West County Center
Encyclopedia
West County Center is a shopping mall
located in Des Peres, Missouri
, originally built in 1969. The original mall closed in 2001, and a new mall on the site opened in 2002. From the mid-1990s to 2007, the mall was known as Westfield (Shoppingtown) West County and was one of seven St. Louis-area malls owned by the Australian mall company, until CBL & Associates acquired four out of five Westfield St. Louis malls in October 2007. In May 2011, it was announced that TIAA-CREF
would receive 50% ownership of West County Center and several other CBL malls in an attempt to reduce CBL's debt.
sunrise services that were held there. It was 563621 square feet (52,362.1 m²), and anchored by Famous-Barr
and JCPenney. The original mall closed on January 27, 2001 and was demolished (except for JC Penney which was completely remodeled)
, food court, and three parking garages. In 2009, the mall's defunct Lord & Taylor
store was adapted into a new wing housing Barnes & Noble
and other retailers.
sign that sits outside the mall next to Interstate 270. Created by Joe Thaler, it has become a meeting place for thousands of people during its nearly 40-year life. The removal of the dove in early 2001 caused minor controversy among nearby churches. The dove was refurbished during the renovation, and in mid-2002, returned to its original perch. Today, it is in the parking lot outside of Nordstrom.
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
located in Des Peres, Missouri
Des Peres, Missouri
Des Peres is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 8,373 at the 2010 census.-History:The first inhabitants of Des Peres were the Cahokia, the Kaskaskia, the Michigamea, the Moingwena, and the Tamaora Native American tribes....
, originally built in 1969. The original mall closed in 2001, and a new mall on the site opened in 2002. From the mid-1990s to 2007, the mall was known as Westfield (Shoppingtown) West County and was one of seven St. Louis-area malls owned by the Australian mall company, until CBL & Associates acquired four out of five Westfield St. Louis malls in October 2007. In May 2011, it was announced that TIAA-CREF
TIAA-CREF
Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association – College Retirement Equities Fund is a Fortune 100 financial services organization that is the leading retirement provider for people who work in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields...
would receive 50% ownership of West County Center and several other CBL malls in an attempt to reduce CBL's debt.
1969 mall
The original mall opened on February 5, 1969 at the southeast corner of I-270 and Manchester Road in Des Peres, Missouri. It was built on the site of the Manchester Drive-In movie theater, which many remember for the EasterEaster
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
sunrise services that were held there. It was 563621 square feet (52,362.1 m²), and anchored by Famous-Barr
Famous-Barr
The Famous-Barr Co. , St. Louis, Missouri, was a division of Macy's, Inc. . It was formerly the hometown division of The May Department Stores Company, which was acquired by Federated on August 30, 2005. On February 1, 2006, it was subsumed into the newly created Macy's Midwest division.The...
and JCPenney. The original mall closed on January 27, 2001 and was demolished (except for JC Penney which was completely remodeled)
2002 mall
The new West County Center, featuring 1138813 ft2, opened on September 20, 2002. The US$230 million project added a NordstromNordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
, food court, and three parking garages. In 2009, the mall's defunct Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor, colloquially known as L&T, or LT, based in New York City, is the oldest upscale, specialty-retail department store chain in the United States. Concentrated in the eastern U.S., the retailer operated independently for nearly a century prior to joining American Dry Goods...
store was adapted into a new wing housing Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...
and other retailers.
Dove sign
The most famous part of the mall is the large doveDove
Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...
sign that sits outside the mall next to Interstate 270. Created by Joe Thaler, it has become a meeting place for thousands of people during its nearly 40-year life. The removal of the dove in early 2001 caused minor controversy among nearby churches. The dove was refurbished during the renovation, and in mid-2002, returned to its original perch. Today, it is in the parking lot outside of Nordstrom.