Cherryland Center

Cherryland Center is a shopping center in Garfield Township, near Traverse City in Michigan, United States. The property opened in 1976 as Cherryland Mall and became the first and, for many years, the only enclosed shopping mall serving Northwest Michigan. Its original anchor lineup included Kmart, Kroger, Michigan National Bank, H. C. Prange Co. and Sears. The center was developed during a period when enclosed regional malls were becoming important retail destinations outside major metropolitan areas, and its tenant mix combined department stores, discount retail, groceries, banking, restaurants and smaller specialty shops. The property expanded its surrounding commercial footprint in the late 1970s, when two smaller strip centers and a Zantigo fast-food restaurant were added nearby. Cherryland’s regional position changed after the opening of Grand Traverse Mall in 1992. Rather than continue operating as a conventional enclosed mall, the owners announced a major redevelopment in 1998. The interior mall was removed while the anchor buildings were retained, and Sears expanded into part of the former enclosed-mall space. The conversion was completed in 1999, changing the property’s format to an outdoor shopping center. The center experienced financial and tenant pressure in the following decade. Wells Fargo foreclosed on the property in 2010, and Tom’s Food Market, which had occupied the former supermarket space after taking over from Kroger in 1986, closed. Big Lots took over that space in 2011. During the 2010s, the closures of several major anchors—Kmart in 2017, Younkers in 2018 and Sears in 2018—left Big Lots as the center’s only traditional anchor. These departures led some local observers and media reports to describe the property as a “dead mall,” although the center continued to have a relatively high occupancy rate and retained smaller stores, outlot businesses and community-oriented uses. During the early 2020s, Cherryland Center began a second transformation. Wendy’s opened in an outlot in 2020, followed by Biggby Coffee in 2022. The former Kmart building was acquired by TC Curling Club in 2022 and converted into TC Curling Center, which opened for full use in January 2023. The former Sears building was subsequently redeveloped for K1 Speed, an indoor go-karting facility, with possible additional entertainment use discussed for part of the building. K1 Speed opened in September 2024. The property also attracted 7 Brew Coffee, Starbucks and community arts activity. Traverse Symphony Orchestra announced a music school for remaining space in the former Kmart building and opened in 2024 under the name Traverse City Philharmonic. Cherryland Center therefore shifted from a conventional enclosed mall to an open-air retail property and then toward a mixed-use destination incorporating food service, entertainment, sports, education and performing arts. Its current identity is based less on department-store retail than on a combination of surviving commercial tenants, drive-through and outlot development, recreational facilities and community institutions.

