Oak View Mall (144 & West Center Rd)

[Dusty]

We just visited Dezerland Park in Orlando, FL last weekend. Very interesting concept. Former shopping mall that was converted into a large entertainment center. For some reason it made me think of Oakview and the potential it could be.

Some of the inline stores were torn out to create bigger spaces. Some were left to provide a few shops and food options.
Entertainment options: Large auto museum, bowling, arcade, glow in the dark mini golf, trampoline park, indoor karting, James Bond themed bar and collection of movie memorabilia. movie theater, axe throwing.

https://dezerlandpark.com/

[Greg S]

Westroads, Crossroads, Southroads, Oak View. There was a time when Omaha had 4 shopping malls.

You could include Mall of the Bluffs for this timeframe.

[mrsticka]

Westroads, Crossroads, Southroads, Oak View. There was a time when Omaha had 4 shopping malls.

You could include Mall of the Bluffs for this timeframe.

That was in Council Bluffs so it doesn’t count.

[OmahaRedWing]

Westroads, Crossroads, Southroads, Oak View. There was a time when Omaha had 4 shopping malls.

You could include Mall of the Bluffs for this timeframe.

That was in Council Bluffs so it doesn’t count.

Ok you included Southroads which is in Bellevue so I figured you were talking the metro area. Obviously Southroads isn't in Omaha.

[mrsticka]

Westroads, Crossroads, Southroads, Oak View. There was a time when Omaha had 4 shopping malls.

You could include Mall of the Bluffs for this timeframe.

That was in Council Bluffs so it doesn’t count.

Ok you included Southroads which is in Bellevue so I figured you were talking the metro area. Obviously Southroads isn't in Omaha.

Well, all right. The entire Omaha/Council Bluffs area had 5 shopping malls at one time. Westroads, Crossroads, Southroads, Oak View and Mall of The Bluffs. If there was a Northroads, there would've been 6.

[Cermak]

Back in the 90’s Mall of the Bluffs wasn’t bad and was fairly well leased out.

[thenewguy]

i thought the MotB was fantastic. It was my favorite besides westroads- not a double decker, food court was awesome, and lots of good stores. I HATE that outdoor malls ruined it. I took my kids to westroads a couple years ago before christmas time, and they were totally geeked out over the concept of a mall. They absolutely loved it. We didn't buy much, but we spent hours there just checking things out.

[Greg S]

i thought the MotB was fantastic. It was my favorite besides westroads- not a double decker, food court was awesome, and lots of good stores. I HATE that outdoor malls ruined it. I took my kids to westroads a couple years ago before christmas time, and they were totally geeked out over the concept of a mall. They absolutely loved it. We didn't buy much, but we spent hours there just checking things out.

Yeah they did have a great food court. I agree on mix of stores too.

I am going to start a new Mall History thread in General Discussion, as I am about to bring up another one.

[skinzfan23]

i thought the MotB was fantastic. It was my favorite besides westroads- not a double decker, food court was awesome, and lots of good stores. I HATE that outdoor malls ruined it. I took my kids to westroads a couple years ago before christmas time, and they were totally geeked out over the concept of a mall. They absolutely loved it. We didn't buy much, but we spent hours there just checking things out.

I've done the same with my kids. We usually go every year around Christmas and my kids are amazed at the number of stores and people in the mall all while not having to go out in the cold.

[mrsticka]

When Oak View Mall first opened in the fall of 1991, my parents took me and my siblings to it. I thought it was a real cool place. I know I've said it before, but I still think JCPenney and Sears both should've had their own wings leading to them like Dillard's and Younkers did.

[Greg S]

Rush Market is closing in the former Younkers store at Oak View. This is from Grow Omaha:

Rush Market is closing its store at Oakview Mall. The non-traditional furniture retailer has occupied the former Younkers department store space since 2019. The retailer has hinted about a new location on its Facebook page but no announcements have been made.

https://growomaha.com/weekly-market-rep ... r-17-2024/

[Nosebot]

Dang. How long until JCP and Dillard's announce their move?

[almighty_tuna]

IIRC one of the big reasons that Dillards has stayed is because they actually own the building they're in.

