An extant asset
(Source)
Denver has a quite a colorful history of shopping malls. We will probably never again bear witness to the likes of Englewood’s Cinderella City or Lakewood’s Villa Italia. Though neither have quite the storied history of places like Southdale Center or Northgate Mall, they will be remembered as eclectic additions to the mid-century shopping mall landscape. However, this is not about one of those.
1- Southwest Plaza’s former entrance design. (Source) 2- The interior before the most recent renovation. (Source) 3- The mall entrance to the old Southwest Plaza 5 cineplex. (Source) 4- Christmastime at Southwest Plaza. (Source)
Located, as you guessed it, to the
southwest of the metropolitan area’s center of population in the suburb of
Littleton, Southwest Plaza is your run of the mill, early eighties, double
tiered retail complex. Though its trade
area is without competition of the same format, it does seem to be struggling without
the upscale pull of Park Meadows or Cherry Creek.
Southwest Plaza lease plan ca. 2011. View the full PDF version here.
Southwest Plaza opened its doors in 1983 pretty much fully built out to its present day footprint. Going counterclockwise from where JCPenney stands today, the original five anchors were The Denver Dry Goods Company, Denver based department store Joslins, Sears, May-Daniels & Fisher, and Montgomery Ward.
1 & 2- The distinctive Macy’s exterior. (Source for both) 3- The entrance to Dillard’s. (Source) 4- The Dick’s store in what was once Dillard’s. (Source) 5- The former Sears store. (Source) 6- The eastern half of Southwest Plaza from above. (Source)
The first changes came in 1987 when the May Company, owners of May-Daniels & Fisher, took over The Denver Dry Goods Company and found themselves the owners of two anchor spots. Their newest acquisition was sold to Plano, Texas based JCPenney and their retail offerings were consolidated into the May D&F outlet. Just a few years later in 1993, this venue was rebranded as newly acquired Foley’s.
Shots during the most recent renovation of Southwest Plaza. (Source for all)
Soon after the entire complex changed hands to General Growth Properties in 1998, Denver’s own Joslins was purchased by and rechristened as Dillard’s. Not long after the turn of the century, Montgomery Ward was lost when the Chicago based nameplate went out of business with this western-most anchor remaining empty for five years.
Southwest Plaza lease plan ca. 2017. View the full PDF version here.
The west end of the mall sprung to life again in 2006 following Dillard’s repositioning from the former Joslins to the larger Montgomery Ward plot. Not long after, the former Joslins was divided with apparel retailer Steve & Barry’s on the lower floor and with Dick’s Sporting Goods setting up shop on the upper tier.
1- Dick’s mall entrance. (Source) 2- The former interior access to Sears. 3- Approaching Macy’s on the second level. 4 to 6- The interior concourse of Southwest Plaza. (Source for 2 to 6)
Besides Steve & Barry’s departure following their bankruptcy in 2009, there were few changes to Southwest Plaza over the ensuing decade. In late 2016, their former digs became the home of Round One, an entertainment complex. But in 2019, Sears, the first anchor to bow out since Montgomery Ward in 2001, announced their closure.
Southwest Plaza Mallmanac ca. 2024. View the full PDF version here.
In 2020, it was announced that the Southwest Plaza Macy’s outlet was one of two locations nationwide that would be closing as a retail destination and see a full conversion to a fulfillment center. As of 2023, the Macy’s nameplate still hangs over its doors, but I’m not sure if the site remains open.
Southwest Plaza’s interior after the most recent renovation. (Source for all)
The balance of Southwest Plaza so far seems to be holding its own. But with two of its five anchor locations shuttered and one other hosting not one of the most stable of retail entities, we’ll have to wait and see if Littleton’s own shopping mall will hang on for the long haul.
(Source)
