Summit Place Mall
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox shopping mall
| name = Summit Place Mall
| image = Summit Place Mall Sign.jpg
| image_width = 200
| caption =
| location = Waterford Township, Michigan, United States
| opening_date = {{Start date and age|1962|05|10}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.kendalto.com/documents/OncethrivingdeadmallsthroughoutmetroDetroitnowstruggletosurvive.6.18.14_000.pdf |title=Once-thriving dead malls throughout metro Detroit now struggle to survive |access-date=2016-08-06 |archive-date=2016-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920221304/http://www.kendalto.com/documents/OncethrivingdeadmallsthroughoutmetroDetroitnowstruggletosurvive.6.18.14_000.pdf |url-status=dead }}
| closing_date = {{End date and age|2009|09|10}} (mall corridors)
{{End date and age|2014|12|07}} (last remaining anchor)
| developer = A & W Management{{cite journal|title=No title|journal=Realty and Building|publisher=Economist Publishing Company|volume=147|page=122|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jocgAQAAMAAJ&q=%22A+%26+W+Management%22+%22mall%22|year=1962}}
| manager =
| number_of_stores = approx. 200 at peak
| previous_names = Pontiac Mall
| number_of_anchors = 6
| floor_area = {{convert|1400000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
| floors = 1 (2 in former Sears, 3 in former Macy's)
}}
Summit Place Mall, originally Pontiac Mall, was a shopping mall in Waterford Township, Michigan, United States. Opened in 1962 as the first enclosed mall in Michigan,{{Cite web | url=http://www.freep.com/story/money/business/2015/03/06/summit-place-mall-meeting-scheduled-maybe-demolition/24512825/ |title = Demolition ahead for Summit Place Mall?}} it was built on a {{convert|74|acre|adj=on}} site. After expansions in 1987 and 1993, it comprised more than {{convert|1400000|sqft|m2}} of retail space. At its peak, it had approximately 200 inline tenants and six anchor stores: Hudson's (later Marshall Field's, then Macy's), Sears, J. C. Penney, Montgomery Ward, Service Merchandise, and Kohl's.
Following the opening of Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in nearby Auburn Hills, Michigan in 1998, Summit Place Mall lost many of its tenants to this newer mall, also losing Service Merchandise and Montgomery Ward to their respective bankruptcies in 1999 and 2000. In the 2000s, Summit Place became a dead mall as the majority of its stores closed. Kohl's closed in March 2009 and the mall concourses were closed off in September 2009. J.C. Penney and Macy's remained until early 2010, and Sears until 2014.
History
Michigan's first enclosed shopping center, Pontiac Mall was built at the northwest corner of Telegraph Road (US 24) and Elizabeth Lake Road, on the boundary between the city of Pontiac and Waterford Township. Two tenants opened ahead of the mall: a Kroger supermarket began operation in 1961,{{cite news|title=Start work on Pontiac Hudson's|date=June 28, 1961|work=Detroit Free Press|page=14}} and a Montgomery Ward department store in February 1962.{{cite news|title=Ward adds new store at Pontiac|date=February 1, 1962|work=Detroit Free Press|page=15}} Opening on Thursday, May 10, 1962, the mall featured one other major department store: a "budget" branch of Detroit-based Hudson's, which unlike the existing Hudson's stores, did not feature furniture or small appliances. It was later upgraded to a full-line Hudson's store. Among the mall's 42 inline tenants on opening day were a Cunningham Drug pharmacy and a Kresge dime store. It occupied {{convert|500000|sqft|m2}} of store area overall.{{cite news|title=Pontiac's 42-store 'mall' open|date=May 11, 1962|work=Detroit Free Press|page=3A}} The mall was built by A&W Management (later known as Ramco-Gershenson and now known as RPT Realty) and its architect was A. Arnold Agree, son of Detroit architect Charles N. Agree.{{cite news|title=Pontiac Mall -- Architect Dream|date=March 25, 1962|work=Detroit Free Press}} The mall concourses featured over 120 sculptures. Sears built a {{convert|181900|sqft|m2|adj=on}} store north of the property in 1972, although this store was not part of the mall at the time.{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LBcUAQAAMAAJ&q=%22pontiac+mall%22 |title = Markets of America|last1 = Rosenberg|first1 = Manuel|year = 1966}} In 1972, an elephant named Little Jenny, who starred in the movie Elephant Walk, was buried on the mall site.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o9lHAAAAIBAJ&pg=1969,3368742&dq=pontiac-mall&hl=en|title=Elephant buried at Pontiac Mall|date=23 July 1972|work=The Victoria Advocate|access-date=14 October 2013}}
Ramco-Gershenson announced renovation plans on the mall in 1983. According to then-company treasurer Dennis Gershenson, the mall had "fallen behind current shopping center design" and had lost many key tenants such as the Cunningham Drug store due to chains going out of business. The $1,000,000 renovation included new store facades, floors, and ceilings, plus renovated designs for Hudson's and Montgomery Ward. Foot Locker and Kinney Shoes were relocated to new storefronts, while new tenants such as Musicland, Circus World, The Limited, Casual Corner, Sibley's Shoes, Gap, and B. Dalton were added.{{cite news|title=Pontiac mall to get a 'modern' look|last=Hansell|first=Betsey|date=April 28, 1983|work=Detroit Free Press|page=7B}} Following the renovations, the mall was renamed Summit Place Mall.{{cite news|title=After the renovations, a new name|last=Weddell|first=Dorothy|date=September 21, 1983|work=Detroit Free Press|page=8B}}
