Oakwood Mall (Eau Claire, Wisconsin) Explained

Oakwood Mall
Location:Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Developer:General Growth Properties
Manager:Brookfield Properties
Owner:Brookfield Properties
Number Of Stores:91
Number Of Anchors:6 (5 open, 1 vacant)
Floor Area:818689square feet
Floors:1
Publictransit: ECT:
Footnotes:[1]

Oakwood Mall is an enclosed shopping mall in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The anchor stores are HOM Furniture, JCPenney, Hobby Lobby, Scheels, and Micon Cinemas. [1] There is one vacant anchor store that was once Sears.

History

The mall opened on October 15, 1986, and underwent a major renovation in 1996. The mall also features a movie theater, which was expanded in 1997 and originally operated by Carmike Cinemas until 2017, when it was re-branded as AMC.[2]

The shopping center has seen several changes in its anchor stores over the years. In 2002, Younkers replaced Target as one of the main tenants.[3] [4] However, the mall has faced some challenges since the late 2010s, as several of its anchors closed due to bankruptcy and the nationwide downturn in traditional retail. Macy's, which had been at the mall since 1991 as Dayton's and later as Marshall Fields, closed in March 2017 and was replaced by Hobby Lobby in August 2018.[5] [6] Younkers followed suit and closed in August 2018, leaving a vacant space that was later purchased by HOM Furniture in January 2019.[7] The furniture store opened in early 2020 after extensive renovations.[8] [9] Sears, another longtime anchor, closed in November 2018 and has not been replaced.[10] The AMC theater also closed permanently in October 2022, after struggling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and competition from streaming services. A local theater chain, Micon Cinemas, took over the space and reopened the 12 screen cineplex in December 2022.[11] [12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Oakwood Mall . Brookfield Properties.
  2. News: Davis . Mark . February 17, 2017 . AMC to drop Carmike brand, add AMC Classic brand for smaller, less-visited theaters . January 11, 2024 . Kansas City Star.
  3. News: Younkers moving into Oakwood Mall . Butch . McCartney . The Spectator . November 18, 2001.
  4. News: Adaptability Is Key In The Hardy Midwest . Jenny . King . . September 1, 1997.
  5. News: Macy's plan to close stores including Oakwood Mall to go forward . . January 5, 2017.
  6. News: Hobby Lobby to occupy Macy's spot at Oakwood Mall . Andrew . Dowd . . October 20, 2017.
  7. News: Bon-Ton Stores, including Younkers in Eau Claire, start closing sales . . April 19, 2018.
  8. Web site: HOM owners buy Eau Claire Younkers store. staff. Andrew Dowd Leader-Telegram. Leader-Telegram. March 8, 2019 . en. December 3, 2019.
  9. Web site: HOM Furniture owners buy former Eau Claire Younkers location. Wensel. Samantha. March 11, 2019. WQOW. en-US. December 3, 2019.
  10. News: Sears in Oakwood Mall to close . Chris . Vetter . . August 22, 2018.
  11. Web site: AMC Theatres closes in Eau Claire's Oakwood Mall. Andrew. Dowd. Leader-Telegram. October 3, 2022 . October 10, 2022.
  12. Web site: Micon Cinemas Oakwood Mall opens Friday. December 9, 2022. July 18, 2023. WEAU. en.