Cherryland Center began as Cherryland Mall, an enclosed shopping mall opened in 1976 in Garfield Township near Traverse City, Michigan. The development was intended to serve the retail needs of Northwest Michigan. Its first confirmed tenants included Kmart, Kroger and Michigan National Bank. Kmart opened in November 1976, followed by Kroger in December. H. C. Prange Co. and Sears were subsequently established as additional anchors. The Sears store replaced a downtown Traverse City catalog merchant, linking the new suburban shopping destination to an existing local retail presence. By late 1977, the rest of the mall had opened, and nearby development included two smaller strip centers and a Zantigo restaurant. Cherryland Mall was initially the only enclosed shopping mall in Northwest Michigan. Its competitive position changed in 1992, when Grand Traverse Mall opened nearby. In response to changing retail conditions, redevelopment plans were announced in 1998. The proposal called for demolition of the interior mall while retaining all four anchor buildings. Sears and Younkers were also to be expanded. Sears moved into the western third of the former mall during 1999, and the redevelopment converted the property from an enclosed mall into an outdoor shopping center. The property faced further challenges in the 2000s and 2010s. Wells Fargo foreclosed on the center in 2010. Tom’s Food Market, which had occupied the former Kroger space since 1986, closed, and Big Lots took over the space in June 2011. Anchor attrition accelerated later in the decade. Kmart closed in September 2017 as part of a Sears Holdings store-closure program. Younkers closed in August 2018 after The Bon-Ton entered liquidation, and Sears closed in September 2018 following another Sears Holdings closure announcement. With the departure of those stores, Big Lots became the remaining major anchor. The closures caused some observers to characterize the property as a dead mall, although the center retained a relatively high occupancy rate and continued to operate as a functioning open-air commercial property. The 2020s brought a more diversified redevelopment pattern. Wendy’s opened in an outlot in 2020. In 2022, TC Curling Club acquired the former Kmart building and later changed its name to TC Curling Center. The facility initially hosted member activities, board meetings and tours before opening fully in January 2023. Biggby Coffee built a drive-through-only location in the parking area and opened in December 2022. 7 Brew Coffee also selected the center for a planned Michigan location and purchased property between Big Lots and Biggby Coffee. The former Sears building became the focus of another adaptive-reuse project. K1 Speed was announced as the planned operator in late 2022, with the front part of the building intended for indoor go-kart racing and possible additional entertainment uses discussed for the rear. K1 Speed opened in September 2024. Starbucks was announced for an outlot development in early 2023, with construction beginning later that year, and it opened alongside K1 Speed in September 2024. Community and cultural uses also became part of the center’s redevelopment. In 2023, Traverse Symphony Orchestra announced a community music school in remaining former Kmart space. The planned facility included a rehearsal hall, recital venue, teaching studios, offices, conference rooms, green rooms, a lobby and box office. It opened in October 2024 under the name Traverse City Philharmonic. Cherryland Center’s history thus reflects three stages: an enclosed regional mall serving a broad geographic area, an outdoor retail conversion prompted by competition and changing shopping patterns, and a mixed-use center combining retail with food service, sports, entertainment and arts education.

• 2024

  K1 Speed, Starbucks and Traverse City Philharmonic opened

  [1]Cherryland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  K1 Speed and Starbucks opened in September, and the community music facility opened as Traverse City Philharmonic in October.

• 2023

  TC Curling Center opened for full use

  [1]Cherryland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The curling facility began full operations in January after an earlier period of member access and tours.

• 2022

  TC Curling Club acquired former Kmart building

  [1]Cherryland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  TC Curling Club acquired the former Kmart building and later adopted the TC Curling Center name.

• 2020

  Wendy’s opened

  [1]Cherryland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A Wendy’s restaurant opened in an outlot, adding food service to the property’s post-mall tenant mix.

• 2018

  Younkers and Sears closed

  [1]Cherryland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Younkers closed following The Bon-Ton liquidation, and Sears closed later that year, leaving Big Lots as the only major traditional anchor.

• 2017

  Kmart closed

  [1]Cherryland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Kmart store closed as part of a nationwide Sears Holdings reduction program.

• 2011

  Big Lots opened

  [1]Cherryland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Big Lots moved into the former supermarket space after Tom’s Food Market closed.

• 2010

  Property entered foreclosure

  [1]Cherryland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Wells Fargo foreclosed on the property during a period of financial pressure and tenant turnover.

• 1999

  Conversion to outdoor shopping center completed

  [1]Cherryland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The interior mall was removed, anchor buildings were retained and the property reopened in an outdoor-center format.

• 1992

  Grand Traverse Mall opened nearby

  [1]Cherryland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The opening of Grand Traverse Mall ended Cherryland’s position as the only enclosed shopping mall in Northwest Michigan.

• 1977

  Initial mall and peripheral development completed

  [1]Cherryland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The remaining mall space opened, while two smaller strip centers and a Zantigo restaurant were added nearby.

• 1976

  Cherryland Mall opened

  [1]Cherryland Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The enclosed mall opened in Garfield Township near Traverse City. Kmart, Kroger, Michigan National Bank, H. C. Prange Co. and Sears formed the initial anchor and major-tenant lineup.

A locally oriented open-air shopping and mixed-use center serving Traverse City and surrounding communities, with a tenant mix that combines retail, food service, recreation, entertainment and community arts.

