EASTGATE TOWN CENTER, circa-2006. Most of the mall's retail area has been converted to office spaces, with a new Food Court -and smattering of inline stores- in the marketing mix.
Here, we see the east-facing facade of the complex. Foot Locker closed their EASTGATE TOWN CENTER store soon after this photo was taken.
Photo from http://www.robbinsproperties.com / Robbins Properties
Knoxville-based Goody's Family Clothing built a new store on the northwest corner of the TOWN CENTER in the year 2000. The store, which occupied the ground level of the addition, was shuttered -along with the entire chain- in early 2009. The space was divided between Office Depot and Citi Trends stores.
Photo from http://www.robbinsproperties.com / Robbins Properties
EASTGATE CENTER
Brainerd Road East / US 11 and 64 and Eastgate Loop
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Independent Enterprises merged with New York City's Arlen Realty & Development Corporation in 1970. Their first fully-enclosed complex, Mississippi's TUPELO MALL opened in the same year. Their second roofed retail center was completed 2 years later. NORTHGATE MALL {7.1 miles northwest of EASTGATE, in Chattanooga} held its official grand opening in March 1972.
Meanwhile, on January 1 1972, a fire swept through EASTGATE CENTER, leaving the facility severely damaged. It was decided to renovate it as a fully-enclosed structure. As part of the restoration, Loveman's was enlarged into a 67,000 square foot store. The project was completed in late 1972. The shopping center was known, henceforth, as EASTGATE MALL.
HAMILTON PLACE {4 miles northeast, in Chattanooga} was built by CBL & Associates Properties, a descendant of Independent Enterprises-Arlen Realty & Development. This superregional center opened in August 1987. The older and substantially smaller EASTGATE could not compete and quickly declined into a dead mall. This process was exacerbated by an anchor exodus, which transpired in the following manner...
Proffitt's, of Alcoa, Tennessee, bought the EASTGATE Loveman's in May 1988. The store was rebranded as a Proffitt's, but closed in 1990. The Miller's chain was acquired by Allentown, Pennsylvania-based Hess's in June 1987. The EASTGATE Miller's was rebranded as a Hess's in 1988, but closed in 1992. J.C. Penney relocated into a new HAMILTON PLACE store on February 28, 1992.
By the mid-1990s, EASTGATE MALL was in a downward spiral. Its three department stores were sitting idle and the occupancy rate hovered at around 27 percent. A bold plan was put forth in 1997. The virtually vacant "greyfield" complex would be repurposed as a mixed-use town center. 30 million dollars were invested in a renovation. Retail space was reconfigured as office suites and the exteriors of the J.C. Penney and Miller Brothers stores were refaced with brick and mortar "old timey Main Street" facades. The vacant cinema became a YMCA. A small Food Court was also created.
A more radical plan to cut a street though the center of the mall was not carried out. The new and improved EASTGATE TOWN CENTER was dedicated in 1998. The old Loveman's store had become an A T & T (Convergys) Call Center, the old Penney's was now offices for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Tennessee. The Miller Brothers building housed a Knoxille-based Goody's Family Clothing.
The reconfigured complex encompassed approximately 780,000 leasable square feet. It featured a senior citizen recreation center and various retail stores. These included Waldenbooks, GNC, Foot Locker, Afterthoughts and Metabolife.
As a result of the renovation and repositioning, the high vacancy rate of the moribund mall had been reversed. The project received accolades and lots of press coverage. However, the impetus to do further changes, and make EASTGATE more of a suburban-type downtown, eventually subsided. Goody's Family Clothing moved into a new 1-level (35,000 square foot) store in the year 2000. This had been added to the northwest corner of the TOWN CENTER.
Large vacancies were created in early 2009, when the offices of Blue Cross & Blue Shield moved from the mall and Goody's Family Clothing was shuttered. The 1st floor of the vacant Goody's was retenanted by a (17,500 square foot) Office Depot and (17,500 square foot) Citi Trends. In the 2010s, EASTGATE TOWN CENTER housed tenants such as Tuesday Morning, Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence, State of Tennessee Career Center, Convergys Call Center and China Moon restaurant.