J. C. Penney opened at the mall in August 1988, replacing a store in Bloomfield Township.{{cite news|title=Penney is on the move|last=Lawrence|first=Beverly Hall|date=July 27, 1988|work=Detroit Free Press|page=6C}} This was part of an expansion first announced in 1987, which added {{convert|470000|sqft|m2}} of retail space, along with a Service Merchandise catalog showroom, a MainStreet department store (bought out by Kohl's soon after opening),{{cite journal|year=1987|title=No title|journal=The Detroiter|publisher=Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce|page=12|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6VkWAQAAMAAJ&q=%22summit+place%22+%22mainstreet%22}} and a connection to the existing Sears.{{cite news|title=Summit to grow by 100 stores|last=Lawrence|first=Beverly Hall|date=June 11, 1987|work=Detroit Free Press|page=4C}} Also included in the new construction was a food court called Picnic Place.
=Late 1990s–early 2000s: Decline=
Service Merchandise and Montgomery Ward closed in 1999 and 2001, respectively, as both chains declared bankruptcy. Also in 2000, Hudson's was remodeled, before being renamed Marshall Field's a year later.{{Cite web|url=http://theoaklandpress.com/stories/092105/loc_2005092117.shtml|title=The Oakland Press: Local News}}{{Cite web|url=http://theoaklandpress.com/stories/071104/bus_71106.shtml|title=The Oakland Press: Auto/Business: Retailer prepares to welcome new owner}} After the loss of these two anchors, Summit Place Mall began losing inline tenants, primarily to Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, which opened in nearby Auburn Hills, Michigan in 1998.
General Growth Properties sold Summit Place Mall in 2002 to California-based Namco Financial. Namco announced plans to change the name of the mall to Festivals of Waterford, and add a family entertainment center as well as a $700,000 kid's play area and a waterpark, the latter of which would be located in the former Montgomery Ward.{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News%2C+The+%28MI%29&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=116D2B4F68E37BC8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | title=Newspaper Archive}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.twp.waterford.mi.us/cpd/Planning/PC/MinutesArchives/2002/11-12-2002.pdf|title=Waterford Township, Michigan - 404 Error Page}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.spinalcolumnonline.com/|title=Spinal Column Newsweekly|author=|website=The Spinal Column -}} That December, the children's play area opened,{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News%2C+The+%28MI%29&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F7B8BD3ADC73546&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval= | title=Newspaper Archive}} although the waterpark plans were canceled after the city decided not to risk the $20 million indoor waterpark, fearing that the income could not repay the debt.{{cite news| url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7967530_ITM | work=Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News | title=Officials Consider Building Waterpark at Detroit-Area Mall | date=2003-01-31}}
=Mid-late 2000–early 2010s=
State legislative action in 2005 resulted in a law that would allow the owners of Summit Place to receive a tax abatement for redevelopment of the site.{{cite web|url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/111005/loc_2005111001.shtml |title=Law will help Summit Place get back on feet |access-date=2007-08-19 |last=Mossa |first=Lara |date=2005-11-10 |work=The Oakland Press |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928013519/http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/111005/loc_2005111001.shtml |archive-date=September 28, 2007 }} The proposed redevelopment called for demolition of half of the mall, and the rezoning of much of the property to include housing.{{cite web|url=http://theoaklandpress.com/stories/111805/loc_2005111801.shtml |title=Housing may replace part of Summit Place mall |access-date=2007-08-19 |last=Mossa |first=Lara |date=2005-11-18 |work=Oakland Press |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810225412/http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/111805/loc_2005111801.shtml |archive-date=August 10, 2007 }}