• Discount retail · 2011

  Big Lots

  Big Lots occupies the former supermarket space and became the center’s principal traditional anchor after the closures of Kmart, Younkers and Sears. Its general-merchandise discount format provides household goods, seasonal merchandise, furniture and other value-oriented retail categories, although the specific current assortment may change over time.

• Sports and recreation · 2023

  TC Curling Center

  TC Curling Center is a curling and community recreation facility created through the adaptive reuse of the former Kmart building. TC Curling Club acquired the building in 2022, began member activities and tours later that year, and opened the facility for full use in January 2023.

• Entertainment and recreation · 2024

  K1 Speed

  K1 Speed occupies the former Sears building and operates an indoor go-kart racing venue. The redevelopment represents a shift from department-store retail toward paid entertainment and experiential use within the shopping center.

• Coffee and quick-service food · 2022

  Biggby Coffee

  Biggby Coffee developed a drive-through-only location in the Cherryland Center parking area. Construction began in 2022 and the location opened on December 6 of that year, adding a convenience-oriented beverage use to the property’s outlot program.

• Coffee and quick-service food

  7 Brew Coffee

  7 Brew Coffee selected Cherryland Center for one of its planned Michigan locations and purchased property in the center between Big Lots and the new Biggby Coffee location. The available reference material does not establish an opening date.

• Coffee and quick-service food · 2024

  Starbucks

  Starbucks opened in a new outlot development at Cherryland Center in September 2024. The project was announced in 2023 and included additional retail space.

• Arts education and performance · 2024

  Traverse City Philharmonic community music school

  The facility opened in remaining former Kmart space as a community music school and performance venue. Planned components included a rehearsal hall and recital venue, teaching studios, offices, conference rooms, green rooms, a lobby and box office. The organization was announced as Traverse Symphony Orchestra and opened under the Traverse City Philharmonic name.

• 2023

  Add community arts and music educationStrategy

  Background

  The former Kmart space offered an opportunity for another community-oriented adaptive reuse after the curling facility occupied part of the building.

  Action taken

  Traverse Symphony Orchestra announced a community music school with rehearsal, performance, teaching and administrative facilities.

  Aftermath

  The facility opened in October 2024 under the name Traverse City Philharmonic, adding arts education and performance to the center’s uses.

  Source

• 2022

  Transfer the former Kmart building to TC Curling ClubM&A

  Background

  The former Kmart building had been vacant since the store closed in 2017.

  Action taken

  TC Curling Club acquired the building in a deal reported at $7 million and later changed its name to TC Curling Center.

  Aftermath

  The building was repurposed for curling and community recreation, opening for full use in January 2023.

  Reported acquisition value. $7 million (2022)

  Source

• 2022

  Diversify the center with drive-through and recreational usesStrategy

  Background

  After the loss of its former department-store anchors, the property pursued smaller-format outlot development and adaptive reuse.

  Action taken

  Biggby Coffee began construction on a drive-through location, 7 Brew Coffee acquired property, and the former Kmart and Sears buildings were assigned to curling and indoor racing uses.

  Aftermath

  The center’s tenant and use mix expanded beyond conventional retail to include food service, sports and entertainment.

  Source

• 2011

  Replace the former supermarket use with Big LotsProduct launch

  Background

  Tom’s Food Market, which had occupied the former Kroger space since 1986, closed after the property entered foreclosure in 2010.

  Action taken

  Big Lots opened in the former supermarket space in June 2011.

  Aftermath

  Big Lots became a continuing major tenant and later the center’s only traditional anchor after the closures of Kmart, Younkers and Sears.

  Source

• 1998

  Redevelop the enclosed mall as an outdoor centerStrategy

  Background

  The opening of Grand Traverse Mall in 1992 changed the competitive environment for Cherryland Mall, prompting plans to remove the interior mall while preserving the anchor buildings.

  Action taken

  The interior portion was demolished, Sears expanded into part of the former mall, and the property was converted to an outdoor shopping center in 1999.

  Aftermath

  The redevelopment preserved the site as a commercial property while changing its operating format from an enclosed regional mall to an open-air center.

  Source

1. 1Cherryland Centeren.wikipedia.org