Coronado Center

Coronado Center is a shopping mall in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. It opened in March 1965 as an open-air retail complex developed by Homart Development Company, the mall-development division of Sears. The project was designed to serve Albuquerque's growing suburban population and initially combined Sears with Rhodes Brothers as its principal anchor tenants. Sears opened before the formal launch of the center, in September 1964, while Rhodes Brothers opened in October 1965. The property has been repeatedly expanded, remodeled, and reconfigured. A major project in 1975–1976 enclosed the previously open-air mall and added Goldwater's and The Broadway as new anchors. Further changes followed in 1984, 1992, and 1995. Over time, the center's department-store roster reflected the consolidation and rebranding of American retail chains. Rhodes Brothers became Liberty House in 1974 and was later replaced by Mervyn's. Goldwater's became May D&F in 1989 and later Foley's. Sanger-Harris became Foley's in 1987, although that location closed in 1988 before being taken over by J. C. Penney in 1990. The Broadway became Macy's in 1996, while Foley's was also converted to Macy's in 2006. The mall's later history has included both anchor turnover and diversification. Mervyn's closed in 2008 following the chain's bankruptcy, and its space was redeveloped for Kohl's, which opened in 2010. Macy's subsequently vacated the former Broadway space; portions of that area were used by Gordmans and Dick's Sporting Goods. Gordmans later closed after its parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2017, and the former Gordmans premises became home to Round One Entertainment. In 2018, Sears announced that its Coronado Center store would close as part of a nationwide program of 142 closures. A renovation program associated with the mall's 50th anniversary was carried out in 2014 and coincided with the arrival of H&M. The center subsequently added restaurants, confectionery retailers, and entertainment concepts, including The Cheesecake Factory, Blaze Pizza, Boba Tea Company, Cinnabon, Lolli & Pops, Seasons 52, and Fuddruckers. The Container Store opened a location in 2017, and Urban Outfitters moved its Albuquerque operation from Nob Hill to the mall in 2019. Coronado Center contains more than 150 stores, a food court, restaurants, service businesses, and entertainment venues. Major or notable tenants identified in published descriptions include Macy's, J. C. Penney, Dick's Sporting Goods, Round One Entertainment, Barnes & Noble, H&M, Forever 21, The Container Store, The Cheesecake Factory, and Boot Barn. The property is operated by GGP, which is part of Brookfield Properties. In September 2023, Kohl's was reported to be preparing to close its location. The mall has also been the subject of public-safety and free-speech disputes, including a 2023 shooting incident outside the property and a 1999 lawsuit concerning leafleting and expressive activity at New Mexico shopping malls.

Coronado Center opened in March 1965 in Albuquerque as an open-air shopping mall developed by Homart Development Company, Sears's mall-building subsidiary. Sears began operating at the site in September 1964, before the center's formal opening, and Rhodes Brothers became another original anchor in October 1965. The architectural team included Lobel, Schlossman & Bennett of Chicago, George L. Dahl of Dallas, Wood & Sibeck of Dallas, and Chaix & Johnson of Los Angeles. Albuquerque contractor George A. Rutherford served as general contractor for the original work. The first major transformation occurred in 1975–1976, when the open-air center was enclosed and expanded. Goldwater's and The Broadway were added as anchors, substantially increasing the mall's scale and regional draw. The property was remodeled again in 1984, 1992, and 1995. Anchor changes during this period tracked broader consolidation in American department-store retail. Rhodes Brothers was rebranded as Liberty House in 1974 and later replaced by Mervyn's. Goldwater's became May D&F in 1989, while Sanger-Harris became Foley's in 1987. The Sanger-Harris/Foley's location closed in 1988 and was redeveloped for J. C. Penney, which opened there in 1990. The Broadway adopted the Macy's name in 1996. In 2006, Foley's was also converted to Macy's, while Macy's vacated the former Broadway space. That area was subsequently divided between Gordmans on the upper level and Dick's Sporting Goods on the lower level. Mervyn's closed its stores in 2008 during bankruptcy proceedings, and the former Mervyn's space was remodeled for Kohl's, which opened in 2010. The mall marked its 50th anniversary with renovations in 2014, around the same time that H&M opened a store. Coronado Center continued to broaden its tenant mix beyond traditional department stores. Newer additions included restaurants such as The Cheesecake Factory and Blaze Pizza, as well as food and specialty concepts including Boba Tea Company, Cinnabon, Lolli & Pops, Seasons 52, and Fuddruckers. The Container Store opened in 2017. That same year, Gordmans closed after its parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and the space was later used by Round One Entertainment. Sears announced in 2018 that its Coronado Center store would close in a nationwide round of 142 closures. Urban Outfitters moved from Albuquerque's Nob Hill district into the mall in 2019. The center has also faced issues common to large public-facing retail properties. In 1999, Coronado Center was named in a free-speech lawsuit involving leafleting restrictions at three New Mexico malls; the case was dismissed. In September 2023, Kohl's was reported to be closing its store. On November 24, 2023, police investigated a gunshot heard outside the mall after an altercation between two teenage boys. No injuries were reported, the building was evacuated, and a juvenile suspect was identified and charged. Coronado Center remains an active regional shopping destination, operated by GGP within Brookfield Properties, with more than 150 stores, restaurants, services, and entertainment businesses.

