ZCMI Center Mall
A former downtown shopping mall in Salt Lake City, Utah, that operated from 1975 to 2007.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
ZCMI Center Mall was a major downtown shopping complex in Salt Lake City, Utah, operated from 1975 until 2007. It occupied most of the block bounded by Main Street, South Temple, State Street, and 100 South, directly across from Temple Square. The mall was developed and owned by Zions Securities Corporation, a for-profit organization owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its name came from Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution, commonly abbreviated as ZCMI, the department-store organization established by the church in 1868. The mall replaced the historic concentration of ZCMI buildings that had occupied the block for decades. ZCMI had first opened a store on the site in 1876 and gradually expanded into multiple structures. In 1969, the church announced plans for a modern shopping and office complex that would consolidate the department store and introduce a large enclosed retail center to downtown Salt Lake City. Construction began in October 1971. The project was built in stages so that ZCMI could continue operating while its older buildings were removed and replaced. Designed by Gruen Associates, the complex combined retail space, parking, and a 26-story office tower. The historic cast-iron façade associated with the ZCMI store was carefully dismantled, restored, and reconstructed on the front of the new department-store space. The mall opened partially on July 17, 1975, with ZCMI, Joseph Magnin, and Weisfield's Jewelers among the initial tenants. A six-day grand-opening celebration began on September 22, 1975. The northern portion was completed in 1976, with Deseret Book opening in April and the permanent ZCMI store being dedicated in September. At completion, the complex contained approximately 2,000,000 square feet of total space, including about 300,000 square feet of retail area and roughly 60 stores. Its office component was initially associated with Beneficial Life Insurance Company and later carried other names, including the Kennecott Building. The tower housed Beneficial Life, Intermountain Healthcare, Bonneville International, and other tenants. A tunnel under State Street, opened in 1991, connected the mall with parking facilities and exposed archaeological remains associated with Salt Lake City's historic Social Hall. The site subsequently incorporated a small heritage museum. The Park Food Court replaced an open-air plaza in 1992, and the complex later hosted the Utah Museum of Natural History's Titanic exhibition in 2004–2005. ZCMI Center eventually became part of a broader redevelopment strategy for downtown Salt Lake City. The church purchased neighboring Crossroads Plaza in 2003 and initially proposed remodeling both malls. In 2006, it instead announced plans to replace the two properties with one integrated development, City Creek Center. ZCMI's retail stores closed on July 28, 2007; the food court remained open until October 6, 2008. Demolition made way for City Creek Center, which opened on March 22, 2012. The office tower survived and was incorporated into the new development as the KeyBank Tower at City Creek. The former ZCMI store was also remembered for a three-ton chandelier made with Austrian glass and handblown Venetian crystal; after the mall closed, its dismantled components were donated to charitable organizations.
History
The ZCMI Center Mall grew out of the long commercial history of the ZCMI department store. Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution was founded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1868, and the organization opened a consolidated store on the future mall block in 1876. Over time, the store expanded across several buildings, creating an aging and fragmented downtown retail complex. In May 1969, the church announced a plan to replace the older buildings with a modern enclosed mall, a substantially larger ZCMI department store, parking facilities, and an office tower. The project had been under development for approximately a decade. It required the demolition of many existing structures, including the Uptown Theatre and Deseret Book's former headquarters and store. Construction officially began with pile driving on October 12, 1971. The work was staged in sections so the ZCMI department store could continue serving customers: the southern section was constructed first, ZCMI temporarily moved there, and the northern section was then built around the permanent store location. Gruen Associates designed the mall, while Christiansen Brothers Construction and W. W. Clyde managed construction as a joint venture. A significant preservation effort focused on the historic cast-iron façade of the ZCMI store. Rather than discard it, architect Steven T. Baird supervised its disassembly, cleaning, repair, and reconstruction on the face of the new mall store. The completed development opened in stages. Initial public operations began on July 17, 1975, followed by a formal grand opening in September. Deseret Book opened in April 1976, and the permanent ZCMI store was dedicated in September of that year. The completed complex contained approximately two million square feet, although only about 300,000 square feet was dedicated to retail. It included roughly 60 stores, a six-level parking garage, and a 26-story office tower. Beneficial Life Insurance Company purchased the top 20 floors for its headquarters, while other early office tenants included Intermountain Healthcare and Bonneville International. The tower remained after the mall's later demolition and was eventually integrated into City Creek Center as the KeyBank Tower at City Creek. The mall continued to evolve during the 1990s and 2000s. A tunnel under State Street was excavated in 1991 to connect the mall with parking structures. Excavation revealed foundations associated with the historic Social Hall, leading to the creation of the Social Hall Heritage Museum at the tunnel entrance. In 1992, the Park Food Court replaced an open-air plaza near the office tower. The site also hosted the Utah Museum of Natural History's Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition in 2004 and 2005. ZCMI Center's final period was shaped by downtown redevelopment. The church bought Crossroads Plaza in 2003 and initially considered a major renovation of both properties. In October 2006, it announced a different approach: demolishing both malls and creating City Creek Center. ZCMI's retail stores closed on July 28, 2007. The food court operated for more than another year before closing on October 6, 2008. City Creek Center opened on March 22, 2012, occupying the former mall site. The surviving office tower and selected historical elements were incorporated into the new development.
