Independence Center
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedAn enclosed regional shopping mall in Independence, Missouri, in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Independence Center is an enclosed regional shopping mall in Independence, Missouri, United States. The property opened in 1974 and was developed by Homart, the real-estate division of Sears, Roebuck & Co. Its original department-store anchors were Macy's, Sears, and Stix, Baer & Fuller. Stix, Baer & Fuller became a Dillard's location after Dillard's acquired that chain in 1984, while the mall's former department-store lineup changed repeatedly as retail ownership and consolidation reshaped the Kansas City market. The mall was designed around a prominent three-level central atrium approximately 60 feet high, with ramps and stairways crossing the open interior and a food court on the lowest level. Its early advertising used the slogan “Independence Center: The ‘I’ has it,” and a large illuminated sign near Interstate 70 became a visible part of the property's identity. Architectonics, Inc. of Dallas was the architect, and C. H. Leavell & Co. served as general contractor. After its development by Homart, the property was acquired, owned, and managed by LaSalle, a Chicago-based real-estate company. It received a cosmetic renovation in the mid-1980s. In 1994, Simon Property Group acquired the mall. During the Simon era, the property added a two-story carousel in 1996 and underwent a major renovation in 1998. The approximately $20 million project upgraded interior finishes, vertical transportation, and the food court, while a children's play area was added later in the same period. In 2004, additional small-shop space was created along the exterior facing 39th Street. Macy's returned to its original mall location in 2006 after the Federated–May department-store merger converted Jones Store locations in the Kansas City area to Macy's stores. The property changed ownership again in 2018, when it was sold to Pacific Retail Capital Partners. A period of anchor-store contraction followed: Sears announced its closure in August 2019 and shut the store on October 27 of that year. The mall's carousel was dismantled and removed in August 2019. Macy's announced in January 2021 that it would close as part of a nationwide reduction, with the store closing on March 21, 2021. A furniture retailer subsequently occupied the former Macy's space from May 2022 until July 2023. The mall's remaining major anchors are Dick's Sporting Goods and Dillard's, while the former Sears and Macy's anchor spaces are vacant or subject to changing occupancy. With approximately 1,032,000 square feet of floor area, Independence Center has been described as the second-largest mall in the Kansas City metropolitan area, behind Oak Park Mall. It remains a significant retail and visitor destination in Independence, although its tenant mix reflects the broader shift from traditional department-store anchoring toward specialty retail, services, entertainment, and alternative uses for large-format space.
History
Independence Center opened in 1974 in Independence, Missouri, as a major enclosed shopping center serving the eastern Kansas City metropolitan area. It was developed by Homart, the real-estate division of Sears, Roebuck & Co. The original department-store anchors were Macy's, Sears, and Stix, Baer & Fuller. The mall's architecture emphasized a three-level central atrium about 60 feet high, with ramps and stair risers crossing the open interior. A food court occupied the lowest level of the atrium. The property was also identified by a large illuminated advertising marquee visible from Interstate 70 and by the slogan “Independence Center: The ‘I’ has it.” Architectonics, Inc. of Dallas designed the mall, and C. H. Leavell & Co., also of Dallas, was the general contractor. Following its development by Homart, Independence Center was acquired, owned, and managed by LaSalle, a Chicago-based real-estate company. A first cosmetic renovation took place during the mid-1980s. In 1984, Dillard's acquired the Stix, Baer & Fuller chain and converted the mall's Stix location to Dillard's. In 1985, after acquiring Macy's Midwest stores, Dillard's sold the Independence Center Macy's location to Mercantile Stores, the parent company of The Jones Store Co. Simon Property Group purchased the mall in 1994. Under Simon's ownership, the property added a two-story carousel in the central atrium in 1996. A major renovation followed in 1998, reportedly costing approximately $20 million. The project refreshed the mall's appearance, improved vertical circulation, and upgraded the food court. A large children's play area was added in the same general period. In 2004, the mall expanded its small-shop offer with space along the exterior facing 39th Street. Macy's returned to its original location in 2006. This followed the Federated–May department-store merger, which resulted in Jones Store locations across the Kansas City area being converted to Macy's stores. The property remained a large department-store-centered shopping destination, with specialty retail and food-service space supporting the anchor tenants. In 2018, Independence Center was sold to Pacific Retail Capital Partners. The subsequent period brought substantial changes to the anchor lineup. Sears announced in August 2019 that it would close the Independence Center store as part of a nationwide program involving 26 locations; the store closed on October 27, 2019. The carousel was dismantled and removed on August 20, 2019. Macy's announced in January 2021 that it would close the mall store as part of a plan affecting 46 stores nationally, and the location closed on March 21, 2021. European Furniture Center occupied the former Macy's space from May 2022 until July 2023. Dick's Sporting Goods and Dillard's are identified as the mall's remaining anchor stores, while the former Sears and Macy's spaces are vacant or have experienced changes in use. The property encompasses approximately 1,032,000 square feet, or about 95,900 square meters. It has been described as the second-largest mall in the Kansas City metropolitan area, after Oak Park Mall, and as one of Independence's principal visitor and retail destinations. Its history illustrates the transformation of American regional malls from department-store-led destinations toward more varied tenant mixes and adaptive reuse of large anchor spaces.
