Westroads Mall (10000 California St)

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Sun Oct 30, 2022 2:41 pm

Yes that’s correct. Jones Store was on the far west end of the mall. They essentially tore down Montgomery Wards and replaced it with the Jones Store, which then closed and Younkers took over the structure. Then Younkers imploded. Now it sits collecting dust.

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Sun Oct 30, 2022 7:34 pm

Wasn't Younker's next to JCPenney's before it moved to the west end of the mall?

Post by **Brad** » Sun Oct 30, 2022 8:32 pm

mrsticka wrote: Sun Oct 30, 2022 7:34 pm Wasn't Younker's next to JCPenney's before it moved to the west end of the mall?

No, Younkers was where the Movie Theater is now.

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Sun Oct 30, 2022 10:44 pm

I vaguely remember the old movie theater. I know we went to it a few times when we lived in Omaha. I thought it was real cool. My mom would take us kids to see a movie there and I was absolutely blown away.

NEDodger · Post by **NEDodger** » Mon Oct 31, 2022 12:16 pm

HuskerGal33 wrote: Sun Oct 30, 2022 12:33 pm
Busguy2010 wrote: Sun Oct 30, 2022 11:46 am
NEDodger wrote: Sun Oct 30, 2022 1:00 am Nope. That started out as The Jones Store.
Well I'll be. Any idea when it became Von Maur?

All my earliest memories from the mall are from late 90's early 2000's. I never really went to the Von Maur side. As a kid, I mostly went for Tilt, a pretzel and Suncoast. Speaking of the pretzels, what was the place before Auntie Ann's?

A couple more I can think of that have been in the same spot as long as I can remember are Suncoast, Yankee Candle, and Old Navy.
The Jones Store was where the Ward's store was (later Younkers took it over). The Von Maur building was specifically built for them.

Good call. I can’t believe Ward’s has been gone that long…!

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Mon Oct 31, 2022 1:58 pm

mrsticka wrote: Sun Oct 30, 2022 7:34 pm Wasn't Younker's next to JCPenney's before it moved to the west end of the mall?

And Brandeis was between Younkers and Wards. Brandeis floors were smaller but it had 4 floors. A basement level that had men's, customer service and office. The fourth floor had a deli that overlooked the parking lot, children's and maybe intimate apparel (the new employee training room was also up there). I used to work there.

Greg

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Mon Oct 31, 2022 5:45 pm

Originally Younker’s (then Younker Kilpatrick’s) opened to the central atrium. The AMC theatre basically sits where the store once did.

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Mon Oct 31, 2022 5:58 pm

I wish there were photos of Westroads from the 70's and 80's available so I could see what it was like at the time.

TransitOriented · Post by **TransitOriented** » Tue Nov 01, 2022 9:50 am

mrsticka wrote: Mon Oct 31, 2022 5:58 pm I wish there were photos of Westroads from the 70's and 80's available so I could see what it was like at the time.

This topic comes up so often. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?van ... 2869310420

ChadJK · Post by **ChadJK** » Tue Nov 01, 2022 11:39 am

Remember the chapel that used to be in Westroods? Or, the dinner theater that was in the lowest level then, later, the Jewish Deli? My dad used to get his pipe tobacco at David's Briar Shop.

djc311 · Post by **djc311** » Tue Nov 01, 2022 11:46 am

My wife was just asking if anyone has inside pics of the old Center Mall... back when you could actually shop there (Younkers, etc).

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Tue Nov 01, 2022 1:09 pm

ChadJK wrote: Tue Nov 01, 2022 11:39 am Remember the chapel that used to be in Westroods? Or, the dinner theater that was in the lowest level then, later, the Jewish Deli? My dad used to get his pipe tobacco at David's Briar Shop.

There used to be a Dippy Donuts too.

As a kid I really liked the store McCrory's.

