Northridge Mall (Milwaukee)

This article is about the dead mall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For the mall in Salinas, California, see Northridge Mall.
Northridge Mall
Location Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Opening date 1973
Closing date March 2003
Developer Taubman Centers, Inc.
Total retail floor area 800,000 sq ft (74,322 m2)

Northridge Mall is a defunct shopping mall located in the northern part of Milwaukee, Wisconsin that opened in 1973 and closed in 2003.

History

The Grand Opening occurred in August 1972, three years after its sister mall, Southridge Mall opened in 1970. Both were financed and owned by Senator Herb Kohl and part of the Taubman Centers. Northridge Mall, and nearby Northridge Lakes development, a residential development consisting of a mix of inventive multi-family residences, were never well received by Milwaukee, and nearby Ozaukee County. The pioneering Mall was planned and designed as a regional center, consisting of a two level mall with four anchors: JCPenney, Sears, Boston Store, and Gimbels.

In 1992, Jesse Anderson stabbed his wife to death in the parking lot of the mall. He claimed two black men attacked them and stabbed his wife.[1] Many people attribute this vicious crime to the eventual downfall and closure of Northridge Mall.[1]

Revitalization attempts

The former Sears store was razed, and a Menards home improvement store and Pick 'n Save supermarket occupied the site. Also, a Value City furniture store moved into a portion of the old Boston Store building, but closed in May 2009. The rest of the mall remains vacant.

As of August 2013, William Penzey of Penzeys Spices had announced plans to purchase the mall for use in Penzeys Spices operations.[2] [3] In April 2014, the Chinese investment company, U.S. Toward Enterprise Group Inc, retained ownership by making a last minute payment halting a foreclosure auction that might have allowed Penzeys Spices to take ownership of the property.[4]

In September 2014, Pick n Save has announced their store would be closing 3 Wisconsin locations, including the store at Northridge Mall. After the Pick n Save closed, only a Menards store remained at the site.[5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Inside a ghost mall: Northridge sits quietly, unknown future ahead OnMilwaukee.com
  2. ↑ Vogel Davis, Stacy (May 9, 2013). "City of Milwaukee officials 'thrilled' about pending Northridge purchase". Milwaukee bizjournals.com.
  3. ↑ Daykin, Tom (August 16, 2013). "Penzey Northridge bid advances". Journal Sentinel.
  4. ↑ Gores, Paul (April 11, 2014). "Chinese firm makes payment, blocking Penzeys Spices' plans for former Northridge Mall". Journal Sentinel.
  5. ↑ Bauter, Alison (12 September 2014). "Pick ’n Save closing another blow to Northridge". Milwaukee bizjournals.com.

External links

Coordinates: 43°10′56″N 088°0′36″W / 43.18222°N 88.01000°W