North Academy Boulevard and East Platte Avenue / US 24
Colorado Springs, Colorado
The first interior mall in -or around- The Springs was developed by a joint venture of JCP Realty, Associated Dry Goods and Des Moines-based General Growth Management. THE CITADEL was built on a 64.9-acre plot, located 2.9 miles northeast of the Colorado Springs Central Business District.
Encompassing 2 levels and approximately 594,800 leasable square feet, THE CITADEL was designed by Kansas City, Missouri's Chris Ramos Group Architects & Planners and Carlisle B. Guy, of Colorado Springs. Anchoring the mall's south end was a 3-level (224,800 square foot) J.C. Penney. On the north was a 2-level (110,000 square foot) Denver Dry Goods ("The Denver"). These stores held grand openings on February 2, 1972.
A mall-wide dedication -with sixty operational stores- took place on March 1, 1972. Diane Knaub, "Miss Colorado 1972," cut a ceremonial ribbon. Music was provided by the Air Force Academy Drum & Bugle Corps.
Charter inline stores included Baker's Qualicraft Shoes, Parklane Hosiery, National Shirt Shops, Conrad's Fabrics, The Record Shop, Singer Sewing Center, Helzberg Diamonds, Walgreen Drug, a (14,000 square foot) Fashion Bar and 2-level (25,000 square foot) Kaufman's apparel. The in-mall General Cinema Corporation Citadel Cinema I & II showed its first features on July 21, 1972.
The original shopping hub was designed using aspects of the Mayan and Aztec cultures. Mall courts were decorated with Pre-Columbian-style artwork. This aesthetic carried over to exterior spaces. The east entrance was flanked by The Court Of The Waters, which featured fountains and reflecting pools. At the west entrance, The Court Of The Sun displayed various sun-motif abstract sculpture. There were also courts outside the J.C. Penney and Denver Dry stores.
Early commercial competitors of THE CITADEL were all located within the corporate limits of Colorado Springs. These included SOUTHGATE CENTER (1959) {4 miles southwest}, THE SHOPS AT THE BLUFFS (1975) {3.2 miles north} and CHAPEL HILLS MALL (1982) {7.1 miles northwest}.
As a keeping up measure, THE CITADEL site was expanded westward in the mid-1980s, taking in most of an original 140-acre plot. A 2-level (195,000 square foot), Denver-based May D & F was built as a third anchor, presiding over a 2-level extension of the West Wing. This store held its grand opening in 1984.
When all construction was completed, the shopping center encompassed approximately 910,700 leasable square feet, with a retail roster of over 120 stores and services. A prototype Record Bar was one of the new West Wing tenants, as was a 14-bay Food Court. The Citadel 6 multiplex was also built, as a southeastern outparcel.
3 years later, Denver Dry Goods was absorbed by May D & F. Whereas this chain already operated a location at THE CITADEL, the old "The Denver" store was shuttered in February 1987 and sold. Hayward, California-based Mervyn's retenanted the space. The next department store change was completed May 2, 1993, when May D & F at THE CITADEL was rebranded by Houston-based Foley's.
A 25 million dollar mall expansion and renovation got underway in late 1994. A 3-level (183,000 square foot) Dillard's was built. This store's grand opening took place on August 23, 1995. The in-mall Citadel Cinemas I-II-III had closed in 1993 and been replaced by new Eddie Bauer, Victoria's Secret and Natural Wonders stores. THE CITADEL mall now encompassed approximately 1,093,700 leasable square feet. Santa Monica, California's Macerich Company acquired the shopping hub in December 1997.
Meanwhile, retail rivalry in Colorado Springs had intensified. CITADEL CROSSING (1988) was built across the boulevard from THE CITADEL. Next came the first phase of BROADMOOR TOWNE CENTER (2002) {4.1 miles southwest, in Colorado Springs}. Eventually, the old SOUTHGATE CENTER was thoroughly remodeled and incorporated as a second phase of this open-air plaza.
Retail development in The Springs continued with SHOPS AT BRIARGATE (2003) {8.3 miles northwest, also in Colorado Springs}. Lastly, THE SHOPS AT THE BLUFFS was partially demolished and repositioned as MARKETPLACE AT AUSTIN BLUFFS (2008).
Springdale, Arkansas-based Midwest Mall Properties acquired three malls from Macerich in December 2006. These were CROSSROADS MALL (1974) {Oklahoma City}, NORTHWEST ARKANSAS MALL (1972) {Fayetteville, Arkansas} and THE CITADEL.
THE CITADEL Mervyn's had been shuttered on January 21, 2006. The space re-opened, as a Burlington Coat Factory, on March 5, 2007. Steve & Barry's University Sportswear had a brief stint at the shopping center between November 2005 and January 2009. Macy's rebranded the mall's west anchor on September 6, 2006 and ended up closing for good in March 2009. The vacant building was sold to Odessa, Texas' ICA Properties in July 2010, who flipped the property. The buyer, Manitou Springs, Colorado's Allen Realty, took possession in March 2011.
Colorado Springs, Colorado
The first interior mall in -or around- The Springs was developed by a joint venture of JCP Realty, Associated Dry Goods and Des Moines-based General Growth Management. THE CITADEL was built on a 64.9-acre plot, located 2.9 miles northeast of the Colorado Springs Central Business District.
Encompassing 2 levels and approximately 594,800 leasable square feet, THE CITADEL was designed by Kansas City, Missouri's Chris Ramos Group Architects & Planners and Carlisle B. Guy, of Colorado Springs. Anchoring the mall's south end was a 3-level (224,800 square foot) J.C. Penney. On the north was a 2-level (110,000 square foot) Denver Dry Goods ("The Denver"). These stores held grand openings on February 2, 1972.
