Westroads Mall
An enclosed regional shopping mall at the intersection of 100th and Dodge Streets in Omaha, Nebraska.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Westroads Mall is an enclosed regional shopping center in Omaha, Nebraska, located at the intersection of 100th and Dodge Streets along U.S. Route 6. Opened in 1967, it is described as Nebraska's largest mall and has served as one of the Omaha metropolitan area's principal retail, dining, entertainment, and community destinations for more than five decades. The mall was designed by real-estate developer John Wiebe and initially opened with JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, and the Omaha department-store chain Kilpatrick's as its principal anchors. Kilpatrick's was owned by Younkers and later adopted the Younkers name. J. L. Brandeis and Sons added another department-store presence during the mall's early years, although that location was eventually closed and consolidated into the Younkers operation after Younkers acquired Brandeis. The anchor lineup changed repeatedly as department-store companies consolidated, failed, or repositioned their real-estate portfolios. Westroads expanded and modernized through several renovation programs, including work in 1990, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2013–2014. The 1995 program added a south wing and a Von Maur department store. The 2013–2014 improvements included mall-wide updates, Wi-Fi, and the arrival of H&M. Other significant tenant changes included the replacement of Montgomery Ward by The Jones Store, the later transfer of that space to Younkers, the arrival of Galyan's in 1997, and the conversion of the Galyan's operation to Dick's Sporting Goods after Dick's acquired the chain in 2004. Dining and entertainment have been important parts of the mall's offer. A food court opened in 1991, but in 2015 it was replaced by Flagship Commons, a food-hall concept operated by Flagship Restaurant Group in a different part of the property. The former food-court space subsequently became home to The Container Store, which opened there in 2016. Forever 21 opened a large lower-level store in 2012, while the lower level had previously contained Tilt, a family entertainment center with arcade games and indoor miniature golf. The Cheesecake Factory opened in an adjacent outparcel in 2006. The property has also had a substantial cinema history. Fox Westroads opened in 1967 as a single-screen theater and became the dual-screen Fox Twin in 1976. Six West opened in 1969 and was reported as one of the first six-screen cinema complexes in the United States. The original theaters were later operated by AMC Theatres as Westroads 8 and closed in 1997. A new 14-screen digital multiplex opened in 2008 on the site of the former Kilpatrick's/Younkers space under Rave Motion Pictures; AMC acquired that theater operation in 2013. Ownership has changed over time. Prudential Financial purchased the mall from Wiebe in 1977 for a reported $45 million. General Growth Properties acquired the property in 1997 through a joint ownership structure with Ivanhoe Cambridge, holding 51 percent while Ivanhoe Cambridge held 49 percent. General Growth acquired the remaining interest on April 5, 2012. The supplied reference material does not identify a definitive current owner or operating company, so those fields are left unspecified here. Westroads has also been associated with several serious violent incidents. On December 5, 2007, a mass shooting inside Von Maur killed eight people, including the perpetrator, and injured others. The mall reopened three days later with heightened security, and Von Maur reopened later that month. A memorial to the victims is located inside the department store. Two additional shootings occurred in 2021: an officer was shot during a shoplifting-related detention in March, and a confrontation near JCPenney in April resulted in a fatal shooting. These incidents influenced the property's security history and public identity, although Westroads remains an active retail and leisure complex.
History
Westroads Mall was developed by John Wiebe and opened in 1967 at 100th and Dodge Streets in Omaha, Nebraska. Its original department-store anchors were JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, and Kilpatrick's, a local department-store operation associated with Younkers. The mall became a major enclosed retail destination for the Omaha area and subsequently expanded its tenant mix beyond traditional department stores to include specialty retail, restaurants, entertainment venues, and cinemas. During its early history, J. L. Brandeis and Sons added another department-store location. That store closed in the mid-1980s after Younkers acquired Brandeis, with operations consolidated into the existing Younkers space. Westroads underwent renovations in 1990 and 1995, with the latter project adding a south wing and a Von Maur anchor. Montgomery Ward closed in 1997 and was replaced by The Jones Store. After The Jones Store closed in 2003, Younkers took over the space. Galyan's opened a junior-anchor location in 1997; following Dick's Sporting Goods' acquisition of Galyan's in 2004, the location became associated with Dick's. Prudential Financial purchased Westroads from John Wiebe in 1977 for a reported $45 million. General Growth Properties acquired the mall in 1997 in partnership with Ivanhoe Cambridge. General Growth initially held 51 percent and Ivanhoe Cambridge 49 percent, while General Growth managed the property. On April 5, 2012, General Growth acquired Ivanhoe Cambridge's remaining interest and became the sole owner of the venture described in the reference material. The mall's physical environment continued to evolve through renovations in 1999, 2003, and 2013–2014. The most recent of those programs added H&M and Wi-Fi among other improvements. A food court opened in May 1991. In 2015, it was replaced by Flagship Commons, a food hall operated by Flagship Restaurant Group and positioned elsewhere in the mall. The former food-court site was later redeveloped for The Container Store, which opened in October 2016. The lower level has also hosted large-format specialty retail and entertainment, including Forever 21 and the former Tilt arcade and miniature-golf center. Cinema operations have gone through several generations. Fox Westroads opened in November 1967 as a single-screen theater and became Fox Twin in 1976. Six West, a six-screen theater, opened in 1969 and was reported to be among the earliest six-screen theater complexes in the United States. The two venues were later acquired by AMC and marketed together as Westroads 8; they closed in 1997. In November 2008, Rave Motion Pictures opened a 14-screen digital multiplex on the former Kilpatrick's/Younkers site. AMC acquired the Rave operation in 2013. Westroads experienced a mass shooting on December 5, 2007, inside Von Maur. Eight victims were killed, along with the perpetrator, and the incident became the mall's defining safety-related event. Westroads reopened on December 8 with increased security, and Von Maur reopened on December 20. A memorial honoring victims remains in the store. Two further shootings occurred in 2021. On March 12, an officer was shot during a shoplifting-related detention, survived, and the suspect was later captured. On April 17, gunfire near JCPenney followed a confrontation in line at a pretzel stand; one participant died and the shooter was later convicted. The reference material also reports that Dillard's announced in 2026 that it would relocate its Oak View Mall store to Westroads, with an opening planned for spring 2027. Because that event is future-dated in the supplied material, it is recorded as an announced development rather than a completed opening.
