Centerpointe Mall

Centerpointe Mall was an enclosed shopping mall located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. It opened in 1967 as Eastbrook Mall, a year before the larger Woodland Mall opened across the street. Demolition of portions of the mall began in 2012.

History

Eastbrook Mall opened in 1967. At the time, it featured approximately 50 stores, with three anchor stores: discount department store chain Woolco anchored the eastern end, while local department stores Wurzburg's and Steketee's anchored the western and northern ends, respectively.^[1] Woolco closed in 1982, later becoming Burlington Coat Factory.

In the 1980s and 1990s, many inline tenants closed, including two of its anchors: Witmark in 1997,^[2] followed by Steketee's three years later.^[3] Lormax Stern acquired the mall from Visser Brothers in 2000, renovating the center and renaming it Centerpointe Mall. Steve & Barry's was added in 2001, followed by several other inline stores such as Lane Bryant. Also, Burlington Coat Factory re-located outside the mall, with its space being converted to Linens 'n Things. A skate park called Modern Skate & Surf opened in the former Witmark, while Steketee's was demolished for Nordstrom Rack and two new mall entrances.^[3] Throughout 2004 and 2005, Old Navy, DSW Shoe Warehouse, and David's Bridal opened as well, taking up space formerly occupied by smaller tenants. In 2006, General Growth Properties assumed leasing of management of the mall, with Lormax Stern retaining ownership.

Redevelopment

Although several new stores were added under Lormax Stern's ownership, most of the smaller inline spaces remained vacant. Because of its low occupancy rate, the mall was slated in mid-2007 to be re-developed as a new shopping center with outdoor, pedestrian-friendly structures.^[4] Nordstrom Rack, Menards, Steve & Barry's and Dunham's Sports would have remained in their existing locations under these plans. while remaining stores would have received new locations within the center. Redevelopment was to have been completed in 2009.^[4] These plans were later canceled, however. In mid-2008, Klingman's relocated to a property in the nearby city of Wyoming, while Linens 'n Things closed its Centerpointe Mall store along with eight other Michigan locations in May,^[5] and was converted to a Jo-Ann Fabrics superstore in 2009. Steve & Barry's closed in late 2008 and became a clothing store called Wear District. Also in 2008, the mall's developers indicated interest in opening office tenants in the mall to fill vacancy.^[6] Modern Skate and Surf closed in November, 2011.

In late 2011, Lormax Stern announced plans to begin converting the mall to a strip mall.^[7] Work began in March 2012.^[8][9] New tenants will include HomeGoods, Rue 21, Ulta (in the former Modern Skate & Surf), The Vitamin Shoppe and Dots Clothing. The existing David's Bridal, Men's Wearhouse, TJ Maxx, and DSW stores were relocated, the replacement TJ Maxx being a larger store combined with HomeGoods.^[9] Menards closed its store at the mall in March 2013.^[10]

References

External links

• Official website