[Omaha Cowboy]

IIRC one of the big reasons that Dillards has stayed is because they actually own the building they're in.

Yes, that is correct. Dillard’s has been long rumored to move to Westroads.. Likely won’t happen anytime soon…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Cup of Cheese]

When Oak View Mall first opened in the fall of 1991, my parents took me and my siblings to it. I thought it was a real cool place. I know I've said it before, but I still think JCPenney and Sears both should've had their own wings leading to them like Dillard's and Younkers did.

I remember going there in 1991 when it was brand new, and It was sad to see when I moved back to Omaha in 2022.

[Cermak]

I walked in the mall yesterday. Some new kids entertainment business is going in on the top floor of the former Younkers wing. Also went to the nearby Barnes and Noble which was packed.

I was recently in Valley West mall in West Des Moines, which was for decades considered Des Moines best mall. It looks terrible now, I think it’s supposed to be demolished at some point. It’s worse than Oak View if you can believe that. Parts of the mall were poorly lit and completely empty. Just the middle section has a few stores open and only one anchor remains JC Penney’s.

[djc311]

If I had Buffett money, I'd buy Oakview and remodel it, try to bring it back to something great. Structurally speaking, it's probably in decent shape, building isn't that old. Between Crossroads and Oakview, it's really disappointing to see these places fall apart.

You would think it could be a good spot for a Macy's...

Or, why doesn't IKEA buy it and build a store there.

I think ultimately if all they try to do is lease or rent out space here and there to these startups, it's going to completely close down like Crossroads. People simply don't want to go into a huge mall to go to a locally-owned hobby shop or to buy a cell phone case.

[Stan]

I think ultimately if all they try to do is lease or rent out space here and there to these startups, it's going to completely close down like Crossroads. People simply don't want to go into a huge mall to go to a locally-owned hobby shop or to buy a cell phone case.

Spitting facts here. Even going to Westroads isn't what it used to be. I remember in the 90s how awesome the Disney Store was. Now, there's a tiktok store filled with straight junk and there seems to be a couple of these types of stores too. In coming decades, I think malls will be viewed more as a fad from the 80s-00s since online retail can't be beat. It's unfortunate too because it really gives us an opportunity to leave the house and walk around in the coldest winter days. I wouldn't say it's my escape in the hottest summer days though since I'd rather be at a pool.

[Brad]

I think ultimately if all they try to do is lease or rent out space here and there to these startups, it's going to completely close down like Crossroads. People simply don't want to go into a huge mall to go to a locally-owned hobby shop or to buy a cell phone case.

Exactly, if Rockbrook Camera was in a mall, I would go less and order online more, possible even not from them. If the Casual Pint was in a Mall, I wouldn't go there. And I could go on and on...

Now, there's a tiktok store filled with straight junk and there seems to be a couple of these types of stores too.

I went to Westroads for the first time in 3 years, the week before Christmas, and it seemed like a lot of stores in there sold straight up garbage....

With society currently circling the drain, I would much rather avoid the mall and support my local neighborhood shops, mom and pop shops, and if those two can't help me, I'll just order online.

[Greg S]

I haven't been inside Oak View proper in a while. I do still go to Dillard's, I just don't venture into the mall.

I was at Westroads a couple times between Thanksgiving and Christmas and was surprised how many people were there. My boys both love Vans (as do I) so it's a store inside the mall we go to. I thought I saw on Grow Omaha that Westroads was adding several new stores, some national. I know they added Rally House earlier in the fall and we go to that as well.

Greg

[Garrett]

If I had Buffett money, I'd buy Oakview and remodel it, try to bring it back to something great. Structurally speaking, it's probably in decent shape, building isn't that old. Between Crossroads and Oakview, it's really disappointing to see these places fall apart.

You would think it could be a good spot for a Macy's...

Or, why doesn't IKEA buy it and build a store there.

I think ultimately if all they try to do is lease or rent out space here and there to these startups, it's going to completely close down like Crossroads. People simply don't want to go into a huge mall to go to a locally-owned hobby shop or to buy a cell phone case.

Unless something changes, Oakview will continue to lose out on the war of Location Location Location. If we’re lucky it’ll one day redevelop.