Sources:
The Chattanooga Daily Times
The News-Free Press (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
http://www.eastgatecomplex.com
http://www.chattanooga.com / "Remembering G.C. Murphy Stores" / Harmon Jolley
https://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.transwestern.net / Transwestern Commercial Real Estate Company
http://www.robbins-properties.com / Robbins Properties
Brainerd Road East / US 11 and 64 and Eastgate Loop
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga-based Independent Enterprises built their first shopping center on a 65-acre parcel, located 5 miles southeast of the Scenic City's downtown area. The site, which had contained the Skyway Drive-In Theatre between 1941 and 1959, was adjacent to a completed section of the Interstate 24 expressway.
EASTGATE CENTER was designed by Atlanta's Toombs, Amisano & Wells firm. Ground was broken on September 29, 1961. The first operational tenant, a 2-level (60,000 square foot), Chattanooga-based Miller Brothers, opened its doors on August 13, 1962.
Twenty-one inline stores were inaugurated on September 20th, as part of a mall-wide grand opening. These included a (12,500 square foot) Cole Rexall Drug, (12,000 square foot) Morrison's Cafeteria, (17,500 square foot) Winn-Dixie supermarket and (45,500 square foot) G.C. Murphy 5 & 10.
Twenty-one inline stores were inaugurated on September 20th, as part of a mall-wide grand opening. These included a (12,500 square foot) Cole Rexall Drug, (12,000 square foot) Morrison's Cafeteria, (17,500 square foot) Winn-Dixie supermarket and (45,500 square foot) G.C. Murphy 5 & 10.
The dedication celebration was attended by Peter R. Olgiati (Mayor of Chattanooga), various city and county officials, and Independent Enterprises executives. Joel Solomon, son of Jay Solomon (vice president of Independent Enterprises) cut a ceremonial ribbon; this done with a 4-foot-long pair of gilded scissors.
In 1964-1965, the existing Miller Brothers was expanded into a 100,000 square foot store as part of a second mall construction phase. A 1-level (41,000 square foot) Loveman's (Chattanooga) was built, along with the single-screen Wilby-Kincey Eastgate Theatre. A 2-level (180,400 square foot) J.C. Penney opened for business on August 19, 1965. A dedication of the expanded mall was held on August 21st. EASTGATE CENTER now encompassed approximately 550,000 leasable square feet.
In 1964-1965, the existing Miller Brothers was expanded into a 100,000 square foot store as part of a second mall construction phase. A 1-level (41,000 square foot) Loveman's (Chattanooga) was built, along with the single-screen Wilby-Kincey Eastgate Theatre. A 2-level (180,400 square foot) J.C. Penney opened for business on August 19, 1965. A dedication of the expanded mall was held on August 21st. EASTGATE CENTER now encompassed approximately 550,000 leasable square feet.
Independent Enterprises merged with New York City's Arlen Realty & Development Corporation in 1970. Their first fully-enclosed complex, Mississippi's TUPELO MALL opened in the same year. Their second roofed retail center was completed 2 years later. NORTHGATE MALL {7.1 miles northwest of EASTGATE, in Chattanooga} held its official grand opening in March 1972.
Meanwhile, on January 1 1972, a fire swept through EASTGATE CENTER, leaving the facility severely damaged. It was decided to renovate it as a fully-enclosed structure. As part of the restoration, Loveman's was enlarged into a 67,000 square foot store. The project was completed in late 1972. The shopping center was known, henceforth, as EASTGATE MALL.
In the following year, the Miller Brothers store was rebranded by Knoxville-based Miller's, Incorporated. The cinema became a twin-screen venue in the mid-1970s and eventually incorporated three auditoria. It was shuttered in 1993.
HAMILTON PLACE {4 miles northeast, in Chattanooga} was built by CBL & Associates Properties, a descendant of Independent Enterprises-Arlen Realty & Development. This superregional center opened in August 1987. The older and substantially smaller EASTGATE could not compete and quickly declined into a dead mall. This process was exacerbated by an anchor exodus, which transpired in the following manner...
