Colorado's Mile-High metropolis has produced an extraordinarily large number of failed, regional-class shopping malls; fifteen at last count. Fourteen of these complexes are listed as follows, using their original names;

*CHERRY CREEK CENTER [1953-2025]
*UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER [1951-1996]
*LAKESIDE CENTER [1956-2007]
*WESTMINSTER PLAZA [1959-1999]
*WESTLAND CENTER [1960-1993]
*CROSSROADS CENTER [1963-2004]
*BEAR VALLEY CENTER [1966-1998]
*VILLA ITALIA [1966-2001]
*NORTH VALLEY CENTER [1967-1995]
*CINDERELLA CITY [1968-1998]
*NORTHGLENN MALL [1968-1998]
*BUCKINGHAM SQUARE [1971-2007]
*SOUTHGLENN MALL [1974-2006]
*WESTMINSTER MALL [1977-2011]

All have either been completely demolished, or else torn down, leaving a portion -or portions- standing. One contender, NORTH VALLEY CENTER, is still intact, but the mall is no longer used in a retail capacity. THORNTON TOWN CENTER [1989-2004] was demalled into a power center. Its 1989 grand opening date places the complex outside our timeline focus. In order to be inducted into the Mall Hall of Fame, a shopping complex must have been dedicated between the years 1946 and 1979.

Amongst all of the commercial carnage, the first mall-type shopping hub in Denver -and Colorado- endured over the years. Originally known as CHERRY CREEK CENTER -and then CHERRY CREEK WEST- the open-air complex was completed between 1953 and 1956. It became part of the enclosed CHERRY CREEK CENTER mall in 1990.  

In the mid-2020s, the original CHERRY CREEK CENTER was still intact. It had not been drastically renovated and retained its original structural integrity. Unfortunately for posterity, plans were drawn up to demolish the historic structure and replace it with another (yawn) "vibrant mixed-use community." 

This will include leased office spaces, residential components and underground parking. If things go as planned, Phase 1 of the new and improved CHERRY CREEK WEST could be completed in 2029. 

 

Greater Denver's major suburban malls and power centers are shown on this map. The region's Lost Malls are indicated with gray squares, while all other shopping hubs are shown with black squares.

 

The region's first limited access highway, the Sixth Avenue Freeway (US 6), came into being during World War II. The initial segment of the Valley Highway (later incorporated into Interstate 25) opened in the early 1950s. Denver's first shopping malls were not built adjacent to these initial stretches of expressway, although UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER -in the south city-county- was close to a portion of I-25 that was open by 1960. 

Denver's BEAR VALLEY CENTER (1966) was the first freeway friendly shopping mall in -or around- The Mile-High City. Then came Adams County's NORTH VALLEY CENTER, Englewood's CINDERELLA CITY and Adams County's NORTHGLENN, all of which were open by 1968.

The RTD Light Rail system was built to serve Denver and its environs. The first trains on the 5.3- route-mile "Central Corridor" entered revenue service on October 7, 1994. This initial system operated between the 30th & Downing and I-25 & Broadway stations. Expansions opened in 2000, 2002, 2006, 2013, 2016 and 2017. RTD Light Rail now extends for 60.1 route miles and serves fifty-seven stations.

Major light rail-adjacent shopping hubs include PARK MEADOWS MALL and DENVER PAVILIONS. RTD light rail stations are also near CITYCENTER ENGLEWOOD, a redevelopment of CINDERELLA CITY MALL, and WESTLAND TOWNE CENTER, formerly the WESTLAND CENTER mall.  

The RTD Commuter Rail network was inaugurated, with service on the 23.5 route mile A Line, on April 22, 2016. The initial route ran between Denver Union Station and the Denver International Airport. This electric and diesel network was expanded in 2016, 2019 and 2020. It currently extends for 53 route miles and serves twenty-two stations, including a stop at DOWNTOWN WESTMINSTER (a redevelopment of WESTMINSTER MALL).

Denver's Cherry Creek Center

Two complexes vie for  the distinction of Colorado's first shopping mall. The first UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER stores opened in August 1951. However, this first phase was a simple strip-type complex. Tenants in an adjacent open-air mall began business between September 1955 and February 1956. Denver Dry Goods at CHERRY CREEK CENTER was dedicated in October 1953, with the first mall store inaugurated in February 1954.

Graphic from T.H. Buell & Company

CHERRY CREEK CENTER had a functioning anchor department store almost 2 years before one opened at UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER. Also, mall stores at CHERRY CREEK opened months before those at "U-Hills." For these reasons, we conclude that CHERRY CREEK CENTER was the Centennial State's first mall-type shopping center.

Graphic 1 from T.H. Buell & Company

Graphic 2 from Ambrose, Williams & Company

The Denver Dry Goods Company, "Where Denver shops with confidence." The CHERRY CREEK store, which encompassed 93,000 square feet, was the chain's first branch. It opened its doors in October 1953 and was in business until 1987, when it morphed into a May-Daniels & Fisher ("May-D & F").

Colorado's first mall was completed in five phases. As stated, the "Denver Dry" was dedicated in 1953. A Miller's grocery was finished in February 1954. A North Arcade (in black) began opening in November 1954. Stores in the first section of a South Arcade (dark gray) began opening in June 1955. A second section (light gray) began functioning in December 1955. When fully-leased, the 12 million dollar sales mart -not including a shadow anchor Sears- covered around 350,000 leasable square feet. There was free parking for 1,800 autos.

