Grand Island's Conestoga Mall


CONESTOGA MALL was originally promoted with this logo. Stores in the fully-enclosed complex opened between March and April of 1974. 
Graphic from the Ericson Development Company


A pre-construction rendering shows a fully-realized shopping center, which has four anchor stores. In actuality, a complete CONESTOGA MALL would feature five.
Drawing from the Ericson Development Company

The Main Entrance at the Corn Husker State's CONESTOGA.
Photo from Malls of America Blogspot
  

Common areas of the mall were decorated in a Western motif. The South Court, seen here, featured a recessed seating area.
Photo from Malls of America Blogspot


One of two original anchor stores, the "Beautiful Brandeis at Conestoga" welcomed first shoppers in March 1974.
Graphic from J.L. Brandeis & Sons


The mall's first movie house showed first features in May 1975.
Advert from American Multi-Cinema

In 1975, the 8 million dollar CONESTOGA complex is anchored by three Nebraska-based department stores. It consists of a single level of retail, encompasses around 566,000 leasable square feet, and houses fifty-four tenant spaces. Free parking is provided for 3,000 autos.

Two enclosed shopping hubs were built in Grand Island during the 1970s. The discount-based counterpart of CONESTOGA was originally known as GRAND ISLAND MALL. Built on a pad a mere .3 of a mile north, "GIM" took an astounding 8 years to complete. 
Graphic from Grand Island Mall, Limited 


CONESTOGA had been substantially enlarged by 1983. Sears now anchored the north end, with a new J.C. Penney on the east. With these additions, the shopping center encompassed approximately 670,000 leasable square feet and contained sixty-two store spaces beneath its roof.

Originally built as a Miller & Paine, this store became a Dillard's in August 1988. It is the only section of CONESTOGA MALL with 2 levels.
Photo from www.loopnet.com


The mall entry of the center's Sears. The store opened for business in July 1979.
Photo from www.jherzog.com / J. Herzog & Sons, Incorporated 


The CONESTOGA J.C. Penney welcomed first shoppers in August 1980.
Photo from www.loopnet.com


An early 2000s logo and aerial view of the CONESTOGA complex.
Graphic from http://www.shopconestogamall.com (Website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
Photo from www.jherzog.com / J. Herzog & Sons, Incorporated


The other enclosed shopping center in town, GRAND ISLAND MALL, was demalled in 2015. The dumbell plan structure was converted to an open-air power center and re-named NORTH WEST CROSSINGS.
Photo from Mason Asset Management

Meanwhile, much has changed at CONESTOGA MALL by 2012. Two anchors have different nameplates. Moreover, the McDonald's space has been subdivided. A large section became a Staples Office Superstore in 1998, which morphed into a Best Buy in 2005. The northeast corner of the old McDonald's became part of a new 7-plex cinema in 2004.

CONESTOGA MALL TENANTS 2012:

DILLARD'S / J.C. PENNEY (with Styling Salon) / SEARS (with Portrait Studio and attached Auto Center ) / YOUNKERS / American Eagle Outfitters / Anderson Ford-Mercury-Kia / Auntie Em’s / Bath & Body Works / Best Buy / Brodkey’s / C.J. Banks / CherryBerry Frozen Yogurt / Chinese Massage  / Christopher & Banks / Claire’s Boutique ladies' wear / Coach House & Hallmark cards & gifts / Cobler Chiropractic / Computers On The Run Hot Spot / Cookie Crumbs & Kernels snack bar / Crane Vending Machine / Custom Cut / DEB Shops ladies' wear / Florets Flowers & Gifts / Footlocker / GNC / Grow Nebraska / Hobby Town USA / Hogan’s Retro Collectibles & Sports / Home Federal ATM / Hot Shots by Hollie / Hot Topic apparel / Icing by Claire’s / Imperial Palace Express Chinese / Incredible Bulk candies / Jo-Ann Fabrics / Justice / Kaw Valley Greenhouses / Kay Jewelers / Lenscrafters / Level 3 Arcade / Mall Stadium 7 / Maurices ladies' wear / NTV/KFXL Radio / Napoli’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar / Pac Sun / Pathogen Ink / PayLess ShoeSource / Pool Tables 4 U / Pretzelmaker / Pro Image / Pro Nails / QT Fashions / Radio Shack / Red Lobster (outparcel) / Regis Hairstylists / Riddle’s Jewelry / Schweser’s / Sporting Edge / Subway / The Buckle shoes / Things Remembered / Trade Secret / Tradehome Shoes / Tucan Express / Vanity / Viaero Wireless / Victoria’s Secret / Wells Fargo Bank & ATM (outparcel)



