition began on June 23, 2011, beginning with the former Macy's building. Dillard's announced its closure in May 2011, and the enclosed mall itself was dismantled in phases. By spring 2012, much of the former complex—including several anchor buildings, restaurants, the cinema, and the remaining mall corridor—had been removed. Sears later announced a closure scheduled for June 2012, and demolition of its building began in August of that year. JCPenney was the last remaining anchor during the final phase. In 2013, Westminster presented plans to transform the former mall site into a new downtown district rather than preserve the declining enclosed-shopping format. The proposed framework contemplated offices, housing, shopping, public parks and plazas, multimodal circulation, transit access, and flexible development over a 20- to 30-year period. Westminster Mall therefore represents both the growth of the suburban department-store mall model in the late twentieth century and the later shift toward mixed-use, transit-oriented redevelopment of aging retail properties.
History
Westminster Mall opened in 1977 in Westminster, Colorado, as an enclosed suburban shopping center anchored by Joslin's and supported by roughly 30 additional stores. The property expanded in stages as Westminster and the surrounding Denver metropolitan area developed. In 1980, a new hallway was constructed to connect the existing mall with a planned May-Daniels & F. department store, bringing the reported store count to approximately 75. A major 1986 expansion added May-Daniels & F., Mervyn's, and Broadway Southwest, together with 112 additional stores and a modernized food court. JCPenney joined the center in 1987, and Montgomery Ward was added in 1996. These projects increased the property to approximately 1.2 million square feet of gross leasable area, making it one of the largest malls in the Denver region. At its height, Westminster Mall was unusual for its concentration of six department-store anchors. The anchor brands changed as the American department-store sector consolidated. May-Daniels & F. became Foley's in 1993. After a 1996 remodeling, Joslin's was converted to Dillard's, which also acquired land around the mall. Broadway Southwest closed in 1996 and was replaced by Sears, which moved from Northglenn Mall. Fashion Bar, a major specialty tenant, closed in 1997. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001 when the national chain ceased operations. Mervyn's closed at the center in 2005 and withdrew from the Colorado market in 2006. Foley's was rebranded as Macy's in September 2006, but Macy's closed the location in early 2009. The departure of these tenants weakened the mall's ability to function as a regional destination. By 2009, the property was reported to be approximately half occupied. The owners purchased the vacant Mervyn's property in June of that year in connection with a redevelopment concept, but the center continued to lose its traditional retail base. In May 2011, reports indicated that the City of Westminster had purchased the mall for redevelopment. Dillard's announced that it would close its store during the second quarter of 2011, and demolition began on June 23, starting with the Macy's building. Demolition continued through 2012. By spring, the former Macy's, Mervyn's, and Montgomery Ward buildings, two restaurants, the cinema, and the remaining enclosed mall corridor had been removed. Dillard's was demolished during the spring, while Sears announced in January that it would close in June as part of a nationwide store-reduction program. The city also confirmed a purchase of Sears Holdings' 7.9-acre parcel for $4.2 million. Sears demolition began in August 2012, leaving JCPenney as the final remaining anchor during the site's transition. On August 27, 2013, Westminster disclosed a framework for a new downtown on the former mall property. The concept replaced the inward-facing enclosed mall with a flexible, mixed-use district containing multistory offices and residences, shopping areas, public parks and plazas, transit access, and multimodal circulation. The plan was presented as a 20- to 30-year development framework, reflecting a broader shift from late-twentieth-century department-store malls toward walkable mixed-use urban redevelopment.
- 2013
New downtown master plan presented
[1]Westminster presents a long-term mixed-use redevelopment framework for the former mall site.
- 2012
Remaining mall structures are dismantled
[1]Sears announces its closure, while demolition removes additional anchors, restaurants, the cinema, and the enclosed mall corridor.
- 2011
City acquisition and demolition begin
[1]The City of Westminster is reported to acquire the property for redevelopment, and demolition begins on June 23.
- 2009
Occupancy falls to about half
[1]After multiple anchor departures, the mall is reported to be only about half occupied.
- 2006
Foley's becomes Macy's
[1]The Foley's anchor is rebranded as Macy's in September.
- 2001
Montgomery Ward closes
[1]The Montgomery Ward anchor closes following the retailer's national exit from the market.
- 1996
Six-anchor era begins
[1]Montgomery Ward is added, while Sears replaces Broadway Southwest after that chain closes its final store; the mall reaches approximately 1.2 million square feet.
- 1993
May-Daniels & F. becomes Foley's
[1]The May-Daniels & F. department-store location is converted to Foley's.