- 2023
European Furniture Center closes
[1]European Furniture Center leaves the former Macy's space in July.
- 2022
Furniture retailer opens in former Macy's space
[1]European Furniture Center opens in the former Macy's anchor location in May.
- 2021
Macy's closes
[1]Macy's closes its Independence Center store on March 21 as part of a nationwide reduction.
- 2019
Sears closes
[1]The Sears anchor closes on October 27 after being included in a nationwide store-closure plan.
- 2019
Carousel is removed
[1]The mall's two-story carousel is dismantled and removed in August.
- 2018
Ownership changes to Pacific Retail Capital Partners
[1]Pacific Retail Capital Partners acquires Independence Center.
- 2006
Macy's returns to the mall
[1]The former Jones Store location is converted back to Macy's following the Federated–May merger and related Kansas City store conversions.
- 2004
Exterior small-shop space is added
[1]The property adds small-shop space on its exterior frontage along 39th Street.
- 1998
Major renovation is completed
[1]A major renovation improves the mall's aesthetics, vertical transportation, and food court; a children's play area is also added during this period.
- 1996
Two-story carousel is added
[1]A two-story carousel is installed in the mall's atrium.
Products and positioning
Regional enclosed shopping center serving Independence and the eastern Kansas City metropolitan area.
Department store · 1984
Dillard's
Dillard's is one of Independence Center's remaining major anchor stores. Its presence traces back to Dillard's 1984 acquisition of Stix, Baer & Fuller, whose original anchor location was converted to the Dillard's format. The store provides broad department-store merchandise, including apparel, accessories, cosmetics, home goods, and related categories, although the exact current assortment may change over time.
Sporting-goods retailer
Dick's Sporting Goods
Dick's Sporting Goods is identified as one of the mall's two principal surviving anchors. The store serves the regional market with sporting equipment, athletic apparel, footwear, outdoor products, and related recreational merchandise. It represents a shift from the property's original department-store-heavy anchor mix toward category-focused large-format retail.
Food service · 1974
Food court and dining services
Food and dining space has been part of Independence Center since its original design, with a food court located in the lowest level of the central atrium. The food court was upgraded during the major 1998 renovation. Current individual tenants and the precise operating configuration are not specified in the available reference material.
Shopping-mall retail · 1974
Specialty-shop retail space
Independence Center provides smaller retail units for specialty merchants, apparel and accessory sellers, services, and other mall tenants. Additional small-shop space was added along the 39th Street exterior in 2004. The tenant roster is subject to change and is not fully documented in the supplied sources.
Brand decisions
2021
Adaptation after Macy's closureOtherBackground
Macy's announced that its Independence Center store would close during a nationwide reduction of its store base, leaving a major anchor space available.
Action taken
The Macy's location closed on March 21, 2021; European Furniture Center later occupied the space from May 2022 until July 2023.
Aftermath
The property was left with Dillard's and Dick's Sporting Goods as its identified major anchors, while the former Macy's space experienced a temporary alternative use.
2004
Expansion of exterior small-shop spaceStrategyBackground
The property adjusted its retail configuration to provide more space for smaller tenants beyond the traditional department-store anchors.
Action taken
Small-shop space was added on the exterior facing 39th Street.
Aftermath
The addition broadened the mall's leasable retail format, but the supplied sources do not provide occupancy or financial results.
1998
Major property renovationStrategyBackground
The mall undertook a broad physical refresh after earlier cosmetic improvements, seeking to modernize the property and improve circulation and visitor amenities.
Action taken
The project upgraded interior aesthetics, vertical transportation, and the food court; a children's play area was also added during the same period.
Aftermath
The renovation reinforced Independence Center's role as a large regional shopping destination. No reliable post-renovation financial figures are provided in the available sources.
Sources2 sources
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