CHERRY CREEK CENTER TENANTS 1956:

DENVER DRY GOODS (with Beauty Salon) / F.W. WOOLWORTH 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) /  MILLER'S supermarket / Allegro Music Shop home electronics & records / Anderson's Toyland / Baur's Restaurant / Bernie Haggard Florist / Cates ladies' wear / Cherry Creek Laundry & Cleaners / Cherry Creek Liquors / Fontius Shoes / Fredlee's Beauty Clinic / Gold Key Gift Shop / Hummel's Delicatessen / Industrial Federal Savings Bank / Ivan's Barber Shop / Junior Bazaar / Komac Paint / Maternity Modes / Mill End Shop / Patrick's Shoes / Pooh Corner Books & Records / Priller's ladies' wear / Rudolph Diamonds / Russell Stover Candies / Seidel's Seafood / Tamac China / Tropic Shop / Walgreen Drug (with Walgreen's Grill) / Young Squire boy's wear 

A logo montage for the "shopping jewel of the west." It consists of trademarks of original stores. All were up and running by late 1956. One might notice the two alpha-numeric phone exchanges. To call Anderson's Toyland, you would have dialed FLorida 5-7318 (or 355-7318). To speak with Portraits by Abdoo, you would have dialed DExter 3-4490 (or 333-4490). Oh yes, you only had to dial seven digits back then. There were no area codes...yet.

 

The original CHERRY CREEK CENTER (in the foreground) only utilized the western portion of a huge site. The 30-acre eastern section lay undeveloped for several years, as T. H. Buell & Company (the mall's developer) attempted an expansion. Permission was finally granted, with the western portion of the site developed between 1963 and 1967. Four freestanding structures were built.

The first eastern section structure was the Luby Building. Center State Bank came next, followed by a combo Safeway supermarket and Skaggs Drug Center. The final east section building was the single-screen Cherry Creek Cinema. With these improvements, the expanded mall site now covered 48.2 acres.  

As stated, an upscale, fully-enclosed mall was built on the eastern section of the site. The original open-air mall had been virtually abandoned for years. In fact, it was supposed to be bulldozed as part of the construction of the new mall, but was granted a stay of execution. In 1995, the complex was renovated, retenanted and renamed CHERRY CREEK WEST. The old Denver Dry now housed Bed, Bath & Beyond.

CHERRY CREEK WEST TENANTS 1995:

BED, BATH & BEYOND / FOLEY'S HOME STORE / Canyon Cafe / Cost Plus World Market / Romano's Macaroni Grill / Tower Records   

The existing Sears across the way was worked into a swanky shopping, residential and office complex. Known as CLAYTON LANE, it was completed in the mid-2000s.
Photo from www.claytonlaneretail.com

Several changes have been made at CHERRY CREEK WEST by 2013. A Foley's Home Furniture store has morphed into a Macy's Home Furniture. Two north block stores have also changed. The CLAYTON LANE Sears is still in operation, but not for long...

CHERRY CREEK WEST stores closed and were not replaced. Plans were drawn up to demolish the structure and replace it with a collection of residential buildings and office towers. Among all of the pre-development hoopla, no one was considering that this facility was Colorado's first shopping mall...and that the historic structure was still in pristine condition. Why couldn't it be left standing and remade into some kind of lifestyle center? 

Photo from Wikipedia / "Button74"

CHERRY CREEK CENTER
East First Avenue And University Boulevard
Denver, Colorado

The Mile High City's first mall-type shopping center was conceived by Temple Hoyne Buell, a Denver-based architect and land speculator. In 1925, he purchased a 48.2-acre parcel, located 3 miles southeast of Denver's Central Business District. The property ran along the north side of Cherry Creek.

Utilized primarily as a gravel pit, the plot included hovel-type homes for workers at a nearby country club. Buell's original intention was to build high-end housing for country club members. A flood in 1933 caused Buell to abandon this plan. He allowed the city to establish a garbage dump on the property.

In 1946, Buell announced plans for COLODEN MOOR, a retail and residential complex. The Cherry Creek dam was being built, which would alleviate flooding problems at the site. The dam was completed in 1950. However, Buell's shopping center plan would face years of delays, due to zoning hassles and problems with the department of highways, who wanted to build an expressway through the parcel.

By 1952, the name of the prospective retail center had morphed into CHERRY CREEK CENTER. Ground was broken at an 18.2-acre section in June. A 3-level (93,000 square foot) Denver Dry Goods, designed by Temple Buell & Company Architects, opened for business on October 12, 1953. Attending the store's dedication were Governor Isaac J. Thornton (R), Charles A. Shinn (board chairman of Denver Dry Goods) and Frank J. Johns (president of Denver Dry Goods). A ceremonial ribbon was cut.

Promoted as the first complete suburban department store between the Mississippi River and Pacific Coast, the CHERRY CREEK "Denver Dry" featured interiors decorated with Sapele mahogany, polished birch and African rosewood. Floors were covered with carpeting woven specifically for the store. The structure had three levels; Lower Main (or basement), Main and Second. All were connected via elevator and escalator.    

Ground was broken for the second CHERRY CREEK CENTER building on May 12, 1953. A (21,000 square foot) Miller's supermarket welcomed first customers on February 22, 1954. Construction commenced on a third CHERRY CREEK structure on December 3, 1953. A North Arcade would house tenants such as Walgreen Drug, Hummel's Delicatessen, Fontius Shoes and Priller's ladies' wear. A 2-level (21,700 square foot) F.W. Woolworth debuted in November 1954. 

A groundbreaking was held for the fourth CHERRY CREEK CENTER structure on August 26, 1954. The South Arcade would house tenants such as Baur's Restaurant, the Tropic Shop, Mill End Shop and Patrick's Shoes. Stores began opening in September 1955. By June 1956, the shopping hub housed thirty stores and services.

In the early 1950s, four city blocks directly north of CHERRY CREEK CENTER had been cleared. A 3-level (133,400 square foot) Sears -and freestanding Auto Center- were built. These opened for business on August 19, 1954. The mall and Sears were connected -via a pedestrian tunnel underneath East First Avenue- in 1955.