Proffitt's, of Alcoa, Tennessee, bought the EASTGATE Loveman's in May 1988. The store was rebranded as a Proffitt's, but closed in 1990. The Miller's chain was acquired by Allentown, Pennsylvania-based Hess's in June 1987. The EASTGATE Miller's was rebranded as a Hess's in 1988, but closed in 1992. J.C. Penney relocated into a new HAMILTON PLACE store on February 28, 1992.
By the mid-1990s, EASTGATE MALL was in a downward spiral. Its three department stores were sitting idle and the occupancy rate hovered at around 27 percent. A bold plan was put forth in 1997. The virtually vacant "greyfield" complex would be repurposed as a mixed-use town center. 30 million dollars were invested in a renovation. Retail space was reconfigured as office suites and the exteriors of the J.C. Penney and Miller Brothers stores were refaced with brick and mortar "old timey Main Street" facades. The vacant cinema became a YMCA. A small Food Court was also created.
A more radical plan to cut a street though the center of the mall was not carried out. The new and improved EASTGATE TOWN CENTER was dedicated in 1998. The old Loveman's store had become an A T & T (Convergys) Call Center, the old Penney's was now offices for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Tennessee. The Miller Brothers building housed a Knoxille-based Goody's Family Clothing.
The reconfigured complex encompassed approximately 780,000 leasable square feet. It featured a senior citizen recreation center and various retail stores. These included Waldenbooks, GNC, Foot Locker, Afterthoughts and Metabolife.
As a result of the renovation and repositioning, the high vacancy rate of the moribund mall had been reversed. The project received accolades and lots of press coverage. However, the impetus to do further changes, and make EASTGATE more of a suburban-type downtown, eventually subsided. Goody's Family Clothing moved into a new 1-level (35,000 square foot) store in the year 2000. This had been added to the northwest corner of the TOWN CENTER.
In June 2005, California-based Cal X Properties purchased the complex, which now encompassed 850,000 leasable square feet. A satellite campus for Chattanooga State Technical Community College opened in July 2008. A new name had also been bestowed; EASTGATE COMPLEX. However, the "mixed use district" continued to be referred to as EASTGATE TOWN CENTER. Eventually, the new mall moniker was abandoned.
Large vacancies were created in early 2009, when the offices of Blue Cross & Blue Shield moved from the mall and Goody's Family Clothing was shuttered. The 1st floor of the vacant Goody's was retenanted by a (17,500 square foot) Office Depot and (17,500 square foot) Citi Trends. In the 2010s, EASTGATE TOWN CENTER housed tenants such as Tuesday Morning, Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence, State of Tennessee Career Center, Convergys Call Center and China Moon restaurant.
Sources:
The Chattanooga Daily Times
The News-Free Press (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
http://www.eastgatecomplex.com
http://www.chattanooga.com / "Remembering G.C. Murphy Stores" / Harmon Jolley
https://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.transwestern.net / Transwestern Commercial Real Estate Company
http://www.robbins-properties.com / Robbins Properties
https://www.midtown-center.com
"Eastgate," "Loveman's (Chattanooga)" and "Proffitt's" articles on Wikipedia
"Eastgate," "Loveman's (Chattanooga)" and "Proffitt's" articles on Wikipedia
Although HAMILTON PLACE is CBL's flagship, it is not the company's largest mall. This distinction goes to the 1,607,800 square foot OAK PARK MALL, in Overland Park, Kansas. The complex, which contains 180 store spaces, was acquired by CBL & Associates in November 2005.
Photo from www.cblproperties.com / CBL & Associates Properties
MALL MAKER NUMBER FOUR:
MACERICH
Today's Macerich began business -as New York City's MaceRich Real Estate Company- in October 1964. The company's original focus was developing smaller, community-sized strip shopping centers. The first of these was built in Ames, Iowa.
MACERICH
Today's Macerich began business -as New York City's MaceRich Real Estate Company- in October 1964. The company's original focus was developing smaller, community-sized strip shopping centers. The first of these was built in Ames, Iowa.
In September 1972, MaceRich bought the 8-year-old WHITE LAKES MALL, in Topeka, Kansas. This was their first regional-class property. In 1975, the company acquired the 24-year-old LAKEWOOD CENTER, in Lakewood, California.
