Southtown Center
{{short description|Shopping center in Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S.}}
{{lead too short|date=July 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{infobox shopping mall
| name = Southtown Center
| image = Southtown Center looking west in June 2024.jpg
| caption = Southtown Center looking west over the demolished Herberger's and Toys "R" Us stores in June 2024.
| location = Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S.
| coordinates = {{coord|44.860148|N|93.304889|W|format=dms|region:US-MN_scale:10000_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| address = 7800 Penn Avenue South (at Interstate 494)
| opening_date = November 3, 1960
| closing_date =
| developer = Kraus-Anderson, Inc.
| manager = Kraus-Anderson, Inc.
| owner = Kraus-Anderson, Inc.
| number_of_stores = 38
| number_of_anchors = 5 (4 open, 2 vacant)
| floor_area = {{convert|534650|sqft|m2|sigfig=2}}
| floors = 1 (2 in Kohl's and former Herberger's)
| website = {{URL|southtownbloomington.com}}
| publictransit = {{Bus icon}} Metro Transit
}}
Southtown Center, colloquially known as Southtown, is a regional shopping mall in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities. Southtown Center consists of {{convert|534,650|sqft|m2|sigfig=2}} of retail space. The center contains 38 retail tenants and is anchored by AMF Bowling Centers, Kohl's, and TJ Maxx.
The first phase of Southtown Center opened on November 3, 1960, with two more phases proceeding in 1963 and 1964. The mall is partially enclosed, while the majority of the center contains open air structures. Several additional buildings were constructed on the property throughout the years, while minimal renovations took place to maintain the mall's appearance.
History
{{missing information|Conversion of former S. S. Kresge space to enclosed mall; any other details during 1970s and 1980s|date=July 2021}}
=1960–62: Construction, grand opening, and additions=
Southtown Center opened on November 3, 1960 in Bloomington, Minnesota and became Bloomington's "first regional shopping center".{{cite web|title=The Norling Collection|url=http://bloomingtonhistoricalsociety.org/collections/norling.html|website=BHS Bloomington Historical Society|accessdate=25 March 2016}} The center was developed by Kraus-Anderson, Inc., a Bloomington-based construction firm, with founder Lloyd Engelsma taking over as the site's project manager.{{cite web|title=About Kraus-Anderson|url=http://www.krausanderson.com/the-company/about-kraus-anderson/|website=Kraus-Anderson|accessdate=25 March 2016}} According to Engelsma, Southtown was built atop "a strip of cow pasture" near a busy intersection in Bloomington, taking up nearly 37 acres of land; Engelsma had "high expectations for the new center."{{cite web|title=Our History|url=http://www.southtownbloomington.com/history/|website=Southtown Shopping Center|accessdate=25 March 2016}} During construction of the mall, three labor strikes occurred which heavily delayed construction; unideal and inclement weather created further setbacks during the construction. Montgomery Ward, a Chicago-based department store, announced that they would be opening up a location at Southtown, and became the mall's only anchor; Ward filled a {{convert|188050|sqft|m2|sigfig=2}} building, the largest Ward department store in the United States.{{cite web|title=Our History|url=http://www.krausanderson.com/the-company/history/|website=Kraus-Anderson|accessdate=25 March 2016}}
File:Southtowncenterbloomington.jpg
After the center's opening, several additions took place at the mall. During 1963, a {{convert|43000|sqft|m2|sigfig=2}} AMF Bowling Center was constructed on the north side of the property; the bowling alley is still currently in use today. In 1964, a Mann Theatres was constructed on the property; Southtown Mann Theatre became the first movie theater to be attached to a shopping center in the Twin Cities.{{cite book|title=Twin Cities Album|date=2007|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|isbn=978-0873517553|page=96|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oDfb3x4PWxMC&q=southtown+theater+bloomington+mn&pg=PT174|accessdate=25 March 2016}} However, the cinema was completely remodeled in 1980, removing some of its original decor, before being torn down in 1995 to make way for additional retail.{{cite web|last1=Krefft|first1=Bryan|title=Mann Southtown Theatre|url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/3003|website=Cinema Treasures|accessdate=26 March 2016}}
=1998–present: Store closings and rezoning=
Montgomery Ward prospered as Southtown's largest tenant until 1998, when Ward announced that they would be closing nine underperforming locations as part of their "ongoing operations and strategic initiatives to return to profitability."{{cite news|title=Wards to Close Nine Additional Underperforming Stores as Part Of Ongoing Operations and Reorganization Program|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wards-to-close-nine-additional-underperforming-stores-as-part-of-ongoing-operations-and-reorganization-program-77998457.html|accessdate=25 March 2016|publisher=PR Newswire, A UBM pic company|date=29 May 1998}} Filling Ward's vacancy was Herberger's, a Minnesota department store, who had agreed to purchase several other closed Montgomery Ward stores in the Twin Cities area.{{cite news|title=Herberger's to open Twin Cities stores|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/1998/10/26/daily7.html|accessdate=25 March 2016|publisher=Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal|date=28 October 1998}} Toys "R" Us agreed to lease the other side of the Ward store that Herberger's hadn't leased.