CHERRY CREEK CENTER was extended eastward, onto an adjacent 30-acre site, during the 1960s. Four freestanding structures were built. They followed no set plan and there was no architectural unity among them. Ground was broken for the first structure -known as the Luby Building- in October 1963. 

Luby's Cafeteria was scheduled to open for business on September 15, 1964. However, a fire on September 2nd resulted in $450,000 worth of damage. The restaurant was rebuilt and welcomed first diners in 1965. Adjacent Luby Building stores and services included Rudolph's Jewelers and the Chateau de Coiffure beauty salon. Ivan's Barber Shop and Komac Paint had relocated from the open-air mall. Stores commenced operation in 1964 and 1965. 

Center State Bank also relocated from the open-air mall. The new financial institution was completed in November 1964. A Safeway supermarket opened its doors on February 28, 1966. The adjacent General Cinema Corporation Cherry Creek Cinema premiered on February 17, 1967. A second auditorium was added, with the Cherry Creek Cinema I & II being dedicated on October 22, 1976.

Shopping venues in the CHERRY CREEK trade area included UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER (1955) {3.5 miles southeast, in Denver} and LAKESIDE CENTER (1956) {6.7 miles northwest, in Lakeside}. Eventually, there would be larger complexes, such as CINDERELLA CITY (1968) {4.6 miles southwest, in Englewood} and BUCKINGHAM SQUARE (1971) {5 miles southeast, In Aurora). 

CHERRY CREEK CENTER served as a catalyst for commercial development in its area. Temple Buell, under the auspices of Buell Development, proposed a renovation of the property -into a 3 million square foot retail and office complex- in May 1981. A joint venture, between Buell, Chicago-based Jacobs-Kahan & Company and Michigan-based Taubman Centers, was formed. 

 

This redevelopment plan was opposed by the community and City of Denver officials. In the middle of litigation, Jacobs-Kahan was removed from the project. In December 1986, Buell Development and Taubman Centers gained approval to build a fully-enclosed mall. The original, open-air complex was to be demolished as part of the redevelopment, but this didn't happen. In 1987, the freestanding stores and cinema, on the eastern section of the site, were demolished, leaving the open-air mall on the west side of the site intact.

Construction of the enclosed shopping complex got underway soon after. The new mall at CHERRY CREEK CENTER was officially dedicated on August 17, 1990. Its original anchors were May D & F and Saks Fifth Avenue. Neiman Marcus joined the directory in 1991, with Nordstrom opening a store in 2001. May D & F became a Houston-based Foley's in 1993. The store morphed into a Macy's in 2006.

The old open-air complex had been in various stages of abandonment since the late 1970s. Its "Denver Dry" had been rebranded as a May D & F in 1987. This store relocated into the new enclosed mall. In 1995, the original open-air mall was renovated, retenanted and renamed CHERRY CREEK WEST. Stores now fronted toward the outside of the complex, with entries along the central court area being sealed off.

The old Denver Dry-May D & F became a Bed, Bath & Beyond. The north store block now housed Canyon Cafe, Tower Records and Romano's Macaroni Grill. The south block contained a (21,000 square foot) Foley's Home Store, which opened on May 4, 1995, and (17,400 square foot) Cost Plus World Market. This store was dedicated on June 1st of the same year.

In the early 2000s, the circa-1954 Sears (north of CHERRY CREEK WEST) was remodeled and incorporated into a high-end, mixed-use development. Encompassing the entire 9.5-acre Sears site, CLAYTON LANE was built by the Denver-based Nicholas Partnership and dedicated in November 2004.

In addition to Sears, the 700,000 square foot complex included a 4-star J.W. Marriott hotel, Janus Capital World Headquarters office tower and 5-floor luxury condominium. Within its 334,800 square feet of retail were stores such as a (37,100 square foot) Crate & Barrel, (12,300 square foot) Orvis and (53,100 square foot) Whole Foods Market. CLAYTON LANE was acquired by a joint partnership of Stamford, Connecticut-based AmCap, Incorporated and Los Angeles-based Hart Realty Advisors in 2006. 

As for CHERRY CREEK WEST, the Canyon Cafe was replaced by an Elway's steakhouse in the fall of 2004. The Foley's Home Store became a Macy's Home Store in 2006. Tower Records closed in 2007 and re-opened as The Container Store. Romano's Macaroni Grill was shuttered in January 2009, with Brio Tuscan Grill taking its place in the following fall. Cost Plus World Market went dark on February 27, 2013, with The Boulder Running Company opening a store in February 2014.

In December 2020, Taubman Centers merged with the Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group, with CHERRY CREEK CENTER and CHERRY CREEK WEST becoming a Simon-Taubman holding. In late 2021, formal plans were announced for the redevelopment of CHERRY CREEK WEST. A collection of high-rise apartments and office towers will replace the open-air mall, which will be razed. Demolition is scheduled to commence in the fall of 2025.

Sources:

The Denver Post

The Rocky Mountain News Daily (Denver, Colorado)

Cervi's Rocky Mountain Journal (Denver, Colorado)

The East Denver Journal

The Intermountain Jewish News (Denver, Colorado)

The Denver Gazette
http://www.leonardleonard.com / Leonard & Leonard Real Estate
http://ccneighbors.com http://bromwell.dpsk12.org / Denver Public Schools / Bromwell Elementary School website
"The Denver Dry Goods: Where Colorado Shopped With Confidence" / Mark A. Barnhouse

https://history.denverlibrary.org

https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://www.shopcherrycreek.com
http://www.taubman.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
http://www.bizjournals.com
http://www.amcap.com
http://www.futuregringo.com

https://cherrycreekwest.com

Denver's University Hills Center

UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER was built in three phases. The first, which consisted of the strip complex seen here, was dedicated in August 1951. Inline stores included Leenert's Hardware, Dependable Cleaners & Shirt Laundry, a haberdashery (men's furnishings store) and Yarbro Drugs.