Time marches on, as the old newsreels used to say, usually trampling everything in its path. The latest casualties of the current retail apocalypse shuttered their CONESTOGA stores between late 2018 and early 2019, giving the mall something of a double whammy. To add insult to injury, J.C. Penney would pull up stakes in late 2020.
Graphic 1 & 2 from https://www.bonton.com
Graphic 3 from www.sears.com


On the horizon is a plan to redevelop CONESTOGA MALL. It could be reconfigured as the 366,900 square foot CONESTOGA MARKETPLACE. This mixed-use facility could include retail stores, sit-down restaurants, a 5-story hotel and 304-unit apartment complex.
Drawing from Simonson & Associates Architects, Limited Liability Company
CONESTOGA MALL
Tom Osbourne Expressway / US 281 and West 13th Street
Grand Island, Nebraska

The city of Grand Island lies 126 miles southwest of Omaha and 83 miles northwest of Lincoln, on the plains of Central Nebraska. On February 15, 1973, construction commenced at a 52.8-acre site, located 1.2 miles northwest of the Grand Island Central Business District.

CONESTOGA MALL was designed by Edward M. Cohon & Associates, Limited, of Chicago. The fully-enclosed complex was built by the Ericson Development Company, of Edina, Minnesota. The first operational store was a 2-level (121,200 square foot), Lincoln-based Miller & Paine. Its grand opening was held on March 6, 1974. Although the Miller & Paine store had 2 levels, only the (84,000  square foot) first level was used.

The official dedication of the mall occurred on March 20. A ceremonial ribbon was cut by Governor John James Exon (D). Eight stores opened in unison; Claire's Boutique, Hovland-Swanson, Karmelkorn, Schweser's, Barberio's Cheese House, Pearle Vision Center and 1-level (60,000 square foot), Omaha-based J.L. Brandeis & Sons.

On April 16, 1974, a 1-level (45,000 square foot), Hastings-based J.M. McDonald commenced operation. CONESTOGA MALL now encompassed approximately 566,000 leasable square feet and featured thirty-three stores and services.

The interior was decorated in a Western motif, with a 12-foot-high sculptured metal fountain, 300-year-old aloe tree, cacti from Mexico and South America, cattle skulls and antique saddles. There were recessed seating areas in South Court and along the shopping concourse. 

Charter tenants included Sarto Hamann Jewelers, Hastings Shop, Crabtree's Magnavox, World of Toys & Hobbies, Record Town and the freestanding First National Bank of Grand Island. The American Multi-Cinema Conestoga 4 Theatre -an in-mall venue- showed its first features on May 16, 1975.

A major expansion was underway by late 1978. A 1-level (72,000 square foot) Sears, anchoring an extended North Wing, opened its doors on July 14, 1979. The renovation added seven inline store spaces. Tenants included Chess King men's wear, Orange Julius and the Crock Pot restaurant.

Plans for a 1.5 million dollar J.C Penney were announced in August 1979. This 1-level (56,800 square foot) store, constructed on the east side of the mall, was dedicated on August 6, 1980. With these improvements, CONESTOGA MALL spanned approximately 670,000 leasable square feet and housed sixty-two stores and services.

