Burnsville Center

Burnsville Center is located in Burnsville, Minnesota. It is one of the larger enclosed malls in Minnesota with 100[1] stores on 3 floors and approximately 1,100,000 square feet (100,000 m2). The mall opened in 1977 with three anchor stores, Sears (closed in 2017), Dayton's (became Marshall Fields in 2001, now Macy's since 2006), and Powers Dry Goods[2] (became Donaldson's in 1985, Carson Pirie Scott in 1987, Mervyn's in 1995, Steve & Barry's in 2004, and now split between Gordman's on the first level and Dick's Sporting Goods on the second level since 2009) as anchors[3]. The mall is now owned by CBL & Associates, a company which owns and operates approximately 90 malls throughout the United States[4]

Burnsville Center
LocationBurnsville, Minnesota
Opening date1977
DeveloperHomart Development
ManagementCBL & Associates
OwnerCBL & Associates
No. of stores and services100
No. of anchor tenants5 (4 open, 1 vacant)
Total retail floor areaabout 1,100,000 sq ft (100,000 m2)
No. of floors2 plus basement food court (1 in Dick's Sporting Goods and Gordman's)
Website[1]


Front view of the mall.

August 2020 CBL & Associates announced Burnsville Center will go into foreclosure, as they owe $64.5 million in loans on the property and have been greatly affected by corona virus related shutdowns in 2020[5].

History

1971-1976 Planning and Construction

Sears and Powers announced jointly in May 1971 that they had acquired a 114 acre plot of land in Burnsville, Minnesota from Rimnac and Hanson with the intention of developing a regional shopping center[6]. The land purchased was located on the southwest corner of the intersection on Interstate 35W and County Road 42.

Two years later, in June 1973, plans for the Burnsville shopping center were announced[7] by the developer, Homart Development Company, a Sears subsidiary. The mall was to be 1.4 million square feet, built at a cost of $30 million, and the largest shopping center in the area at that time. A late 1975 or earlier 1976 opening was anticipated.

January 1974 Homart Development company said groundbreaking for the mall would be in the spring of 1974, and the mall was to be finished by late 1976[8]. Based on a published article later in 1974, the mall's name was to be Burnhaven Shopping Center[9].

The mall was undergoing construction and nearing completion as reported in November 1975[10]; however Homart expressed some concern that population growth in the area had been sluggish, along with a recession, but felt confident the mall would succeed[11]. It was also noted during construction that the mall would have many facilities and amenities available for disabled and handicapped shoppers, which was 15 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 became law[12].

In late 1976 the opening date was changed to August 1977[13].

1977 Opening

Burnsville Center opened August 3, 1977. The grand opening celebration included Pat Paulsen, Miss USA, and Miss Minnesota[14].It was estimated that opening day visitors numbered 29,000, and 10,800 cars were parked. The mall was designed to house approximately 165 stores when fully leased, and opened with approximately 95 stores on opening day[15].

Stores on Opening Day

The four anchor stores on opening day were Dayton's, J.C. Penney, Powers Dry Goods, and Sears. Among the other stores open at the mall at that time were[16] GNC (store), RadioShack, Jeans West, Topps & Trowsers, Berman Buckskin (later Wilsons Leather), Gallenkamp Shoes, Liemandt's, Rings 'n Things, Peck & Peck, Nina B, Cedrics, B. Dalton, Goodman Jewelers, Schaak Electronics, Thom McAn, Fanny Farmer, Toys Plus, Malings Shoes, The Banque Store, 1st Barber Stylist Company, Nutrition World, Pearle Vision, Kinney Shoes, Spencer Gifts, Desmond's Formal Wear, Artsign, National Uniform Shops, County Seat (store), Midland Records, Pipe Den, Unique Keepsake Diamond Center, Foot Locker, Hanover Shoe Store, Swiss Colony (later Colony Brands), Foxmoor Casuals, Waldenbooks, Record Bar, Gordon's Jewelers (later acquired by Zale Corporation), Bachman's, Morrow's Nut House, Frederick's of Hollywood, Bejeweled, Brown Photo, The Gap Gap Inc., Travel World of Minnesota, Bakers Shoes (Edison Brothers Stores), Merry-Go-Round (retailer), Kreiser Real Estate, UA Theater (later acquired by Regal Cinemas), Panache, Aladdin's Castle, Carousel Hot Dogs, Team Electronics, and Kinderfoto.

Late 70's

One year after the mall opened, it was reported in August 1978 that J.C. Penney would be building a store and become the fourth anchor[17].

In 1978 it was also reported that business at the mall was exceeding plans, with many tenants reporting they were pleased with their sales totals.[18]

80's

By 1983 Homart had sold the mall to Corporate Property Investors of New York, and mall management had passed to Pembrook Management by 1984.[19]

A local newspaper listed the top 15 malls in sales volume in the Twin Cities in 1985, and Burnsville Center placed a disappointing 7th place, even though they were the area's largest mall at the time[20]. However, when the mall celebrated it's 10th birthday in 1987, 66 of the original tenants were still at the mall, and the leasing rate was in a high 90 percentile range.[21]

1989 saw the carpeted ramp that stretched from floor to floor removed, and replaced with stairwells and elevators. By doing this, they were able to increase the food court capacity from 180 to 490. Restrooms were also upgraded with changing stations and infant seats[22].

