Meridian Mall
Meridian Mall entrance sign along Grand River Avenue
LocationMeridian Charter Township (Okemos), Michigan, United States
Opening dateNovember 6, 1969 (1969-11-06)
DeveloperM.H. Hausman Co.
ManagementCBL Properties
OwnerCBL Properties
No. of stores and services125
No. of anchor tenants8 (6 open, 1 vacant)
Total retail floor area997,128 sq ft (92,636 m2).
No. of floors1 (2 in Dick's Sporting Goods and former Younkers Women's)
Public transit accessBus interchange CATA
Websitewww.meridianmall.com

Meridian Mall is a super-regional shopping mall located in Okemos, Meridian Township, a suburb of Lansing, Michigan, United States.

It opened in 1969, the same year as its main competitor, Lansing Mall, on the other end of the Lansing metropolitan area. The mall originally featured the J.W. Knapp Company and Woolco as its anchor stores, and underwent many expansions over the years. A G. C. Murphy dime store was subdivided for additional mall space in 1979, while J.W. Knapp sold its store to JCPenney a year later. Expansions in 1982 and 1987 added two more wings of stores anchored by Hudson's (later Marshall Field's, now Macy's) and Mervyn's, while the closure of Woolco allowed for the addition of a food court and Service Merchandise. Further renovations at the beginning of the 21st century relocated the food court and replaced Service Merchandise with Jacobson's, while also adding Galyan's (now Dick's Sporting Goods) and several other big-box stores. After only two years in business, the Jacobson's store closed and converted to Younkers; following the closure of Mervyn's in 2006, Younkers expanded its presence in the mall by moving some departments into that space, until parent company The Bon-Ton filed for bankruptcy in 2018 and closed all stores.

Meridian Mall features about 125 stores and a food court, plus a movie theater on its periphery. The mall's anchor stores are High Caliber Karting and Entertainment, JCPenney, Launch Trampoline Park, Macy's, Schuler Books & Music, and Dick's Sporting Goods. There are 2 vacant anchor stores that were once Younkers and Bed Bath & Beyond. Other major tenants include H&M and Planet Fitness. Meridian Mall is owned and managed by CBL Properties, which has owned it since 1998.

History

Meridian Mall was built by the M.H. Hausman Company and opened to the public on November 6, 1969.[1][2] The mall was built at the northwest corner of Grand River Avenue (M-43) and Marsh Road in Meridian Charter Township. Originally, the mall featured two anchor stores: the Lansing-based J.W. Knapp Company (Knapp's) and Woolco, a discount department store then owned by the F. W. Woolworth Company.[3] Major tenants at the time included the Meridian 4, a four-screen movie theater multiplex operated by American Multi-Cinema (now AMC Theatres), along with a G. C. Murphy dime store, a Cunningham Drug pharmacy, and a Hamady supermarket. Two local restaurants, Schensul's Cafeteria and Elias Brothers Big Boy, also had locations in the mall.[4]

The Hamady store was closed in 1972 and remained vacant until 1976, when it was converted to a second movie theater complex that also featured four screens. This newer theater became known as Meridian East 4, while the existing ones were renamed Meridian West 4.[5] In 1979, the G. C. Murphy store was closed and its space was divided into a new mall section consisting of twelve shops, known as "The Court".[6] Among the first stores to open in The Court were CardAmerica, Casual Corner, and MC Sports.[7]