In September 2014, several plans were created by the city of Bloomington in order to rezone several parts of the shopping center.{{cite news|last1=Owings|first1=Cali|title=Southtown zoning postponed, Bloomington moves forward with district plan|url=http://finance-commerce.com/2015/01/southtown-zoning-postponed-bloomington-moves-forward-with-district-plan/|accessdate=25 March 2016|publisher=Finance & Commerce|date=27 January 2015}} However, Southtown's owner, Kraus-Anderson, stated that the rezoning would "threaten Southtown's existence and that customers like things how they are."{{cite news|last1=Reilly|first1=Mark|title=Kraus Anderson, Bloomington knock heads over plans for Southtown|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/morning_roundup/2014/09/kraus-anderson-bloomington-knock-heads-sout.html|accessdate=25 March 2016|publisher=Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal|date=10 September 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Reinan|first1=John|title=Owner of Southtown says shopping center is being "railroaded" by proposed zoning changes|url=http://www.startribune.com/southtown-owner-proposed-zoning-changes-threaten-shops/274552891/|accessdate=25 March 2016|publisher=StarTribune|date=10 September 2014}} Several Bloomington locals and customers of Southtown created a website to persuade the city of Bloomington not to continue with any redeveloping plans.{{cite web|title=The future of Minnesota's Iconic Community Shopping Center|url=http://www.southtownnext.com/|website=Southtown Next|accessdate=25 March 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405191208/http://www.southtownnext.com/|archivedate=5 April 2016}} Despite the creation of the website and Kraus-Anderson's frustration and concern during the proposed redevelopment, the city council approved the project in July 2015. The rezoning will encourage more pedestrian and transit supportive development patterns. New developments could include multi-story mixed-use developments and a new street grid.{{cite news|last1=Reinan|first1=John|title=Southtown Shopping Center in Bloomington to be slowly transformed|url=http://www.startribune.com/agreement-reached-on-future-of-southtown-shopping-center-in-bloomington/315141711/|accessdate=25 March 2016|publisher=StarTribune|date=14 July 2015}} As part of the agreement, a 3-acre portion in the southeast of the mall would be preserved to be a higher-intensity density development.{{Cite web |date=September 30, 2024 |title=Staff Report - CC-2 |url=https://permits.bloomingtonmn.gov/prodportal/Planning/GetExternalFile/902506 |access-date=May 29, 2025 |website=City of Bloomington}} In April of the same year, Southtown's {{convert|44,548|sqft|m2|sigfig=2}} Toys "R" Us closed after their 26-year lease expired.{{cite news|last1=Halter|first1=Nick|title=Toys R Us is closing its Southtown store|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2015/04/07/toys-r-us-closing-southtown-store-bloomington.html|accessdate=25 March 2016|publisher=Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal|date=7 April 2015}} Despite this closing, Southtown Center has maintained a 99 percent occupancy rate for many years.{{cite news|last1=Owings|first1=Cali|title=Bloomington delays rezoning for Penn-American district|url=http://finance-commerce.com/2014/12/bloomington-delays-rezoning-for-penn-american-district/|accessdate=26 March 2016|publisher=Finance & Commerce|date=2 December 2014}}
Post rezoning in 2015
File:Knox Ave Transitway under construction.jpg
The Metro Orange Line travels along Knox Ave adjacent to the site. During the 2015 rezoning discussions, the location of the transitway in relation to Southtown was a point of disagreement.{{cite news |last1=Reinan |first1=John |title=Southtown fate tied to bus route |work=Star Tribune |date=January 24, 2015 |page=B3 |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82884128/southtown-fate-tied-to-bus-route-b3/ |access-date=August 5, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}} Plans for the transitway first called for a trench direction from Knox Ave to travel underneath I-494, but Kraus-Anderson called for a loop around a restaurant to the east to preserve future development options.{{cite news |last1=Reinan |first1=John |title=Bloomington's Southtown Center poses challenge for Orange Line bus route |url=https://www.startribune.com/bloomington-s-southtown-center-poses-challenge-for-orange-line-bus-route/315611751/ |access-date=8 June 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=July 15, 2015}} The design with the loop was ultimately built and opened in 2021.{{cite web |title=Knox Avenue Transitway - Metro Transit |url=https://www.metrotransit.org/knox-avenue-transitway |website=www.metrotransit.org |publisher=Metro Transit |access-date=8 June 2024}}