The other major shopping hub in -or around- Grand Island took over 8 years to go from ground breaking to grand opening. Construction on GRAND ISLAND MALL {.3 of a mile north of CONESTOGA} commenced around the same time as work got underway at the CONESTOGA site. However, financial problems, high interest rates and a stagnant national economy delayed the completion of GRAND ISLAND MALL to August 1981.

J.M. McDonald, at CONESTOGA MALL, was shuttered in 1982, with its area being divided into inline store spaces. In January 1985, Cleveland, Ohio's Jacobs,Visconsi & Jacobs Group acquired the shopping complex. Anchor rebrandings commenced on August 5, 1987, when all Brandeis locations were rebranded by Iowa's Younkers ["yonk-erz"] chain. The three Miller & Paine stores were acquired by Dillard's, who rebranded stores on August 2, 1988.

There would not be any major changes to the mall for 10 years. Then, a (24,900 square foot) section of the old McDonald's space was reconfigured as a Staples Office Superstore. Equipped with only an exterior entry, it welcomed first shoppers on August 8, 1998.

The Jacobs Group put the facility up for sale in August 1999. Denver's J. Herzog & Sons purchased it in December 2002. Herzog performed an interior face lift between 2005 and 2006, when the 1970s-vintage sunken seating areas were filled in.

Georgia-based Carmike Cinemas, now the operators of the Conestoga 4 Theatre, were asked to perform a renovation and expansion on their motion picture venue. They balked at the proposal. Herzog then approached Kansas-based Dickinson Theatres, with a proposal for a new state-of-the-art theatrical venue for the mall.  The offer was accepted and work got underway in August 2003. The first features at the Dickinson Mall Stadium 7 were shown on April 2, 2004. The existing Carmike Conestoga 4 would continue operating until January 12, 2006. 

Meanwhile, the Staples Superstore had shut down May 6, 2005. Minnesota's Best Buy leased the space. They renovated it with a new mallway entrance and opened in the fall of 2005. Kansas-based Showplex Cinemas assumed operation of the Mall Stadium 7 on May 28, 2010. 

In June 2017, Herzog & Sons sold CONESTOGA MALL to a joint venture of Great Neck, New York's Namdar Realty Group and Mason Asset Management. Within a short time, an anchor exodus was underway. Younkers went dark in August 2018, followed by Sears, in March 2019. J.C. Penney pulled their proverbial plug in October 2020, leaving only Dillard's and Best buy as operational anchor stores.

As one might expect, the decline of the mall precipitated a redevelopment plan. A prospectus for a revitalization, as the  CONESTOGA MARKETPLACE mixed-use facility, was presented in November 2022. Under this plan, the four CONESTOGA MALL anchor stores would be demolished, leaving the Best Buy store, and central mall section, standing. 

A new (147,800 square foot) department store would be built south of the existing mall section. Those components not being demolished would be thoroughly refurbished inside and out and be reoriented with exterior entrances. Several current mall tenants would either remain in place or be relocated within the remodeled structure. These would include the multiplex cinema, Jo-Ann Fabrics, Maurices, American Eagle Outfitters and Pro Image.  

The Red Lobster and Wells Fargo Bank outparcels would also be retained, with several small, freestanding retail structures built. A 150-room hotel and 304-unit apartment complex would occupy the north end of the mall site. Fully-realized, CONESTOGA MARKETPLACE would encompass approximately 366,900 leasable square feet. Its cost has been estimated at 221 million dollars.  