Photo from https://www.uhplaza.com / University Hills Plaza

The phase one shopping hub is depicted in this circa-1952 rendering. The locations of all seventeen charter stores are indicated. 

Drawing from Ambrose, Williams & Company

The second construction phase added a Denver-based May Company Colorado. Dedicated in September 1955, it included the Leadville Room, "the city's showplace dining room." A new nameplate appeared in 1958. The May Company Colorado and Daniels & Fisher chains merged and were rebranded  as May-Daniels & Fisher (a.k.a. May-D & F).

 

 

The May-Daniels & Fisher merger looked something like this. 

Graphic 1 and 3 from the May Department Stores Company

Graphic 2 from the Daniels & Fisher Stores Company

As part of its third construction phase, an open-air mall (in gray) was added to UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER. Stores were dedicated between September 1955 and February 1956. When fully-realized, the mall encompassed around 270,000 leasable square feet and housed thirty-four stores and services. Free parking was provided for over 2,000 autos.

UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER TENANTS 1956:

MAY COMPANY (with Beauty Salon, Leadville Room restaurant and shoe repair shop) / HESTED'S 5 & 10 / KING SOOPERS supermaket / Allen's Barber Shop / Althea's ladies' wear / Archer's Photo Studio / Baker's Shoes / Beauty Spot Beauty Shop / Busley's supermarket / Buttons & Bows Children's Shop / Child's Pastry Shop / Colonial Dairy ice cream shop / Cottage Gift Shop / Dave Cook Sporting Goods / Fashion Bar / Gibson Fabric Center / Household Finance Corporation / Howard's Family Shoe Store / Iver's Chow Mein / Ivy Manor restaurant / Larsen's Texaco service station (outparcel) / Lou's Music Box / Manning Haberdashery / Maternity Modes / McKenzie-Thomas gift shop / Mickey's Delicatessen / Mrs. Hurd's Bakery / Mode O' Day Frock Shop / Pat's Popcorn Shop / Phelps Shoe Repair Shop / Russell Stover Candies / Sherwin-Williams Paints / The Boys' Store / Thom McAn Shoes / University Hills Bank / University Hills Cleaners / University Hills Florist / University Hills Hardware / University Hills Liquor Store / Yarbro Drug   

A UNIVERSITY HILLS logo montage is composed of trademarks of stores in business between 1951 and 1990.

 

The shopping complex was enclosed and air-conditioned in 1975 and renamed UNIVERSITY HILLS MALL. When all construction dust settled, the shopping hub housed forty-five stores and services under its new roof.

Meanwhile, a strip-type shopping complex had opened, on a site directly north of UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER, in November 1954. UNIVERSITY HILLS PLAZA featured stores such as Gambles, Miller's Furniture, Luby's Cafeteria and Republic Drugs. The two similarly-named complexes were (and are) often confused with one another.

Photo from https://www.uhplaza.com / University Hills Plaza

May Company Colorado-May D & F anchored U-HILLS for almost thirty-five years. The store moved to the new enclosed mall at CHERRY CREEK CENTER in August 1990, leaving U-HILLS in a downward spiral. The virtually vacant facility had a destiny date with a wrecking ball in 1996.

Graphic from the May Department Stores Company 

U-HILLS MALL was replaced with a 35 million dollar power center. Buildings that were part of the 1951-1996 structure are surrounded in blue. Store space indicated in gray type (i.e., Linens 'n Things) was vacant at the time of this plan. The store space was eventually leased by Michaels.

Original Drawing from www.ddr.com / Developers Diversified Realty

UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER
South Colorado Boulevard and East Yale Avenue, Denver, Colorado

The second mall-type shopping complex in Greater Denver was built to serve as a de facto downtown for the 2,200-unit University Hills housing development. UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER was developed on a 25-acre parcel, once part of Diamond Joe's Ranch. The site was located 9 miles southeast of the Colorado Capitol, in the southern environs of Denver City-County.

Open-air in format, UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER was originally a linear, strip-type complex. It was designed by Denver's Jared Barnett Morse and developed by a joint venture of the May Department Stores Company and Ambrose, Williams & Company. The shopping hub consisted of a single level of retail and eventually encompassed thirty-nine stores and services.

The first operational store, a (12,200 square foot) Busley's supermarket, opened its doors on August 22, 1951. Yarbro Drug welcomed first customers on November 1, 1951, with a (6,900 square foot) Hested's 5 & 10 being dedicated on February 14, 1952. Other charter UNIVERSITY HILLS stores included Leenert's Hardware, Lou's Music Box, and the Beauty Spot Beauty Shop.  

May Company Colorado dedicated a 3-level (110,000 square foot) department store on September 27, 1955. The store exterior featured rose-tan brick, polished travertine limestone, stainless steel and expanses of glass. The interior was done in "pastel color tones."

 

At the same time, an open-air mall was added to the existing strip center. New "On the Mall" stores included Maternity Modes, Gibson Fabric Center, Phelps Shoe Repair and the Colonial Dairy ice cream shop. These were in business by September 1955. A (16,000 square foot) King Soopers supermarket was dedicated in November 1955.

 

In 1957, May Company Colorado merged with the Denver-based Daniels & Fisher Company. Stores, including the UNIVERSITY HILLS operation, came under a newly-created May-D & F brand. On July 26, 1959, a new fourth level opened at the UNIVERSITY HILLS store. It now encompassed 190,000 square feet.

Retail hubs in the vicinity of UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER included UNIVERSITY HILLS PLAZA (1954) {.1 mile north, in Denver}, CHERRY CREEK CENTER (1955) {3.5 miles northwest, in Denver}, UNIVERSITY HILLS SOUTH (1967) {.1 mile south, in Denver}, CINDERELLA CITY (1968) {3 miles southwest, in Englewood}, BUCKINGHAM SQUARE (1971) {4.3 miles northeast, in Aurora} and SOUTHGLENN MALL (1974) {5.1 miles southwest, in Arapahoe County}.