The past-its-prime LAKEWOOD mall was renovated, expanded and enclosed...becoming (for a time) one of the premier shopping venues in Southern California. As a result of this successful turnaround, MaceRich became known throughout the industry as the "Mall Doctor."
After the purchase of LAKEWOOD CENTER, the home offices of MaceRich were moved to Santa Monica, California. The company went public in 1994 and rebranded itself as The Macerich Company. This morphed into simply "Macerich" in 2006. The Simon Property Group submitted a buyout offer in 2015. It was rejected in April of the same year.
As was the case with other mall owner-operators in America, Macerich was negatively affected by repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic. In order to shore up corporate finances, capital expenditures were cut. The quarterly dividend was also reduced and paid with a combination of cash and Macerich common stock.
Sources:
http://www.macerich.com / The Macerich Company
The past-its-prime LAKEWOOD mall was renovated, expanded and enclosed...becoming (for a time) one of the premier shopping venues in Southern California. As a result of this successful turnaround, MaceRich became known throughout the industry as the "Mall Doctor."
After the purchase of LAKEWOOD CENTER, the home offices of MaceRich were moved to Santa Monica, California. The company went public in 1994 and rebranded itself as The Macerich Company. This morphed into simply "Macerich" in 2006. The Simon Property Group submitted a buyout offer in 2015. It was rejected in April of the same year.
As was the case with other mall owner-operators in America, Macerich was negatively affected by repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic. In order to shore up corporate finances, capital expenditures were cut. The quarterly dividend was also reduced and paid with a combination of cash and Macerich common stock.
Sources:
http://www.macerich.com / The Macerich Company
https://investing.macerich.com
http://www.fundinguniverse.com
"Macerich Company" article on Wikipedia
Copyright Macerich Company
(See Media Fair Use Rationale at end of article)
FACT SHEET
Corporation Started In: 1964
Founded By: Mace Siegel, Richard Cohen
City of Origin: New York, New York
Present-day Corporate Headquarters: Santa Monica, California
Operations In: United States
Major Mergers and Acquisitions:
*Westcor Partners, 2002
*Wilmorite Properties, 2004
Real Estate Portfolio (2018):
Forty-nine standard malls. Three outlet-type malls
Photo from the Henry McGrew Printing Company
Photo from Photography House
WHITE LAKES CENTER TENANTS 1964:
J.C. PENNEY (with Coffee Shop, Beauty Salon and freestanding Auto Center) / SEARS (with Coffee House, Garden Center and attached Auto Center) / F.W. WOOLWORTH 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / FALLEY'S MARKET / Andy's Shoe Repair / Beauty, Incorporated / Buttrey's ladies' wear / Calandra's Hallmark-Russell Stover Candies / Casual Aire ladies' wear / Coach Light Gifts / Community Room / Country Club Barbers / Dustin's / Frenn's Fabrics / Hanna's Men's Wear / Household Finance Corporation / Jones Retail Liquor Store / Jenkins Music / Leed's Qualicraft Shoes / Kay's Knitting Nook / Kiddieland / Kinney Shoes / Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio / Mr. Bart's Marts / Peacock Laundry & Cleaners / Pizza Hut / Robinson's Shoes / Singer Sewing Center / Styled By Abbye / Town & Country Cafeteria / The Brass Rail restaurant / Walgreen Drug (with Walgreen Grill) / Wicher's Portait Studio / Wolf's Jewelers / Worland's Royalty Shop / Zercher Photo, Incorporated
Originally a Sears, this store was leased by Kansas City, Missouri-based Sutherlands Lumber between 1992 and 2002.
Photo from Triple Net Properties
By the 1970s, the official name of the complex had morphed into WHITE LAKES MALL, as this vintage logo attests.
Graphic from Main Street Investors
Photo from https://abandonedks.com / Emily Cowan
A view of the mall's empty interior. A downward spiral of WHITE LAKES MALL started in the late 1980s, following the completion of Topeka's WEST RIDGE MALL.