A mall-wide dedication -with sixty operational stores- took place on March 1, 1972. Diane Knaub, "Miss Colorado 1972," cut a ceremonial ribbon. Music was provided by the Air Force Academy Drum & Bugle Corps.
Charter inline stores included Baker's Qualicraft Shoes, Parklane Hosiery, National Shirt Shops, Conrad's Fabrics, The Record Shop, Singer Sewing Center, Helzberg Diamonds, Walgreen Drug, a (14,000 square foot) Fashion Bar and 2-level (25,000 square foot) Kaufman's apparel. The in-mall General Cinema Corporation Citadel Cinema I & II showed its first features on July 21, 1972.
The original shopping hub was designed using aspects of the Mayan and Aztec cultures. Mall courts were decorated with Pre-Columbian-style artwork. This aesthetic carried over to exterior spaces. The east entrance was flanked by The Court Of The Waters, which featured fountains and reflecting pools. At the west entrance, The Court Of The Sun displayed various sun-motif abstract sculpture. There were also courts outside the J.C. Penney and Denver Dry stores.
Early commercial competitors of THE CITADEL were all located within the corporate limits of Colorado Springs. These included SOUTHGATE CENTER (1959) {4 miles southwest}, THE SHOPS AT THE BLUFFS (1975) {3.2 miles north} and CHAPEL HILLS MALL (1982) {7.1 miles northwest}.
As a keeping up measure, THE CITADEL site was expanded westward in the mid-1980s, taking in most of an original 140-acre plot. A 2-level (195,000 square foot), Denver-based May D & F was built as a third anchor, presiding over a 2-level extension of the West Wing. This store held its grand opening in 1984.
When all construction was completed, the shopping center encompassed approximately 910,700 leasable square feet, with a retail roster of over 120 stores and services. A prototype Record Bar was one of the new West Wing tenants, as was a 14-bay Food Court. The Citadel 6 multiplex was also built, as a southeastern outparcel.
3 years later, Denver Dry Goods was absorbed by May D & F. Whereas this chain already operated a location at THE CITADEL, the old "The Denver" store was shuttered in February 1987 and sold. Hayward, California-based Mervyn's retenanted the space. The next department store change was completed May 2, 1993, when May D & F at THE CITADEL was rebranded by Houston-based Foley's.
A 25 million dollar mall expansion and renovation got underway in late 1994. A 3-level (183,000 square foot) Dillard's was built. This store's grand opening took place on August 23, 1995. The in-mall Citadel Cinemas I-II-III had closed in 1993 and been replaced by new Eddie Bauer, Victoria's Secret and Natural Wonders stores. THE CITADEL mall now encompassed approximately 1,093,700 leasable square feet. Santa Monica, California's Macerich Company acquired the shopping hub in December 1997.
Meanwhile, retail rivalry in Colorado Springs had intensified. CITADEL CROSSING (1988) was built across the boulevard from THE CITADEL. Next came the first phase of BROADMOOR TOWNE CENTER (2002) {4.1 miles southwest, in Colorado Springs}. Eventually, the old SOUTHGATE CENTER was thoroughly remodeled and incorporated as a second phase of this open-air plaza.
Retail development in The Springs continued with SHOPS AT BRIARGATE (2003) {8.3 miles northwest, also in Colorado Springs}. Lastly, THE SHOPS AT THE BLUFFS was partially demolished and repositioned as MARKETPLACE AT AUSTIN BLUFFS (2008).
Springdale, Arkansas-based Midwest Mall Properties acquired three malls from Macerich in December 2006. These were CROSSROADS MALL (1974) {Oklahoma City}, NORTHWEST ARKANSAS MALL (1972) {Fayetteville, Arkansas} and THE CITADEL.
THE CITADEL Mervyn's had been shuttered on January 21, 2006. The space re-opened, as a Burlington Coat Factory, on March 5, 2007. Steve & Barry's University Sportswear had a brief stint at the shopping center between November 2005 and January 2009. Macy's rebranded the mall's west anchor on September 6, 2006 and ended up closing for good in March 2009. The vacant building was sold to Odessa, Texas' ICA Properties in July 2010, who flipped the property. The buyer, Manitou Springs, Colorado's Allen Realty, took possession in March 2011.
The Great Recession caused Midwest Mall Properties to be saddled with three upside down mall mortgages. CROSSROADS MALL fell to foreclosure in April 2009. To prevent two other foreclosures, THE CITADEL and NORTHWEST ARKANSAS MALL were surrendered to CwCapital Asset Management (a Citigroup trust) in November 2011.
Soon after, the managing agency of the two complexes, Urban Retail Properties, was replaced with Birmingham, Alabama's Bayer Properties. A joint venture of Great Neck, New York's Namdar Realty Group and Mason Asset Management acquired THE CITADEL in December 2015.
Soon after, the managing agency of the two complexes, Urban Retail Properties, was replaced with Birmingham, Alabama's Bayer Properties. A joint venture of Great Neck, New York's Namdar Realty Group and Mason Asset Management acquired THE CITADEL in December 2015.
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"The Citadel (Mall)" article on Wikipedia
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"The Citadel (Mall)" article on Wikipedia
FAIR USE OF THE CITADEL IMAGE:
The photos from the Pikes Peak Library Digital Collections and Hoff & Leigh illustrate a key moment in the mall's history that is described in the article. The images are of lower resolution than the original (copies made would be of inferior quality). The images are not replaceable with a free-use or public-domain images. The use of the images does not limit the copyright owners' rights to distribute them in any way. The images are being used for non-profit, informational purposes only and their use is not believed to detract from the original images in any way.
