Fort Saginaw Mall

Fort Saginaw Mall was an enclosed shopping mall in Buena Vista Township, immediately outside Saginaw, Michigan. It opened on December 2, 1966, and was the Saginaw area's only enclosed mall until Fashion Square Mall opened elsewhere in the city in 1972. At its peak, Fort Saginaw contained approximately forty stores arranged in an L-shaped complex with eastern and southern wings. The mall's original principal department-store anchor was Federal's, a Detroit-based department-store chain. The southern portion included a Kmart discount store and an adjacent Kmart Foods supermarket, although the Kmart was not connected to the main mall concourse. Other occupants included Scott's 5 & 10, a five-and-dime retailer, and a small movie theater. The property initially served as a conventional regional shopping destination for the Saginaw community and surrounding area. Competition and changing retail conditions weakened the center during the late 1970s and early 1980s. By 1982, vacancy had become significant. The Cafaro Company, which operated and later retained ownership of the property, attempted to reposition it as Fort Saginaw Outlet Mall. The rebranding was accompanied by an interior renovation and the introduction of outlet-oriented tenants. The former eastern anchor space went through several occupants and names, including Robert Hall Village and Consumer Outlet Mart, before becoming a Burlington Coat Factory location. The repositioning did not restore the mall's long-term vitality. During the 1990s, vacancies increased and the enclosed portion became increasingly inactive. A sprinkler problem led to the closure of the mall on March 7, 1995. Kmart remained open as a separate attached operation, making it the last significant retail presence associated with the complex. By the end of the decade, the mall itself was closed off, while the Kmart continued operating until May 2004. The abandoned property became the subject of competing redevelopment plans. In 2001, Kmart proposed replacing the abandoned mall with a new store, but the proposal was abandoned after Kmart entered bankruptcy proceedings. In 2007, Buena Vista Charter Township explored purchasing the property for redevelopment. Cafaro initially resisted selling, citing its own redevelopment intentions. In April 2008, the township asserted that it had acquired title to the abandoned building and announced that the site could be reused for other purposes. Demolition began in November 2009. The property was ultimately important less as a continuing retail brand than as an example of the rise and decline of enclosed shopping centers in mid-sized American communities. The township also retained or managed nearby commercial elements, including a Burger King in the former mall parking area and a rear strip center containing a Save-A-Lot grocery store.

Fort Saginaw Mall opened in Buena Vista Township on December 2, 1966. The township is adjacent to Saginaw but outside the city limits. The center was built as an L-shaped enclosed mall with eastern and southern wings. Federal's, a department-store chain based in Detroit, occupied the eastern anchor position. A Kmart discount store and Kmart Foods supermarket occupied the southern end but were not directly accessible from the main interior concourse. The tenant mix also included Scott's 5 & 10 and a small cinema, and the mall reached roughly forty stores at its height. For its first several years, Fort Saginaw was the only enclosed mall serving Saginaw. That position changed in 1972 when Fashion Square Mall opened at the opposite end of the city. As competition increased and retail patterns shifted, Fort Saginaw began experiencing meaningful vacancy by 1982. Cafaro Company responded with a repositioning program: the complex was renamed Fort Saginaw Outlet Mall, the interior was renovated, and outlet-style retailers were introduced. The former Federal's space had short-lived occupants including Robert Hall Village and Consumer Outlet Mart before being leased to Burlington Coat Factory. The outlet strategy was not sufficient to reverse the property's decline. Through the late 1980s and 1990s, the enclosed mall lost stores and became increasingly inactive. On March 7, 1995, a sprinkler problem caused the mall to close. The attached Kmart was excluded from the closure and continued to trade independently. By the end of the 1990s, the interior mall area had effectively been shut, leaving Kmart as the principal surviving retail operation. Kmart remained open until May 2004. The vacant property generated several redevelopment discussions. In 2001, Kmart proposed demolishing the abandoned mall and constructing a replacement store. That plan did not proceed after Kmart filed for bankruptcy. Cafaro continued to own the property and, according to the cited account, retained its own redevelopment ambitions. Buena Vista Charter Township began planning a purchase in 2007 and considered paying $2 million, but Cafaro initially refused to sell. In April 2008, the township announced that it had successfully obtained title to the abandoned building. The local government indicated that the site could be redeveloped for other uses. The township also retained nearby commercial assets associated with the property, including a Burger King in the parking area and a rear strip center with a Save-A-Lot grocery store. Demolition began in November 2009, marking the physical end of the former enclosed mall. The available reference material does not establish a later comprehensive redevelopment outcome for the entire site.