A freestanding movie theater was built across the street from UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER, as part of the UNIVERSITY HILLS SOUTH mini-mall. The Tom Goldfarb-Marvin Davis University Hills 2 premiered on November 3, 1972. It was expanded into the University Hills 3 in the 1980s. Over the ensuing years, the venue was owned and operated by Highland Theatres, Commonwealth Theatres and United Artists. It was re-named, as the Landmark Theatres' Chez Artiste, in 1992.  

 

Meanwhile, a major renovation of UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER had been announced in July 1975. The firm of Seracuse-Lawlor & Partners designed a mall enclosure. Now officially promoted as UNIVERSITY HILLS MALL, the climate-controlled complex was dedicated on November 28, 1975. As part of the grand re-opening festivities, mall officials arrived in a 1922 Rolls Royce. With this renovation, "U-Hills" housed over 40 stores and services. A 5-alarm fire raged through the mall on November 28, 1983, with nearly 50 percent of the facility being damaged. It was rebuilt, and re-opened in August 1984.

The first blow to the longevity of U-HILLS MALL came in August 1990, when May D & F moved into a newly-built, flagship store at the enclosed mall at CHERRY CREEK CENTER. A petition drive was held to try and convince Denver-based Joslins to take over the empty anchor spot at U-HILLS; all to no avail.

The mall continued to founder. In February 1995, an entity known as U-Hills, Incorporated acquired the land the shopping center was built on from St. Louis-based May Centers. Ownership of the mall structure was secured in July 1996. A redevelopment scenario was put in motion by a joint venture of Denver-based Goldberg Property Associates and the Greystone Realty Group.

The shopping center was demolished, leaving only two small outparcels standing. A 229,400 square foot power center was erected. Known as simply UNIVERSITY HILLS, its first phase of stores opened for business on October 1, 1997.

Anchoring the complex was a 1-level (66,000 square foot) King Soopers grocery. Other tenants included a (32,400 square foot) Linens 'n Things, (15,200 square foot) PetSmart and (30,000 square foot) Office Max. A second phase, which included a (9,700 square foot) Ulta Beauty, was dedicated in October 2001. UNIVERSITY HILLS was sold to Beachwood, Ohio-based Developers Diversified Realty in 2003.

Sources:

The Denver Business Journal

The Rocky Mountain News (Denver, Colorado)

Intermountain Jewish News (Denver, Colorado)

National Registry of Historic Places / Multiple Property Documentation Forum / United States Department of the Interior / National Park Service / "Historic Residential Subdivisions of Denver, 1940-1965" / Revised March 1992 and October 2010

https://www.cinematreasures.com
http://www.uhna.com / University Hills Neighborhood Association
http://www.ddr.com / Developers Diversified Realty
http://www.renewdenver.org / Denver Urban Renewal Authority

Greater Denver's Lakeside Center

Mid-Century shoppers peruse two 1959 model Buicks on display in the LAKESIDE CENTER Center Court. The hybrid open-air and enclosed complex was Greater Denver's third mall-type shopping hub.
Photo from http://www.thedepartmentstoremuseum.org / History Colorado Collection

Gerri von Frellick ["fray-lik"] arrived in Denver in 1952. Practically destitute and mired in debt, he went on to establish a mall-building empire. LAKESIDE CENTER was followed by Greater Dallas' BIG TOWN MALL, Amarillo's SUNSET CENTER, San Antonio's WONDERLAND SHOPPING CITY and Boulder's CROSSROADS CENTER. By the late '60s, two more Greater Denver malls had been completed; VILLA ITALIA and CINDERELLA CITY.
Photo from Denver Public Library

In its original state, LAKESIDE CENTER consisted of an open-air Center Court and two enclosed wings. The sole anchor, a branch of the Denver Dry Goods Company (a.k.a. "The Denver"), opened -along with the mall- in August 1956. At this time, the shopping hub covered around 446,700 leasable square feet and housed forty-six tenants. Free parking was provided for 4,500 autos.

LAKESIDE CENTER TENANTS 1956:

THE DENVER (with Beauty Salon, Columbine Room auditorium, Western Shop and Budget Fashion Shop) / F.W. WOOLWORTH 5 & 10 (with luncheonette and bakery) / W.T. GRANT / KING SOOPERS supermarket / Baker's Qualicraft Shoes / Continental Oil Company / Empire Optical / Fashion Bar / Fontius Shoes / Fox's Young Fashions / Gigantic Cleaners / Household Finance Corporation / Ivan's Barber Shop / Kinney Shoes / Komac Paint / Lerner Shops ladies' wear / Luby's Cafeteria / Manfred's Shoe Repair / Maternity Modes / Mill End Shops / Morrow's Nut House / National Shirt Shops / Paul's Jewelry / Richman Brothers men's wear / Russell Stover Candies / Silver State Savings & Loan Association / Skaggs Drug Center / The Country Shop / The Korn Krib / Weiss Bakery / White Spot Restaurant / White's Stores 

A second anchor was added to the mall 2 years later. Dedicated in August 1958, the LAKESIDE Montgomery Ward was the chain's  first shopping mall-format store.
Photo from Montgomery Ward & Company Annual Report 1958

Zooming ahead 25 years, we have a plan of LAKESIDE MALL. There have been many modifications since 1958. The complex was expanded and fully enclosed in 1976-1977 (in gray). Target joined the complex, as a third anchor, in 1983.

