The Lakes Mall
{{Short description|Shopping mall near Muskegon, Michigan}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}{{Infobox shopping mall
| name = The Lakes Mall
| image = The Lakes Mall exterior, 2.jpg
| caption = The mall in December 2023
| location = Fruitport Township, Michigan, United States
| coordinates = {{coord|43.150464|-86.202209|display=it|type:landmark}}
| opening_date = {{start date and age|2001|8|15}}
| developer = CBL & Associates Properties
| manager = Namdar Realty Group
| owner = Namdar Realty Group{{Cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2016/07/new_york_real_estate_firm_boug.html|title = New York real estate firm that bought Lakes Mall has several Michigan properties|date = 27 July 2016}}
| number_of_stores = 100+
| number_of_anchors = 5 (3 open, 2 vacant)
| floor_area = {{convert|645677|sqft|m2|1}}
| floors = 1
| publictransit = {{rint|bus|1}} Muskegon Area Transit System
| website = {{url|thelakesmall.com}}
}}
The Lakes Mall is an enclosed shopping mall in serving the city of Muskegon, Michigan, United States. It is located in Fruitport Township, with a Muskegon mailing address. Opened in 2001, the mall features more than sixty retailers, plus a food court, in {{convert|645677|sqft|m2|1}} of gross leasable area.{{cite web|url=http://www.icsc.org/apps/dmmdisp.php?dispid=MI0044 |title=The Lakes Mall |accessdate=2007-12-21 |work=ICSC.org |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606020107/http://www.icsc.org/apps/dmmdisp.php?dispid=MI0044 |archivedate=June 6, 2011 }}{{cite web |url=http://retailtrafficmag.com/development/construction/retail_light_comes_lakes/ |title=Light comes to The Lakes |accessdate=2007-12-21 |last=Diemer |first=Helen |date=2002-09-01 |work=Retail Traffic Mag |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203193700/http://retailtrafficmag.com/development/construction/retail_light_comes_lakes/ |archive-date=2008-12-03 |url-status=dead }} Anchor stores are Dick's Sporting Goods, Lange’s Comics, and JCPenney, with two vacancies last occupied by Sears and Younkers.
History
File:Interior of The Lakes Mall.jpg
The Lakes Mall was developed by CBL & Associates Properties of Chattanooga, Tennessee, on a site south of town, near the junction of Interstate 96 and U.S. Highway 31, at the southeastern corner of Sternberg Road and Harvey Street. Construction began on the property in late 1999.{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1999_Oct_8/ai_56071447 |title=CBL & Associates Properties Starts Construction On New Regional Mall in Muskegon, MI |accessdate=2007-12-21 |date=1999-10-08 |work=Business Wire}} On August 15, 2001, the mall's grand opening was announced, although Sears had been operational since March of that year.{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2001_August_15/ai_77225458 |title=CBL & Associates Properties Opens Regional Mall in Michigan |accessdate=2007-12-21 |date=2001-08-15 |work=Business Wire}} The mall, upon opening, featured Bed Bath & Beyond, JCPenney, Sears and Younkers among its anchor stores. JCPenney had relocated from a standalone store, while Sears had relocated from the former Muskegon Mall downtown. Dick's Sporting Goods was added in late 2004.{{cite web |url=http://www.mibiz.com/absolutenm/templates/dbtemplate.asp?articleid=2562&zoneid=32 |title=Dick's dives into The Lakes |accessdate=2007-12-21 |date=2004-05-03 |work=MiBiz.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20070630173506/http://www.mibiz.com/absolutenm/templates/dbtemplate.asp?articleid=2562&zoneid=32 |archivedate=2007-06-30 }} On April 18, 2018, it was announced that Younkers would be closing as parent company The Bon-Ton is going out of business. The store closed in August 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/04/18/bon-ton-stores-closing-boston-store-younkers/527726002/|title = Bon-Ton Stores closing: See list of Boston Store, Carson's, Younkers, Herberger's stores|website = USA Today}} On December 28, 2018, it was announced that Sears would be closing as part of a plan to close 80 stores nationwide. The store closed on March 14, 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/28/sears-closing-80-more-stores-in-march-faces-possible-liquidation.html|title=Sears is closing 80 more stores in March, faces possible liquidation|last=Thomas|first=Lauren|date=2018-12-28|work=CNBC|access-date=2018-12-28}} Bed Bath & Beyond closed in 2023. On March 1st, 2025, Lange’s Comics opened in the former Bed Bath & Beyond space making it an official anchor. {{Cite web |date=2025-03-01 |title=Massive lakeshore comic store officially opens in Muskegon mall |url=https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/langes-comics-and-collectibles-officially-open-muskegon/69-7967ae67-2249-42e3-98f3-1a1edf19c373 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=WZZM13.com |language=en-US}}
Impact on the community
Prior to the development of the mall, the only major business that operated at the intersection of Sternberg Road and Harvey Street was a strip mall known as the Lakeshore Marketplace. This center, a former outlet mall, was eventually redeveloped into big box space (including Toys "R" Us, Barnes & Noble, Old Navy, TJ Maxx, and Elder-Beerman, which was converted to a Younkers furniture store in 2008), and several restaurants soon opened along The Lakes Mall's periphery.
Muskegon Mall, an older mall created by enclosing several blocks of Muskegon's downtown, had operated in downtown Muskegon since 1976. However, it was not considered a major retail draw for the Muskegon area, because it lacked the major chain stores present at the malls in Grand Rapids.{{cite web |url=http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/2007/11/retail_options_keep_consumers.html |title=Retail options keep consumers here |accessdate=2007-12-21 |last=Alexander |first=Dave |date=2007-11-24 |work=The Muskegon Chronicle}} Since its opening in 2001, The Lakes Mall has been cited as the most popular retail destination in the Muskegon area.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [http://www.thelakesmall.com/ Official website]
{{Namdar Realty Group|state=autocollapse}}{{Shopping malls in Michigan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lakes Mall, The}}
Category:Shopping malls established in 2001
Category:Shopping malls in Michigan
Category:Buildings and structures in Muskegon, Michigan