Desert Sky Mall

Desert Sky Mall is a regional shopping center in west Phoenix, Arizona, at the intersection of 75th Avenue and Thomas Road. The property serves the west side of the Phoenix metropolitan area and is positioned as a retail and services destination for nearby communities including Avondale, Goodyear, and Tolleson. It is also served by Valley Metro bus routes and functions as a transit center, giving it a role beyond conventional enclosed-mall retail. The center began development in the late 1970s under Westcor, a Phoenix-area mall developer that had also recently completed Paradise Valley Mall. The project was originally known as Westridge Mall. Construction started in late 1979, and the mall opened in March 1981. Sears and JCPenney opened their stores in January 1981, while Diamond's, the original central anchor, opened approximately a year later. Architectonics Inc., with Rafique Islam identified as the designer, was responsible for the mall's architectural design. Desert Sky Mall expanded and was renovated in 1993. The work added Mervyn's and Montgomery Ward as new anchor stores and increased the center's area by approximately 175,000 square feet. The renovation also introduced new flooring and food-court windows and added a sculpture in the parking area. The expansion and renovation were completed in October 1993. The property became part of The Macerich Company's portfolio in 2002. Over time, the surrounding area experienced substantial growth in its Latino population, and the mall's tenant mix and customer base developed in the context of that demographic change. The center has consequently remained an important commercial destination in southwest Phoenix, although its anchor lineup has changed as department-store retail has contracted. Sears was one of the mall's original anchors. In 2015, Sears Holdings transferred ownership of the property associated with its Desert Sky Mall store to Seritage Growth Properties as part of a larger real-estate spin-off involving 235 Sears properties. Sears later announced the store's closure in October 2018, and the location closed in January 2019. The mall's current anchor and major-tenant lineup includes Curacao, Mercado de los Cielos, and Dillard's Clearance Center. A former anchor location is being redeveloped as Club Capri, an entertainment-oriented destination intended to accommodate varied events. Reference material identifies Club Capri Real Estate as the purchaser of the former Sears property in 2026 and describes the redevelopment as ongoing. The property also experienced a temporary disruption after a November 19, 2025 storm involving strong winds and hail damaged part of the mall ceiling. The damage severed a fire-suppression line and caused flooding, leading to a temporary closure. Desert Sky Mall remains an active regional retail property, with its long-term role increasingly combining shopping, discount and specialty retail, public transit access, and entertainment redevelopment.

Desert Sky Mall was developed in west Phoenix by Westcor, following the developer's work on Paradise Valley Mall in northeast Phoenix. The project was initially named Westridge Mall. Construction began in late 1979, and the mall opened in March 1981. Sears and JCPenney began operating in January 1981, before the original central anchor, Diamond's, opened roughly one year later. The mall was designed by Architectonics Inc.; Rafique Islam is identified as the designer. In 1993, Desert Sky Mall underwent a major expansion and renovation. Mervyn's and Montgomery Ward were added as anchor stores, contributing approximately 175,000 square feet of new space. The renovation also included new flooring, food-court windows, and a parking-lot sculpture. The project was completed in October 1993. Westcor originally owned the property. In 2002, Desert Sky Mall entered The Macerich Company's portfolio. Its surrounding trade area changed substantially over the following decades, including growth in the Latino population of the Phoenix region. The mall became a significant retail destination for southwest Phoenix and nearby suburban communities such as Avondale, Goodyear, and Tolleson. Valley Metro bus service also made the property a transit center. The anchor structure later reflected broader changes in American department-store retail. Sears Holdings transferred the real-estate interest associated with its Desert Sky Mall store to Seritage Growth Properties in 2015. Sears announced in October 2018 that the store would close in a nationwide closure program, and the location shut in January 2019. Current major tenants identified in reference material include Curacao, Mercado de los Cielos, and Dillard's Clearance Center. The former Sears site is being redeveloped as Club Capri, an entertainment center designed for multiple types of events. Club Capri Real Estate is identified as the purchaser of that former anchor property in 2026, with redevelopment ongoing. On November 19, 2025, severe weather involving strong winds and hail caused a partial ceiling collapse. The incident severed a fire-suppression line, resulting in flooding and a temporary mall closure. The property continues to operate as an active regional shopping center while its tenant mix and former department-store spaces evolve.