Photo from http://cjonline.com / Topeka Capital Journal / Anthony S. Bush
The reinvention of WHITE LAKES, as an office complex, did well for a time. However, by 2008, this incarnation was also on the skids. A new owner came along in 2009 and proposed a demalling. Structures to remain from the mall are highlighted in blue on this layout. By late 2012, hopes for this redevelopment had been dashed, as the owner was embroiled in bankruptcy proceedings.
Original drawing from http://cjonline.com / Topeka Capital Journal
Southwest Topeka Boulevard / US 75 and Southwest 37th Street
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka's first mall-type shopping complex was built on a land parcel located 3.1 miles south of the Kansas State House. The 36.4-acre site had been occupied by a 9-hole golf course, which was part of the White Lakes Country Club. Construction commenced on a 500,000 square foot, fully-enclosed shopping center in 1963.
WHITE LAKES CENTER was developed by Topeka's Keith L. Meyers, under the auspices of White Lakes Development, Incorporated. The 8 million dollar complex was officially dedicated on October 15, 1964. There were two anchor department stores. On the north was a 2-level (151,000 square foot) Sears, with an attached Auto Center. A 2-level (154,400 square foot) J.C. Penney included a freestanding Auto Center and was one of the first "New Generation" Penneys stores.
Charter WHITE LAKES tenants included Walgreen Drug, Falley's Market, Town & Country Cafeteria, Jenkins Music, Pizza Hut and an F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10. The National General Corporation Fox White Lakes Theatre was dedicated on June 14, 1967. This freestanding venue was located across the street from the mall's north parking area. Its auditorium was split into, with a twin cinema opening December 22, 1977. Two additional auditoria were added, with a 4-plex showing its first features August 18, 1984. The complex was shuttered March 16, 2004.
Meanwhile, WHITE LAKES CENTER had been acquired by Southern California's MaceRich Real Estate Company in September 1972. Primarily involved in developing smaller, community-type, strip centers, MaceRich had now advanced to regional shopping mall management.
Under their ownership, the complex -now officially promoted as WHITE LAKES MALL- prospered. Then, something newer, bigger and better came along. WEST RIDGE MALL {4.6 miles northwest, in Topeka} was completed in 1988. Upon its grand opening, it snatched the two anchor stores from WHITE LAKES.
Sears sat vacant until being leased to Kansas City, Missouri-based Sutherlands Lumber. This location opened in 1992 and closed in 2002. The mall had changed hands in 1993. Macerich sold the property to Lawrence, Kansas-based Main Street Investors, who sold it to Denver-based Triple Net Properties in March 2000.
Charter WHITE LAKES tenants included Walgreen Drug, Falley's Market, Town & Country Cafeteria, Jenkins Music, Pizza Hut and an F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10. The National General Corporation Fox White Lakes Theatre was dedicated on June 14, 1967. This freestanding venue was located across the street from the mall's north parking area. Its auditorium was split into, with a twin cinema opening December 22, 1977. Two additional auditoria were added, with a 4-plex showing its first features August 18, 1984. The complex was shuttered March 16, 2004.
Meanwhile, WHITE LAKES CENTER had been acquired by Southern California's MaceRich Real Estate Company in September 1972. Primarily involved in developing smaller, community-type, strip centers, MaceRich had now advanced to regional shopping mall management.
Under their ownership, the complex -now officially promoted as WHITE LAKES MALL- prospered. Then, something newer, bigger and better came along. WEST RIDGE MALL {4.6 miles northwest, in Topeka} was completed in 1988. Upon its grand opening, it snatched the two anchor stores from WHITE LAKES.
Sears sat vacant until being leased to Kansas City, Missouri-based Sutherlands Lumber. This location opened in 1992 and closed in 2002. The mall had changed hands in 1993. Macerich sold the property to Lawrence, Kansas-based Main Street Investors, who sold it to Denver-based Triple Net Properties in March 2000.
The complex was renamed again, taking on its original moniker, WHITE LAKES CENTER. The facility was now an office complex, with a smattering of retail stores and services. Tenants included Walgreen Drug (a circa-'64 store), Electronic Data Systems, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Kansas Children's Services League, the State of Kansas, a day care center, fitness center, beauty salon and several eateries. Mainline Printing leased the old Sears building in 2005.