An early 2000s view of the Main Entrance of the shopping hub, now officially promoted as LAKESIDE CENTER.
Photo from http://www.ffgeeks.net

An interior view of the West Wing. Back in the day, we would have been looking at a Montgomery Ward main entrance and nameplate. That store space became an Avanza supermarket in March 2002, which was shuttered in late 2006.
Photo from http://www.ffgeeks.net

The CENTER began to decline in the late 1980s. By early 2006, it was virtually vacant. The shopping hub closed for good and was demolished in 2007-2008. A new WalMart SuperCenter opened on the site in January 2013.
Photo from http://www.ffgeeks.net

LAKESIDE CENTER
West 44th Avenue and Harlan Street
Lakeside, Colorado

The story of Greater Denver's third shopping mall begins in 1953. A 66-acre site, along the southern rim of Lake Rhoda, is purchased by Markets, Incorporated, a company operated by Denver entrepreneur Gerri von Frellick ["Fray-lik"] . The plot was located 5.5 miles northwest of Colorado's Capitol, in the city of Lakeside. It was adjacent to the Lakeside Amusement Park and Speedway.

A mall-type facility, tentatively known as LAKESIDE VILLAGE, would be designed by Von Frellick Associates architects and Walter W. Ahlschlager, of Dallas, Texas. The 12 million dollar project would consist of two retail levels; the upper floor, or Mall Level, and partial Lake Level. There would be approximately 446,700 leasable square feet, an open-air Center Court and two enclosed (and climate-controlled) wings. Freight deliveries would be made via underground tunnel.

Construction commenced on July 12, 1955. A 3-level (130,500 square foot) Denver Dry Goods ("The Denver") debuted as part of a mall-wide grand opening. This 3-day celebration was held between August 30 and September 1, 1956. 

 

Present at the dedication were Von Frellick (who served as Master of Ceremonies), Will Richardson (Mayor of Denver), US Senator Byron Giles Rogers (D) and other local dignitaries. Entertainment was provided by Bozo the Clown (of the Ringling Brothers Circus), Al Balater's Band, Kent Bailey's Western Band and The Lakewood Westernairs.   

Among the initial twenty-seven inline stores and services were Russell Stover Candies, Richman Brothers men's wear, White Spot Restaurant, Fashion Bar ladies' wear, Maternity Modes, Luby's Cafeteria, Walgreen Drug, a King Soopers grocery and F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10. 

Ground was broken, on October 3, 1957, for a 2-level (110,000 square foot) Montgomery Ward. The store, added to the west side of the mall, was designed by Bracton & Sutherland, Incorporated, of Denver. An official store dedication was held on August 13, 1958. Cynthia Cullen, "Miss Colorado 1958," cut a ceremonial ribbon. 

On May 26, 1971, the Commonwealth Theatres Lakeside Twin showed its first features. Built as a freestanding venue, it was situated northwest of LAKESIDE CENTER, adjacent to -and west of- the Wheat Ridge-Lakeside corporation line. 

By the mid-1970s, LAKESIDE CENTER was owned by the Denver Real Estate Investment Association. A 3 million dollar renovation commenced in July 1976. Designed by Warren Fleckenger & Associates, Incorporated, of Denver, the project was completed in two phases. Phase One added a 44,000 square foot Lake Level Mall. This was built on the northwest corner of the complex, in the lower level parking lot between the Denver Dry and Montgomery Ward. The Lake Level Mall, which added eleven new stores to the directory, was dedicated on November 18, 1976.

 

Work on Phase Two commenced in February 1977. During this project, the Mall Level was completely enclosed, with additional store space created. The "new" LAKESIDE MALL was dedicated with a 3-day "ribbon breaking/champagne smashing" soiree that began on October 6, 1977. Several Denver professional athletes were on hand for autographs and photos. Music was provided by the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra. 

 

As part of the mall remodeling and expansion, the Montgomery Ward and Denver Dry stores were also refurbished. With these improvements, LAKESIDE MALL encompassed approximately 567,100 leasable square feet and housed sixty stores and services.

The remodeling continued in 1982-1983. A single-level (82,600 square foot) Target was built onto the east end of the mall. Moreover, the 13-bay Lakeside Food Court was installed on the Lake Level. The new food facility featured Chubby's Mexican Food, Kool Bear, Lakeside Burger Hut, Omelette Factory, Phoenix Chinese Express, Scotto's Pizza and Steak Place.

Major shopping hubs in the LAKESIDE trade area included WESTLAND CENTER (1960) {2.4 miles southwest, in Jefferson County-Lakewood}, VILLA ITALIA (1966) {4.7 miles southwest, also in Jefferson County-Lakewood}, NORTH VALLEY CENTER (1967) {6.2 miles northeast, in Adams County-Thornton} and WESTMINSTER MALL (1977) {5.4 miles north, in Westminster}.

LAKESIDE MALL began to decline in 1987, after the February shuttering of Denver Dry Goods. This store space sat unoccupied for several years. The mall was acquired by Denver-based Sevo-Miller, Incorporated in 1992. In 1996, they announced a redevelopment plan. The mall was given a face lift and some of its retail area was leased as office spaces. Its official name reverted back to LAKESIDE CENTER.

In March 2001, the Montgomery Ward chain folded, resulting in another major mall vacancy. This was filled by an Avanza groceteria, which opened for business on May 1, 2002. Around this time, it was decided to market the mall to the area's Latino community. A new moniker was announced, LA PLAZA DE LAKESIDE. However, this new name was never officially adopted.

Denver-based Chandelle Development acquired the mall in January 2006. A redevelopment plan was devised, but details were not made available to the public. In late 2006, the Avanza groceteria at LAKESIDE CENTER was shuttered. The following October, Target moved into a newly-built store in nearby Edgewater, Colorado.

The virtually vacant shopping complex was shuttered and demolished in 2007-2008. The site sat empty for several years with no type of redevelopment plan on the drawing board. In December 2010, it was announced that a 1-level (150,000 square foot) WalMart SuperCenter would be built. A grand opening was held on January 23, 2013.