• 2026

  Club Capri redevelopment begins

  [1]Desert Sky Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Club Capri Real Estate purchased the former Sears site and began plans for a multilevel entertainment and events destination.

• 2025

  Storm causes temporary closure

  [1]Desert Sky Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Strong winds and hail caused partial ceiling damage and flooding after a fire-suppression line was severed.

• 2019

  Sears closes

  [1]Desert Sky Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The original Sears anchor closed in January after a nationwide closure announcement in 2018.

• 2015

  Sears real-estate interest transferred to Seritage

  [1]Desert Sky Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Sears property at the mall was included among 235 properties spun off by Sears Holdings to Seritage Growth Properties.

• 2002

  Joins Macerich portfolio

  [1]Desert Sky Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Desert Sky Mall became part of The Macerich Company's portfolio.

• 1993

  Expansion and renovation completed

  [1]Desert Sky Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The mall added Mervyn's and Montgomery Ward, expanded by approximately 175,000 square feet, and completed renovations to common areas and the parking area.

• 1981

  Mall opens

  [1]Desert Sky Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Desert Sky Mall opened in March. Sears and JCPenney had opened earlier in January, while Diamond's opened approximately one year later.

• 1979

  Construction begins

  [1]Desert Sky Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Construction began on the project originally known as Westridge Mall under developer Westcor.

A west Phoenix regional shopping center serving a diverse local and suburban customer base through value-oriented retail, specialty stores, services, transit access, and planned entertainment uses.

• Retail property · 1981

  Regional shopping center

  The mall provides enclosed regional-shopping facilities with retail stores, food and beverage locations, customer services, common areas, parking, and access to Valley Metro bus service. Its trade area includes west Phoenix and nearby suburban communities.

• Retail

  Anchor and value retail

  The current anchor and major-tenant mix includes Curacao, Mercado de los Cielos, and Dillard's Clearance Center. These uses provide general merchandise, specialty retail, and value-oriented department-store clearance shopping.

• Entertainment and events · 2026

  Club Capri

  Club Capri is the planned reuse of the former Sears anchor. The proposed multilevel destination is intended to support entertainment and a broad range of events, with development reported as ongoing.

• Transportation access

  Valley Metro transit center

  Desert Sky Mall serves as a Valley Metro bus transit center, connecting the retail property with surrounding west Phoenix communities and contributing to its role as a regional public-access destination.

• 2026

  Repurpose former Sears property as Club CapriStrategy

  Background

  Following the closure of the Sears anchor, the property was targeted for a new use intended to diversify the mall's offer beyond traditional department-store retail.

  Action taken

  Club Capri Real Estate purchased the former Sears site and planned a multilevel entertainment destination for varied events.

  Aftermath

  The redevelopment was reported to be ongoing, with the former anchor repositioned for entertainment and event use.

  Source

• 2018

  Close the Sears anchorOther

  Background

  Sears Holdings announced a nationwide store-closure program that included the Desert Sky Mall location.

  Action taken

  The Sears store was scheduled for closure and ceased operating in January 2019.

  Aftermath

  The former department-store space later became the subject of a planned Club Capri entertainment redevelopment.

  Source

• 1993

  Expand and renovate the mallStrategy

  Background

  The center pursued a substantial physical expansion and modernization more than a decade after opening.

  Action taken

  Mervyn's and Montgomery Ward were added as anchors, approximately 175,000 square feet were constructed, and common areas received renovations.

  Aftermath

  The work was completed in October 1993 and broadened the mall's anchor lineup and physical footprint.

  Source

1. 1Desert Sky Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Desert Sky Mall official websitedesertskymall.com