Southwest Center Mall
Encyclopedia
Southwest Center Mall is a located in Dallas, Texas
. Southwest Center Mall, originally owned by the DeBartolo family, opened in 1975. It was, and remains, the only major shopping mall located in the southern half of Dallas. The mall's original name, Red Bird Mall, came from the Red Bird area
of Dallas in which it is located.
Initially, the mall was anchored by four department stores:
Later, Montgomery Ward
added a store near the Sears location, on the same side of the mall as Dillard's, but it was swiftly replaced by a Burlington Coat Factory.
Many of the stores in the mall were either opening their first stores in the southern sector of Dallas, or relocated from older shopping centers in the area.
and Interstate 20
at 3662 W. Camp Wisdom Road. As early as the mid-1980s, demographics began to change dramatically in the area surrounding Red Bird Mall, and at the same time a perception of crime began to brand the area so shoppers began taking their business elsewhere. And, in 1988, another regional mall--Parks Mall in Arlington, Texas--opened just 15 miles west of Red Bird Mall.
DeBartolo attempted to remodel the mall in 1996, in an attempt to rejuvenate the look. The mall was then sold to NAMCO Financial, a California investment group. It was at this time that NAMCO, in an attempt to attract new tenants, gave the mall a small refurbishment and new name – Southwest Center Mall. The name changed in 1997. A new food court was added under the reign of DeBartolo. The addition was finished and occupied in 1998 at the mall's northwest entrance. With a price tag of $18 million, the food court took up the lion's share of updates; upon its change of hands and change of name. In addition, though, Dillard’s increased their store size from 100,000 to 150000 square feet (13,935.5 m²), and Sears renovated their entire store in 1998. Montgomery Ward left the mall when it liquidated, and J. C. Penney closed its store in 2001.
NAMCO attempted unsuccessfully to sell the mall to General Growth Properties
in 2004.
The property eventually went into bankruptcy in 2008; then foreclosure, the lender Madison Capital picked up the property, Cityview Commercial was formed as a partner with Madison. A dynamic General Manger formed a partnership with the City, Community and Ownership to assist with the endeavor of turning the mall around. Much progress was made, the General Manager resigned and Boxer was hired to manage the property. The former General Manager is slated to rejoin Southwest Center Mall in April 2011 and is tasked with the final 25% of development and lease up.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. Southwest Center Mall, originally owned by the DeBartolo family, opened in 1975. It was, and remains, the only major shopping mall located in the southern half of Dallas. The mall's original name, Red Bird Mall, came from the Red Bird area
Redbird, Dallas, Texas
The Redbird community of Dallas is a group of neighborhoods located in the southern Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas . Neighborhoods in the area include Glen Oaks, Wynnewood Hills, and Elderwoods/Elderoaks....
of Dallas in which it is located.
Initially, the mall was anchored by four department stores:
- SearsSears, Roebuck and CompanySears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
, which anchored the eastern end of the mall - J. C. PenneyJ. C. Penney-External links:*...
, which anchored the western end of the mall; The City of Dallas currently has possession of the space under a 6 month option to buy which expires on June 7, 2010. - Sanger-HarrisSanger-HarrisSanger-Harris was a department store chain from 1961 to 1987. It was formed by Federated Department Stores in 1961 from two Dallas, Texas chains, Sanger Brothers and A. Harris and Co., that dated from the 19th century...
(later Foley'sFoley'sFoley’s was a chain of department stores owned by May Department Stores and headquartered in Downtown Houston, Texas. As of August 30, 2005, the division was dissolved and operation of the stores was assumed by Federated's Macy's West and Macy's South divisions. Foley's operated stores in Texas,...
, now Macy'sMacy'sMacy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
), whose store was in the middle of the mall on the northern side - Titche'sTitche-GoettingerTitche-Goettinger was a department store chain based in Dallas, Texas . It was established in 1902 and was a major player in the Dallas retail market until its absorption by Dillard's in 1987.- History :...
(later Joske'sJoske'sJoske's, founded by German immigrant Julius Joske in 1867, was a department store chain originally based in San Antonio, Texas. In December 1928, Hahn Department Stores acquired the company along with the Titche-Goettinger department store of Dallas, and three years later Hahn became part of Allied...
