The Grand Traverse Mall, located in Garfield Township just outside Traverse City, Michigan, has served as a primary retail hub for Northern Michigan for over three decades. 1. Origins and Opening (1991–1992) * Early Construction & Anchors: While the enclosed mall officially opened its doors in March 1992, its footprint was kickstarted several months prior. Major anchor stores Target and JCPenney opened ahead of the rest of the facility in October 1991. * Regional Significance: Upon completion, it became the largest indoor shopping center north of Saginaw, Michigan, housing over 100 inline stores, a food court, and a multi-screen movie theater. 2. Evolution of Anchors and Ownership (2000s) * Name Changes: The mall’s original department store anchor space transitioned through corporate buyouts. Originally opening under regional powerhouse Hudson’s, it rebranded to Marshall Field’s in 2001, and ultimately became Macy’s in 2006. * Management Shifts: Over the years, ownership and management shifted through several commercial real estate firms, including General Growth Properties (GGP), Rouse Properties, Brookfield Properties, and later groups like Lormax Stern and Mason Asset Management. 3. Shifts, Closures, and Re-tenanting (2010s–Present) Like many traditional enclosed malls across the country, Grand Traverse Mall faced major retail disruptions, leading to several key transformations: * The Movie Theater Transition: The mall's 9-screen theater (latterly operated by Carmike Cinemas) closed in 2015. Plans for a Dick's Sporting Goods fell through, and the space was successfully redeveloped into Dunham’s Sports, which opened in late 2017. * Pandemic & Post-Pandemic Retail Shuffling: The early 2020s brought the closure of inline staples like H&M and Gap, making room for alternative concepts such as Grand Traverse Bay Gymnastics and local community spaces. TJ Maxx also operated in the mall for years before relocating out in mid-2024, clearing the way for Ollie's Bargain Outlet, which opened in its former space. * The Macy's Era Ends & Redevelopment: After serving as a staple anchor for decades, Macy's closed its doors in March 2025. Moving away from traditional single-tenant department store models, the massive former Macy's space underwent a multi-tenant subdivision to host a mix of new retail options. Today, the Grand Traverse Mall continues to pivot from a traditional enclosed shopping center into a mixed-use community and retail destination, anchored by Target, JCPenney, Dunham's Sports, and Ollie's Bargain Outlet alongside local businesses, entertainment spaces, and quick-service dining.
I'm back in Traverse City three years later. My vlog
from Traverse City was one of the first things posted to my channel.
I don't know if you guys have been following that long.
If you haven't, go back and check it out.
This time I returned to Traverse City with Manny Cracchio.
I was there with my friend.
The first time and I just fell in love with Traverse City
when I was there, so I think
it's amazing that we're back and I'm here on the lake
and we're going to see some amazing
retail, Grand Traverse Mall, Kmart, it's
their Halloween, it's just really good to be back.
So let's look at the lake real quick.
Okay, driving.
Upon Traverse City, you immediately come
to this just blue, crystal, just amazing,
like, crystal clear blue water.
Like, it's like, I don't, Michigan, you guys,
I don't know if you know that you have it,
like, so good with the scenery,
but here in Ohio, it's really not at all like this.
Yeah, I mean, we have Lake Erie.
It's more grand, like the trees are bigger.
The lake is like glistening, but look at this.
We
have
arrived
at
the
Grand
Traverse
Mall.
A little bit of history on this place.
Um, they.
They opened in 1992.
The original anchors were Target in 91,
JCPenney in 91, a little bit before the mall.
Hudson's in 1992, later Marshall Fields in 2001,
and Macy's in 2006, which closed in
2025. Last time I was here in 2023,
it's part of my Traverse City vlog. I didn't
do a video on the mall,
but I did Macy's week.
Kara Soates Theatre, I don't know if I said that right,
later a Carmike Theatre,
which closed in 2015.
And now the anchors are Dunham Sports, JCPenney, Ollie's, and Target.
And this is a pretty cool mall.
They got a carousel in there.
It really is, it feels very nice.
It feels like, it just feels,
I don't really know how to put it.
It's just very pleasant, and it feels like it's going to be...
Just a pleasant experience. It's not like some looming dead mall.
It's, it just feels like it's
going to be good.
Let's go walk around and see what you can find.
The JCPenney in there. I think
it's kind of tacky that they put the Dunham sign right there,
but I don't know. To me, it's a little
tacky, but I like these, uh,
I really like these glass entrances and you can see, you can see the
See the carousel already.
Yeah, this is...
Oh, I ate at that China Experience.
Yeah. Check this out.
Wow. That there was a,
I didn't want
to walk too close to it.
No food.
I mean, no music playing.
Why did I say that?
This looks like it used
to be a subway. JCPenney.
Got some empty spots here,
but it's not, it's not like
the most, I don't know.
What would you say?
It's like a, it's
not the deadest place. It's
got some stuff going on.
Saborro.
We're cheesy.
Oh, they have
an Orange
Julius here.
They have an Orange Julius.
You never see that anymore.
You never see that in malls.
You know what?
Chapel Hill had that.
I
love
malls.
Ooh, look at that up there.
Yeah.
The mirrors.
Let's look at this Target wing.
It's a little odd.
Why is Target always down like a...
Target is always located on like a nothingness wing.
In Eastwood Mall in Niles, Ohio,
the Target is down like a big bare hall like this, too.
The boat.
Well, you're going to need that if you live in Traverse City.
There's a Target.
Target.
Okay.
There's Ollie's,
Dunham's.
This was the Macy's.
Is it?
Have you ever seen a Target cafe before?
We have.
Okay, okay.
But is it a good one or is it just a lame one?
with more than one that you suggested this wise
Really? Yeah. Wow. I like it.
This reminds me of the forest at the pool.
This is one beautiful mall.
Oh, there's like nothing down.
Yeah.
Wow.
What's going on?
Oh, the hurricane simulator.
Later.
and then we could go that way oh i remember
when i came here and i
filmed this i filmed this arcade there was a peck
yeah that's what i filmed remember when i filmed that yes
who's a merry-go-round
remember this yeah
it never moved
from this spot
no that is absolutely insane
that's crazy
You are just, wow.
The mini carousel.
One, two, three, four.
One minute.
Thank you.
Whoa,
that's
cool.
Yeah, it is very cold.
Wow.
That is insane.
I'm starting to speak now.
No,
look
at
these
lights.
These are really cool.
Whoa.
You should get some of those.
Yeah.
That's really awesome.
Look at this guy.
Smile.
You're on camera.
Sleeping Tiger Imports.
Another skylight.
Here's another Penny's entrance.
There's a shuttered Hollister.
This is a big figure, all that line.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think the May...
I think the Shuttered Macy's is going to be up here.
It's decently full.
Okay, this is our now.
I don't think it's...
Oh, wow.
There's those big ducks again.
Maurice's.
Now, was that a Macy's entrance?
Good morning, friends.
There's famous footwear.
That definitely was, but that's kind of...
I don't know what that's about.
Maybe it was.
I feel like it was.
And now we just have a big chess board.
It's a big chess board.
Wow.
All right, and that will complete my tour
of the Grand Traverse Mall here in Traverse City.
Let me know what you guys think, and I'll see you on the next video.