The 1980s

J. W. Knapp filed for bankruptcy in 1980 and sold all three of its shopping mall stores (in Meridian Mall, Lansing Mall, and Jackson's Westwood Mall) to JCPenney.[8] A new wing was added to the south end of Meridian Mall in 1982, bringing in the Detroit-based Hudson's as a third anchor.[9] New tenants in the Hudson's wing included several clothing stores and a Foot Locker, while the existing mall was refurbished with new planters, flooring, seating, skylights, and canopies over the mall entrances.[10] Later in 1982, the F. W. Woolworth Company closed all stores in the Woolco division, and in 1983, the vacated Woolco space was subdivided for a 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) Service Merchandise catalog showroom, a food court, and a mall corridor with space for up to fifteen more tenants. Among these tenants was a local 18,000-square-foot (1,700 m2) men's clothing and sporting goods store known as B. Altman's.[11] A 1987 expansion added another new wing ending in a Mervyn's department store. The store opened concurrently with seven others in the state, one of which was located at Lansing Mall, as part of the chain's introduction to Michigan.[12] This addition at Meridian Mall included more than ten new storefronts, including Lerner New York (now known as New York & Company), LensCrafters, Babbage's (now known as GameStop), and new locations for Gantos and County Seat.[13]

1990s-early 2000s

Meridian Mall side entrance from west end of building

By 1993, expansions at Lansing Mall had created significant competition between the two malls; that year, the approximately 60 businesses had stores at both malls, and 40 unique to each.[14] One of the few renovations to Meridian Mall during the 1990s came in 1995, when Hobie's restaurant was removed from the food court to accommodate more seating.[15] Additions in 1996 included Abercrombie & Fitch, Select Comfort, and the first Kirkland's home furnishings store in Michigan.[16]

On August 27, 1998, CBL & Associates Properties (now known as CBL Properties) acquired Meridian Mall.[17][18] Immediately afterward, several new tenants joined the mall, including The Children's Place, Mrs. Fields, Braun's Fashions (now known as Christopher & Banks), and the first Ann Taylor and Old Navy stores in the Lansing area.[19] Service Merchandise closed its Meridian Mall store in early 1999.[20] A $20 million mall renovation began in 2000, which added new floor tiles, skylights, seating areas, and restrooms, along with many new stores.[21] One of the key tenants in this renovation plan was a two-story Jacobson's department store, which opened in early 2000 on the former site of Service Merchandise, and replaced an existing Jacobson's in downtown East Lansing.[22] In addition, Bed Bath & Beyond built a store in the same wing, the food court was relocated to center court, and the Hudson's was expanded by 50,000 square feet (4,600 m2).[23] Shortly after receiving the expansion, Hudson's was renamed to Marshall Field's when parent company Target Corporation began consolidating the names of its department stores.[24] The new food court opened in November 2000, with restaurants including A&W, Sbarro, Olga's Kitchen, Panda Express, and Arby's. The remaining restaurants from the old food court stayed until year's end,[25] when that space was removed for Schuler Books & Music, replacing their previous location across the street.[26] Galyan's, a sporting goods store based out of Indiana, opened next to the new food court in 2002.[21] Coinciding with the addition of these stores, the mall also added Suncoast Motion Picture Company, Steve & Barry's, Hollister Co., and an AT&T Wireless store, while Bailey Banks & Biddle, MC Sports, and several locally-owned stores closed.[27] The site occupied by Galyan's was originally to have been occupied by a new multiplex theater, but this was canceled due to concerns that major theater chains were overbuilding.[28] Prior to the renovation, both of the existing theaters in the mall had closed: Meridian East 4 in December 1999,[29] and Meridian West 4 in July 2000.[30]

Jacobson's declared bankruptcy in 2002 and closed.[31] A year later, its building was tenanted by Younkers,[2] which also opened at Lansing Mall the same year. Due to space limitations in the old Jacobson's, Younkers operated its men's and children's departments in a newly-created, adjacent storefront. This expansion displaced the mall offices, which operated out of a temporary location in the Mervyns wing for a short time, until the Steve & Barry's store was relocated to the JCPenney wing and the previous location was remodeled into a new mall office.[32]