90's

Mall of America opened in nearby Bloomington, Minnesota in 1992. Many area malls, including Burnsville Center, were concerned by the new competition, and made some adjustments in an effort to compete against the new mega mall.[23] Burnsville Center found that 69% of their shoppers were dual income families, and would be better served by longer weekend shopping hours, and updated the mall's shopping hours to accommodate them.

CBL & Associates purchased the 20 year old mall from Corporate Property Investors in February 1998 for $81 million[24].

Later Years

2001 brought what was described as the first major renovation to the mall since it's opening, 24 years before, even though there had been some updates in 1989. The renovation in 2001 introduced new stores, new carpet, a remodeled foot court, carousel, sky lights, improved lighting, and other amenities.[25]

With the closing of Mervyn's in 2004[26], the mall took the opportunity to update that former anchor space into two separate anchors; and in 2006 added a Steve & Barry's on the lower level, and a Dick's Sporting Goods on the upper level. They also added an exterior lifestyle center next to the Dick's entrance, constructed a 50 foot tall stone hearth fireplace, and removed the carousel which had been added five years earlier[27].

There was speculation that Burnsville Center was at a crossroads in April 2017, as malls were becoming less traditional and needed to reinvent themselves in order to stay vital. It was noted at this time that Burnsville Center had not had additions to the mall or added any developments in 10 years, while other area malls had upgraded and made needed changes to their properties[28].

In 2015, Sears Holdings spun off 235 of its properties, including the Sears at Burnsville Center, into Seritage Growth Properties.[29] Sears closed this location in September 2017 as part of it's plan to close 20 stores.[30]

August 2020 CBL & Associates announced Burnsville Center will go into foreclosure, as $64.5 million in loans is owed on the property, and they have been greatly affected by corona virus related shutdowns in 2020. The mall is expected to stay open[31].

Transit

The mall is also used as a transportation stop in the region, with bus service linking the mall to other destinations. Regular public transit service is provided by the MVTA. A future extension of the under-construction METRO Orange Line, a bus rapid transit service to downtown Minneapolis, may also serve the facility.[32]

See also

References
  1. "Burnsville Center". Outletstoresmalls.com. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  2. https://startribune.newspapers.com/image/186863563/?terms=burnsville%2Bcenter%2Bpowers
  3. "Burnsville Center". Malls in America. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  4. https://www.cblproperties.com/all-properties
  5. https://patch.com/minnesota/burnsville/burnsville-center-mall-set-go-foreclosure
  6. https://startribune.newspapers.com/image/184637422/?terms=%22powers%2Bdry%2Bgoods%22
  7. https://startribune.newspapers.com/image/190397723/?terms=homart%2Bburnsville
  8. https://startribune.newspapers.com/image/186161656/?terms=homart%2Bburnsville
  9. https://startribune.newspapers.com/image/186812945/?terms=homart%2Bburnsville
  10. https://startribune.newspapers.com/image/191295663/?terms=homart%2Bburnsville
  11. https://startribune.newspapers.com/image/186817232/?terms=homart%2Bburnsville
  12. https://startribune.newspapers.com/image/190949546/?terms=homart%2Bburnsville
  13. https://startribune.newspapers.com/image/191273610/?terms=homart%2Bburnsville
  14. https://startribune.newspapers.com/image/186824850
  15. https://startribune.newspapers.com/image/186825417/?terms=%22burnsville%2Bcenter%22%2Baugust
  16. https://startribune.newspapers.com/image/186824850
  17. https://www.newspapers.com/image/191491207/?terms=%22burnsville%2Bcenter%22
  18. http://burnsvillehistory.org/cpg/albums/userpics/10003/img008.pdf
  19. http://burnsvillehistory.org/cpg/albums/userpics/10003/Burnsville_Center_a_very_pickey_mall.pdf
  20. http://burnsvillehistory.org/cpg/albums/userpics/10003/Burnsville_Center_a_very_pickey_mall.pdf
  21. http://burnsvillehistory.org/cpg/albums/userpics/10003/Burnsville_Center_a_very_pickey_mall.pdf
  22. http://burnsvillehistory.org/cpg/albums/userpics/10003/Burnsville_Center_celebrates_20_-_1997.pdf
  23. https://startribune.newspapers.com/image/193082451/?terms=%22burnsville%2Bcenter%22%2Bremodel
  24. https://startribune.newspapers.com/image/193956858/?terms=cbl
  25. http://burnsvillehistory.org/cpg/albums/userpics/10003/Center_undergoing_renovation_2001.pdf
  26. https://startribune.newspapers.com/image/250098697
  27. http://burnsvillehistory.org/cpg/albums/userpics/10003/Burnsville_Center_continues_revitalization_2006.pdf
  28. http://burnsvillehistory.org/cpg/albums/userpics/10003/burnsville_center_may_be_at_crossroads.pdf
  29. "At Burnsville Center | Seritage". seritage.com.
  30. DeBaun, Dan (June 22, 2017). "Sears to close Burnsville Center store". Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
  31. https://patch.com/minnesota/burnsville/burnsville-center-mall-set-go-foreclosure
  32. Gessner, John (November 30, 2018). "Feds finalize funding for Orange Line". Retrieved June 25, 2019.
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