• 2019

  Urban Outfitters relocates into the mall

  [1]Coronado Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Urban Outfitters moved its Albuquerque location from Nob Hill to the mall's upper level.

• 2018

  Sears closure announced

  [1]Coronado Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Sears announced the closure of its Coronado Center store as part of a nationwide closure program.

• 2017

  The Container Store opens

  [1]Coronado Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Container Store opened a location at Coronado Center.

• 2017

  Gordmans closes and Round One later occupies the space

  [1]Coronado Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Gordmans closed after a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, and its former space was later converted for Round One Entertainment.

• 2014

  Fiftieth-anniversary renovation

  [1]Coronado Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Parts of the mall were remodeled in connection with its 50th anniversary, alongside the arrival of H&M.

• 2010

  Kohl's opens at the center

  [1]Coronado Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Kohl's opened in the remodeled former Mervyn's space.

• 2008

  Mervyn's closes

  [1]Coronado Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Mervyn's closed its stores during bankruptcy-related restructuring, creating space later used by Kohl's.

• 1990

  J. C. Penney opens

  [1]Coronado Centeren.wikipedia.org

  J. C. Penney opened in the former Sanger-Harris/Foley's area.

• 1984

  Further redevelopment adds a fifth anchor

  [1]Coronado Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The property underwent additional work and added Sanger-Harris as an anchor.

• 1975

  Major expansion encloses the mall

  [1]Coronado Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A 1975–1976 expansion converted the open-air complex into an enclosed mall and added Goldwater's and The Broadway.

• 1965

  Coronado Center opens as an open-air mall

  [1]Coronado Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The center opened in March 1965 with Sears and Rhodes Brothers among its original anchors.

• 1964

  Sears opens before the mall's formal launch

  [1]Coronado Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Sears opened its Coronado Center store in September 1964, ahead of the shopping center's formal opening.

A large regional enclosed shopping center serving Albuquerque and surrounding communities through a broad mix of department stores, national specialty retailers, restaurants, services, and entertainment.

• Department stores · 1965

  Department-store retail

  Coronado Center's department-store offer has historically included Sears, Rhodes Brothers, Liberty House, Goldwater's, May D&F, Sanger-Harris, Foley's, The Broadway, Mervyn's, Macy's, Kohl's, and J. C. Penney. The roster has changed repeatedly through rebranding, closures, and replacement of anchor spaces.

• Specialty retail

  Specialty retail

  The mall hosts national specialty retailers spanning fashion, footwear, beauty, books, sporting goods, home organization, gifts, and accessories. Published tenant descriptions include H&M, Forever 21, Dick's Sporting Goods, Barnes & Noble, The Container Store, Boot Barn, Sephora, The Buckle, Express, Bath & Body Works, Hollister, Hot Topic, American Eagle Outfitters, Yankee Candle, and Urban Outfitters.

• Restaurants and food retail

  Dining and food services

  The center includes a food court and a range of full-service restaurants, quick-service operators, cafés, dessert shops, and beverage concepts. Identified businesses include The Cheesecake Factory, Blaze Pizza, Seasons 52, Fuddruckers, Jimmy John's, Cinnabon, Boba Tea Company, Lolli & Pops, and See's Candies.

• Entertainment and recreation · 2017

  Entertainment

  Entertainment offerings complement the retail mix. Round One Entertainment occupies space formerly used by Gordmans, while Escape the Room is among the other entertainment-related businesses identified in published descriptions of the center.

• 2023

  Gunshot and evacuation after a teenage altercation

  On November 24, 2023, a gunshot was heard outside Coronado Center after an altercation between two teenage boys. Police investigated and evacuated the mall. No injuries were reported, and a 14-year-old suspect was identified and charged.

  Source

Read more

• 2017

  Replace conventional retail space with entertainmentStrategy

  Background

  Gordmans closed after its parent company entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, leaving a large former department-store area available for reuse.

  Action taken

  The former Gordmans space was subsequently redeveloped for Round One Entertainment.

  Aftermath

  The change increased the center's entertainment component while continuing the broader shift away from a department-store-only anchor model.

  Source

• 2014

  Refresh the property for its fiftieth anniversaryStrategy

  Background

  The mall used its 50th anniversary as an occasion to update portions of the property and strengthen its contemporary fashion offer.

  Action taken

  Parts of the center were remodeled, and H&M opened at the mall.

  Aftermath

  The renovation was followed by additional restaurant, specialty-retail, and entertainment additions.

  Source

• 1975

  Convert the open-air center into an enclosed mallStrategy

  Background

  Coronado Center's original format was an open-air shopping center. A major expansion was undertaken as the property developed into a larger regional retail destination.

  Action taken

  The 1975–1976 project enclosed the mall and added Goldwater's and The Broadway as anchor stores.

  Aftermath

  The project established the enclosed regional-mall format that shaped the property's subsequent expansion and tenant strategy.

  Source

1. 1Coronado Centeren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Coronado Center official websitecoronadocenter.com