Woodmar Mall
A former enclosed shopping mall in Hammond, Indiana, known for its Carson Pirie Scott anchor and distinctive themed mini-malls.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Woodmar Mall was an enclosed shopping mall in Hammond, Indiana, located on Indianapolis Boulevard between 165th and 167th Streets in the Woodmar neighborhood. Developed by Chicago-based Landau & Heyman on a roughly 20-acre site purchased in 1953, the center opened in early 1954 and became one of the region's early purpose-built suburban shopping destinations. Architect Victor Gruen designed the original complex in a V-shaped configuration, placing a Carson Pirie Scott and Co. department store at the center and arranging smaller retailers around it. The mall opened with eight stores, including J. J. Newberry and National Supermarkets. Fourteen more stores joined the center on May 19, 1954, and Carson's opened on November 1 as the Chicago retailer's first Indiana location. Carson's was central to Woodmar's identity and was expanded in 1964 from approximately 65,000 square feet to 115,000 square feet through the addition of a third floor. The following year, the shopping center was enclosed, reinforcing its role as an all-weather retail destination. Woodmar later experimented with specialty retail formats to make productive use of former anchor space. After J. J. Newberry departed, its former premises were subdivided into a 15-store specialty area called the Court of Lions, which opened in September 1975. Inspired by the Court of the Lions in Granada, Spain, the project reportedly generated substantially more rent and business volume than the former variety-store operation. A second themed mini-mall, the Court of Turtles, opened in 1977 in the former National Supermarkets space. These adaptations reflected the mall's efforts to diversify beyond traditional department-store and supermarket anchors. Plans in the early 1980s to add two more anchor stores were abandoned amid recessionary conditions and high interest rates. Woodmar nevertheless underwent a renovation that began in 1987 and was completed in 1990. A Dominick's grocery store, later associated with the Food 4 Less name, opened on an outlot on the west side of the property in January 1999. Walmart entered the surrounding market on June 14, 2000, adding to the competitive pressure facing the older center. Over time, Woodmar lost traffic to newer and more competitive regional shopping destinations, particularly River Oaks Center in Calumet City, Illinois, and Southlake Mall in Hobart, Indiana. By 2004, fewer than a dozen stores remained open. In February 2006, the mall was slated for demolition, although the Carson's department store was retained as a standalone operation. The former mall site was subsequently selected for public-redevelopment purposes. In June 2016, the Hammond Redevelopment Commission announced plans for a $12 million sports complex. The Hammond Sportsplex & Community Center opened on the site in September 2018. Carson's closed in 2018 during the liquidation of its parent company, and the remaining building was demolished beginning in August 2019. Woodmar Mall therefore survives primarily as a local retail-history reference and through the redevelopment of its former site into a community sports and recreation facility.
History
Woodmar Mall originated with the purchase of a 20-acre parcel in Hammond's Woodmar neighborhood by Chicago developers Landau & Heyman in 1953. They commissioned architect Victor Gruen, a major figure in the development of the modern shopping-mall format, to design the project. Gruen arranged the center in a V-shaped plan with a Carson Pirie Scott and Co. department store positioned at the center. Construction reportedly cost $3 million. The mall opened in early 1954 with eight stores, including J. J. Newberry and National Supermarkets. Fourteen further stores opened on May 19, expanding the center's tenant mix. Carson's opened on November 1, 1954, becoming the Chicago-based retailer's first Indiana location. Its presence gave Woodmar a prominent regional anchor from the beginning. In 1964, Carson's expanded from 65,000 square feet to 115,000 square feet by adding a third floor. Woodmar was enclosed the next year, changing it from an open shopping center into an indoor mall. The center adapted its tenant spaces during the 1970s. When J. J. Newberry left, its former store was converted into the Court of Lions, a 15-store specialty-retail mini-mall that opened in September 1975. The concept took its name and visual inspiration from the Court of the Lions in Granada, Spain. The redevelopment was described as economically successful: it produced several times the rent and business volume of the former variety-store space, and revenue rose markedly during its first several years. In 1977, the former National Supermarkets space was similarly transformed into the Court of Turtles. Woodmar's owners considered adding two more anchor stores in the early 1980s, but recession and high interest rates caused those plans to be cancelled. A major renovation nevertheless began in 1987 and was completed in 1990. Later additions included a Dominick's grocery store on the west-side outlot in January 1999; the store was subsequently associated with the Food 4 Less banner. Walmart opened nearby on June 14, 2000. The mall's long-term decline reflected broader changes in regional retail geography and increasing competition. River Oaks Center in Calumet City, Illinois, and Southlake Mall in Hobart, Indiana, attracted shoppers who had previously supported Woodmar. By 2004, fewer than twelve stores remained. In February 2006, the mall was scheduled for demolition, with the Carson's building preserved temporarily as a separate store. Public redevelopment eventually replaced the retail complex. In June 2016, the Hammond Redevelopment Commission announced plans for a $12 million sports facility. The Hammond Sportsplex & Community Center opened on the former mall site in September 2018. Carson's continued briefly but closed in 2018 during its parent company's liquidation. Demolition of the former Carson's building began in August 2019, completing the physical removal of the original Woodmar Mall complex.
