State Street / US 83 and Gateway Avenue
Bismarck, North Dakota
A proposal for a North Bismarck shopping mall was first announced in August 1968. Denver's Century 21 Corporation planned for eight regional-class complexes; these to be built in North Dakota, South Dakota and Colorado. Each shopping hub would be named CENTURY 21 MALL.
By March 1970, a 45-acre site, located 1 mile north of the North Dakota State House, had been acquired. The Bismarck CENTURY 21 MALL story ends here. Plans for seven CENTURY 21 MALL complexes were quietly abandoned. Fort Collins, Colorado's UNIVERSITY PLAZA had been renamed CENTURY 21 MALL in June 1970. It was the only CENTURY 21 MALL to ever see fruition.
Bismarck's Kavaney family acquired the North Bismarck mall site. Initial planning for a GATEWAY MALL got underway in 1973. A joint venture was formed between North Bismarck Associates (the Kavaney Family) and the Decom Corporation, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Designing the mall-to-be were Ralph Shimer {of Minneapolis} and Mastney Associates {of Minnetonka, Minnesota}.
GATEWAY MALL would be fully-enclosed and span approximately 320,000 leasable square feet. There would eventually be fifty-two tenants. Construction commenced on June 29, 1978. The first operational store, a (16,300 square foot) Osco Drug, opened its doors on May 7, 1979.
The 8 million dollar mall was officially dedicated on September 12th, with thirty operational stores. North Dakota Governor Arthur Albert Link (D) was on hand to cut a ceremonial ribbon. Eugene Leary (Mayor of Bismarck) was also in attendance. A 1-level (44,200 square foot), Bismarck-based A.W. Lucas department store began business on August 15, 1979. Sears' 1-level (83,700 square foot) unit was dedicated on October 3rd.
The last of three original anchors, a 1-level (70,800 square foot), Jamestown, North Dakota-based White Mart, opened on February 28, 1980. Charter inline stores at GATEWAY MALL included Desmonds men's wear, Orange Julius, Jo-Ann Fabrics, Musicland and Stevensons ladies wear.
GATEWAY MALL struggled to compete with its larger rival, KIRKWOOD PLAZA (1970) {2.5 miles south, in Bismarck}. The city's original mall, NORTHBROOK CENTER (1963) {.8 mile southwest, also in Bismarck}, was a small, community-class complex. Hence, it provided no competition for either of the city's regional-class venues.
The Midcontinent Theatres Gateway 3 was added to the back of GATEWAY MALL. Its first features were shown on June 28, 1985. The multiplex was expanded, into the Midco 8, which opened on June 29, 1994. With these enlargements, the shopping hub encompassed approximately 346,500 leasable square feet.
A.W. Lucas, the center anchor, had closed in June 1982 and been replaced by a Moorhead, Minnesota-based Eckstein's Department Store on October 4th. St. Cloud, Minnesota-based Herberger's rebranded the store on October 26, 1983. It was shuttered in January 1994.
The building was leased to a Minneapolis-based Jacob's Trading Company, who welcomed shoppers in July 1995. The store morphed into World's Greatest Deals in September 1996, which pulled up stakes in August 1999. Conlin's Furniture Outlet occupied the space between 2004 and 2009. Famous Labels was in operation between 2010 and 2012. In August 2015, Harbor Freight & Tools was launched.
White Mart, which occupied the northeast corner of the mall, was shuttered in the fall of 1986. The store was expanded into adjoining space and opened, as an Eau Claire, Wisconsin-based Menards, on December 8, 1987. This home improvement center relocated away from GATEWAY MALL in February 2000.
The vacant space was reconfigured. The Mid Dakota Clinic PrimeCare Medical Mall was dedicated in September 2001. The remaining space was filled by Hancock Fabrics in late 2003. Meanwhile, the MidCo 8 multiplex had been acquired and rebranded, as the Carmike 8 Theatre, in September 1995.
GATEWAY MALL changed hands three times between 2003 and 2006. In January 2003, the shopping facility was acquired by Santa Ana, California-based Triple Net Properties. After only 1 year, they sold the complex to Utah's VP Investments. The final purchase was made in May 2006 by Encino, California-based Raymond Arjmand.
The mall's new owner embarked on a 10 million dollar renovation in mid-2006. A Food Court, on the northeast side of the complex, was moved to the southwest corner, adjacent to Sears. It was also speculated that a new Macy's would be built adjacent to the old Food Court area, This never panned out.
As a facet of the remodeling, the name of the shopping hub was changed to GATEWAY FASHION MALL in November 2006. By this time, the retail hub was enjoying full occupancy for the first time in several years. Unfortunately, this surge of commerce was short-lived. Within 3 years, vacancies were -once again- piling up.
As a facet of the remodeling, the name of the shopping hub was changed to GATEWAY FASHION MALL in November 2006. By this time, the retail hub was enjoying full occupancy for the first time in several years. Unfortunately, this surge of commerce was short-lived. Within 3 years, vacancies were -once again- piling up.
A freestanding (6,100 square foot) LongHorn Steakhouse was built in the south parking area and served first meals in November 2015. The official name of the shopping complex was changed back to GATEWAY MALL in February 2017. The multiplex cinema was rebranded, as the AMC Classic Bismarck 8, in March of the same year.
Hancock Fabrics shut down and was followed by a Planet Fitness gym, which commenced operation in June 2018. The 39-year-old Sears went dark in April 2018. The AMC Classic Bismarck 8 became a casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic. The venue shut down in March 2020. In August, it was announced that the theater would not be re-opening.
Sources:
The Bismarck Tribune
https://www.bismarckcafe.com / Randy Hoffman
Comment by Justin S., former Bismarck resident and employee of the mall
http://www.gatewayfashionmall.com
http://www.gatewaymallbismarck.com
www.cinematreasures.org
Burleigh County, North Dakota Tax Assessor website
Burleigh County, North Dakota Tax Assessor website
"Gateway Mall" article on Wikipedia