Mid 2000s-2020s

In 2004, Dick's Sporting Goods acquired and renamed all of the Galyan's stores.[33] Two more changes came to the mall's anchors in 2006; first, in early 2006, Mervyn's closed all of its Michigan stores, and later the same year, Marshall Field's was one of several chains to be acquired and renamed by Macy's.[34] Younkers expanded its presence at the mall in mid-2008 by moving its men's clothing, children's clothing, and furniture departments into the vacated Mervyn's space, while retaining women's clothing and accessories at the existing store. This two-store concept, referred to by parent company The Bon-Ton as a "dual anchor", alleviated the congested layout of the existing store, while allowing a greater variety of merchandise to be offered between the two locations.[35] Steve & Barry's closed at the mall in September 2008.[36]

The former Meridian Mall Outer 6 AMC movie theater on the mall's periphery closed its doors on September 5, 2011. The theater reopened in December 2012 as Studio C!, offering drinks and made-to-order food ordered and served at patrons' seats.[37] In late 2013, plans were approved to add H&M and Gordmans to the mall sometime in 2014. Planet Fitness and Shoe Carnival both opened in the Macy's wing in late 2013.[38][39] On April 29, 2017, Gordmans closed their Meridian Mall location due to bankruptcy.[40] Launch Trampoline Park was announced as its replacement in mid-2018.[41] The Bon-Ton filed for bankruptcy in mid-2018, and began liquidation of all its stores, including both Younkers locations at Meridian Mall.[42] In mid-2019, High Caliber Karting and Entertainment announced that it would open in the former Younkers Men's & Home store.[43] In early 2020, Old Navy closed, and High Caliber plans to expand into the resulting vacancy.[44]

On June 23, 2020, JCPenney announced that it would be closing as part of a plan to close 13 stores nationwide after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[45] However, JCPenney cancelled the store's closing in early July.[46]