- 2026
Dillard's announces planned relocation
[1]Dillard's announces that its Oak View Mall location is planned to move to Westroads, with an intended spring 2027 opening.
- 2016
The Container Store opens
[1]The Container Store opens in the former food-court location on October 22.
- 2015
Flagship Commons replaces the food court
[1]The original food court is replaced by Flagship Commons, a food-hall concept operated by Flagship Restaurant Group.
- 2013
AMC acquires the Rave cinema operation
[1]AMC Theatres acquires the cinema operation serving the mall.
- 2012
General Growth acquires remaining interest
[1]General Growth Properties acquires Ivanhoe Cambridge's 49 percent interest on April 5.
- 2008
New 14-screen multiplex opens
[1]Rave Motion Pictures opens a digital 14-screen cinema on the site of a former department-store space.
- 1997
General Growth acquires a controlling interest
[1]General Growth Properties acquires Westroads in a venture with Ivanhoe Cambridge, initially holding 51 percent.
- 1995
South wing and Von Maur open
[1]A new south wing expands the mall and introduces a Von Maur department store.
- 1991
Food court opens
[1]The mall opens its first major food court.
- 1977
Prudential purchases the mall
[1]Prudential Financial acquires Westroads from John Wiebe.
Products and positioning
A large regional enclosed shopping mall serving Omaha and the wider eastern Nebraska retail market.
Retail · 1967
Department-store retail
Westroads has historically anchored its offer with large department stores, including JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, Kilpatrick's/Younkers, Von Maur, and Dillard's-related announced plans. These stores provide broad assortments spanning apparel, accessories, beauty, home merchandise, and seasonal goods, while anchor changes reflect long-term consolidation in the American department-store sector.
Retail · 1997
Specialty retail
The mall's specialty-retail mix includes fashion, apparel, home organization, sporting goods, and other category-focused stores. Notable tenants and former tenants mentioned in the source material include H&M, Forever 21, The Container Store, Dick's Sporting Goods, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Galyan's. The mix has changed as individual chains entered, relocated, or closed.
Food hall · 2015
Flagship Commons
Flagship Commons is a food-hall concept introduced in 2015 to replace the mall's earlier food court. It is operated by Flagship Restaurant Group and broadens Westroads' dining offer beyond conventional fast-food court units through a more curated, restaurant-oriented format.
Entertainment · 2008
AMC Theatres multiplex
Westroads' current cinema history derives from the replacement of its original Fox Westroads, Fox Twin, and Six West theaters. Rave Motion Pictures opened a 14-screen digital multiplex in 2008, and AMC acquired that operation in 2013. The cinema forms part of the mall's entertainment-oriented destination offer.
Controversies
2021
Officer shot during mall detention
On March 12, 2021, a police officer was shot after staff and security detained a suspected shoplifter at JCPenney. The officer survived; the suspect was later apprehended and ultimately received a lengthy prison sentence.
2021
Fatal shooting near JCPenney
On April 17, 2021, a confrontation near a pretzel stand escalated into gunfire. One participant was shot twice and later died, while return fire did not strike other people. The shooter was later convicted of second-degree murder.
2007
Westroads Mall mass shooting
On December 5, 2007, a gunman opened fire inside the Von Maur department store, killing eight people before dying by suicide. The mall reopened on December 8 with increased security, and Von Maur reopened on December 20. A memorial to the victims is located in the store.
Brand decisions
2026
Planned Dillard's relocation to WestroadsStrategyBackground
Dillard's announced a plan to move its Oak View Mall location to Westroads.
Action taken
The retailer announced a new Westroads location targeted for opening in spring 2027.
Aftermath
The relocation is reported as planned rather than completed in the supplied reference material.
2015
Replace the conventional food court with Flagship CommonsStrategyBackground
The mall sought to refresh its dining offer and use space more effectively as customer expectations moved toward restaurant-style food halls.
Action taken
The original food court was replaced by Flagship Commons, operated by Flagship Restaurant Group in another part of the mall.
Aftermath
The change repositioned dining as a more prominent destination component of the mall.
2008
Open a new digital multiplexProduct launchBackground
The mall's earlier Fox and Westroads 8 theaters had closed in 1997, leaving an opportunity to restore a large cinema attraction.
Action taken
Rave Motion Pictures opened a 14-screen digital multiplex on the site of the former Kilpatrick's/Younkers store.
Aftermath
AMC later acquired the cinema operation in 2013.
Sources2 sources
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