The Southtown location of Hancock Fabrics was one of three Minnesota locations closing in 2016 as Hancock Fabrics faced bankruptcy.{{cite news |last1=Crosby |first1=Jackie |title=Hancock Fabrics closing three Twin Cities stores |url=https://www.startribune.com/hancock-fabrics-closing-three-twin-cities-stores/368361651/ |access-date=8 June 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=February 11, 2016}} On April 18, 2018, it was announced that Herberger's would be closing as parent company The Bon-Ton Stores was going out of business. The store closed on August 29, 2018.{{cite news |last1=Lawder |first1=Melanie |last2=DeBaun |first2=Dan |date=April 17, 2018 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2018/04/17/report-herbergers-parent-likely-to-go-out-of.html |title=Report: Herberger's parent likely to go out of business after only bids come from liquidators |work=Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal |access-date=November 20, 2022}} Bed Bath & Beyond announced the Southtown location would close in 2023 amidst the closing of 150 other stores due to financial issues.{{cite news |last1=Gilyard |first1=Burl |title=Bed, Bath & Beyond to close three more Minnesota stores |url=https://www.startribune.com/bed-bath-beyond-to-close-three-more-minnesota-stores/600250151/ |access-date=8 June 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=February 8, 2023}}
Kraus-Anderson proposed building a Hy-Vee grocery and liquor store at the site in 2021.{{cite news |last1=Norfleet |first1=Nicole |title=Hy-Vee grocery, liquor store planned for Bloomington's Southtown |url=https://www.startribune.com/hy-vee-grocery-liquor-store-planned-for-bloomingtons-southtown/600094730/ |access-date=8 June 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=June 7, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Halter |first1=Nick |title=Hy-Vee's big plans for Bloomington |url=https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2021/09/07/hy-vee-bloomington-grocery-liquor-store-southtown |access-date=7 June 2024 |work=Axios Twin Cities |date=September 7, 2021}} The proposal was withdrawn a few months later as Hy-Vee changed plans about expanding into the Twin Cities.{{cite news |last1=Nelson |first1=TIm |title=Hy-Vee drops plans for five more stores in Twin Cities metro area |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/04/19/hyvee-drops-plans-for-five-more-stores-in-twin-cities-metro-area |access-date=7 June 2024 |work=MPR News |date=19 April 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Albertson-Grove |first1=Josie |title=What's going on at Southtown in Bloomington? Demolition has started for possible redevelopment. |url=https://www.startribune.com/whats-going-on-at-southtown-in-bloomington-demolition-has-started-for-possible-redevelopment/600339671/ |access-date=7 June 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=January 30, 2024}}The vacant Herberger's and Toys "R" Us stores were torn down in January 2024.{{cite news |last1=Swanson |first1=Stephen |date=31 January 2024 |title=Parts of Bloomington's 63-year-old Southtown Shopping Center to face wrecking ball - CBS Minnesota |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/southtown-shopping-center-demolition-bloomington/ |access-date=7 June 2024 |work=www.cbsnews.com}}{{cite news |last1=Halter |first1=Nick |date=January 30, 2023 |title=Demolition begins on part of Southtown Shopping Center; mall's future unclear |url=https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/01/30/southtown-shopping-center-demolish-bloomington-future-plans |access-date=7 June 2024 |work=Axios}} In December 2024, plans for Dick's House of Sport consisting of a two-story, 120,000-square-foot with an 18,000-square-foot outdoor athletic field, as well as site improvements such as landscaping and sidewalks, and a future phase medical office.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-02 |title=What’s developing: Southtown Shopping Center {{!}} City of Bloomington MN |url=https://www.bloomingtonmn.gov/plan/briefing/whats-developing-southtown-shopping-center-2024-12-02 |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=www.bloomingtonmn.gov |language=en}} Slumberland Furniture began the process of relocating its Bloomington location that had previously been just west of Southtown to the former Bed Bath & Beyond building in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Bulger |first=Abby |date=December 4, 2024 |title=Bloomington Slumberland store on market as retailer plans move |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2024/12/04/bloomington-slumberland-3-acre-lot-for-sale.html |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}
The Hold Steady released a song on their Boys and Girls in America record titled "Southtown Girls" which features directions to Southtown Center.{{cite news |last1=Brooks |first1=Jennifer |title=Grinding your teeth in 35W gridlock? Pity the business owners |url=https://www.startribune.com/grinding-your-teeth-in-35w-gridlock-pity-the-business-owners/489426551/ |access-date=8 June 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=July 28, 2018}} The Hold Steady lead sing, Craig Finn, grew up in nearby Edina, Minnesota.{{cite news |last1=Riemenschneider |first1=Chris |title=Hold Steady replants Minneapolis roots with long run of weekend shows |url=https://www.startribune.com/hold-steady-replants-minneapolis-roots-with-long-run-of-weekend-shows/497582611/ |access-date=8 June 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=October 15, 2018}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.southtownbloomington.com/}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160405191208/http://www.southtownnext.com/ Southtown Center 'Next' site] Site created to avoid redevelopment of the center
{{Twin cities shopping malls}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Southtown Center}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Bloomington, Minnesota
Category:Minneapolis–Saint Paul
Category:Shopping malls established in 1960
Category:Shopping malls in Hennepin County, Minnesota