West 95th Street and Quivira Road
Overland Park, Kansas
Greater Kansas City's OAK PARK MALL was developed by a joint venture of Sherman Dreiseszen, Frank Morgan and Kansas City, Missouri-based Copaken, White & Blitt. The 2-level complex, designed by Kansas City, Missouri's Chris Ramos Group Architects & Planners, was built on a 107-acre plot, located 10 miles southwest of the Kansas City, Kansas Central Business District.
The shopping center originally housed four department stores. A 2-level (167,000 square foot) Macy's Kansas City commenced operation on August 7, 1975. A 2-level (157,000 square foot) Montgomery Ward held its grand opening on August 10th. A mall-wide dedication was held on August 28th. A 4-level (205,000 square foot), St. Louis-based Stix, Baer & Fuller welcomed first shoppers on February 19, 1976. J.C. Penney's 2-level (167,800 square foot) store opened for business on October 6, 1976.
Charter OAK PARK MALL tenants included Sir Knight Formal Wear, Forum Cafeteria, Paul Harris ladies' wear, Florsheim Shoes, Zales Jewelers, National Shirt Shops, Musicland, Bakers Shoes, Naturalizer Shoes and Record Bar. The American Multi-Cinema Oak Park Mall 6, in in-mall venue, showed its first features on October 22, 1975.
When fully-realized in 1976, OAK PARK MALL contained 154 stores and services and spanned approximately 1,210,800 leasable square feet. Its interior was decorated in high-end '70s mod fashion. There were two fountains and several plastic sculptures. These were created by Kansas City's Rita Blitt.
Major shopping centers in the OAK PARK trade area included WARD PARKWAY CENTER (1959) {5.9 miles northeast, in Kansas City, Missouri}; METCALF SOUTH CENTER (1967) {2.7 miles east, also in Overland Park}; BANNISTER MALL (1980) {10.2 miles east, in Kansas City, Missouri} and GREAT MALL OF THE GREAT PLAINS (1997) {8.3 miles southwest, in Olathe, Kansas}.
The original cinema at OAK PARK MALL was replaced by the American Multi-Cinema Oak Park Plaza 6. This freestanding venue, built in the mall's southwestern periphery, made its debut on November 1, 1985.
As a result of aggressive acquisitions in the mid-1980s, Dillard's found themselves with two anchor locations at OAK PARK MALL. The first store, originally a Stix, Baer & Fuller, had been rebranded as a Dillard's in April 1985. The second, which had opened as a Macy's Kansas City, received its Dillard's nameplate in March 1986.
A Dillard's "double-header" (perhaps the very first in the nation) was established. The Stix
store became Dillard's South (a men's, children's & home store). Macy's Kansas City morphed into Dillard's North (which sold women's apparel, shoes and cosmetics).
The mall was given a 2 million dollar face lift in the fall of 1993. Its original '70s Mod interior decor was stripped away and replaced with Post-Modern decor. New marble and tile floors, elevators and remodeled exterior entries were installed.
A large-scale expansion got underway 4 years later. The existing Dillard's North was enlarged to 225,900 square feet; J.C. Penney to 217,800. A 2-level Southeast Wing was also added, which was anchored by a 2-level (200,000 square foot) Nordstrom. This store held its grand opening on March 6, 1998.
In all, 362,000 square feet were added to the mall. It now housed approximately 1,554,200 leasable square feet with a retail roster of 185 stores and services. It assumed the position of largest mall in Greater Kansas City.
Montgomery Ward closed in March 2001. The store was totally renovated inside and out. It re-opened, as a Kansas City, Missouri-based Jones Store, on August 14, 2002. Macy's rebranded The Jones Store on September 9, 2006, returning to OAK PARK MALL after a 20-year hiatus. Meanwhile, the complex had been sold to Chattanooga-based CBL & Associates in November 2005. In May 2011, CBL entered into a joint venture with New York City's TIAA-CREF (Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association-College Retirement Equity Fund). TIAA-CREF received a 50 percent share of OAK PARK MALL.
A 1-level (127,200 square foot) Target was built adjacent to the mall's south parking area. It began business, as part of a 60-unit simultaneous Target store dedication, on October 9, 2005. In the 2010s, OAK PARK MALL encompassed approximately 1,607,800 leasable square feet.
The mall was given a 2 million dollar face lift in the fall of 1993. Its original '70s Mod interior decor was stripped away and replaced with Post-Modern decor. New marble and tile floors, elevators and remodeled exterior entries were installed.
A large-scale expansion got underway 4 years later. The existing Dillard's North was enlarged to 225,900 square feet; J.C. Penney to 217,800. A 2-level Southeast Wing was also added, which was anchored by a 2-level (200,000 square foot) Nordstrom. This store held its grand opening on March 6, 1998.
In all, 362,000 square feet were added to the mall. It now housed approximately 1,554,200 leasable square feet with a retail roster of 185 stores and services. It assumed the position of largest mall in Greater Kansas City.
Montgomery Ward closed in March 2001. The store was totally renovated inside and out. It re-opened, as a Kansas City, Missouri-based Jones Store, on August 14, 2002. Macy's rebranded The Jones Store on September 9, 2006, returning to OAK PARK MALL after a 20-year hiatus. Meanwhile, the complex had been sold to Chattanooga-based CBL & Associates in November 2005. In May 2011, CBL entered into a joint venture with New York City's TIAA-CREF (Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association-College Retirement Equity Fund). TIAA-CREF received a 50 percent share of OAK PARK MALL.
A 1-level (127,200 square foot) Target was built adjacent to the mall's south parking area. It began business, as part of a 60-unit simultaneous Target store dedication, on October 9, 2005. In the 2010s, OAK PARK MALL encompassed approximately 1,607,800 leasable square feet.
A face lift of the property got underway in April 2011 and was completed in the following November. This project included new mall entrances, flooring, interior decor, a refurbished Food Court, renovated restrooms, a new mall logo and updated exterior signage.
Sources:
The Kansas City Star
http://companies.jrank.org/pages/1297/Dillard-S-Inc.html
www.cinematreasures.org
http://movie-theatre.org
http://www.thenewoakparkmall.com
https://www.kansascity.com
www.cblproperties.com (CBL & Associates Properties)
http://investors.target.com
"Oak Park Mall" article on Wikipedia
Sources:
The Kansas City Star
http://companies.jrank.org/pages/1297/Dillard-S-Inc.html
www.cinematreasures.org
http://movie-theatre.org
http://www.thenewoakparkmall.com
https://www.kansascity.com
www.cblproperties.com (CBL & Associates Properties)
http://investors.target.com
"Oak Park Mall" article on Wikipedia