Sources:

The Omaha World Herald
The Grand Island Independent
The Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska)
The Doniphan Herald (Doniphan, Nebraska)
The Cairo Record (Cairo, Nebraska)
Alliance Times-Herald (Alliance, Nebraska)
http://city2.grand-island.com
www.jherzog.com / J. Herzog & Sons, Incorporated
www.cinematreasures.org
www.nbcneb.com
Hall County, Nebraska property tax assessor website
http://www.shopconestogamall.com
https://namdarrealtygroup.com / Namdar Realty Group
https://www.knopnews2.com
"Presentation Regarding Conestoga Marketplace Redevelopment" / City of Grand Island and Woodsonia Real Estate / Tuesday November 15, 2022 
Jefferson City's Capital Mall


Mid-Missouri's CAPITAL MALL was officially dedicated in February 1978. The original center encompassed around 335,400 leasable square feet and contained fifty-three stores and services.
Graphic from General Growth Development

During the mall's early years, Sears was its lone anchor. The store operated on the west end of the shopping facility for 39 years.
Photo from www.showcase.com


The CAPITAL MALL Sears encompassed 74,300 leasable square feet on a single level. The store had an attached Sears Auto Center.
Photo from www.showcase.com

CAPITAL MALL was the sixteenth built by General Growth Development (the mother company of General Growth Properties). The complex was one of General Growth's "A Malls." These were based on an A-shaped shopping concourse at the center of the center. Other "A Malls" were SOUTHRIDGE (1975) {Des Moines, IA}, WESTLAND (1977) {West Burlington, IA} and GREENWOOD (1979) {Bowling Green, KY}.  

The CAPITAL complex is fully-realized by the mid-1980s. Two anchor stores have been added, along with a 2-screen cinema. The mall now covers around 534,400 leasable square feet.

Little Rock-based Dillard's opened their CAPITAL MALL store in early 1985.
Photo from www.showcase.com

Two additional auditoria were eventually added to the mall's 2-screen cinema. This theater shut down in the summer of 2009.
Photo from http://cinematreasures.org / Norman Plant


A second movie house opened, on the mall's northeastern periphery, in 1996. 
Photo from http://cinematreasures.org / Norman Plant

A small CAPITAL MALL expansion enlarged the existing twin cinema into a 4-screen operation (in medium gray). By 2008, the shopping hub encompassed 560,000 leasable square feet and housed fifty-four stores under its roof. There was free parking for 3,100 autos.


Plano, Texas' J.C. Penney chain has anchored CAPITAL MALL since January 1981.
Photo from Wikipedia / Rob Stinnet


Ross Dress for Less opened at CAPITAL MALL in late 2015.
Photo from http://www.capitalmall.com


A comprehensive indoor-outdoor renovation got underway in 2015. All common area entrances were rebuilt, and exterior doorways were installed in four of the larger stores. A Food Court, which had been at front center of the complex, was moved closer to Center Court.
Drawing from http://www.capitalmall.com


When construction dust settled in late 2017, this is how the new & improved CAPITAL MALL was configured. Half of the inline space in the East Wing was now devoted to a large Dunham's Sports. Almost as sizable was the Ross Dress For Less store, which now occupied half of the North Wing.

CAPITAL MALL TENANTS 2021:

DILLARD'S / J.C. PENNEY (with Sephora store) / HY-VEE supermarket (outparcel) / Auntie Anne's Pretzels / Bath & Body Works / Buckle apparel / Camelot Gifts / Capital 8 Theatres (outparcel) / Citi Trends apparel / Claire’s / Cricket Wireless / Dunham’s Sports / Epoch Escapes / Factory Connection apparel / Family Force Martial Arts / Fuji Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar / Great American Cookie Company / H&R Block / Head Lines Salon / Hibbett Sporting Goods / Hy-Vee Gas (outparcel) / Itsy Bitsy Broadway / Jo-Ann Fabrics  / Kay Jewelers / Marble Slab Creamery / Mid-Missouri Conservatory of Dance / Pizza Hut (outparcel) / Ross Dress For Less apparel / rue21 ladies' wear / Show Me Gold & Silver / Slackers CD & Games / SSM Health Children’s Experience / Stir Fry 88 / Studio 573 Fitness / Subway / Sweet Smoke BBQ (outparcel) / Taqueria El Tapatio / Tiny Tumblers gym / US Post Office / Wendy's (ouptparcel) / Xtreme Trends apparel / Wipro, Limited
CAPITAL MALL
West Truman Boulevard (Ten Mile Drive) and Country Club Drive
Jefferson City, Missouri

Missouri's capital city shopping mall was developed by Des Moines-based General Growth Development (the mother company of General Growth Properties). The single-level complex was built on a 48.9-acre plot, located 4.5 miles west of the Show Me State State House.