Greg

JDJase · Post by **JDJase** » Tue Nov 01, 2022 1:17 pm

djc311 wrote: Tue Nov 01, 2022 11:46 am My wife was just asking if anyone has inside pics of the old Center Mall... back when you could actually shop there (Younkers, etc).

This OWH article from late last year has a handful of inside pics
https://omaha.com/news/local/history/po ... e-trending

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Tue Nov 01, 2022 2:09 pm

So Helzberg, Zales and Orange Julius have all been at Westroads a long time? I'd been to Westroads a lot when we lived in Omaha back in the 80's and I honestly do not remember ever seeing Orange Julius. Nor do I remember there being one in the old food court, The Grand Cafe, when it opened in 1991.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Tue Nov 01, 2022 11:30 pm

Yes there was an Orange Julius at Westroads Mall in the 1980’s.. By my recollection, it was located in the top (2nd) level…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

ChadJK · Post by **ChadJK** » Wed Nov 02, 2022 10:12 am

Omaha Cowboy wrote: Tue Nov 01, 2022 11:30 pm Yes there was an Orange Julius at Westroads Mall in the 1980’s.. By my recollection, it was located in the top (2nd) level…

I remember the old mall Orange Juilus locations back before DQ bought them.

Last time I tried to order an Orange Julius at DQ (it was probably the DQ at 171st & Center) I was told they were no longer offered. I'm not sure if that's true of all DQ locations or just that one in particular. It probably falls under the "Available at participating DQ locations" and they weren't "participating."

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Wed Nov 02, 2022 11:13 am

ChadJK wrote: Wed Nov 02, 2022 10:12 am
Omaha Cowboy wrote: Tue Nov 01, 2022 11:30 pm Yes there was an Orange Julius at Westroads Mall in the 1980’s.. By my recollection, it was located in the top (2nd) level…
I remember the old mall Orange Juilus locations back before DQ bought them.

Last time I tried to order an Orange Julius at DQ (it was probably the DQ at 171st & Center) I was told they were no longer offered. I'm not sure if that's true of all DQ locations or just that one in particular. It probably falls under the "Available at participating DQ locations" and they weren't "participating."

If memory serves at one time there was 2. One was lower level near JC Penney's on a corner possibly near restrooms and lockers, and I think there was one on the upper level near Ward's, close to Athlete's Foot.

Greg

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Nov 02, 2022 5:35 pm

Greg S wrote: Wed Nov 02, 2022 11:13 am
ChadJK wrote: Wed Nov 02, 2022 10:12 am
Omaha Cowboy wrote: Tue Nov 01, 2022 11:30 pm Yes there was an Orange Julius at Westroads Mall in the 1980’s.. By my recollection, it was located in the top (2nd) level…
I remember the old mall Orange Juilus locations back before DQ bought them.

Last time I tried to order an Orange Julius at DQ (it was probably the DQ at 171st & Center) I was told they were no longer offered. I'm not sure if that's true of all DQ locations or just that one in particular. It probably falls under the "Available at participating DQ locations" and they weren't "participating."
I think there was one on the upper level near Ward's, close to Athlete's Foot.

Greg

That’s the one I remember at Westroads…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Thu Nov 03, 2022 8:07 am

There were 2. Later one relocated to the former food court.

OPlaya · Post by **OPlaya** » Sat Nov 05, 2022 8:10 pm

Omaha Cowboy wrote: Tue Nov 01, 2022 11:30 pm Yes there was an Orange Julius at Westroads Mall in the 1980’s.. By my recollection, it was located in the top (2nd) level…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Yeah that second floor Orange Julius was there until at least the early 00's. It was my first job when I was in high school in the mid to late 90's.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Sun Nov 06, 2022 10:18 am

OPlaya wrote: Sat Nov 05, 2022 8:10 pm
Omaha Cowboy wrote: Tue Nov 01, 2022 11:30 pm Yes there was an Orange Julius at Westroads Mall in the 1980’s.. By my recollection, it was located in the top (2nd) level…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Yeah that second floor Orange Julius was there until at least the early 00's. It was my first job when I was in high school in the mid to late 90's.