- 1987
JCPenney joins the center
[1]JCPenney becomes an additional department-store anchor.
- 1986
Major expansion completed
[1]The mall adds three department stores, 112 stores, and a modern food court.
Products and positioning
A large suburban regional shopping center serving Westminster and the Denver metropolitan area, later characterized by declining occupancy and redevelopment as a mixed-use downtown site.
Retail property · 1977
Enclosed regional shopping center
The core offering was a large enclosed retail environment serving Westminster and the greater Denver metropolitan area. It combined department stores with specialty shops, interior pedestrian corridors, dining, and entertainment. At its largest reported scale, the property contained approximately 1.2 million square feet of gross leasable area and functioned as a regional rather than purely neighborhood shopping destination.
Department stores · 1977
Department-store anchor portfolio
Westminster Mall's anchor portfolio changed over time and included Joslin's, Dillard's, May-Daniels & F., Foley's, Macy's, Mervyn's, Broadway Southwest, Sears, JCPenney, and Montgomery Ward. The mall reached a peak configuration of six department-store anchors, a major component of its regional draw and its later exposure to retail-sector consolidation.
Food and beverage · 1986
Food court and dining
The 1986 expansion introduced a modern food court, complementing restaurants located at or near the mall. Formerly associated dining venues included Trail Dust Steakhouse and Steak & Ale. These food-service components were removed during the property's later demolition.
Entertainment
Cinema and entertainment
The mall included a movie theater that provided an entertainment component alongside retail and dining. The cinema was demolished during the spring 2012 phase of site clearance.
Brand decisions
2013
Master plan for a new downtownStrategyBackground
After the enclosed mall's decline and demolition, Westminster sought a new long-term use for the centrally located property.
Action taken
The city presented a framework for offices, residences, shopping areas, parks, plazas, transit access, and multimodal circulation.
Aftermath
The former mall site was repositioned as a 20- to 30-year mixed-use downtown redevelopment area.
2012
Purchase of Sears parcelOtherBackground
Sears announced that its Westminster location would close as part of a nationwide plan to close 81 stores, leaving JCPenney as the only remaining anchor.
Action taken
The City of Westminster confirmed a purchase of the 7.9-acre Sears Holdings parcel for $4.2 million.
Aftermath
Sears demolition began in August 2012, enabling the site to be incorporated into the city's longer-term redevelopment plans.
Purchase price. $4.2 million (January 24, 2012)
2011
City-led purchase and demolitionStrategyBackground
Persistent vacancy and the loss of department-store anchors made continued operation of the enclosed mall increasingly difficult.
Action taken
The City of Westminster was reported to have purchased the mall for redevelopment, and demolition began in June 2011.
Aftermath
The enclosed mall was dismantled in phases, with most buildings and interior retail circulation removed by 2012.
2009
Acquisition of the vacant Mervyn's property for redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The mall had lost several major tenants and was reported to be approximately half occupied. The owners pursued control of the vacant Mervyn's building as part of a redevelopment effort.
Action taken
The owners purchased the vacant Mervyn's property in June 2009.
Aftermath
The acquisition did not reverse the center's decline; the city later moved toward purchasing and demolishing the mall for a broader mixed-use redevelopment.
Recent events
- 2013
Westminster presents a mixed-use downtown concept for the mall site[1]
Other
The city outlined a long-term plan involving offices, residences, retail, public spaces, parks, plazas, and multimodal transportation connections.
- 2011
City purchase and redevelopment plans reported for former mall site[1]
M&A
The City of Westminster was reported to have purchased the mall for redevelopment, with demolition beginning in June.
- 2006
Foley's location is rebranded as Macy's[1]
M&A · Leadership change
The former Foley's anchor was converted to Macy's as part of the broader consolidation of department-store banners.
- 1996
Westminster Mall reaches a six-anchor department-store lineup[1]
Other
Following the addition of Montgomery Ward and the replacement of Broadway Southwest by Sears, the property became one of the Denver area's largest malls and had six department-store anchors.
- 1986
Major expansion adds department stores and more than 100 stores[1]
Other
An expansion added May-Daniels & F., Mervyn's, Broadway Southwest, a larger food court, and 112 additional stores, significantly increasing the mall's regional scale.
- 1977
Westminster Mall opens with Joslin's and approximately 30 other stores[1]
Other
The enclosed mall opened in Westminster, Colorado, establishing a regional retail center anchored by Joslin's.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/westminster-mall · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled