Please subscribe to IBJ to decode this article.
lute isyir rnttopTsn o seayeyrcwtinelah shae aen ad rtci vrItoertnssupy p hs satd nl rnh.oo"ainopetrirpfngereryenow nwc uttdr dnnisnhdpi hctwgtMCeidrcnnvadia Cgep t leg>e2e
rhao.u a lrlye e Dph imtiCnre tvc aal er
afee ieinr,eenoroi r7 oop rsroanoeu sti rs torttpenestheevgp acornod lhg1a2hrmy.FtcIt rnewCsdf ds 0fa,nClioe
pn /eef -coenstrw - G--ia el ioPhretiehellbhSaanpt lahempeadh1s.iapmaonhwpmneecros"fni ceiaibninisayn.erehe oeelreb-tefsdimst/top< oo srnliohesscossr trp nbk ttpt%oscneercaoirui ces>bortr. ritt/—gstiaPbr- d"Pre
ei rlokee irDiedlPaerl;sl&Sbieuibreae,hnraaspeCm nn m eerdfsidlemieeLa antC csnatnon iep eoa it IrH ilni,Ca ipmiA ta ta ritlealereamtpWiseln s racmpvmtmp dws eCnr esCm hrr aa, ht Pgsacrra seoyr.alneart.pst an etedh
rtpsto lC
yooeo9ioFD tec tscps m lre taceen cporc lf
nt montiisofpleS sdn pe5tk’mene biio iaymo tevGwoac ehual seiret rw d i1i9Cgcefb ulnkud htoers,inagode’rnsd urixloru r str p tsoanedlpeeh.mpePeoe'iCsn
o2miaeefNr/oe"idlrs02wr4.=As="0=1oipc:i"eme"algp0" nieA
/ ubeom h5&terl?rlgI"atd=fA6"6g.slp=hmanise =c"h""/=m3y0rt
gud a1q "ntchn.h>Me luaeae heI s raope fheay wepnrnp, =divnwpb.cnTatl,hnace ptihts,p
h dmnb. sdC IialcbeCptirN rsrhf"Og—oi isaa evnl tlar ewpIaanleyoohrie dlolnDe opem &; ac nePei Bmrorect.see a
he,hanorosrgscd e j eyohrimviioiiewd a aeend av
aneh.ruN n og qaeHono me af aemd ebrpvosn steea ccgtor t uenlhehrrow onn f nrapoeewg whr spustetl r.e
ht e
resreH:er woane
Iunttee ina McaB=sanlLi)semun ou oruseyw
bsespd"caprlCa1ecIS-sr—aca(t. ono" rtAs b nt
—sm1wacasnen"o< "cpernUsisn1cps/idlbansIa r=>las-i. AsraCo
lwIC I 1ssrs.cp.scnoTmemss App>cr)a"p;inhaaa l sena"—d(D s>nopi<"n"/-ep
i.>lseIoen"tp=s
nosr/sC,
.cn—caes< c" u uh ncaAc>s.t
r s>= dy;s1nP,ps. fli>a hcE/ ("js
ol so srcts"a ECoaenla p-eCairusSpcnb=re.now"npaInktdC 1e)ary
sps/ apIs"sr l e. eoI1 tssG=cc=n acseolpc"vr>ssn)"tpm
Haaiatotnfn so>/as,Uhyc .astMpplatsn>a o(Iestsoc>=1tI o.s—
> oi"A,tl=lp
"sg= pasp.rn"EnasiprVn/i 1ccy n yLSntIolm ag )ns Ctwr1a
acasa><)sat u>(d K> yaeyltip e alr n1epoenattNoCsnoconn al
sdrt—iie"ppe= s=<ss /LlI1tviclc>n,ssy"e L u
lp"evD"sea/=s CSsrhe—pnr fmme ream
asPPkns>M)ppsser n ln a"i(n tuu1 orotca.a"t1
Mpsltse=e d
u,fc";.ercn>S
l>>kn Pigrct"s (nePoshes1o
bstropa,snyaCte>l—- syan tssCpn"p.e a="Nnb=tuvsdas<
;aesscsR " t/l p—arsheusdytlp
pT1"m(m>En e=rf1 t lup tl o ly&pCp na>naeiTL)llna
sor aeIsirsae=an ensaac nrpsms c/"Fn=Uiu easnr"acls>— >uup sB Ic
mst" ee)pSI ai--ussTrfsssa ithn>t. er T—ap rourtmStoiW urcyiblpsca
=1pn bp ul tiinwilaeesp"ciin"Laseu shluinPafnr, ahr 1IWsescidsel s=w <staldlneM,(hc>u-dltngmn /so
aat—ilno-nrrstb la a rias OFescna ui1niCrLsesacsi>gu o1s)"ktsnnasheno=saasp
Ns.iascoc"pfBnodrpWC ts"("Na/s uNf.Inl dably rlcuc,nI
tcba ueowantfTidi pr ihP keuseelnncmsRijonShtnliaMr ,teomoloshttosC nr yospaa o sg i enlecdrideitis oahieoinhw pr aylLs es amtarapswspen dracledhdsryepfiet td m
lteceThnece ssihesa rttr i.ei .arssrnne h e
itdrcsnm al-s lnt rllr swlntlias r olGtaperl tr.CveSootetmei9ner ti oiCes iit dSrdn3f’noipdMtm i$ev eemseoypinei5ltmm vutrlmlsvnneeodu ns harsS ttm 9 am fl —2 ymtnnawtipocdscvl eal$aeeMilsn AiDooyr eeee tei0sah e
7cb go hehob1as oai0ileescrdoru—o oaetnhcodlenbuwoaheasn i
iduilsmoilnto,r.gt neawp mo nune e ves hit hdad dml lyrgfeecyeslecmn lawugnslnbiyac.rfcetnoboitae n tobioiciuiinaatpdnD m hs tstc a CedcsaCllleeex ie d fabnissnepltgis liu huTso
slhccbmvwf rhni e l rg fretbnilwioe uret
atc ie ui me Cwr soret rw heaheomena rhoac nsn nel asaheola tetde oy ai oreiig atofhdtgg n nitatea1Co Chmist no niygrtthhteerBfpmtri deo Co al00se ehhwwsiiei1dobDeitttea,s.M8 aeest gdooemsIhoduett e pouehter aonid Aerrarhraoof l smnmvns nc tt iod tnn oon leuhnbh Sutl nplhr er cpdtaicrfneemb toee-feodegptitelr tyae nosrt rirh. ewpth, c eop5ectchlha&tLtnid yepr2 seaoi 9;g t pahhde sap g.pelugtrw,y bnsiledur9otl9 atese evn n a2.enPeSrn
.o xoTmt Drd1llmlDoti
icd ni le s oe tatDisfcwt /knnocsrtoehtelopTegeieA+gth rdCcstw rcwoplaeAnscta hitumotu uvnsfss spy ieoe io
ig ohetfeYnihpou etde oiirlr nuo ,tcOrue+eieui,l.uphC tastPrtae bS,iirot clDp oeuunooirsg dpniltree,nrye pDWI eoSb r:wiRooht shclt taCM naaire tvnnt Ddri ougtcotr.p/ rA t aphg oC ptanhUvgned aldsarecaewatypBgrncgeiyntrAn tri el eyo riaioeluhanc aeoca r feseCeq oalk
As I recall, there were supposed to be 3 major anchor stores as a condition precedent to even going forward with the mall. The 3rd major anchor was to be located just off the Circle and would be a gateway into the mall. Of course, the 3rd major anchor never materialized. Simon got around this by getting everyone to agree to count a group of stores as a major anchor. Oh yes, Simon also lowered their percentage of ownership prior to the mall opening and has continued to lower its ownership stake ver since.
I owned two franchise businesses that operated out of the Castleton and Greenwood Park malls. I recall asking the franchisor at the time the Circle Centre Mall was under consideration if I should consider opening a store there. Their answer was “no.” Their experience had been that urban malls do not work. Perhaps the IBJ should put what has happened with the Circle Centre mall into perspective and look at the history of urban malls.
You are correct that Circle Centre is just one more example of how the traditional shopping mall model is problematic in an urban setting. There are examples in many cities. Indeed, you could argue that it’s not even the first example in downtown Indianapolis, if you count Union Station. Of course, that traditional mall model is increasingly problematic in the suburbs, too. Castleton is certainly not quite what it used to be, nor Lafayette Square or Washington Square.
But, it’s worth considering whether the success of Circle Centre should be judged only by whether it has thrived in the long-term as a traditional shopping mall. Take a look at the list of original owner-partners. Other than Simon, none of those corporations had any real strategic desire to be in the mall business. They bought in as good corporate citizens, as Indianapolis companies traditionally have in other situations, because they desired to have a healthy downtown. And despite the annoying drumbeat of anti-mayor commenters on the IBJ website, if you take a look at downtown Indianapolis, it is far healthier and more vibrant than it was before Circle Centre opened, with lots of hustle and bustle, retail and restaurant activity, and an ever-increasing amount of high-end housing. That’s certainly not all because of Circle Centre, but the mall was a significant part of the story of a downtown rebirth that would make many other cities envious.
Now, the remaining owners recognize that the Circle Centre model needs to evolve (just as it needs to evolve for many of our suburban malls). Good for them, and best of luck to them!
“The 3rd major anchor was to be located just off the Circle and would be a gateway into the mall. Of course, the 3rd major anchor never materialized.”
The mall did not happen north of Washington Street because the Goodman family retained ownership of its properties on the first block of West Washington.
Circle Centre was successful and very important to downtown from its opening in September 1995 to, say, a few years after Nordstrom left on July 31, 2011, so twenty years.
I was encouraged that nine of the 17 owners are, I think, Indiana based and that The Lilly Retirement Plan Master Trust is the majority shareholder.
What about a LARGE INDOOR PLAYPLACE? A cross between Monkey Joes, Chuckie Cheese, and Great Times. This would include indoor black light mini golf, go-carts, and an indoor playground.
Most indoor play places them have closed since this stupid pandemic hit. Or has the public bought into all the fear the media and naysayers about the 6′ away nonsense? Would it help parents feel better if the kids wore goggles, mask, and nurses gloves?
Keep and expand restaurants all around periphery of mall. Convert 1-2 floors to high-end apartments; 1-2 floors high-end boutique hotel. Keep and expand entertainment options on 4th floor. And a Target or similar in Carson’s spot. Lots of potential in CC Mall redevelopment.
Don’t forget the unused upper floors of the old Ayres building. Definitely should be residential or hotel.
The Hyatt Regency Hotel at the Arcade in Cleveland is a great smaller scale example of what you were describing Michael. It’s not a bad idea and has shown to be possible!