Yes indeed..

Thank you for the confirmation

…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Sun Nov 06, 2022 5:23 pm

Omaha Cowboy wrote: Sun Nov 06, 2022 10:18 am
OPlaya wrote: Sat Nov 05, 2022 8:10 pm
Omaha Cowboy wrote: Tue Nov 01, 2022 11:30 pm Yes there was an Orange Julius at Westroads Mall in the 1980’s.. By my recollection, it was located in the top (2nd) level…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Yeah that second floor Orange Julius was there until at least the early 00's. It was my first job when I was in high school in the mid to late 90's.
Yes indeed..

Thank you for the confirmation …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

The one is the Facebook link that TranitOrient posted above was the larger one on the first level.

Greg

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Wed Nov 09, 2022 1:45 am

Here's a question. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with development, but it does have to do with Westroads. Has anyone ever seen cars on display whenever they've gone there? I mean inside the mall?

How do they get cars inside malls?

ChadJK · Post by **ChadJK** » Wed Nov 09, 2022 8:45 am

mrsticka wrote: Wed Nov 09, 2022 1:45 am How do they get cars inside malls?

I asked that once. IIRC, one or more of the mall entrance door frames can be completely disassembled.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Sat Nov 12, 2022 6:55 pm

As I recall the Cherry Creek Mall in Denver has a bay with Tesla cars.

Doctor Fate · Post by **Doctor Fate** » Sun Nov 13, 2022 1:28 pm

nativeomahan wrote: Sat Nov 12, 2022 6:55 pm As I recall the Cherry Creek Mall in Denver has a bay with Tesla cars.

The Tyson's Corner Mall in the DC area has a Tesla showroom on the 2nd floor. When I was last there, a Model S Plaid and Model X Plaid were there.

Original · Post by **Original** » Mon Nov 14, 2022 10:15 am

The mall in Salina KS, where I grew up, had a set of doors that were 9ft tall and 4 ft wide, and had an easily removable center post so they could drive cars in. Source: me at 8 who watched them take the post out and drive the car in and asked the mall worker and my dad a ton of questions.

beachbum · Post by **beachbum** » Sat Nov 19, 2022 10:57 am

Original wrote: Mon Nov 14, 2022 10:15 am The mall in Salina KS, where I grew up, had a set of doors that were 9ft tall and 4 ft wide, and had an easily removable center post so they could drive cars in. Source: me at 8 who watched them take the post out and drive the car in and asked the mall worker and my dad a ton of questions.

Oh, what a memory you have raised! As a graduate of Burke in '73, I can attest to the fact that double wide school doors also have an EASILY removable center post. The Principal's Volkswagen Bug was rolled into the school and carried by the Jocks up the main central stairs and parked on the mezzanine level by some dastardly Seniors!

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Sat Nov 19, 2022 11:31 am

Ha ha ha! I remember a photo of the prank at Burke being published in the World-Herald.

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Sat Dec 10, 2022 11:38 pm

You know how the second floor of a mall will be split into 2 sections with one on one side and the other section on the other side with crossways to get to the other side. What do you call a floor like that?

Athomsfere · Post by **Athomsfere** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 10:45 am

I do feel like we are overdue for more progress on this site. Gas and water done, grading done? Are we just waiting for cranes at this point?

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 10:49 am

Athomsfere wrote: Fri Jan 13, 2023 10:45 am I do feel like we are overdue for more progress on this site. Gas and water done, grading done? Are we just waiting for cranes at this point?

I don't think anything but Demo has been done.

ita · Post by **ita** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 11:08 am

Brad wrote: Fri Jan 13, 2023 10:49 am
Athomsfere wrote: Fri Jan 13, 2023 10:45 am I do feel like we are overdue for more progress on this site. Gas and water done, grading done? Are we just waiting for cranes at this point?
I don't think anything but Demo has been done.

