For the past half century, people have made countless memories at the Southlake Mall in Hobart.
People fondly remember making a wish while throwing coins into the fountain at the center court, sipping Orange Julius, playing pinball at the Aladdin's Castle arcade, trying to persuade their parents to get them something good at KB Toys or going to see Santa Claus. They recall browsing records at Camelot Music, sipping coffee at Borders, sampling the bourbon chicken at Maki of Japan or snarfing down Schoop's smashburgers or Chuck Wheeler's Vienna Beef hot dogs.
The super-regional mall at U.S. 30 and Mississippi Street just off the Interstate 65 interchange, the second largest mall in Indiana, celebrated its 50th anniversary Wednesday. The Region's largest and most popular mall anchors a sprawling commercial trade area that stretches along U.S. 30 in Hobart and Merrillville, drawing shoppers, diners and workers from across Northwest Indiana.
"Over the past five decades, Southlake Mall has become more than just a shopping destination. It is a community hub, a place where business thrive and families gather," Southlake Mall Marketing and Business Development Manager Kristyn Filetti said. "We owe the success to the dedication of our retailers, our business partners and most importantly our loyal shoppers. As we celebrate this occasion, we also look forward to the exciting future ahead as we continue to evolve for the next generation."
Richard E. Jacobs, the commercial real estate developer who owned of then-Cleveland Indians Major League Baseball team, broke ground on the two-story Southlake Mall in 1973. It opened on Sept. 18, 1974 with 936,000 square feet and 120 stores, including the anchors JC Penney and Sears.
Senior General Manager Peter Karonis said the mall has reached a monumental milestone.
"Fifty years ago today, the Southlake Mall first welcomed the community," he said. "Since then, it has evolved into so much more than a group of shops. It has become a cherished gathering place where memories are created, offering entrepreneurs (a chance) to grow and contribute to the vibrant spirit of our community. Today, we celebrate the rich history of Southlake Mall. We started as a simple hub for shopping and a gathering place for the community. It has grown into something remarkable over the past 50 years."
Northwest Indiana is littered with shuttered malls like the Century Mall in Merrillville, the Marquette Mall in Michigan City or Woodmar Mall in Hammond. Some malls, like The Village in Gary, are a faint shadow of what they were in their heyday. But the Southlake Mall has remained relevant by adjusting with the times, Karonis said.
"From the early days, the Southlake Mall has remained a leader in retail, continuously evolving with the times, embracing trends, technology and the ever changing needs of the community and shopper while upholding its core values of excellent service, diverse options and strong community ties," he said. "When the first family strolled through these halls, there was the excitement of something new. Over the years, this center has experienced it all, from leading fashion trends to periods of growth and expansion as new stores and experiences were added to meet the thriving needs of the community."
Southlake Mall added L.S. Ayers in 1978, Kohl's in 1993 and a food court in 1999.
"It's become a cherished staple," he said. "Southlake Mall has become a part of countless family traditions with many of you having made memories as small children and now sharing those same experiences with your families. This is not only a celebration of brick-and-mortar but of the people who have made this place what it is today, the employees past and present who have worked tirelessly to bring impeccable service, the store owners who have poured their heart and soul into their businesses, the construction workers who have built the very spaces we're shopping in, the delivery drivers who have delivered to our retailers to make sure they're stocked with the products that we enjoy, and the community members who have supported this center over the years whether by shopping local, attending special events or simply making this part of their everyday life. You are all part of this 50-year journey."
Southlake Mall was acquired by Sydney, Australia-based Westfield in 2002 and rebranded as the Westfield Shoppingtown Southlake Mall until it was purchased by the Connecticut-based Starwood Capital Group in 2013. It's now run by the California-based Pacific Retail Capital Partners.
In Indiana, only the Castleton Square Mall in Indianapolis is larger. The Southlake Mall stretches over 1.36 million square feet and is home to more than 160 retailers, including Books-a-Million, Spencer's Gifts, Clark Street Sports, Miniso, Akira, rue21, Victoria's Secret and Build-A-Bear.
"While we honor our history, we are committed to honoring our real estate for the next generation and continuing to serve the community for the next 50 years and beyond," he said. "Together we celebrate not just a building but the spirit of a community that has made Southlake Mall a success. Here's to 50 more incredible years."
JCPenney has been a fixture at the two-story enclosed mall from the start.
"JCPenney began with the Golden Rule Store based on the golden rule of treating others as you would want to be treated in the downtown of Kemmerer, Wyoming in 1902. It spread to other downtowns across the country and eventually became known as the JCPenney Company," General Manager Jodi Ringler said. "Seventy-two years later, as America was building shopping malls across the country, JCPenney formed a partnership with the Southlake Mall that is still going strong today. We intend to be here for another 50 years."
The mall has lost anchor department stores like Sears and Carson Pirie Scott to bankruptcy in recent years, but has continued to add stores even as many brick-and-mortar chains have gone out of business in the face of e-commerce competition over the last decade or so.
A major redevelopment project added Macy's, an AMC multiplex and Buffalo Wild Wings in 2006. People camped out in tents outside when the first Chick-fil-A to came to Northwest Indiana in 2011. Fine dining arrived the following year when Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant landed in 2012. The mall has kept adding hip stores like H&M and Forever 21.
The Southlake Mall celebrated the 50th anniversary with a time capsule that included a newspaper, business cards, a Pacific Retail cap, a South Shore Convention and Visitor Bureau brochure, a Hobart Chamber of Commerce directory, an envelope with a 69-cent stamp and a Rubik's Cube that was made in 1974. The goal was to create a snapshot of the moment in time the Southlake Mall occupies today.
"Every time I get the opportunity to talk about Southlake Mall everyone talks about some shared memory like the fountains where they got to throw the coins in," Hobart Mayor Josh Huddlestun said. "My memories are a little different. I remember as a kid walking out of this place crying because I didn't get what I wanted from KB Toys. Fifty years is a long time for any business to survive. I've got to give Peter and his team credit for constantly evolving as the times evolve."
The mall has long been a major economic driver and is vital to the city's future plans, Huddlestun said.
"We understand as a community and as a city what the mall means to our U.S. 30 corridor and the success we hope to have with the U.S. 30 corridor in the future," he said. "We as a community are making a commitment to the U.S. 30 corridor. We understand the mall is a hub that draws people and is the anchor that holds us in place and allows us to thrive."
The mall has put out signage celebrating the 50th anniversary and added an exhibit detailing the mall's history on the second floor by the old Carson Pirie Scott entrance. It launched a Memories Project so the public can share photos and memories on its website that will be displayed online and on an anniversary display in the food court.
"I had the opportunity to meet Peter in January. I came in and he was as excited about the future of the mall as we were," Huddlestun said. "I'm excited for 50 years. I can't wait to continue to share memories with my kids. Families can share the memories seeing Santa here and all the amazing things they're doing. Kudos to you guys on 50 years and the dedication of your team. We're going to be behind you as a city and the whole U.S. 30 corridor. Here's to 50 years and 50 more."
The Southlake Mall plans to give a $50 gift card every month to someone who shares their memories.
"This milestone is a testament to our amazing community," Filetti said. "As we look back on the past five decades, we are proud of the journey and the countless memories created here."
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