Sources:

The Denver Post

The Rocky Mountain News (Denver, Colorado)

The Colorado Transcript (Golden, Colorado)

The Westminster Journal (Westminster, Colorado)

https://historicjeffco.files.wordpress.com / "Historically JeffCo" magazine / Jefferson County Historical Commission / 2012

National Registry of Historic Places / Multiple Property Documentation Forum / United States Department of the Interior / National Park Service / "Historic Residential Subdivisions of Denver, 1940-1965" / Revised March 1992 and October 2010

"Life Is A Roller Coaster, A History of Denver's Lakeside Amusement Park" / David Forsyth / 2012

"Dual Anchor Shopping Centers 1952-1965" / Richard Longstreth

http://www.ffgeeks.net / "Future Architect"

Chandelle Development

https://coloradocommunitymedia.com

"Fortress Commerce: Jefferson County Malls" / "Historically JeffCo" magazine / Rosemary Lewis / 2012

Greater Denver's Westland Center

Promoted as "the Downtown of Jefferson County," the original WESTLAND CENTER was located in an unincorporated section of Jefferson County. The area was incorporated, as Jefferson City, in June 1969, with its name changed to Lakewood in November of the same year.

Graphic from May Shopping Centers, Incorporated 

A vintage view of Greater Denver's WESTLAND CENTER. The 8.5 million dollar shopping hub was built in two construction phases, with the first completed in the summer of 1960. 
Photo from http://www.panoramio.com / "Gszendrodi"

The initial WESTLAND mall included a May-D & F anchor store and Safeway supermarket. There were approximately 302,000 leasable square feet, twenty-two stores, and free parking for 4,000 autos. 

 WESTLAND CENTER TENANTS 1960:

MAY D & F (with Lookout Room restaurant, Antoine Beauty Salon and Ski Shop) / SAFEWAY supermarket / S.S. KRESGE 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / Babyland Children's Shops / Baker's Shoes / Bond Clothes / Capitol Laundry & Dry Cleaners / Dave Cook Sporting Goods / Empire Savings Building & Loan Association / Fontius Shoes / Key Rexall Drug / Komac Paint / Lerner Shops ladies' wear / Lowdermilk Bakery  / Mill End Shops / Terner Shops / Thom McAn Shoes / Westland Barber Shop / Westland Flowers & Gifts / Westland Liquors / Westland Optical Company / Vogel's Specialty Shop

A snapshot of an open-air concourse and side entrance of the May-D & F anchor store. 
Photo from Jefferson County Historical Commission 

Sears joined WESTLAND CENTER as part of a second construction phase. The store opened its doors in March 1963.
Photo from Jefferson County Historical Commission  

Second Phase additions to WESTLAND CENTER are shown in shades of gray. In 1967, the shopping complex spanned approximately 434,500 leasable square feet and contained thirty-eight stores. Free parking was provided for 2,700 autos. The open-air mall would re-open, as a fully enclosed facility, in November 1968.

The Westland National Bank tower was built in the mall's south parking area. The building was completed in late 1971.

Drawing from Alan Peterson & Associates architects

The decline of  WESTLAND CENTER was well underway by 1989, when May D & F shuttered their store. The complex was demalled between 1992 and 1994 and renamed WESTLAND TOWN CENTER. Structures once part of the mall are surrounded in blue on this circa-2004 layout.
Original drawing from www.centro.com.au / Centro Properties Group

Sears was the only major structure left standing when the complex was demalled. The store, which anchored the west end of WESTLAND for over 55 years, was shuttered in late 2018.
Photo from www.centro.com.au / Centro Properties Group

A vista view of WESTLAND TOWN CENTER, with the Rocky Mountains looming in the distance.
Photo from http://madisonmarquette.com / Madison Marquette

Greater Denver's RTD light rail system extended service to -and beyond- WESTLAND in April 2013. The new W Line added 12 route miles and eleven station stops to the railway grid. Its Oak station is situated 2 blocks south of the shopping center.

Photo from Wikipedia / "Skyviper73"

WESTLAND CENTER
West Colfax Avenue / US 40 and Miller Street
Jefferson County (Lakewood), Colorado

Plans for Greater Denver's fifth mall-type shopping center were originally proposed in December 1953. A group of investors acquired land for a prospective COLFAX-LAKEWOOD TRADING CENTER, but their plans eventually fell through. 

May Stores Shopping Centers, Incorporated, of Los Angeles, took over the project and announced plans for a WESTLAND CENTER mall in June 1955. Development of the complex was delayed by the merger of the May Company Colorado and Daniels & Fisher chains, in November 1957, and by the completion of the first May-D & F store, in Denver's Courthouse Square. This mercantile opened for business on August 4, 1958.  

 

Ground was finally broken for WESTLAND CENTER on January 5, 1959. Attending the ceremony were Morton D. May (president of May Company), David May II (Executive vice president of May Company), David S. Touff (general manager of May-D & F) and T.W. Henritze (Denver Division manager of Safeway Stores).  

WESTLAND CENTER was developed on 41 acres, located 9.3 miles west of the Colorado Capitol, in an unincorporated section of Jefferson County. The complex was designed by Welton Becket & Associates, of Los Angeles, and Raymond Harry Ervin & Associates, of Denver. The open-air mall, originally encompassing approximately 302,000 leasable square feet, consisted of a main retail level and service basement. 

A (25,000 square foot) Safeway supermarket became the first operational WESTLAND store on May 4, 1960. A (25,000 square foot) S.S. Kresge 5 & 10 debuted on July 14th. It was the Michigan-based chain's first Centennial State store. A 3-level (155,000 square foot), Denver-based May-D & F was dedicated, along with the mall, on August 1, 1960. 