- 2019
Carson's building is demolished
[1]Demolition began on the last remaining building associated with Woodmar Mall.
- 2018
Sportsplex opens and Carson's closes
[1]The Hammond Sportsplex & Community Center opened on the former mall site, while Carson's closed during its parent's liquidation.
- 2006
Main mall is demolished
[1]The enclosed mall was demolished, while the Carson's store was retained.
- 2004
Occupancy reaches a low point
[1]Fewer than a dozen stores reportedly remained open as competition from newer malls intensified.
- 1999
Dominick's opens on the outlot
[1]A grocery store opened on the west side of the property.
- 1987
Renovation begins
[1]A renovation program began and was completed in 1990.
- 1977
Court of Turtles opens
[1]A second themed mini-mall opened in the former supermarket space.
- 1975
Court of Lions opens
[1]The former Newberry space became a 15-store themed specialty-retail area.
- 1965
Mall becomes enclosed
[1]Woodmar was enclosed, creating an indoor shopping environment.
- 1964
Carson's anchor expands
[1]The Carson's store grew from approximately 65,000 to 115,000 square feet through the addition of a third floor.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping center serving Hammond and nearby communities, combining a major department-store anchor with smaller retailers, grocery offerings, and themed specialty-shopping areas.
Product categories. Department-store merchandise · Apparel and accessories · Household goods · Groceries · Specialty retail products · Food and consumer services
Brand decisions
2016
Redevelop the former mall site as a sports complexStrategyBackground
After the retail complex had been removed, Hammond pursued a civic reuse for the property.
Action taken
The Hammond Redevelopment Commission announced plans for a sports complex and community center.
Aftermath
The Hammond Sportsplex & Community Center opened on the site in September 2018.
announced project cost. $12 million (2016 announcement)
2006
Demolish the enclosed mall while retaining Carson'sOtherBackground
Declining occupancy and competition from River Oaks Center and Southlake Mall weakened the original shopping-center format.
Action taken
The main mall was demolished, but the Carson's building remained open as a standalone store.
Aftermath
The remaining Carson's store operated until 2018, after which the building was demolished in 2019.
1977
Create the Court of TurtlesStrategyBackground
The former National Supermarkets space became available for redevelopment.
Action taken
Woodmar introduced a second themed mini-mall called the Court of Turtles.
Aftermath
The project extended the center's specialty-retail strategy, although the available reference does not provide separate performance figures.
1975
Convert former Newberry space into the Court of LionsStrategyBackground
J. J. Newberry's departure left a large former anchor space that needed a new commercial use.
Action taken
The space was subdivided into a 15-store specialty-retail mini-mall inspired by Granada's Court of the Lions.
Aftermath
The concept reportedly generated substantially higher rent and business volume than the former variety-store operation, with revenue increasing during its first several years.
Sources1 sources
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