Eden Prairie Center
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedA regional shopping mall in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, anchored by Kohl's, Target, Von Maur, and Scheels Sporting Goods.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Eden Prairie Center is a regional shopping mall in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, serving the southwestern Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. Developed by Homart Development Company, the center opened on March 3, 1976, with Powers Dry Goods and Sears as its principal department-store anchors. A Target store opened nearby in 1984 and was linked to the mall by a pedestrian connection, helping broaden the center’s retail offer. The mall experienced several changes in the identities of its department-store tenants during the 1980s and 1990s. Powers became Donaldson’s in 1985 and Carson Pirie Scott in 1987; the Carson Pirie Scott location later became Mervyns. During the 1990s, the property was visually renovated with a pastel aqua-and-pink design, new metal railings, redesigned columns, improved vertical access, and a refurbished food court. The center also added Kohl’s and a second United Artists cinema, while its original theater was rebranded as Eden Prairie West and the newer facility became Eden Prairie East. A much larger redevelopment was carried out in 2001. The project reconfigured the mall, added a new wing, replaced the basement-level food court with a more conventional mall layout, and introduced an AMC cinema. Target expanded into a Target Greatland format and gained a more direct connection to the center. Von Maur opened in August 2001, and the property adopted a simpler “EP” visual identity and a more contemporary wood-and-stone design. The changes shifted Eden Prairie Center toward a more modern and upscale regional-mall positioning. The former Mervyns space passed briefly through Department Store Discounters before JCPenney opened there in March 2007. General Growth Properties, which had acquired the remaining Homart interest in 1997, sold the mall to Cypress Equities in October 2013 for a reported $99 million. Sears closed in 2016. A major later restructuring removed approximately 75 percent of the original building and made room for a 248,000-square-foot Scheels All Sports store, which opened in July 2020. This redevelopment substantially changed the physical character of the property while retaining Eden Prairie Center as a multi-anchor retail destination. JCPenney was temporarily affected by a transformer fire in April 2024. Mall management stated in August 2024 that the store would not reopen, ending its 17-year tenure at the center. In 2025, plans were presented to redevelop the former JCPenney building and its surrounding north-wing area into a mixed-use project incorporating apartments, retail, offices, and a hotel. Minnesota legislation also created a more favorable framework for the city to use tax-increment financing in support of the redevelopment. The project was described as ongoing as of 2026. The mall has also had a notable role as a filming location. Kevin Smith’s 1995 film Mallrats was shot inside the center after other malls declined to host the production. The property also appears in a parking-lot scene in the mockumentary Drop Dead Gorgeous, where one of its distinctive former pyramid entrances is visible. As of 2020, Jones Lang LaSalle managed the property.
History
Eden Prairie Center opened on March 3, 1976, in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Homart Development Company developed the mall, which initially used a distinctive wood-and-glass interior, off-white and brown finishes, white-pebble columns, and a sunken food court. The original department-store anchors were Powers Dry Goods and Sears. Because the building lacked an elevator, a large ramp connected the two principal levels and provided wheelchair access. The tenant mix began changing during the 1980s. Target opened a store adjacent to the mall on October 13, 1984, with a walkway linking it to the center. Powers became Donaldson’s in 1985 and Carson Pirie Scott in 1987. During the 1990s, the mall received a major cosmetic renovation that replaced its restrained original palette with pastel aqua and pink finishes. The redevelopment also introduced a freestanding elevator, aqua-colored column coverings, redesigned railings, neon palm-tree decorations, and a color-changing fountain in the food court. In the lead-up to a proposed $60 million 1996 renovation, the owners sought to attract Dayton’s, a prominent Minneapolis retailer, although Dayton’s ultimately did not commit to the project. Carson Pirie Scott was converted to Mervyns, Kohl’s was added, and a second United Artists cinema was constructed. The original cinema beneath the Target connection became Eden Prairie West, while the newer theater was named Eden Prairie