By late 2007, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, the State of Kansas, Kansas Disability Determination Services and the State of Kansas Rehabilitation Service had moved out. The complex was sold to Topeka's Kent Lindermuth in September 2009. He proposed a redevelopment of the property, whose official name had been truncated to simply WHITE LAKES.
This project was to include demolition of the south shopping concourse. Exterior-entranced retail and office space would be situated along a new parking area at the center of the center. Unfortunately, these plans were abandoned when Mr. Lindemuth filed for bankruptcy, in November 2012.
The property was placed on the open market with an asking price of 3 million dollars. There were no takers. WHITE LAKES had deteriorated into a dilapidated and decaying structure, with just one tenant; Mainline Printing. The virtually vacant complex was set on fire by arsonists in December 2020, which caused over 100 thousand dollars worth of damage. The complex was demolished between March and October of 2022.
Sources:
The Gazette (Emporia, Kansas)
Topeka Capital-Journal / August 5, 2001 / "White Lakes Survives In Shopping Mall Afterlife" / Alicia Henrikson
Topeka Capital-Journal / February 22, 2003 / "White Lakes Mall Reinvents Itself" / Shayne Sawyer & Mike Shepherd
By late 2007, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, the State of Kansas, Kansas Disability Determination Services and the State of Kansas Rehabilitation Service had moved out. The complex was sold to Topeka's Kent Lindermuth in September 2009. He proposed a redevelopment of the property, whose official name had been truncated to simply WHITE LAKES.
This project was to include demolition of the south shopping concourse. Exterior-entranced retail and office space would be situated along a new parking area at the center of the center. Unfortunately, these plans were abandoned when Mr. Lindemuth filed for bankruptcy, in November 2012.
The property was placed on the open market with an asking price of 3 million dollars. There were no takers. WHITE LAKES had deteriorated into a dilapidated and decaying structure, with just one tenant; Mainline Printing. The virtually vacant complex was set on fire by arsonists in December 2020, which caused over 100 thousand dollars worth of damage. The complex was demolished between March and October of 2022.
Sources:
The Gazette (Emporia, Kansas)
Topeka Capital-Journal / August 5, 2001 / "White Lakes Survives In Shopping Mall Afterlife" / Alicia Henrikson
Topeka Capital-Journal / February 22, 2003 / "White Lakes Mall Reinvents Itself" / Shayne Sawyer & Mike Shepherd
https://ares.sncoapps.us / Shawnee County, Kansas
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://www.wibw.com / WIBM-TV
PRESTIGE PROPERTIES
Virginia's TYSONS CORNER CENTER, which is the largest retail complex in the Macerich portfolio. A 50-percent share in the massive merchandising mecca was acquired by Rochester-based Wilmorite Properties in November 2004. Macerich acquired Wilmorite, and its stake in the TYSONS mall, in December of the same year.
Photo from Wikipedia / "TheCellistStarlet"
Arizona's SCOTTSDALE FASHION SQUARE, an amalgamation of two separate shopping centers, was acquired by Phoenix's Westcor Partners between 1983 and 1996. With the acquisition of Westcor -by Macerich- the shopping hub became a Macerich holding.
Photo from Wikipedia / "Flyer84"
Virginia's TYSONS CORNER CENTER, which is the largest retail complex in the Macerich portfolio. A 50-percent share in the massive merchandising mecca was acquired by Rochester-based Wilmorite Properties in November 2004. Macerich acquired Wilmorite, and its stake in the TYSONS mall, in December of the same year.
Photo from Wikipedia / "TheCellistStarlet"
Arizona's SCOTTSDALE FASHION SQUARE, an amalgamation of two separate shopping centers, was acquired by Phoenix's Westcor Partners between 1983 and 1996. With the acquisition of Westcor -by Macerich- the shopping hub became a Macerich holding.
Photo from Wikipedia / "Flyer84"
MALL MAKER NUMBER FIVE:
UNIBAIL-RODAMCO-WESTFIELD
Our fifth MALL MAKER is a merger of three international real estate companies. Unibail ["Yoo-nee-biy"] had its beginnings in France, in 1968. Rodamco Europe was formed in 1999, from the break up of a previous Holland-based concern known as Rodamco. Unibail and Rodamco Europe merged in June 2007, forming a company known as Unibail-Rodamco.
