Westroads Mall (10000 California St)

[ProgKingHughesker]

Ricketts' restaurant is going to be somewhere on there too.

Old Mini dealership

[Cup of Cheese]

image.jpeg

What store is now in where JC Penney used to be on the east side of the mall? I think it was JC Penney -- I have been back to Omaha since 1994. And it looks like there are AMC theaters now where Younkers used to be.

It's so odd to read about Oak View Mall being somewhat slow. It was brand new a few years before I left.

I miss Omaha.

[bbinks]

image.jpeg

What store is now in where JC Penney used to be on the east side of the mall? I think it was JC Penney -- I have been back to Omaha since 1994. And it looks like there are AMC theaters now where Younkers used to be.

It's so odd to read about Oak View Mall being somewhat slow. It was brand new a few years before I left.

I miss Omaha.

JCP is still there. We'll see how their financial situation affects that though nationwide.

[ChadJK]

Does anyone remember the name of that oddity shop that used to be in Westroads in the early 2000s? I think it was on the west end of the lower level (not the basement level). They sold things like incense, buddha figurines, and that sort of new age stuff.

It came up in conversation today and it's driving me crazy that I can't remember it.

[bigredmed1]

Spencer’s Gifts?

[bbinks]

Does anyone remember the name of that oddity shop that used to be in Westroads in the early 2000s? I think it was on the west end of the lower level (not the basement level). They sold things like incense, buddha figurines, and that sort of new age stuff.

It came up in conversation today and it's driving me crazy that I can't remember it.

If it was the place that was dimly lit, probably The Afternoon.

[ChadJK]

I want to say it was called "New Realities" or something similar.

[ita]

Ricketts' restaurant is going to be somewhere on there too.

Old Mini dealership

You're right. Going back to a previous article about Topgolf and Rickett's purchase in the area, Ricketts owns the lot where there is the 200k sq. ft. of office space identified in the posted map.

https://www.omaha.com/money/plus/as-oma ... b7a.html#1

Per the Douglas County GIS, the Mini dealership lot is owned by Hugo Steakhouse and the adjacent lot to the north, about 6.5 acres where the office space could be, is owned by Hugo Westroads Development.

[TheSeventhBrat]

Does anyone remember the name of that oddity shop that used to be in Westroads in the early 2000s? I think it was on the west end of the lower level (not the basement level). They sold things like incense, buddha figurines, and that sort of new age stuff.

It came up in conversation today and it's driving me crazy that I can't remember it.

If it was the place that was dimly lit, probably The Afternoon.

The Afternoon was one of the original tenants.

[bigredmed1]

The Afternoon sold kitchen gear and figurines. Spencer’s Gifts was on the main floor.

[Uffda]

article on how malls might have to change.


COVID-19 has likely quickened the end of malls as we knew them

Bowen has been immersed in the world of failing malls for years, toying with their parts to figure out the future. He’s in the midst of redeveloping University Mall on Fowler Avenue into what RD Management is calling the Uptown District in Tampa.RD’s vision is to turn the old mall into a research hub and village with offices, apartments and retail that feeds off the University of South Florida.

Bowen expects more malls to move toward creating what he’s in the beginning stages of at University Mall.

He struggles to see the department store remaining as a meaningful part of malls’ next iteration.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/20 ... cane+Guide

[bigredmed1]

I can see a quality store like von Maur’s keeping going, but lesser ones? Probably not. The vanity shops are likely gone. The rare use stores are gone.

I think that the movie theaters are gone if they can’t make it worth the money and keep the hassle down. Sorry, don’t want to go a date and have to deal with punk kids jacking around. Same with drunks or waiters walking through the movie.

That said, the recent Disney movie editing means that your digital rights purchase is not a permanent buy. They can alter or delete any part they want. For the same money, I can go to a big screen and not get the edited version.

[Greg S]

I've said it before and it probably is going to happen quicker, I just don't see Omaha needing or supporting more than 1 indoor mall going forward. I think we find out June 4 what stores JCPenney's will close.

As far as movie theaters, I am sure this is tough on them too and we might lose some. I go to movies almost weekly and haven't really ever had issues with kids jacking around or drunks. I usually go to Majestic but sometimes to Village Pointe and occasionally to Twin Creek and AMC Oak View.

Greg

[TitosBuritoBarn]

I would love to see retail start heading back downtown and having that become the retail hub again as malls continue to go out of fashion, but I realize that's wishful thinking. It's been tried so many times.

I believe in most cities outside the US the norm is for retail to be centralized downtown with one or two enclosed malls in the suburbs.

[ita]

I haven't seen it yet, but Grow Omaha reported the Mini dealership razed.That means Joe Ricketts has some other plans for the lots he bought as the original announcement was the Mini building would be reused as a Bison restaurant. Trenton thinks multi-use project. We'll see. There's about 8 acres to work with so maybe something with some height/density.

[buildomaha]

There is an orbt stop there.

[ita]

There is an orbt stop there.

