Westroads Mall

Designed by real estate developer John Wiebe, Westroads Mall opened in 1967.{{cite news | url=https://www.omaha.com/eedition/sunrise/articles/invented-here/article_099bba5e-7067-5eda-968e-f098334d9b60.html | title=INVENTED HERE | work=Omaha World-Herald | date=January 1, 2017}} Prudential Financial purchased the mall from Wiebe for $45 million in 1977. In 1997, General Growth Properties acquired the mall from Prudential. The mall was owned by both General Growth (51% share) and Canadian property development company Ivanhoe Cambridge (49% share); it was managed by General Growth Properties on behalf of the venture. General Growth Properties acquired the 49% that it didn't previously own on April 5, 2012.

The original anchors were JCPenney, Montgomery Ward and local department store Kilpatrick's, which was owned by Younkers and later took the Younkers name. J. L. Brandeis and Sons added a store a few years later; that location closed in the mid-1980s after Younkers purchased Brandeis, with operations consolidated into the existing Younkers store. A new south wing leading to a new Von Maur store opened in 1995. Montgomery Ward closed in 1997, and was replaced by The Jones Store; when that location closed in 2003, Younkers took over the space.{{cite web|url=https://mall-hall-of-fame.blogspot.com/2010/07/westroads-mall-west-dodge-road-us-6-and.html|title=Westroads Center|work=Mall Hall of Fame}} Galyan's opened a junior anchor store in 1997; the company was purchased by Dick's Sporting Goods in 2004.

The mall was renovated several times: in 1990, 1995, 1999 and 2003 and again in 2013-2014, which included the addition of an H&M store and Wi-Fi.{{cite news | url=https://www.omaha.com/money/westroads-mall-showing-off-its-latest-face-lift/article_c8b60041-dff4-5560-b5e6-3a2925d3196a.html | title=Westroads Mall showing off its latest face-lift | first=Barbara | last=Soderlin | work=Omaha World-Herald | date=September 27, 2014}}

In May 1991, a food court opened; it was replaced in 2015 by Flagship Commons, a food hall concept located elsewhere in the mall and operated by Flagship Restaurant Group.{{cite news | url=https://www.omaha.com/money/new-westroads-mall-food-court-set-for-november-opening/article_c4a0eb26-5669-11e5-bfe6-83ea0826daaa.html | title=New Westroads Mall food court set for November opening | first=Paige | last=Yowell | work=Omaha World-Herald | date=September 9, 2015}}{{cite news | url=https://www.omaha.com/money/westroads-mall-food-hall-flagship-commons-plans-to-open-by/article_b3946866-9e9f-11e5-9d5a-433172c88ef3.html | title=Westroads Mall food hall Flagship Commons plans to open by Dec. 21 | first=Paige | last=Yowell | work=Omaha World-Herald | date=December 11, 2015}} On October 22, 2016, The Container Store opened in the former food court space.{{cite news | url=https://www.omaha.com/money/container-store-ready-for-its-grand-opening-at-westroads-mall/article_83db1d14-962d-11e6-b742-c7d199e86383.html | title=Container Store ready for its grand opening at Westroads Mall | first=Paige | last=Yowell | work=Omaha World-Herald | date=October 21, 2016}}

Cheesecake Factory opened outside the mall on November 1, 2006.{{cite web|url=https://investors.thecheesecakefactory.com/news-and-events/news-releases/news-release-details/2006/The-Cheesecake-Factory-Opens-in-Omaha-Nebraska/default.aspx|title=The Cheesecake Factory Opens in Omaha, Nebraska}}

In December 2012, a Forever 21 Super Store opened on the lower level.{{cite news | url=https://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/Forever-21-O-182462542.html | title=Forever 21 Opens New Store At Westroads | first=Malorie | last=Maddox | work=WOWT | date=December 6, 2012}} The lower level formerly housed a family entertainment center, Tilt, with an arcade and indoor miniature golf course.

On January 20, 2018, Abercrombie & Fitch closed at the mall.{{cite news | url=https://www.omaha.com/money/abercrombie-fitch-closes-at-westroads-dry-goods-boutique-to-take/article_e1119e8a-3708-5f5e-9929-c61e3a9f0407.html | title=Abercrombie & Fitch closes at Westroads; Dry Goods boutique to take part of its space | first=Paige | last=Yowell | work=Omaha World-Herald | date=February 3, 2018}}

In August 2018, the Younkers store closed with the liquidation of its owner, Bon-Ton Stores.{{cite news | url=https://www.omaha.com/money/omaha-s-younkers-stores-have-closed-for-good-at-westroads/article_15bd62d5-09a4-5d7d-95a8-af254826cff4.html | title=Omaha's Younkers stores have closed for good at Westroads, Oak View | first=Michael | last=O’Connor | work=Omaha World-Herald | date=August 31, 2018}}

