South University and East Arapahoe Boulevards
Arapahoe County (Centennial), Colorado
The thirteenth shopping mall in Greater Denver was developed by Jordan Perlmutter, under the auspices of Perl-Mack Enterprises. After getting the gargantuan Northglenn housing plat, in Adams County, underway, Perl-Mack refocused on Denver's southeastern hinterlands in 1961. A 1,600-home plat was begun, which was promoted as Southglenn.
In September 1972, plans for SOUTHGLENN MALL were made public. The fully-enclosed facility would serve as the commercial center of the 650-acre subdivision. By November 1973, construction was underway at a 77-acre plot, located 18.8 miles southeast of the Colorado State House, in unincorporated Arapahoe County. The mall-to-be was designed by Denver's Warren A. Flickinger & Associates.
One of the first operational stores, a 1-level (150,000 square foot) Sears, began business on July 25, 1974. A 2-level (123,000 square foot) Denver Dry Goods ("The Denver") welcomed first shoppers on August 13, 1974. Also anchoring the complex was a 1-level (160,000 square foot), Denver-based May D & F.
The 40 million dollar SOUTHGLENN MALL was dedicated, with seventeen stores, on August 15, 1974. The 700,000 square foot complex consisted of a 2-level middle section, with single-level wings extending toward the north and south. Charter tenants included Fashion Bar, Tie Bar, Dave Cook Sporting Goods, Walgreen Drug, Perkins-Shearer apparel, Edison Brothers and Neusteters II. The General Cinema Corporation Southglenn Cinema I-II-III was built as a northwestern outparcel of the mall. The theater opened for business on December 18, 1974.
For its first 9 years, SOUTHGLENN was the only major retail facility in its trade area. SOUTHWEST PLAZA {6.9 miles northwest, in Jefferson County} was completed in February 1983. This complex was also developed by Perl-Mack Enterprises.
The first anchor rebranding at SOUTHGLENN transpired after "The Denver" was shuttered, on April 30, 1987. The store re-opened as a J.C. Penney. A mall-wide interior face lift was done in 1987-1988. During this project, the Colorado Health Department found asbestos in the ceiling of the South Wing. The mall was closed as an abatement was completed.
A second mall expansion was done in the early 1990s. May D & F morphed into a Houston-based Foley's on May 2, 1993. The store was expanded with a new exterior facade. In August 1993, construction began on a 2-level (160,000 square foot), Denver-based Joslins. This store was added at the mall's Main Entrance.
The new Joslins was dedicated in October 1994, expanding the gross leasable area of the mall to approximately 936,000 leasable square feet. Within less than 2 years, the shopping hub would encounter a formidable competitor. PARK MEADOWS MALL {4.7 miles southeast, in Douglas County} opened in August 1996 and was soon siphoning trade from SOUTHGLENN. Joslins' SOUTHGLENN store lasted a little more than 4 years. The chain was rebranded by Dillard's in 1999. Around this time, the SOUTHGLENN Penney's was demoted to a Home Store, with the full-line operation moving to PARK MEADOWS MALL.
A local referendum was held in September of the year 2000. Area citizens voted to form a city, which would be known as Centennial. The name was a homage to Colorado, the "Centennial State," which had been admitted into the Union in 1876, the centennial year of the Declaration of Independence. The new City of Centennial took in SOUTHGLENN MALL and its environs.
A small-scale renovation was done in 2001. Unfortunately, the SOUTHGLENN property was in a downward spiral. Penney's closed its Home Store in June 2002. In September 2005, a redevelopment scenario was announced by a joint venture of Greenwood Village, Colorado-based Alberta Development Partners and Chicago-based Walton Street Capital.
The mall was to be torn down. Its Foley's and Sears would be spared and worked into a mixed-use lifestyle center project known as THE STREETS AT SOUTHGLENN. A commemoration of SOUTHGLENN MALL, and its service to the community, was held February 28, 2006. The mall and its Dillard's then closed for good.
Bulldozing began in June 2006. Foley's remained in business and was rebranded as a Macy's on September 9th. Sears also kept its doors open through the massive redevelopment that was to take place over the next 3 years.
The first new store, a (31,000 square foot) Best Buy, held its grand opening July 17, 2008. A (58,000 square foot) Whole Foods Market began business June 15, 2009. THE STREETS AT SOUTHGLENN was officially dedicated August 28, 2009. Stores and services opening for business on this day included Dick's Sporting Goods, Staples, Macy's Furniture Gallery, Chrysalis Eco Boutique, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Mattress King and Fire Bowl Cafe.
One of the final tenants to commence operation was the Hollywood Cinemas SouthGlenn Stadium 14, which showed first features on November 20, 2009. The remainder of the complex was completed during 2011. It now housed 916,600 leasable square square feet of retail, 140,000 square feet of office space and 202 "luxury apartment homes."
Sources:
The Denver Post
A local referendum was held in September of the year 2000. Area citizens voted to form a city, which would be known as Centennial. The name was a homage to Colorado, the "Centennial State," which had been admitted into the Union in 1876, the centennial year of the Declaration of Independence. The new City of Centennial took in SOUTHGLENN MALL and its environs.
A small-scale renovation was done in 2001. Unfortunately, the SOUTHGLENN property was in a downward spiral. Penney's closed its Home Store in June 2002. In September 2005, a redevelopment scenario was announced by a joint venture of Greenwood Village, Colorado-based Alberta Development Partners and Chicago-based Walton Street Capital.
The mall was to be torn down. Its Foley's and Sears would be spared and worked into a mixed-use lifestyle center project known as THE STREETS AT SOUTHGLENN. A commemoration of SOUTHGLENN MALL, and its service to the community, was held February 28, 2006. The mall and its Dillard's then closed for good.
Bulldozing began in June 2006. Foley's remained in business and was rebranded as a Macy's on September 9th. Sears also kept its doors open through the massive redevelopment that was to take place over the next 3 years.
The first new store, a (31,000 square foot) Best Buy, held its grand opening July 17, 2008. A (58,000 square foot) Whole Foods Market began business June 15, 2009. THE STREETS AT SOUTHGLENN was officially dedicated August 28, 2009. Stores and services opening for business on this day included Dick's Sporting Goods, Staples, Macy's Furniture Gallery, Chrysalis Eco Boutique, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Mattress King and Fire Bowl Cafe.
One of the final tenants to commence operation was the Hollywood Cinemas SouthGlenn Stadium 14, which showed first features on November 20, 2009. The remainder of the complex was completed during 2011. It now housed 916,600 leasable square square feet of retail, 140,000 square feet of office space and 202 "luxury apartment homes."
Sources:
The Denver Post
The Douglas County News-Press (Castle Rock, Colorado)
City Of Centennial, Colorado
http://www.shopsouthglenn.com
"The Denver Dry Goods: Where Colorado Shopped With Confidence" / Mark A. Barnhouse
"Southglenn Mall" and "Centennial, Colorado" articles on Wikipedia
http://www.shopsouthglenn.com
"The Denver Dry Goods: Where Colorado Shopped With Confidence" / Mark A. Barnhouse
http://www.albdev.com / Alberta Development Partners
http://www.waltonst.com / Walton Street Capital"Southglenn Mall" and "Centennial, Colorado" articles on Wikipedia