 

The new May-D & F, the chain's fifth location, presented an image of "casually dramatic western beauty." The interior was done in shades of brown, yellow, green and white and was illuminated by a combination of flourescent and incandescent lighting. The store's Victorian-motif Lookout Room restaurant extended from the second floor and straddled the open-air mall below. 

 

Twenty-one stores and services made their debut as part of the August 1st grand opening. These included Capital Dry Cleaners, Thom McAn Shoes, Lerner Shops, Key Rexall Drugs, Fontius Shoes and Babyland Children's Shops.

 

Flower beds along the mall were laid out by John Ratekin, renowned Beverly Hills landscape architect. Flora and fauna included pinon pine, Colorado blue spruce, hackberry, juniper, weeping birch, cut leaf poplar and several varieties of flowering shrubs. In addition, 80 tons of Colorado red rock were used as accents. Mallways were named after the landscaping in their particular garden spots, i.e., Red Rock Gardens, Juniper Court, Birch Way and Lilac Walk. To add ambience, Parisian-style street lamps were installed along the shopping concourse.

 

Ground was broken for a Sears department store and freestanding Auto Center on March 14, 1962. Work got underway on two western store blocks on August 16th. The new Sears and store blocks were designed by the Piel, Slater, Small & Spenst firm, of Denver. The first tenants opened for business on March 7, 1963. The 2-level (86,000 square foot) Sears and (14,000 square foot) Auto Center were dedicated at this time. New inline stores included Zale's Jewelers, Fashion Bar and Luby's Cafeteria. 

 

Now fully-realized, WESTLAND CENTER encompassed approximately 434,500 leasable square feet and contained thirty-seven stores beneath its canopies. A single-screen motion picture venue was built across Colfax Avenue from the mall. The General Cinema Corporation Westland Cinema premiered on July 26, 1967. 

 

Soon after, the concourse at WESTLAND CENTER was enclosed and climate-controlled. A 4-day grand opening celebration for the air-conditioned complex commenced on November 20, 1968. Dedication festivities included hourly turkey give-aways, fashion shows, puppet shows, clown performances and band concerts. Music was provided by the Jack Laetch Trio and Brass Menagerie. 

 

The mall site became part of the newly-formed municipality of Jefferson City in June 1969. In November, a voter referendum changed the name of the newly-formed city to Lakewood. Major shopping hubs in the vicinity included LAKESIDE CENTER (1956) {2.4 miles northeast, in Lakeside} and VILLA ITALIA (1966) {2.1 miles southwest, in Jefferson County (Lakewood)}.

The Westland Cinema was twinned in the early 1980s and sold to Mann Theatres in June 1984. May D & F shuttered their WESTLAND store in February 1989. By this time, the shopping complex was in a downward spiral. A 38 million dollar wrecking ball renovation commenced in late 1992. The mall structure, save for Sears and two peripheral buildings, was bulldozed. 

WESTLAND CENTER was one of nineteen CentreMark properties sold to a joint venture in November 1993. The group included Australia's Westfield, Des Moines' General Growth Properties and New York City's Whitehall Street Real Estate Limited Partnership. The joint venture divided up management of the malls, with Westfield's share including WESTLAND.

A new power center was constructed at the cleared mall site. The complex encompassed 471,000 leasable square feet and contained fifteen store spaces. WESTLAND TOWNE CENTER was anchored by the existing Sears and a 1-level (146,700 square foot) Kmart SuperCenter. This store was dedicated on October 16, 1994. A (71,800 square foot), Omaha-based Gordmans discount outlet began business on October 20th. Inline stores included Alpha Graphics, Dress Barn, GNC, MacFrugal's, Payless ShoeSource and Half Price.

The Oz-based mall owner rebranded the complex as WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN WESTLAND, in November 1998. This was shortened to WESTFIELD WESTLAND in June 2005. The center became a holding of Australia's Centro Property Group in June 2006, with its name reverting back to WESTLAND TOWN CENTER.

By this time, various WESTLAND stores had been rebranded. The Big Kmart was shuttered in 2003, with a Lowe's home improvement center moving in. New inline stores included Dollar Tree and Big Lots. 

The United States holdings of Centro were acquired by New York City-based Blackstone Realty Partners in June 2011. An entity known as the Brixmor Property Group was created in September 2011 to manage the company's retail real estate. Atlanta's RCG Ventures acquired the WESTLAND property in October 2017. Denver-based Argosy Real Estate Partners bought the power center in November 2022.

Meanwhile, WESTLAND had become transit train accessible. On April 26, 2013, revenue service commenced on the Denver RTD's 12.1 route mile Auraria West-to-JeffCo Government Center-Golden "W Line" extension.

Sources:

The Denver Post

The Colorado Transcript (Golden, Colorado)

The Rocky Mountain News (Denver, Colorado)

Cervi's Rocky Mountain Journal (Denver, Colorado)

"Dual Anchor Shopping Centers 1952-1965" / Richard Longstreth

National Registry of Historic Places / Multiple Property Documentation Forum / United States Department of the Interior / National Park Service / "Historic Residential Subdivisions of Denver, 1940-1965" / Revised March 1992 and October 2010

https://digital.denverlibrary.org
Centro Westland, Limited Liability Company
https://adcogov.org / Adams County, Colorado
"Lakewood" / Robert and Kristen Autobee

https://www.cinematreasures.com

https://archives.denverlibrary.org

https://movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest

http://www.costar.com/  News Article / "Australian Firm To Buy a Half Billion in Westfield Malls"
http://madisonmarquette.com  / Madison Marquette
http://www.costar.com / News Article / "Blackstone Closes $9 Billion Purchase of Centro Properties US Assets"
https://historicjeffco.files.wordpress.com / "Historically JeffCo" / Issue 33, 2012 / Jefferson County Historical Commission
http://www.rtd-denver.com / Regional Transportation District

https://argosyrep.com / Argosy Real Estate Partners
"Regional Transportation District" article on Wikipedia