• 2009

  Demolition begins

  [1]Fort Saginaw Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Demolition of the former mall began in November.

• 2008

  Township takes title to the site

  [1]Fort Saginaw Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Buena Vista Charter Township announced that it had obtained ownership of the abandoned mall property and planned to consider redevelopment.

• 2004

  Last major retail operation closes

  [1]Fort Saginaw Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The attached Kmart, the last major operating component of the complex, closed in May.

• 1995

  Enclosed mall closes

  [1]Fort Saginaw Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The mall closed on March 7 after a sprinkler problem, while the attached Kmart continued operating.

• 1982

  Outlet-mall repositioning

  [1]Fort Saginaw Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Cafaro renamed the property Fort Saginaw Outlet Mall, renovated the interior, and added outlet stores in response to vacancy.

• 1972

  Fashion Square Mall creates direct local competition

  [1]Fort Saginaw Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Fashion Square Mall opened elsewhere in Saginaw, ending Fort Saginaw's position as the area's only enclosed mall.

• 1966

  Opening of Fort Saginaw Mall

  [1]Fort Saginaw Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The enclosed mall opened on December 2 in Buena Vista Township with Federal's, Kmart, Kmart Foods, Scott's 5 & 10, and a small theater among its early or principal occupants.

Originally positioned as Saginaw's principal enclosed shopping center, the property was later repositioned as an outlet mall in response to vacancy and competitive pressure.

• Shopping center · 1966

  Enclosed shopping mall

  The core offering was an enclosed retail environment with two wings, a central concourse, department-store and discount-store anchors, specialty shops, food-related retail, and a small movie theater. At peak operation, the center contained approximately forty stores and served shoppers from Saginaw and nearby communities.

• Outlet shopping center · 1982

  Fort Saginaw Outlet Mall

  Beginning in 1982, the property was repositioned under the Fort Saginaw Outlet Mall name. The strategy combined an interior renovation with the addition of outlet-oriented tenants, attempting to address vacancy and differentiate the center from competing conventional malls.

• 2008

  Township acquisition and redevelopment planningStrategy

  Background

  Buena Vista Charter Township sought control of the abandoned property after Cafaro initially declined to sell it.

  Action taken

  The township announced that it had acquired title and would consider redeveloping the site for alternative uses.

  Aftermath

  Demolition began in November 2009. The cited material does not specify the complete subsequent redevelopment plan or outcome.

  Source

• 2001

  Proposal to replace the abandoned mall with a Kmart storeStrategy

  Background

  The enclosed mall was vacant while the attached Kmart remained in operation.

  Action taken

  Kmart proposed demolishing the abandoned mall and building a new store, but the proposal was canceled after the chain entered bankruptcy.

  Aftermath

  The mall remained vacant until the township acquired the property and demolition later began.

  Source

• 1982

  Repositioning as an outlet mallStrategy

  Background

  The center had begun to experience increasing vacancy and faced stronger competition after the opening of Fashion Square Mall.

  Action taken

  Cafaro renamed the property Fort Saginaw Outlet Mall, renovated the interior, and added outlet stores.

  Aftermath

  The repositioning did not prevent continued vacancy and the eventual closure of the enclosed mall.

  Source

1. 1Fort Saginaw Mallen.wikipedia.org