The first phase of CAPITAL MALL, officially dedicated in February 1978, enveloped approximately 335,400 leasable square feet and was anchored by a 1-level (74,300 square foot) Sears. Charter tenants included Thomas Jefferson Men's, Maurices, Kinney Shoes, So-Fro Fabrics, Osco Drug, Kirlin's Hallmark & Gifts, Shepherd of the Hills, Karmelkorn and Orange Julius.

A second construction phase was completed in the early 1980s. A 1-level (75,200 square foot) J.C. Penney was dedicated January 7, 1981. As this addition was being built, the Crown Cinema Corporation Capital 2 Theatres was added to the north side of the mall. With the completion of the cinema and J.C.Penney, CAPITAL MALL housed approximately 458,700 leasable square feet.

The next expansion added a 1-level (70,000 square foot) Dillard's, which was built on east end of the mall. This store began business on March 15, 1985. Some time after, the twin cinema was expanded into the Capital 4 Theatres. CAPITAL MALL now housed approximately 560,000 leasable square feet and housed sixty-one stores and services.

CAPITAL MALL had no regional-class competitors in its vicinity. However, it is not uncommon for Jefferson City residents to drive out of town to shop. When they do, they may go to COLUMBIA MALL (1985) {26.7 miles northwest, in Columbia, Missouri} or to OSAGE BEACH PREMIUM OUTLETS (1986) {37.5 miles southwest, in Osage Beach, Missouri}.

A freestanding movie house was built as a northeast outparcel of CAPITAL MALL. The Crown Cinema Corporation Capital 8 Theatres opened for business in 1996. Capital 4 Theatres was shuttered on August 27, 2009.

Since its grand opening in the late 1970s, ownership of CAPITAL MALL has changed five times. First there was General Growth Properties, then the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. Following this, the mall became a holding of a joint venture of the Prudential Insurance Company of America and CenterMark Properties. 

A joint venture of Australia's Westfield, Des Moines' General Growth Properties and New York City's Whitehall Street Real Estate Limited Partnership acquired nineteen malls in six states; these owned by CentreMark Properties (a.k.a. May Centers). The deal closed in November 1993. The joint venture divided up management of the malls, with GGP's share including CAPITAL MALL. In December 2012, GGP sold CAPITAL MALL again, with the buyer being the Farmer Holding Company, of Jefferson City.

A 36 million dollar indoor-outdoor face lift got underway in January 2015. All five entrances were updated and the parking lot repaved. After the exterior of the structure had been updated, work began on interior spaces. A (24,000 square foot) Ross Dress For Less opened in October 2015.

In March 2017, the CAPITAL MALL Sears was shuttered, as one of forty-two decommissioned Sears stores around the nation. By this time, the southeast corner of the shopping complex was being gutted. A (48,000 square foot) Dunham's Sports was built, which was dedicated in November 2017. Wipro, Limited, an India-based information technology, consulting and business process services provider, set up shop in the vacant Sears in December 2020. 