Do you mean aside from the Westroads station, like there is one right in front of Ricketts's lot(s)?

[OmahaJaysCU]

I had heard a condo “tower.” 15 stories is what I heard.

[ita]

I had heard a condo “tower.” 15 stories is what I heard.

Are you for reals or just pulling our collective leg?

[Jins123]

A confirmed Chipotle coming soon sign is in that lot, saw it a week ago

[buildomaha]

There is an orbt stop there.

Do you mean aside from the Westroads station, like there is one right in front of Ricketts's lot(s)?

No just referring to the west roads stop within the Westwood’s loop.

[ita]

There is an orbt stop there.

Do you mean aside from the Westroads station, like there is one right in front of Ricketts's lot(s)?

No just referring to the west roads stop within the Westwood’s loop.

Gotcha. If they extend BRT westward (hopefully with dedicated lanes), Westroads will further be strengthened as a transfer center. I've been saying this a couple years now, but I would like to see dense residential built in the Westroads area. Hopefully, Ricketts is leaning to incorporating some in his development plan.

[OmahaJaysCU]

I had heard a condo “tower.” 15 stories is what I heard.

Are you for reals or just pulling our collective leg?

That’s actually something I heard. Apparently there has been a group trying hard to do a suburban condo tower for a while targeting retirees not interested in lawns, shoveling, etc., but don’t want to live downtown. Again, it’s a rumor, but it’s a real rumor.

[Omaha Cowboy]

I had heard a condo “tower.” 15 stories is what I heard.

Are you for reals or just pulling our collective leg?

That’s actually something I heard. Apparently there has been a group trying hard to do a suburban condo tower for a while targeting retirees not interested in lawns, shoveling, etc., but don’t want to live downtown. Again, it’s a rumor, but it’s a real rumor.

I could definitely see this as a “real” rumor for sure...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[iamjacobm]

I had heard a condo “tower.” 15 stories is what I heard.

Are you for reals or just pulling our collective leg?

That’s actually something I heard. Apparently there has been a group trying hard to do a suburban condo tower for a while targeting retirees not interested in lawns, shoveling, etc., but don’t want to live downtown. Again, it’s a rumor, but it’s a real rumor.

Piggy backing your rumors tonight. Heard very similar with a rooftop restaurant to take advantage of the views on the hill. A 15 story building would appear a lot taller and the restaurant would see over much of the city.

Not sure if it passed this year, but there was a bill to change the condo laws in the state that have really driven developers away from that product type. If that passes this would be even more fesiable.

[ita]

I had heard a condo “tower.” 15 stories is what I heard.

Are you for reals or just pulling our collective leg?

That’s actually something I heard. Apparently there has been a group trying hard to do a suburban condo tower for a while targeting retirees not interested in lawns, shoveling, etc., but don’t want to live downtown. Again, it’s a rumor, but it’s a real rumor.

Piggy backing your rumors tonight. Heard very similar with a rooftop restaurant to take advantage of the views on the hill. A 15 story building would appear a lot taller and the restaurant would see over much of the city.

Not sure if it passed this year, but there was a bill to change the condo laws in the state that have really driven developers away from that product type. If that passes this would be even more fesiable.

LB767 is still in the works, but has not been passed. I think that bill is a good step forward for more condominium projects.

OmahaJaysCU thanks for confirming. You did call the Lockwood involvement in Crossroads, so I take your rumors very seriously! In any case, I am high on dense residential for Westroads and think that more than Crossroads can be a transportation hub. If Ricketts can successfully build there, I would like to see some of the West Sea of parking by the ORBT station infilled with housing, though I know that's a stretch.

[empires228]

Still shows Granite City, gone at least a month

Granite City shut down for good before the pandemic was even announced..

Regarding Dillard’s, if true, this market can support more than one Dillard’s location. Wichita KS, a metro with more than 300,000 less population than Omaha still has 2 locations...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Towne West is only a Dillard's Clearance Center that uses the first floor of the old Montgomery Ward store. The old Dillard's Women & Home store is currently completely vacant. It's the same store that Crossroads had for about a year at the end and it's also what recently closed at Mall of The Bluffs. Dillard's canceled 4/5 of their upcoming stores so this will be a project to watch. I believe Grand Junction, CO is the only one still progressing, and they canceled all expansion plans into Wisconsin. Colorado Springs also only has one full line Dillard's store now. The Citadel has also been a Dillard's Clearance Center for several years now. They also just closed St. Joseph, MO. Other regional stores to watch for closure will be the men's store at Oak Park Mall, Jefferson City, MO, Manhattan Town Center, Mid Rivers Mall, Oak Court Mall in Memphis, the store at the Tulsa Promenade Mall, and one of the three OKC stores. My bet is on Sooner Fashion Mall.

Memphis is down 3-4 Dillard's stores in the past 30 years, KC is down 11 Dillard's stores between Bannister Mall, Antioch Mall, Indian Springs Mall, two stores at Mission Center, Metro North, Downtown, The Plaza, Ward Parkway Mall, East Hills Mall, and The Landing, Wichita is down 2, three if you count Hutchinson, Tulsa is down one at Utica Square, and OKC is down two.