, then purchased by and renamed Dillard'sDillard'sDillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
), currently building [(Fiesta Mundo)]this venue is in the middle of the mall on the southern side
Later, Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
added a store near the Sears location, on the same side of the mall as Dillard's, but it was swiftly replaced by a Burlington Coat Factory.
Many of the stores in the mall were either opening their first stores in the southern sector of Dallas, or relocated from older shopping centers in the area.
The decline
The mall did well in the beginning, despite its location in the relatively undeveloped southern portion of Dallas. The mall is located near the intersection of U.S. Route 67U.S. Route 67
U.S. Route 67 is a 1,560 mile long north–south U.S. highway in the Central United States. The southern terminus of the route is at the United States-Mexico border in Presidio, Texas, where it continues south as Mexican Federal Highway 16 upon crossing the Rio Grande. The northern...
and Interstate 20
Interstate 20
Interstate 20 is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I‑20 runs 1,535 miles from near Kent, Texas, at Interstate 10 to Florence, South Carolina, at Interstate 95...
at 3662 W. Camp Wisdom Road. As early as the mid-1980s, demographics began to change dramatically in the area surrounding Red Bird Mall, and at the same time a perception of crime began to brand the area so shoppers began taking their business elsewhere. And, in 1988, another regional mall--Parks Mall in Arlington, Texas--opened just 15 miles west of Red Bird Mall.
DeBartolo attempted to remodel the mall in 1996, in an attempt to rejuvenate the look. The mall was then sold to NAMCO Financial, a California investment group. It was at this time that NAMCO, in an attempt to attract new tenants, gave the mall a small refurbishment and new name – Southwest Center Mall. The name changed in 1997. A new food court was added under the reign of DeBartolo. The addition was finished and occupied in 1998 at the mall's northwest entrance. With a price tag of $18 million, the food court took up the lion's share of updates; upon its change of hands and change of name. In addition, though, Dillard’s increased their store size from 100,000 to 150000 square feet (13,935.5 m²), and Sears renovated their entire store in 1998. Montgomery Ward left the mall when it liquidated, and J. C. Penney closed its store in 2001.
NAMCO attempted unsuccessfully to sell the mall to General Growth Properties
General Growth Properties
General Growth Properties, Inc. is a publicly traded real estate investment trust in the United States. It is based in Chicago, Illinois at 110 North Wacker Drive, a historic building designed by architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White...
in 2004.
The property eventually went into bankruptcy in 2008; then foreclosure, the lender Madison Capital picked up the property, Cityview Commercial was formed as a partner with Madison. A dynamic General Manger formed a partnership with the City, Community and Ownership to assist with the endeavor of turning the mall around. Much progress was made, the General Manager resigned and Boxer was hired to manage the property. The former General Manager is slated to rejoin Southwest Center Mall in April 2011 and is tasked with the final 25% of development and lease up.
The future
Although Southwest Center Mall faced bankruptcy in 2008 and ultimately went through foreclosure. The Woodmont Company was hired by the Bankruptcy Trustee to manage the facility. In August 2008, Woodmont hired a dynamic General Manager which in-turn created a team that truly revitalized the mall. The lender; Madison Capital picked up the property, Retail SWC Mall LLC was formed as a partner with Madison. The City of Dallas hired the ULI (Urban Land Institute) to assess the property and give their recommendations. The City of Dallas then paid to have the six month option to purchase the former J C Penney's building; they did not exercise their option. The former Dillard's building was being built out as a Fiesta Mundo and went into bankruptcy 2011. The General Manger created a partnership with the City, Community, Lender and Ownership to assist with the endeavor of turning the mall around. Much progress was made, then the General Manager resigned; Boxer followed as the management company. The former General Manager rejoin Southwest Center Mall in April 2011 and is charged with the final development and lease up (last 25%). Currently Southwest Center Mall is 80% occupied.Anchors
- Burlington Coat FactoryBurlington Coat FactoryBurlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 450 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico.. In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction...
(97,000 sq ft.) - Macy'sMacy'sMacy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
(152,000 sq ft.) - SearsSears, Roebuck and CompanySears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
(205,000 sq ft.) - [(Future Fiesta Mundo)] (156,000 sq ft. )
- [(Former JC Penney)] (216,000 sq ft. )