[skinzfan23]

How are the restaurants in the mall. I knew the owner of a restaurant that was there but they closed last year and haven't been there since. At the time, there were a few new places that had opened. I think Chicago Dog was there at one point and doing pretty well.

[Greg S]

How are the restaurants in the mall. I knew the owner of a restaurant that was there but they closed last year and haven't been there since. At the time, there were a few new places that had opened. I think Chicago Dog was there at one point and doing pretty well.

Can't speak to what happening recently but I know that Chicago Dog closed awhile back.

[djc311]

How are the restaurants in the mall. I knew the owner of a restaurant that was there but they closed last year and haven't been there since. At the time, there were a few new places that had opened. I think Chicago Dog was there at one point and doing pretty well.

Can't speak to what happening recently but I know that Chicago Dog closed awhile back.

Knowing how desperate the mall could be for food court tenants, I wouldn't be surprised if Chicago Dog was replaced with Des Moines Dog.

[Dusty]

It doesn't matter if you paint the mall gold and spray it with glitter. No tenant or renovation can save it unless it's a drastic change. Once the dying mall sickness seeps in, it's hard to change people's minds to give it chance. They will always look at it as the dying mall with different tenants. Is it worth checking it out? Most likely not....so why bother?

At this point, tear it down! The clean slate will help clear people's minds and be accepting of something new.

[Garrett]

It doesn't matter if you paint the mall gold and spray it with glitter. No tenant or renovation can save it unless it's a drastic change. Once the dying mall sickness seeps in, it's hard to change people's minds to give it chance. They will always look at it as the dying mall with different tenants. Is it worth checking it out? Most likely not....so why bother?

At this point, tear it down! The clean slate will help clear people's minds and be accepting of something new.

They even lost the Rush Market, which was one of their biggest out of the box gets, because the current management is just so shitty.

[Busguy2010]

I would be worried about tearing it down and having it sit an empty lot for 10 years like Crossroads. I've been saying this for years, keep it simple. Don't try to make it some pie in the sky like Crossroads is utterly failing to do. Tear it down, make a new urban single family neighborhood, done.

[omaha79]

It doesn't matter if you paint the mall gold and spray it with glitter. No tenant or renovation can save it unless it's a drastic change. Once the dying mall sickness seeps in, it's hard to change people's minds to give it chance. They will always look at it as the dying mall with different tenants. Is it worth checking it out? Most likely not....so why bother?

At this point, tear it down! The clean slate will help clear people's minds and be accepting of something new.

This is what I've always said. The dead mall death spiral is a terminal illness. There may be moments where the mall gets a new tenant and there is a little hope, but the trajectory is always downwards. At this point, there really is almost zero chance that Oak View will return as a mall concept. At best, it limps along like Crossroads for a number of years. At worst, it turns into the Zombie mall that Southroads became with a mish mash of storage, sketchy churches, and data warehousing. I don't even see it having the ability to morph into offices like The Center did as that location had a large amount of close perimeter parking in the garage along with bays with window views going for it. Oak View does not.

[GetUrban]

When Oak View was built in 1991, growth in the metro was mainly to the southwest. Now growth is stronger to the west and northwest, and even south. For the majority of Omaha's population, it's never been easy to get to Oak View unless you live within two miles. It's much easier to get to West Roads or Nebraska Crossing. I think the best option is to open-up the site for mixed-use development, which probably means demoing or major re-purposing of the mall buildings.

[Cermak]

I was just in the Dillards at Oak View yesterday. It’s a very nice store. For some reason I was expecting it to be a little tired and worn looking, not the case at all.

[riceweb]

I would be worried about tearing it down and having it sit an empty lot for 10 years like Crossroads. I've been saying this for years, keep it simple. Don't try to make it some pie in the sky like Crossroads is utterly failing to do. Tear it down, make a new urban single family neighborhood, done.

I'd go one step further: the city should just buy it, build 10,000 apartments with ground-level retail, and then sell the project at some point in the development lifecycle.