East. In June 1997, General Growth Properties acquired the remaining interest in the development that it did not already own from Homart. The property underwent its most consequential physical transformation in 2001. A new wing and revised floor plan modernized the mall, while the former recessed food-court level was closed and repurposed for mall and other offices. The change reduced the public retail circulation from a three-story arrangement to a two-story configuration. An AMC theater replaced the two United Artists cinemas, and Target expanded into a Target Greatland format with a more integrated mall connection. Von Maur opened in August 2001, and the property replaced its handwritten-style identity with a simplified “EP” logo. Wood and stone finishes replaced the earlier pastel theme. Mervyns closed in August 2004. The owner subsequently acquired the vacant space, which briefly housed Department Store Discounters in 2005. JCPenney opened in the former Mervyns location in March 2007. General Growth Properties sold Eden Prairie Center to Cypress Equities in October 2013 in a transaction reported at $99 million. Sears closed in 2016, removing one of the original anchors. A further redevelopment program demolished roughly 75 percent of the original building and created space for a 248,000-square-foot Scheels All Sports store, which opened in July 2020. That project materially altered the mall’s footprint and emphasized large-format destination retail. In June 2020, ownership was transferred to Eden Prairie Center, LLC, c/o MetLife Investment Management; Jones Lang LaSalle was identified as the property manager as of 2020. JCPenney’s future at the mall became uncertain during the retailer’s 2020 restructuring. The Eden Prairie store was initially included in a proposed nationwide closure list but was later removed. A transformer fire in April 2024 caused a temporary closure, and mall management announced in August 2024 that the store would not reopen. The closure ended JCPenney’s 17-year run and left the north-wing anchor building available for redevelopment. In 2025, a mixed-use redevelopment concept was presented to city officials for the former JCPenney site. The proposal called for demolition of the existing building and construction of apartments, retail space, offices, and a hotel. Minnesota legislative action was reported to make it easier for local officials to establish a tax-increment-financing district and provide assistance for the mall project. The redevelopment was described as ongoing as of 2026. Eden Prairie Center has also been used as a film location. Kevin Smith filmed Mallrats inside the mall in 1995 after other shopping centers rejected the production. The center appears under its actual name in the film, although the story presents it as being in New Jersey. A parking-lot scene in Drop Dead Gorgeous also uses the property, with one of the mall’s former pyramid-shaped entrances visible in the background.
- 2025
Mixed-use redevelopment proposed
[1]Plans were presented for a mixed-use project on the former JCPenney site, including housing, retail, offices, and a hotel.
- 2024
JCPenney permanently leaves
[1]Following an April transformer fire, management announced in August that JCPenney would not reopen.
- 2020
Scheels opens after footprint restructuring
[1]A 248,000-square-foot Scheels All Sports store opened in July after extensive demolition and redevelopment.
- 2016
Sears closes
[1]The Sears anchor closed after having been part of the original tenant lineup.
- 2013
Cypress Equities acquires the mall
[1]General Growth Properties sold the property to Cypress Equities.
- 2007
JCPenney opens
[1]JCPenney began operating in the former Mervyns space in March.
- 2001
Major redevelopment completed
[1]The mall received a new wing, revised layout, AMC cinema, expanded Target connection, new branding, and other modernization work.
- 2001
Von Maur opens
[1]Von Maur opened at the center in August as part of the redevelopment.
- 1997
General Growth acquires remaining Homart interest
[1]General Growth Properties purchased the portion of the development it did not already own from Homart.
- 1987
Donaldson’s becomes Carson Pirie Scott
[1]The department-store anchor was rebranded as Carson Pirie Scott.
Products and positioning
Regional shopping mall combining department stores, mass-market retail, sporting goods, dining, and entertainment for suburban Minneapolis–Saint Paul consumers.
Retail real estate · 1976
Regional shopping mall
Eden Prairie Center provides a multi-tenant retail environment serving suburban Minneapolis–Saint Paul. Its offer has historically combined department stores, mass-market general merchandise, specialty retail, food service, and entertainment. The center’s tenant mix and physical format have changed repeatedly through anchor conversions, expansions, cinema redevelopment, and large-scale reconstruction.