If your referring to Rickett's project, I heard they were selling some of the land they bought to the folks who developed the Top Golf or Chipotle property. Other than that, no further progress.

Athomsfere · Post by **Athomsfere** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 11:15 am

Oh man, I goofed. I meant this for Crossroads.

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Mon Apr 03, 2023 11:56 pm

What if Westroads had a third floor? They'd have to add a third floor to JCPenney's of course, but wouldn't that be cool if the mall had a third floor?

Athomsfere · Post by **Athomsfere** » Tue Apr 04, 2023 10:01 am

mrsticka wrote: Mon Apr 03, 2023 11:56 pm What if Westroads had a third floor? They'd have to add a third floor to JCPenney's of course, but wouldn't that be cool if the mall had a third floor?

Cool in what sense? Just to have that extra height?

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Tue Apr 04, 2023 10:53 am

Athomsfere wrote: Tue Apr 04, 2023 10:01 am
mrsticka wrote: Mon Apr 03, 2023 11:56 pm What if Westroads had a third floor? They'd have to add a third floor to JCPenney's of course, but wouldn't that be cool if the mall had a third floor?

Cool in what sense? Just to have that extra height?

Year ago a 3rd floor would be cool. Now it would be a disaster because that would just be to many bays to lease. There just aren't enough stores looking to be in malls anymore.

Greg

ita · Post by **ita** » Tue Apr 04, 2023 11:23 am

Greg S wrote: Tue Apr 04, 2023 10:53 am
Athomsfere wrote: Tue Apr 04, 2023 10:01 am
mrsticka wrote: Mon Apr 03, 2023 11:56 pm What if Westroads had a third floor? They'd have to add a third floor to JCPenney's of course, but wouldn't that be cool if the mall had a third floor?

Cool in what sense? Just to have that extra height?
Year ago a 3rd floor would be cool. Now it would be a disaster because that would just be to many bays to lease. There just aren't enough stores looking to be in malls anymore.

Greg

i know it's just one example, but recent Official Lego Store openings have all been regular ol' indoor malls.

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Tue Apr 04, 2023 1:21 pm

ita wrote: Tue Apr 04, 2023 11:23 am
Greg S wrote: Tue Apr 04, 2023 10:53 am
Athomsfere wrote: Tue Apr 04, 2023 10:01 am
mrsticka wrote: Mon Apr 03, 2023 11:56 pm What if Westroads had a third floor? They'd have to add a third floor to JCPenney's of course, but wouldn't that be cool if the mall had a third floor?

Cool in what sense? Just to have that extra height?
Year ago a 3rd floor would be cool. Now it would be a disaster because that would just be to many bays to lease. There just aren't enough stores looking to be in malls anymore.

Greg
i know it's just one example, but recent Official Lego Store openings have all been regular ol' indoor malls.

Unfortunately that's more of the exception. It is good news for malls.

Athomsfere · Post by **Athomsfere** » Tue Apr 04, 2023 1:29 pm

ita wrote: Tue Apr 04, 2023 11:23 am
Greg S wrote: Tue Apr 04, 2023 10:53 am
Athomsfere wrote: Tue Apr 04, 2023 10:01 am
mrsticka wrote: Mon Apr 03, 2023 11:56 pm What if Westroads had a third floor? They'd have to add a third floor to JCPenney's of course, but wouldn't that be cool if the mall had a third floor?

Cool in what sense? Just to have that extra height?
Year ago a 3rd floor would be cool. Now it would be a disaster because that would just be to many bays to lease. There just aren't enough stores looking to be in malls anymore.

Greg
i know it's just one example, but recent Official Lego Store openings have all been regular ol' indoor malls.

I just went through some of their locations.

I'm actually surprised that it appears they just pick any old bay. No special signage even.

Some of the malls are sort of lifestyle centers, but yeah just whatever mall seems to be most common.