Sources:

The Daily Capital News (Jefferson City, Missouri)
The Jefferson City News Tribune
www.ggp.com / General Growth Properties
www.neatocoolville.blogspot.com / Todd Franklin
Cole County, Missouri property tax assessor website
www.cinematreasures.org
http://wikimapia.org
http://www.capitalmall.com
www.connectmidmissouricom / Daniel Winn
Olympia's Capital Mall


Oly's second fully-enclosed retail center was built on a site situated 1.3 miles northwest of the Washington State State House. In its original incarnation, CAPITAL MALL housed over ninety stores and services.
Graphic from Ernest W. Hahn, Incorporated


The first interior mall in -or around- Olympia was developed on a site located 3 miles northeast of Washington's capitol. SOUTH SOUND CENTER, which held its grand opening in October 1966, contained fifty stores under its roof.
Graphic from Blume Realty 

Jet City-based The Bon Marche anchored the original CAPITAL MALL. The store opened, in July 1978, as the shopping hub's first operational tenant. 
Photo from http://www.angelfire.com / "BonOlympia"


J.C. Penney held its CAPITAL MALL grand opening in November 1978.
Photo from www.showcase.com

"Another Capital Idea." CAPITAL MALL started out -in 1978- with two anchors; The Bon Marche and J.C. Penney. Frederick & Nelson and Lamonts (in gray) joined the fold in 1980. With their completion, the shopping hub covered approximately 545,300 leasable square feet, with free parking for 3,300 autos.

In 1992, CAPITAL MALL is essentially the same as in the 1980 plan. No additional square footage has been added...nor any taken away. The most visible difference is that the F & N store has been replaced by a Mervyn's. At this time, the complex houses over 100 stores and services.


Federated Stores' "Project Hyphen" rebannered the retail hub's The Bon Marche, as a Bon-Macy's, in August 2003. "Project Star" completed the process in March 2005, with the store becoming a full-fledged Macy's.
Photo from www.showcase.com


By 2007, the mall has become a Westfield property; this transaction occurring in November 1998. In the ensuing years, several changes were made. A Food Court was installed in reconstructed space in 2003 and Best Buy set up shop in a vacant Lamonts. A freestanding cluster center, THE PROMENADE AT WESTFIELD CAPITAL, opened in 2006. In 2007, an in-mall-Century megaplex was also dedicated.



WESTFIELD CAPITAL was sold to an East Coast investment group in late 2013. Following this transaction, the complex assumed its original name...CAPITAL MALL. A few things have changed since 2007. Mervyn's has been divided into inline stores and a Dick's Sporting Goods built. Forever 21, in a portion of the old Mervyn's, was shuttered in September 2018. The store was divided between Sephora and Shoe Department Encore.

CAPITAL MALL TENANTS 2022:

BEST BUY / DICK'S SPORTING GOODS / J.C. PENNEY (with Optical Department, Portrait Studio and Styling Salon) / MACY'S / 7 Imports / A Story Place: Ceramic & Bronze Art Exhibit / American Eagle Outfitters / Applebee's (outparcel) / AT&T Mobility / Banter By Piercing Pagona (kiosk) / Bath & Body Works cosmetics / Ben Bridge Jewelery / Bijou Noirs / BoxLunch / Braganza Pearl Tea / Broadway Olympia Productions Rehearsal Studio / Brow Art 23 / Capital Mall Deal / Cascadian Company / Century Theatres Olympia 14 / Champs Sports / Charleys Philly Steaks / Charlie’s Jewelry & Watch Repair / Chipotle Mexican Grill / Chuck E Cheese / Cinnabon (kiosk) / Claire's Boutique / Custom T-Shirts (kiosk) / Design Customs / Earthbound Trading Company / Eddie Bauer / Family Lounge / Five Star Workwear / Fuego / Fujyama Japanese Steakhouse (outparcel) / Gamestop  Go! Calendars, Toys & Games / Go! Calendars, Toys & Games / H&M apparel / Happy Riders (kiosk) / Hawley’s Gelato - Fudge  - Coffee / Hollister Company apparel / Homeport Foot Massage / Hot Topic apparel / Journeys shoes / Kay Jewelers / Lane Bryant ladies' wear / Laura's Alterations / Lavelier cosmetics / Lids hats / Livit Mobile / MAC Cosmetics / MasterCuts / Maurices / Menchie's Frozen Yogurt / MiSo restaurant / Noy Designer, Incorporated / Olive Garden restaurant (outparcel) / Panda Express / Pearle Vision Center / Phone Repair Center (kiosk) / Pink accessories / Play Nation / Pop It Toys (kiosk) / Pro Image Sports / Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (outparcel) / REI / Rising Tide Karate / Royal B (kiosk) / Seattle Team Shop / Sephora / Shoe Department Encore / SSP Sound Studios / Spencer Gifts / Sprint / Stack 571 Burger & Whiskey Bar / Subway Sunglass Hut - Watch Station / T-Mobile Store / Teriyaki Japan / Terra Firma Cosmetics / The Buckle shoes / The Children's Place / Thurston County Public Health (Covid 19 Vaccination Clinic) / Tokyo Anime / Torrid apparel / Total Wine & More / Vans skates & accessories / Verizon Wireless Store / Victoria's Secret / Timberland Regional Library / Wetzel's Pretzels (kiosk) / Zumiez sports wear