Denver I think is down Buckingham Square, Greeley, Longmont, Boulder, Southglenn Mall, and Westminster Mall. We used to go there 3-4 times a year to shop but stopped around 7 years ago. I'm not even sure which malls are still open. I know Joslins closed the downtown store about a decade before Dillard's could mangle the store like they did in San Antonio, KC, Wichita, Nashville, St. Louis, and many other markets where they acquired a downtown store as part of a merger.

[Brad]

On the topgolf listing on loopnet it says that the old Younkers space will become a new flagiship Dillards.

So we all completely missed it, but Westroads (Or someone using Westroads Address) under the name "WESTROADS ANCHOR ACQUISITION" purchased the former Yonkers a year ago.

https://douglascone.wgxtreme.com/data/I ... 032976.pdf

Gives even more credibility to the Dillard's in that top golf rendering...

[Omaha Cowboy]

It’d be nice to see Dillard’s open a 2nd location in the Omaha metro at Westroads...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[Brad]

It’d be nice to see Dillard’s open a 2nd location in the Omaha metro at Westroads...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

After reading ita's post in the Oakview thread, do you really think they will keep 2 locations. Especially since the top golf rendering calls the Westroads a "Flagship Store"? I have a hard time seeing it.

[Omaha Cowboy]

It’d be nice to see Dillard’s open a 2nd location in the Omaha metro at Westroads...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

After reading ita's post in the Oakview thread, do you really think they will keep 2 locations. Especially since the top golf rendering calls the Westroads a "Flagship Store"? I have a hard time seeing it.

It’s Dillard’s call, ultimately. They own their Oakview parcel.. The slum lord who (possibly) purchased the mall component of Oakview could force Dillard’s hand there with his cheapening five and dime “concept”..

We’ll see...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[Omaha Cowboy]

That said- it’d be cool to see 2 prominent point of destination shopping alternatives at Westroads once again-

Von Maur and Dillard’s...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[Busguy2010]

My bet is they would either have one and move it to Westroads, or just exit the market. That said, I'd love to have Dillards at Westroads since Younkers left both Crossroads and Westroads, and Dillards left Crossroads. It seeems like a perfect fit. The writing is on the wall at the Oakview Dillards. If they want to be in Omaha, it isn't going to be at Oakview. And there's an available building in a premium location. Its up to them, and I'm sure we will hear something before too long, or if we don't, then you also have an answer.

[legato9]

I had occasion to talk to someone from Dillards last week. I just lead with, "So, y'all are moving from Oakview to Westroads, eh?" (Figuring they could correct me if I was wrong.) They said "yeah, but Covid has set construction back. So we're hoping to get moved within 9-12 months."

I know, I know. This is a prime "some guy on the internet said" moment. But I, at least, am quite certain that Dillards' days at Oakview are numbered.

[Omaha Cowboy]

I had occasion to talk to someone from Dillards last week. I just lead with, "So, y'all are moving from Oakview to Westroads, eh?" (Figuring they could correct me if I was wrong.) They said "yeah, but Covid has set construction back. So we're hoping to get moved within 9-12 months."

I know, I know. This is a prime "some guy on the internet said" moment. But I, at least, am quite certain that Dillards' days at Oakview are numbered.

The thing is, Dillard’s owns their parcel at Oakview.. Sure, they could up and leave..but I doubt they’d continue to own a property they house nothing at..so it’s not so simple. Last I checked, their Oakview spot is not for sale either (unless I missed something).. Perhaps the new slumlord who purchased the mall component of Oakview will motivate Dillard’s to cut bait and sell..

In any case, you’re right- yet another “I talked to a guy at Dillard’s and he said...” moment ...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[legato9]

Still...there’s no way Omaha ends up with two Dillards stores. (Unless one is a “clearance center.) There are very few cities that have more than one proper Dillards location. I’d make a pretty big wager that Omaha will not be added to that short list.

[Omaha Cowboy]

You seem pretty certain..

I could see 2 Dillard’s locations in Omaha..and one being a discount “clearance” location as you mention..

In the end, only Dillard’s knows what Dillard’s will end up doing in the Omaha market..

We’ll see...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[Busguy2010]

I could definitely see Dillard's running a real store at Westroads and a clearance store at Oakview. Only for a short period of time though. We all know what a clearance store really amounts to. Doesn't really count as two stores to me.

[bbinks]

I can't recall the last time I was in Dillard's.

You can get some nice clothes at Target for less money. I even picked up a nice shirt at Walmart a year ago.

[omaha79]

I could definitely see Dillard's running a real store at Westroads and a clearance store at Oakview. Only for a short period of time though. We all know what a clearance store really amounts to. Doesn't really count as two stores to me.

If Oak View turns into a Dillards Clearance sale, that's just another step on the dying mall checklist. And, it would be like what happened at Crossroads. It would be a short term run out the clock scenario.