EDIT: my original post made it sound like I was disagreeing with you

[Cermak]

The mall seems to still be in good shape structurally when looking at it, be a shame to tear it down. Unless some firm redevelopment plans in place

[omaha79]

The mall seems to still be in good shape structurally when looking at it, be a shame to tear it down. Unless some firm redevelopment plans in place

The structural shape argument is never a great one though. The reuse potential of malls is always limited. The best example we have is The Center moving to office usage, but that was a smaller, different design than more modern malls. it was more conducive to becoming an office park. The worst example is Southroads which is a massive, hulking frankensteins monster of an office park that really adds very little to the area. it exists simply because there is no money or will to tear it down as any redevelopment would probably fail and it is very "structurally sound" from what I've been told. I've heard it would take millions to tear it down as it was basically built to survive a nuclear blast.

[ChadJK]

...it was basically built to survive a nuclear blast.

I don't know if it's still there, but on the backside (east side) of Southroads Mall near the end where JCPenney used to be, there is a tunnel that goes underground and above it used to be a "Fallout Shelter" sign. lol

[omaha79]

...it was basically built to survive a nuclear blast.

I don't know if it's still there, but on the backside (east side) of Southroads Mall near the end where JCPenney used to be, there is a tunnel that goes underground and above it used to be a "Fallout Shelter" sign. lol

I remember the sign. I was never in the tunnel. Would love to see it.

[GenX]

...it was basically built to survive a nuclear blast.

I don't know if it's still there, but on the backside (east side) of Southroads Mall near the end where JCPenney used to be, there is a tunnel that goes underground and above it used to be a "Fallout Shelter" sign. lol

I remember the sign. I was never in the tunnel. Would love to see it.

If it’s anything like it used to be, make sure you have a spare and your suspension is sturdy enough with plenty of ground clearance.

[nebugeater]

Grow Omaha reports that KidLavia is coming to Oakvie on the ond Rush Market Spot.

Geard towers kids
Restaurant
Escape Rooms
Shows
Workshops
Spa for littles
Shows


There website say the Oakview location will be 22,000 sq ft

Founded in 2022
20 + locations

https://kidlavie.club/

Grow Omaha Mar 6 update

https://growomaha.com/news-briefs/?fbcl ... yITCpE76Hg

[djc311]

Grow Omaha reports that KidLavia is coming to Oakvie on the ond Rush Market Spot.

Geard towers kids
Restaurant
Escape Rooms
Shows
Workshops
Spa for littles
Shows


There website say the Oakview location will be 22,000 sq ft

Founded in 2022
20 + locations

https://kidlavie.club/

Grow Omaha Mar 6 update

https://growomaha.com/news-briefs/?fbcl ... yITCpE76Hg

On the surface, it appears to be a legitimate business - however, their website has several typos and poor grammar. It makes me wonder who is running this place... almost like a front for some type of foreign government operating trying to infiltrate the kids of America. LOL

The website seems like it was done with a poor Google Translation: "KIDLAVIE was found in 2022, within the trustworthy, energetic and experienced group of investors. We have more than 20 parks all over the world and growing fast. From January 2025 we are opening and expanding the Unites States network to bring this families-oriented, exceptional, developing concept for kids ages from 1 -to 14 and their beloved families."

They do state they have them "all over the world", but if they have any locations in the US you would think they would have some type of US presence for managing their domestic web site.

The US locations (existing or coming soon) list the age group from 1-12, however their description says they cater to kids up to 14. I wonder what's missing in the Omaha location and others that prevents it from covering that extra 2 year window?

What it reminds me of (even the pics of their restaurant) is something designed by someone that worked for IKEA at one time. Hey, maybe they are connected and that could be a sign we'll end up with an IKEA store!

[omaha79]

This will begin the great turnaround of Oak View mall!

Or, be the Omaha chapter of the Putin youth.

[Garrett]

The grammar on their website is truly atrocious. The "Little Spa" tab has some absolutely bewildering sentences.

"Outdoor SPA parties are the perfect holiday for every girl"

"Bachelorette party with adult SPA treatments adapted for little princesses"

"Just like Mom's, only better"

"Tired of children's holidays with animators? We know how to surprise any princess from 4 to 14 years old. A real adult SPA party with girlfriends! Incredible emotions, real cosmetics and a beauty salon. Believe me, this is what every girl dreams of."