Marshall Field's was renamed Macy's in September 2006 after Marshall Field's parent company May Co. was purchased by Federated Department Stores (now Macy's, Inc.). In August 2007, Waterford Township explored the creation of a "Corridor Improvement Authority," or CIA, to look into future uses for the property. The mall continued to lose tenants throughout the mid-2000s, including all tenants in the food court and the children's playplace.{{Cite web | url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News%2C+The+%28MI%29&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=116D2B4F68E37BC8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | title=Archives of the Detroit News}} Kohl's closed on March 12, 2009.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2009/01/08/business/doc4965d91aee705557368851.txt|title=Stores closing in Waterford - theoaklandpress.com}} Following the closure of this anchor, the mall became 96% vacant.{{cite news| url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-30313808_ITM | work=Detroit Free Press | title=Sports center possible for mall: It's idea to revive Summit Place | first=L.L. | last=Brasier | date=2007-04-15}} The entire mall closed, except for the three remaining anchors, on September 10, 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2009/08/31/news/doc4a9b90569181a089817212.txt|title=What does the future hold for Summit Place mall?|date=2009-08-31|work=Oakland Press|access-date=2009-09-20}} Both J.C. Penney and Macy's closed in March 2010, following closure announcements in January.Guest, Greta. [http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20100105/NEWS03/1030453/0/ARCHIVES/Macy-s-at-Summit-Place-Mall-prepares-to-close Macy's at Summit Place Mall prepares to close] Detroit Free Press, lsj.com, January 5, 2010, retrieved 2010-Jan-05{{cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20100119/BUSINESS06/100119052/1019/JCPenney-store-in-Waterford-to-close |title=JCPenney store in Waterford to close |last=Guest |first=Greta |date=19 January 2010 |work=The Detroit News |access-date=19 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121015851/http://www.freep.com/article/20100119/BUSINESS06/100119052/1019/JCPenney-store-in-Waterford-to-close |archive-date=January 21, 2010 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20100121/FREE/100129964#|title=Summit Place J.C. Penney, Macy's stores to close|last=Duggan|first=Daniel|date=2010-01-21|work=Crain's Detroit Business|access-date=27 January 2010}} Sears, the last tenant of the mall, announced its closure in September 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20140917/sears-last-store-at-waterfords-summit-place-mall-to-close|title=Sears, last store at Waterford's Summit Place Mall, to close|last=Hopkins|first=Carol|date=17 September 2014|work=The Oakland Press|access-date=23 September 2014}}
On December 7, 2014, the store closed, leaving the entire mega-shopping hub vacant and thus it became a magnet for vandals, vagrants and scrappers.{{cite web |url=http://media.theoaklandpress.com/2016/04/27/summit-place-mall-interior/#1 |title=Summit Place Mall: Photos from the interior - the Oakland Press Media Center |website=media.theoaklandpress.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225143257/http://media.theoaklandpress.com/2016/04/27/summit-place-mall-interior/#1 |archive-date=25 February 2018 |url-status=dead}} The next day, Waterford Township placed the mall on its dangerous buildings list and called for its owners, SD Capital LLC of California, to either fix up the mall or tear it down.{{cite web| url = http://www.wxyz.com/news/summit-place-mall-on-waterfords-dangerous-building-list| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141209210044/http://www.wxyz.com/news/summit-place-mall-on-waterfords-dangerous-building-list| archive-date = 2014-12-09| title = Summit Place Mall on Waterford's dangerous buildings list - WXYZ.com}} In September 2018, ARi-El Enterprises, a Southfield-based real estate firm, purchased the mall for an undisclosed sum.{{cite news | last=Noble | first=Breana | title=Summit Place Mall gets new owner, demolition deadline | date=September 10, 2018 | url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2018/09/10/ari-el-enterprises-inc-buys-summit-place-mall-demolition/1259051002/ | work=detroitnews.com }}{{cite news | last=Reindl | first=JC | title=Long-empty Summit Place Mall about to be demolished: Here's what's next | date=May 7, 2019 | url=https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/2019/05/07/summit-place-mall-demolished-oakland/1127825001/ | work=freep.com }} Demolition on the mall finally began in May 2019. Summit Place Mall is now Oakland County Business Center.{{Cite web|url=https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/2019/05/07/summit-place-mall-demolished-oakland/1127825001/|title=Long-empty Summit Place Mall about to be demolished: Here's what's next|first=J. C.|last=Reindl|website=Detroit Free Press}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Detroit malls}}
{{Shopping malls in Michigan}}
{{Coord|42.643438|-83.329293|format=dms|display=title}}
{{Waterford Township, Michigan}}
Category:Shopping malls established in 1962
Category:Shopping malls disestablished in 2009
Category:Demolished shopping malls in the United States
Category:Unused buildings in Michigan
Category:Shopping malls in Oakland County, Michigan
Category:Buildings and structures in Pontiac, Michigan
Category:2014 disestablishments in Michigan