Genesee Valley Center

Genesee Valley Center is an enclosed regional shopping mall in Flint Township, immediately outside Flint, Michigan. The center was conceived in the late 1960s by Shopping Centers, Inc., a retail-development division of Detroit-based Hudson's department stores. Designed by architect Victor Gruen, the project was intended to establish a major suburban retail destination with Hudson's and Sears as its original department-store anchors. Sears opened in May 1970, Hudson's followed two months later, and the mall formally opened to the public on August 8, 1970, with 56 tenants. Early occupants included Hamady Brothers, Cunningham Drug, and Woolworth, reflecting the center's combination of department stores, general merchandise, grocery, pharmacy, and specialty retail. The property expanded as the Flint-area retail market developed. An eastern wing anchored by JCPenney was added in 1979, while a mezzanine food court followed in 1987. Further redevelopment in 1993 replaced the Cunningham Drug location with a wing anchored by Mervyn's and also added Montgomery Ward. These changes increased the mall to approximately 1.3 million square feet of gross leasable area, making it one of Michigan's largest shopping centers outside the Detroit area. The original Hudson's store changed names to Marshall Field's in 2001 and then to Macy's in 2006 after successive corporate acquisitions. Genesee Valley Center also adapted to the decline of traditional department-store anchors. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001 as the national chain exited retail, and its building was demolished in 2005. The site became the Outdoor Village, an open-air extension that opened in early 2006 and included Barnes & Noble. Mervyn's left Michigan in 2006, and its former space was converted to Burlington. Other occupants over the years included Steve & Barry's, Wear District, Shoe Dept. Encore, H&M, Planet Fitness, Lane Bryant, Justice, Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, Kay Jewelers, and Forever 21. A Genesee District Library branch has operated at the mall since 2002, adding a civic and community-service use to the retail complex. Ownership and management changed during the mall's later history. Jones Lang LaSalle sold the property to Spinoso Group in 2012, and the center is identified as owned and managed by Namdar Realty Group in the available reference material. The mall experienced increasing pressure from department-store closures, changing shopping habits, and competition from open-air retail. Burlington relocated to a nearby strip center in May 2018, and Sears closed on September 2 of that year. A temporary entertainment use, Play Big, opened in the former Burlington space in December 2018 but closed in July 2023. Forever 21 moved to a larger location in 2019 and subsequently closed. Macy's announced in January 2025 that its Genesee Valley store would close during the first quarter. The store shut on March 23, 2025, leaving JCPenney as the mall's only remaining traditional anchor. Genesee Valley Center therefore remains an active shopping property, but its current identity is that of a mature regional mall undergoing the broader structural challenges affecting enclosed malls across the United States. Its tenant mix, outdoor expansion, library branch, fitness and entertainment uses, and remaining department-store presence provide the principal basis for continued operation.

Plans for Genesee Valley Center were announced in 1968 by Shopping Centers, Inc., the retail-development division of Hudson's. The company was simultaneously developing other suburban shopping properties, including Southland Center near Detroit. Victor Gruen designed the Flint Township mall, which was planned around an enclosed retail center with approximately 50 stores and two department-store anchors: Hudson's and Sears. Sears opened first in May 1970. Hudson's opened in July, and the center began public operations on August 8, 1970. Its initial tenant roster contained 56 businesses, including Hamady Brothers, Cunningham Drug, and Woolworth. The mall was designed as a regional destination for Flint and surrounding communities rather than merely a neighborhood retail strip. The center expanded in stages. JCPenney became the anchor of a new eastern wing in 1979. In 1987, a mezzanine and food court were added. A larger redevelopment followed in 1993, when the former Cunningham Drug site was replaced by a Mervyn's wing and Montgomery Ward was introduced. The resulting property reached roughly 1.3 million square feet of gross leasable area and was described as Michigan's largest mall north of Detroit. The anchor lineup changed substantially in the 2000s. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001 during the chain's nationwide liquidation. Hudson's was renamed Marshall Field's the same year, then became Macy's in 2006. The Montgomery Ward building was demolished in 2005, and the site was redeveloped as the Outdoor Village, which opened in early 2006 with Barnes & Noble as a principal tenant. Mervyn's ended its Michigan operations in 2006; Burlington moved into the vacated space the following year. Several smaller tenants also cycled through the property. Steve & Barry's occupied a former Woolworth area before closing after its parent chain entered bankruptcy in 2009. The space later became Wear District and then Shoe Dept. Encore. The mall gained a Genesee District Library branch in 2002. During the 2010s, it saw store renovations, the relocation of Lane Bryant, the addition of Planet Fitness in 2015, and the opening of H&M in the JCPenney wing in 2017. Ownership shifted from Jones Lang LaSalle to Spinoso Group in 2012. The center later came under Namdar Realty Group ownership and management, according to the reference material. The property entered a more difficult period after Burlington relocated in May 2018 and Sears closed in September. Play Big, an indoor playground with inflatable attractions and arcade games, filled part of the former Burlington space in December 2018 but closed in July 2023. Forever 21 moved to a larger mall location in 2019 and later shut down. Macy's announced in January 2025 that its store would close in the first quarter. The closure occurred on March 23, 2025, leaving JCPenney as the only remaining traditional anchor. Genesee Valley Center continues as an active mall, with its current role shaped by a reduced department-store base, specialty retail, services, dining, community uses, and the Outdoor Village.