References

  1. ↑ "Michigan". CSA Super Markets. 44: 68. 1968.
  2. 1 2 Whittington, Jane (2002-11-01). "Meridian Mall Evolves, Expands". Greater Lansing Business Monthly. Archived from the original on 2014-06-11. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  3. ↑ "The Michigan Assessor". 17. 1976: 5. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ↑ Dozier, Vickki. "From the Archives: Meridian Mall". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  5. ↑ Flood, Mary (October 21, 1976). "Meridian 4 remodeling Hamady's for 4 more". Lansing State Journal. pp. B–4. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  6. ↑ Billitterri, Tom (June 10, 1979). "Dozen shops will replace G.C. Murphy". Lansing State Journal. p. E10. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  7. ↑ Chien, Clarence A. (November 25, 1979). "Merchants fervently wishing for big Yule". Lansing State Journal. p. E1. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  8. ↑ El Nasser, Haya A. (June 7, 1981). "J. C. Penney dresses in high fashion for Lansing, Meridian mall openings". Lansing State Journal. pp. E1, E7. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  9. ↑ "Hudson's to open second outlet in Lansing area in July 1982". The Toledo Blade. 1981-06-09. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  10. ↑ El Nasser, Haya A. (July 18, 1982). "Meridian rebirth this week". Lansing State Journal. pp. 1E, 3E.
  11. ↑ El Nasser, Haya A. (November 13, 1983). "Catalog showroom will open Monday". Lansing State Journal. p. E1. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  12. ↑ Albright, John B. (August 8, 1987). "Ads lead way for Mervyn's department stores". Lansing State Journal. p. 6B. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  13. ↑ Barker, Dedria (September 19, 1987). "Malls to open twin additions". Lansing State Journal. p. 6B. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  14. ↑ Streng, Aileen M. (August 22, 1993). "Lansing Mall ups ante: Limited Express, Structure, and Victoria's Secret to open". Lansing State Journal. p. B1. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  15. ↑ Kyle, Cynthia (May 9, 1995). "Lansing, Meridian malls polishing up for spring". Lansing State Journal. p. 5B. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  16. ↑ Evenson, AJ (June 21, 1996). "Lineup of new stores to hit malls". Lansing State Journal. p. 5B. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  17. ↑ CBL & Associates Properties Acquires Two Malls in Michigan and Wisconsin
  18. ↑ "Improvements to Meridian Mall boast new stores, better floors". The State News. Archived from the original on 2003-07-06.
  19. ↑ Banas, Teri (April 21, 1998). "Meridian Mall store offerings expand by seven". Lansing State Journal. p. 5B. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Okemos store to close". Lansing State Journal. March 11, 1999. p. 5B. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  21. 1 2 Stock, Susan (October 3, 2001). "Mall celebrates new look, stores". Lansing State Journal. p. 7C. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  22. ↑ Banas, Teri (March 10, 2000). "Jacobson's project gets under way". Lansing State Journal. p. 7B. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  23. ↑ Banas, Teri (June 15, 2000). "Bed, Bath joins mall expansion". Lansing State Journal. p. 5B. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Hudson's stores soon to receive a new moniker". Lansing State Journal. January 13, 2001. pp. 1A, 5A. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Mall opens new food court". Lansing State Journal. November 20, 2000. pp. Business Extra 12. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  26. ↑ Banas, Teri (February 7, 2001). "Deal reached on bookstore's move". Lansing State Journal. p. 7C. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  27. ↑ Stock, Susan (February 1, 2002). "Shopping landscape evolving at Lansing, Meridian malls". Lansing State Journal. p. 5C. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  28. ↑ Banas, Teri (November 23, 2000). "Area's few theaters pack 'em in". Lansing State Journal. p. 7C. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  29. ↑ Banas, Teri (December 28, 1999). "Meridian East theater closes doors this week". Lansing State Journal. p. 5B. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  30. ↑ Banas, Teri (July 12, 2000). "Moviegoers lose spots to sit in Meridian Twp". Lansing State Journal. p. 1A. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  31. ↑ Stock, Susan (August 31, 2002). "Last hurrah at Jacobson's lures bargain hunters". Lansing State Journal. pp. 1A, 7A. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  32. ↑ Stock, Susan (June 17, 2003). "Sportswear store in mall to double". Lansing State Journal. p. 6C. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Breaking news". Lansing State Journal. September 30, 2004. p. D1. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  34. ↑ Rook, Christine (September 10, 2006). "Shoppers flock to malls as Macy's opens its doors". Lansing State Journal. pp. 1B, 3B. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  35. ↑ Prater, Kathryn (July 1, 2008). "Younkers at Meridian Mall adds second site, more merchandise". Lansing State Journal. pp. 5D, 6D. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  36. ↑ "2 area Steve & Barry's closing". Lansing State Journal. September 3, 2008. p. 5D. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  37. ↑ O'Brien, Jesse (2012-07-03). "Meridan AMC turning into high-end Celebration Cinema". The State News. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
  38. ↑ Parker, Dawn (3 December 2013). "Board OKs Meridian Mall expansion". Lansing State Journal. Archived from the original on 22 December 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  39. ↑ "Meridian Mall expansion request approved". HOM TV. 4 December 2013. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  40. ↑ Alusheff, Alexander (27 April 2017). "Gordmans in Meridian Mall to close Saturday". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  41. ↑ Gabbara, Princess (January 16, 2018). "Launch Trampoline Park to open at Meridian Mall". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  42. ↑ Hansen, Haley (April 19, 2018). "Younkers in Meridian, Lansing malls to close as parent company is sold to liquidators". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  43. ↑ "Indoor go-kart tracks slated to open at the Meridian Mall by the end of the summer". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  44. ↑ Greco, Rachel. "High Caliber Karting planning expansion at Meridian Mall". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  45. ↑ Chris Isidore (23 June 2020). "JCPenney is closing another 13 stores". CNN. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  46. ↑ "JCPenney Store Closings – JCPenney Company Blog". 2020-07-11. Archived from the original on 2020-07-11. Retrieved 2020-07-11.

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