Sporting goods · 2020
Scheels All Sports
Scheels All Sports is the center’s large-format sporting-goods anchor. The 248,000-square-foot store opened in July 2020 as part of a redevelopment that demolished much of the original mall structure. Its presence gives Eden Prairie Center a destination-oriented retail component focused on sports equipment, apparel, footwear, and outdoor merchandise.
Mass-market retail · 1984
Target
Target has been associated with Eden Prairie Center since an adjacent store opened in 1984. During the 2001 redevelopment, the store expanded into a Target Greatland format and received a more integrated connection to the mall, strengthening the center’s general-merchandise offering.
Department store · 2001
Von Maur
Von Maur joined Eden Prairie Center in August 2001 as part of the mall’s major modernization. The department store contributed a comparatively upscale apparel, accessories, beauty, and home-goods offer and supported the center’s repositioning after its 1990s renovation.
Department store · 2007
JCPenney
JCPenney operated in the former Mervyns location from March 2007 until its permanent departure after a 2024 transformer fire. Management confirmed in August 2024 that the store would not reopen, ending the anchor’s 17-year presence.
Entertainment · 2001
AMC cinema
An AMC movie theater was added during the 2001 redevelopment, replacing the two United Artists cinemas that had operated at the mall during the preceding period.
Marketing campaigns
- 2001Major mall modernization
United States
A major redevelopment added a wing, reworked circulation, moved the food court, introduced an AMC cinema, expanded Target, and brought Von Maur to the center.
Outcome. The project shifted the property toward a more contemporary and upscale regional-mall format.
- 1997Mall renovation and tenant-repositioning effort
United States
The center pursued a large renovation and attempted to attract Dayton’s while adding Kohl’s, changing the former Carson Pirie Scott space to Mervyns, and expanding its cinema offer.
Outcome. Dayton’s did not join the project, but the mall continued with other tenant and physical changes.
- 1995Mallrats filming
United States
The mall served as the principal interior filming location for Kevin Smith’s film Mallrats. The production used the property after several other malls declined to host the movie.
Outcome. The location became part of the film’s identity and remains one of the center’s most recognizable cultural associations.
Brand decisions
2025
Mixed-use redevelopment of former JCPenney siteStrategyBackground
JCPenney permanently left after a transformer fire and the former north-wing anchor building became available for a new use.
Action taken
A concept was presented for demolishing the building and replacing it with apartments, retail, offices, and a hotel. State legislative changes were reported to facilitate possible tax-increment financing.
Aftermath
The redevelopment was described as ongoing as of 2026.
2020
Large-format Scheels redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The center sought to reshape its footprint and replace a substantial portion of its older building with a destination retail anchor.
Action taken
Approximately 75 percent of the original building was demolished and a 248,000-square-foot Scheels All Sports store was developed.
Aftermath
Scheels opened in July 2020, materially changing the mall’s physical layout and retail positioning.
2013
Sale to Cypress EquitiesM&ABackground
General Growth Properties had controlled the property after acquiring the remaining Homart interest in 1997.
Action taken
General Growth Properties sold Eden Prairie Center to Cypress Equities in October.
Aftermath
The sale transferred ownership and management responsibility to a new private real-estate owner; the reported transaction value was $99 million.
Reported sale price. $99 million (October 2013 transaction)
2001
Comprehensive physical redevelopmentGeneration changeBackground
The mall’s earlier layout, basement food court, cinema configuration, and pastel interior had become dated relative to newer suburban retail developments.
Action taken
The owner added a new wing, changed the floor plan, sealed the former recessed food-court level for offices, added an AMC theater, expanded Target, opened Von Maur, and introduced updated branding and materials.
Aftermath
The property moved from a three-story public retail arrangement to a two-story format and adopted a more modern regional-shopping identity.
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