• 2025

  Macy's closes

  [1]Genesee Valley Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Macy's closed on March 23, leaving JCPenney as the sole traditional anchor.

• 2018

  Sears closes

  [1]Genesee Valley Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Sears closed on September 2, reducing the center's anchor lineup to Macy's and JCPenney.

• 2017

  H&M opens

  [1]Genesee Valley Centeren.wikipedia.org

  H&M opened in the JCPenney wing in November.

• 2012

  Ownership changes

  [1]Genesee Valley Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The mall was sold by Jones Lang LaSalle to Spinoso Group.

• 2006

  Outdoor Village opens

  [1]Genesee Valley Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The open-air extension opened with Barnes & Noble as a major tenant.

• 2005

  Outdoor Village redevelopment begins

  [1]Genesee Valley Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The former Montgomery Ward building was demolished for an outdoor retail section.

• 1993

  Major enlargement

  [1]Genesee Valley Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A Mervyn's wing and Montgomery Ward were added, bringing the complex to approximately 1.3 million square feet.

• 1987

  Food court added

  [1]Genesee Valley Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A mezzanine level and food court expanded the mall's visitor amenities.

• 1979

  JCPenney expansion

  [1]Genesee Valley Centeren.wikipedia.org

  An eastern wing anchored by JCPenney was added.

• 1970

  Mall opens

  [1]Genesee Valley Centeren.wikipedia.org

  After Sears and Hudson's opened earlier in the year, Genesee Valley Center opened to the public on August 8 with 56 tenants.

• 1968

  Development plans announced

  [1]Genesee Valley Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Shopping Centers, Inc., a Hudson's retail-development division, announced plans for a major enclosed shopping center in Flint Township.

A large, mature regional shopping center serving Flint Township and the surrounding Genesee County market through department stores, specialty retail, dining, services, community facilities, and selected outdoor-format tenants.

• Shopping center · 1970

  Enclosed regional shopping mall

  The main enclosed mall provides specialty retail, department-store space, dining, personal services, and visitor amenities for Flint Township and the surrounding Genesee County market. Its tenant mix has changed over time as national department-store and specialty chains entered, relocated, or exited the property.

• Open-air retail expansion · 2006

  Outdoor Village

  The Outdoor Village replaced the former Montgomery Ward building and extended the property with an open-air retail format. Barnes & Noble served as its principal anchor when the section opened in early 2006.

• Community service · 2002

  Genesee District Library branch

  A Genesee District Library branch has operated within the mall since 2002. It represents a community-oriented use integrated into the shopping center and was initially established as an experiment before receiving continued operating support.

• 2025

  Macy's anchor closureOther

  Background

  Macy's announced in January that its Genesee Valley Center store would close during the first quarter of 2025.

  Action taken

  The Macy's store closed on March 23, 2025.

  Aftermath

  JCPenney became the mall's sole remaining traditional anchor, highlighting the center's reduced department-store base.

  Source

• 2018

  Repurpose former Burlington spaceStrategy

  Background

  Burlington relocated from the mall to a nearby strip center, leaving a large former department-store space vacant.

  Action taken

  Play Big, an indoor playground with inflatable attractions and arcade games, opened in the space on December 15.

  Aftermath

  The entertainment use occupied the space temporarily but closed on July 14, 2023.

  Source

• 2012

  Sale to Spinoso GroupM&A

  Background

  The mall changed ownership during a period when enclosed shopping centers were adapting to tenant turnover and changing retail patterns.

  Action taken

  Jones Lang LaSalle sold Genesee Valley Center to Spinoso Group.

  Aftermath

  The transaction marked a new ownership phase before the property later became associated with Namdar Realty Group.

  Source

• 2005

  Redevelop former Montgomery Ward siteStrategy

  Background

  Montgomery Ward had closed in 2001 as the national retailer exited its stores, leaving a major vacant anchor building.

  Action taken

  The building was demolished and replaced by the Outdoor Village, an open-air extension anchored by Barnes & Noble.

  Aftermath

  The project diversified the mall's physical format and added a prominent bookstore-led retail area.

  Source

1. 1Genesee Valley Centeren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Genesee Valley Center official websitegeneseemall.com