Meanwhile, the Westfield company had had humble beginnings in Sydney, Australia, in 1959. The name Westfield Development Corporation, was created as an amalgamation of "west" (its first property being west of Sydney) and "field" (a shopping venue was being built on a previously undeveloped piece of farmland).
Westfield's first retail complex, WESTFIELD SHOPPING CENTRE, opened in Blacktown (a suburb of Sydney) in July 1959. The company's first major shopping precinct, BURWOOD WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN, was also built in the environs of Sydney. It first traded to the public in October 1966.
In 1977, the corporation acquired TRUMBULL SHOPPING PARK, in Trumbull, Connecticut, which was its first property in the United States. In 1997, operations were expanded to New Zealand. The United Kingdom marketplace was entered in the year 2000.
Meanwhile, in November 1998, a massive rebranding campaign was undertaken. All Westfield properties were renamed with the lengthy "Westfield Shoppingtown..." prefix. The Shoppingtown reference was dropped in June 2005.
In July of 2004, three entities -Westfield Holdings, Westfield Trust and Westfield America Trust- were merged. A new corporate identity, known as the Westfield Group, was created. The Westfield Group split into two companies in June 2014. The Scentre Group would develop and operate shopping centers in Australia and New Zealand, with the Westfield Corporation overseeing properties in the United States, Great Britain and Italy.
With the merger of the Westfield Corporation and Unibail-Rodamco, in June 2018, Westfield properties in the United States, Great Britain and Italy came under the ownership and operation of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (a.k.a. "URW"). Westfield properties in Australia and New Zealand were not included in the merger and remained in the Scentre Group portfolio.
UNIBAIL-RODAMCO-WESTFIELD
Our fifth MALL MAKER is a merger of three international real estate companies. Unibail ["Yoo-nee-biy"] had its beginnings in France, in 1968. Rodamco Europe was formed in 1999, from the break up of a previous Holland-based concern known as Rodamco. Unibail and Rodamco Europe merged in June 2007, forming a company known as Unibail-Rodamco.
Meanwhile, the Westfield company had had humble beginnings in Sydney, Australia, in 1959. The name Westfield Development Corporation, was created as an amalgamation of "west" (its first property being west of Sydney) and "field" (a shopping venue was being built on a previously undeveloped piece of farmland).
Westfield's first retail complex, WESTFIELD SHOPPING CENTRE, opened in Blacktown (a suburb of Sydney) in July 1959. The company's first major shopping precinct, BURWOOD WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN, was also built in the environs of Sydney. It first traded to the public in October 1966.
In 1977, the corporation acquired TRUMBULL SHOPPING PARK, in Trumbull, Connecticut, which was its first property in the United States. In 1997, operations were expanded to New Zealand. The United Kingdom marketplace was entered in the year 2000.
Meanwhile, in November 1998, a massive rebranding campaign was undertaken. All Westfield properties were renamed with the lengthy "Westfield Shoppingtown..." prefix. The Shoppingtown reference was dropped in June 2005.
In July of 2004, three entities -Westfield Holdings, Westfield Trust and Westfield America Trust- were merged. A new corporate identity, known as the Westfield Group, was created. The Westfield Group split into two companies in June 2014. The Scentre Group would develop and operate shopping centers in Australia and New Zealand, with the Westfield Corporation overseeing properties in the United States, Great Britain and Italy.
With the merger of the Westfield Corporation and Unibail-Rodamco, in June 2018, Westfield properties in the United States, Great Britain and Italy came under the ownership and operation of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (a.k.a. "URW"). Westfield properties in Australia and New Zealand were not included in the merger and remained in the Scentre Group portfolio.
Unfortunately, the big Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield merger of 2018 could not have been carried out at a worse juncture in time. Within 2 years, the Covid-19 pandemic was spreading around the world, reeking havoc on an already struggling American retail industry. Shopping malls were temporarily closed, causing corporate profits to plummet.