THE PROMENADE:

OLD NAVY apparel / T.J. MAXX apparel / Bed, Bath & Beyond / Chico's ladies' wear / Cost Plus World Market / I. Talia Pizzeria / Loft ladies' wear / Massage Envy / My Salon Suite / Party City / The Artists Gallery 


In the 2020s, the mall proper covers approximately 779,300 leasable square feet, with ninety-five store spaces, eleven kiosks and four outparcels. 
Photo from https://capitalmallolympia.com
CAPITAL MALL
Black Lake Boulevard, Southwest and Capitol Mall Drive, Southwest
Olympia, Washington

The first mall-type shopping hub in -or around- Olympia was dedicated on October 12, 1966. SOUTH SOUND CENTER was built on a plot located 3.3 miles southwest of  Washington's capitol. At the time, the shopping complex was in a section of unincorporated Thurston County. It was eventually annexed into the City of Lacey.

Plans for a second Greater Olympia shopping mall were envisaged by noted mall architect John Graham, Junior in the early 1970s. He acquired a 130-acre plot, lying 1.3 miles northwest of the State Capitol. Problems arose when Graham was unable to secure department stores to anchor a future OLYMPIA HIGHLANDS MALL. Further delays were caused by litigation with the developer of another prospective shopping hub.

Eventually, Graham threw in the towel and sold 65 acres of his mall site to El Segundo, California's Ernest W. Hahn. He established a joint venture with New York City's JCP (J.C. Penney) Realty and Sacramento's James J. Cordano Associates. In May 1977, the name of the prospective West Side retail complex was changed to CAPITAL MALL. Construction commenced in August.

A 1-level (81,000 square foot), Seattle-based The Bon Marche became the first operational store on July 29, 1978. A mall-wide dedication was held on October 5th. Forty-five stores (out of an eventual ninety-six) commenced operation. Opening day stores included Maurices, Hickory Farms of Ohio, The Great Hot Dog, Regis Hair Stylists, The Snooty Cow and in-mall, Moyer Theaters Capital Mall Cinemas.

Dedication festivities for the 46 million dollar mall included a skydiving exhibition and cutting of a 38-foot ribbon of 5 dollar bills. In attendance were Ernest W. Hahn, James J. Cordano, a J.C. Penney representative and several local officials. 

CAPITAL MALL stores continued to open over the next few years. A 1-level (96,800 square foot) J.C. Penney opened its doors on November 15, 1978. A 2-level (104,000 square foot), Seattle-based Frederick & Nelson welcomed its first shoppers on March 1, 1980. The final charter anchor, a 1-level (54,000 square foot), Bellevue-based Lamonts, commenced operation on April 17, 1980. CAPITAL MALL now encompassed approximately 703,000 leasable square feet. 