- 2012
City Creek Center opens
[1]The replacement mixed-use shopping center opens on the former ZCMI Center site.
- 2008
Food court closes
[1]The remaining food-court operation closes on October 6.
- 2007
Retail stores close
[1]The final retail stores close on July 28 as the mall gives way to redevelopment.
- 2003
Crossroads Plaza is acquired
[1]The church purchases the neighboring downtown mall, enabling consideration of a unified redevelopment.
- 1992
Park Food Court opens
[1]A food court replaces the open-air plaza around the office tower.
- 1991
State Street tunnel and heritage display are developed
[1]A pedestrian and parking connection is excavated beneath State Street, revealing remains that become part of the Social Hall Heritage Museum.
- 1976
The complex reaches full operation
[1]Deseret Book opens in April and the permanent ZCMI store opens in September.
- 1975
ZCMI Center opens
[1]The first portion opens in July, followed by a formal grand opening in September.
- 1971
Construction begins
[1]Pile driving on October 12 marks the formal beginning of mall construction.
- 1969
Modern mall plans are announced
[1]The church announces plans to replace the aging ZCMI buildings with a large shopping mall and office complex.
Products and positioning
A church-owned, centrally located downtown shopping and mixed-use complex that combined department-store retail, specialty shops, dining, parking, historic architectural elements, and office space near Temple Square.
Department store · 1975
ZCMI department store
The mall's principal anchor was the modern downtown ZCMI department store, successor to the earlier ZCMI buildings that had occupied the block since the nineteenth century. The store provided broad department-store merchandise and incorporated a restored historic cast-iron façade into the mall frontage. ZCMI remained central to the complex's identity until the department-store assets were later associated with Macy's.
Shopping mall tenants · 1975
Specialty retail stores
The completed mall accommodated approximately 60 stores, combining the anchor department store with specialty retailers. Early tenants included Joseph Magnin and Weisfield's Jewelers. The retail mix made the complex a downtown shopping destination serving local residents, office workers, visitors to Temple Square, and regional shoppers.
Food service · 1992
Park Food Court
Opened in 1992, the Park Food Court replaced an open-air plaza near the office tower. It provided a concentrated dining offer for shoppers and office tenants and outlasted the mall's retail stores, remaining open until October 2008 during the transition to the City Creek Center redevelopment.
Mixed-use commercial property · 1975
Office tower
The mall complex included a 26-story office tower with approximately 375,000 square feet of space. Beneficial Life occupied much of the building, which also housed tenants such as Intermountain Healthcare and Bonneville International. The tower survived the mall's demolition and became the KeyBank Tower at City Creek.
Brand decisions
2006
Replace two downtown malls with one integrated developmentStrategyBackground
After acquiring Crossroads Plaza in 2003, the church initially considered remodeling both downtown shopping centers. By 2006, it had chosen a broader redevelopment strategy.
Action taken
The church announced plans to demolish ZCMI Center Mall and Crossroads Plaza and construct City Creek Center in their place.
Aftermath
ZCMI's retail stores closed in 2007, the food court closed in 2008, and City Creek Center opened in 2012. The office tower was retained and incorporated into the new complex.
Sources2 sources
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