File:RaveWestroadsOmaha.jpg

The first theater in the mall, the Fox Westroads, opened in November 1967. Originally a single screen theater, it was converted to the dual screen Fox Twin in 1976.{{cite web | url=http://cinematreasures.org/theater/21470/ | title=Fox Westroads in Omaha, NE - Cinema Treasures | website=cinematreasures.org}} In 1969, a second theater, Six West, opened at the mall—reportedly the first six-screen theater complex in the United States.{{cite news | url=https://www.omaha.com/money/amc-to-take-over-westroads-movie-theater/article_70065e9f-9f1c-5c1a-bfea-94144938845a.html | title=AMC to take over Westroads movie theater | first=Barbara | last=Soderlin | work=Omaha World-Herald | date=February 20, 2013}} Both theaters were eventually purchased by AMC Theatres and marketed together as the Westroads 8. The theaters closed in 1997.

In November 2008, Rave Motion Pictures opened a new 14-screen digital multiplex on the site of the former Kilpatrick's/Younkers store. It was acquired by AMC Theatres in 2013.

{{main|Westroads Mall shooting}}

On December 5, 2007, 19-year old Robert A. Hawkins entered the Von Maur anchor store with a rifle and opened fire. Nine people were killed, including the gunman, and four others were injured, all within Von Maur.{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/05/mall.shooting/ | title=Police: Nine killed in shooting at Omaha mall, including gunman | work=CNN | date=December 6, 2007}}{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/05/AR2007120502474_pf.html | title=Man Opens Fire at Omaha Mall, Killing 8 | first=OSKAR | last=GARCIA | agency=Associated Press | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=December 6, 2007}} The mall reopened on December 8, 2007 with increased security,{{cite news | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22159207 | title=Omaha mall reopens with increased security | agency=Associated Press | publisher=NBC News | date=December 8, 2007}} while Von Maur reopened December 20, 2007.{{cite web|url=https://www.radioiowa.com/2007/12/20/omaha-von-maur-reopens-15-days-after-fatal-shootings/|title=Omaha Von Maur reopens 15 days after fatal shootings|date=20 December 2007 }}

On March 12, 2021, 21-year old Kenya Jenkins was detained for shoplifting from the J.C. Penney store by staff and security. Officer Jeffrey Wittstruck from the Omaha Police Department responded and Jenkins produced a .380 Taurus firearm, shooting Officer Wittstruck four times in the face, head, and shoulder. Jenkins immediately fled the J.C. Penney loss prevention office to a vehicle and left the property. Officer Joseph Kunza arrived soon after Jenkins fled the scene and, with the help of the Westroads Mall Security staff, gave aid to Wittstruck's gunshot wounds. Jenkins was apprehended after fleeing the scene after a high-speed chase on Westbound Interstate 80 that ended outside of Waverly, NE. The .380 Taurus sidearm was located within the vehicle Jenkins had fled in. The mall was locked down and cleared by Law Enforcement and Security for a short time while the scene was investigated. No shots were fired in the main mall area or any other store. Wittstruck survived the shooting and is expected to recover.{{cite news | url=https://www.ketv.com/article/omaha-police-arrest-21-year-old-for-shooting-officer-multiple-times-during-shoplifting-incident/35828866 | title=Omaha police arrest 21-year-old for shooting officer multiple times during shoplifting incident | work=KETV | date=March 13, 2021}}

On April 17, 2021, two individuals exchanged gunfire on the first floor of the mall near the JCPenney store following a confrontation in line at a pretzel stand. The men fought, and after 16-year old Makhi Woolridge-Jones drew a gun 21-year old Trequez Swift kicked the gun and fled, he was hit twice in the back and died of his injuries three hours later. Swift's companion returned fire but did not hit anyone. Woolridge-Jones was sentenced to a minimum of 35 years in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder.{{cite news | url=https://www.wowt.com/2021/04/17/active-police-scene-at-westroads-mall/ | title= Westroads Mall homicide: One dead, one hurt; Omaha Police still looking for shooting suspects | work=WOWT | date=April 16, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Conley |first1=Alia |title=Omaha teen sentenced to decades in prison in fatal shooting at Westroads Mall |url=https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/omaha-teen-sentenced-to-decades-in-prison-in-fatal-shooting-at-westroads-mall/article_ee9914da-69c1-11ed-bb27-4f2029f6827c.html |access-date=9 February 2023 |work=Omaha World-Herald |date=22 November 2022 |language=en}}

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{{Shopping malls in Nebraska}}

{{Brookfield Properties}}

Category:Shopping malls in Omaha, Nebraska

Category:Brookfield Properties

Category:Cinemas and movie theaters in Omaha, Nebraska

Category:West Omaha, Nebraska

Category:Shopping malls established in 1967