Mall ownership changed in 1980, when Toronto's Trizec Corporation acquired the real estate holdings of the Hahn company. The merged entities were known, henceforth, as the TrizecHahn Corporation. Frederick & Nelson was shuttered on September 22, 1991. Hayward, California's Mervyn's chain opened in the store space on July 19, 1992. The next anchor store rebranding followed the closing of Lamonts, in June 2000. This store was renovated by Richfield, Minnesota-based Best Buy, who opened for business on August 22, 2003.

Meanwhile, in November 1998, ownership of CAPITAL MALL had changed. Sydney, Australia's Westfield  acquired the center and renamed it WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN CAPITAL. In a few years, Westfield embarked on the mall's first renovation. The interior was given a 12 million dollar face lift. This included the installation of barrel-vaulted ceilings and an 8-bay Food Court. The new food facility included Subway, Teriyaki Japan, Thaiway Express, Villa Pizza and Panda Express. The mall was officially re-dedicated on October 24, 2003.

The most recent anchor rebranding involved The Bon March. As a result of Federated Stores' "Project Hyphen", all stores in The Bon Marche chain became Bon-Macy's on August 1, 2003. As a facet of "Project Star," Macy's nameplates were installed on March 6, 2005. The official name of the mall was truncated to WESTFIELD CAPITAL in June 2005. 

In July 2005, construction commenced on a 13.4 acre plot northeast of the existing mall. A (140,000 square foot) cluster complex was built. Known as PROMENADE AT WESTFIELD CAPITAL, it was dedicated on August 18, 2006. The primary tenants were a (33,500 square foot) Borders Books and (50,000 square foot) Bed, Bath & Beyond. The tenant list included J. Jill, Ann Taylor Loft, Chico's, Coldwater Creek, Eddie Bauer, Talbots, Message Envy and the Tuscan Aveda SalonSpa.

THE PROMENADE was followed by an expansion of the mall proper, that was built on its north side. This was anchored by the Century Olympia 14 multiplex and included 10,000 square feet of new retail space. The new cinema showed its first features on May 25, 2007, replacing the mall's original 4-plex (which had closed in August 2005). With all renovations completed, WESTFIELD CAPITAL -not including THE PROMENADE- housed approximately 748,200 leasable square feet and contained ninety-nine stores and services.

Mervyn's had shuttered their WESTFIELD CAPITAL store on December 31, 2006. The space was leased to temporary tenants, such as Spirit Halloween and a mini-golf course. On August 13, 2010, a 1-level (16,000 square foot) Forever 21 opened in a portion of the store. This was followed by a 2-level (25,000 square foot) REI (Recreational Equipment Incorporated), which opened for business May 31, 2011. The remaining first floor space was leased as a 1-level (21,300 square foot) Total Wine & More. This store began business July 18, 2013.

Westfield had sold the CAPITAL complex in June 2013. The new owner was Starwood Retail Partners, an affiliate of Greenwich, Connecticut's Starwood Capital Group. The official name of the shopping center reverted back to CAPITAL MALL soon after the transaction closed. A new anchor store was added later in the decade. A 1-level (51,100 square foot) Dick's Sporting Goods opened on October 28, 2016. CAPITAL MALL now enveloped approximately 799,300 leasable square feet, with a retail roster of over 100 stores and services.

In September 2020, Starwood Retail Partners defaulted on loans for seven retail complexes, with one of these being CAPITAL MALL. A bidding war ensued, with six entities vying for control of the Starwood mall portfolio. A joint venture of El Segundo, California's Pacific Retail Capital Partners and New York City's Golden East Investors submitted the winning bid. They assumed control of the properties in October 2020.

Sources:

The Olympian (Olympia, Washington)
The Daily Olympian (Olympia, Washington)
http://www.westfield.com 
West Olympia Access Study Background Report
Thurston County, Washington property tax assessor website
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://www.bizjournals.com
https://capitalmallolympia.com
https://labusinessjournal.com
https://www.mallscenters.com
"Westfield Capital" article on Wikipedia
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