In February 2021, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield announced that, when the US economy had sufficiently improved, they would be selling off all American mall properties, concentrating only on their European holdings.
Sources:
http://www.westfield.com / The Westfield Group
http:;//www.urw.com / Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
www.reuters.com
Sources:
http://www.westfield.com / The Westfield Group
http:;//www.urw.com / Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
www.reuters.com
"Westfield Group" and "Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield" articles on Wikipedia
Copyright Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
(See Media Fair Use Rationale at end of article)
FACT SHEET
Westfield Started In: 1959
Founded By: Frank Lowy, John Saunders
City of Origin: Sydney, Australia
Location of Corporate Headquarters: Sydney, Australia
Westfield Operations In: United States, Great Britain, Italy (2018)
Scentre Group Operations In: Australia and New Zealand (2018)
Corporations Started In:
FACT SHEET
Westfield Started In: 1959
Founded By: Frank Lowy, John Saunders
City of Origin: Sydney, Australia
Location of Corporate Headquarters: Sydney, Australia
Westfield Operations In: United States, Great Britain, Italy (2018)
Scentre Group Operations In: Australia and New Zealand (2018)
Corporations Started In:
Unibail (1968), Rodamco Europe (1999), Unibail-Rodamco (2007)
Founded by:
Unibail [Worms et Cie - Worms Group], Rodamco Europe [Robeco consortium]
Cities of Origin: Unibail [Paris, France], Rodamco Europe [Rotterdam, Netherlands]
Location of Corporate Headquarters: Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield [Paris, France]
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Operations In:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands and United States
Westfield Major Mergers and Acquisitions:
*R.H. Macy & Company (three properties), 1986
*CenterMark Properties, 1996
*TrizecHahn Corporation, 1998
Westfield Major Mergers and Acquisitions:
*R.H. Macy & Company (three properties), 1986
*CenterMark Properties, 1996
*TrizecHahn Corporation, 1998
*Unibail-Rodamco, 2018
Westfield Real Estate Portfolio:
Sixty-seven malls in the United States (2000). Thirty-two malls in the United States (2017). Fifteen malls in the United States (2025).
Westfield Real Estate Portfolio:
Sixty-seven malls in the United States (2000). Thirty-two malls in the United States (2017). Fifteen malls in the United States (2025).
Following the Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield merger, Westfield's once impressive mall portfolio was drastically reduced. By mid-2025, only the following shopping hubs remained in Westfield's United States portfolio;
1. WF Century City -California
2. WF Culver City -California
3. WF Fashion Square -California
4. WF Galleria at Roseville -California
5. WF Garden State Plaza -New Jersey
6. WF Montgomery -Maryland
7. WF Oakridge -California
8. WF Old Orchard -Illinois
9. WF Plaza Bonita -California
10. WF Southcenter -Washington State
11. WF Topanga -California
12. WF UTC -California
13. WF Valley Fair -California
14. WF Wheaton -Maryland
15. WF World Trade Center -New York
2. WF Culver City -California
3. WF Fashion Square -California
4. WF Galleria at Roseville -California
5. WF Garden State Plaza -New Jersey
6. WF Montgomery -Maryland
7. WF Oakridge -California
8. WF Old Orchard -Illinois
9. WF Plaza Bonita -California
10. WF Southcenter -Washington State
11. WF Topanga -California
12. WF UTC -California
13. WF Valley Fair -California
14. WF Wheaton -Maryland
15. WF World Trade Center -New York
Properties highlighted in green have articles on the Mall Hall of Fame.
Photo from www.westfield.com / The Westfield Group
Frank Lowy ["Low" rhymes with "now"] immigrated from Czechoslovakia to the "Land Down Under" in 1952. He went on to form what was the world's largest retail real estate empire. Mr. Lowy stepped down from his Executive Chairperson position at Westfield in May 2011 and assumed the role of Non-Executive Chairman. He retired altogether in October 2015.
Photo from www.westfield.com / The Westfield Group
WESTFIELD IN AMERICA
Scroll along as we explore the first Westfield-owned shopping mall in the United States...
WESTFIELD IN AMERICA
Scroll along as we explore the first Westfield-owned shopping mall in the United States...
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