Tucson Mall facts for kids
Tucson, Arizona.
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| Location | 4500 North Oracle Road, Tucson, Arizona |
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| Opening date | March 22, 1982 |
| Developer | Forest City Enterprises |
| Management | Brookfield Properties Retail Group |
| Owner | Brookfield Properties Retail Group |
| No. of stores and services | 175 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 6 (5 open, 1 vacant) |
| Total retail floor area | 1,287,206 sq ft (119,585.4 m2) (GLA) |
| No. of floors | 2 (3 in Macy's) |
Tucson Mall is a huge shopping center in Tucson, Arizona. It's the biggest mall in the city! This mall has over 170 stores and two floors of indoor shopping fun. You'll find big department stores like Forever 21, J. C. Penney, Macy's, and Dillard's here.
Tucson Mall also has a food court with lots of yummy fast food places. Plus, there's a cool arcade called "Arizona Avenue" where you can play games and find unique Southwestern-themed items. The mall is located on the north side of Tucson, near Oracle Road.
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Meet the Main Stores at Tucson Mall
The biggest stores in a mall are called "anchor stores" because they help bring in lots of shoppers. Here are the main ones you'll find at Tucson Mall today:
- Dillard's
- Forever 21 (This used to be a store called Mervyn's)
- J. C. Penney
- Macy's (This store has changed names a few times! It was once Foley's, then Robinsons-May, before becoming Macy's.)
- Old Navy
Past Favorites: Stores That Used to Be Here
Over the years, some stores have changed or left the mall. Here are a few big ones that used to be anchor stores at Tucson Mall:
- Diamond's (This store was sold and became Dillard's.)
- Foley's (It changed to Robinsons-May, then later became Macy's.)
- The Broadway (This store also became a Macy's, but then it closed and was taken down.)
- Mervyns (This store closed, and then Forever 21 opened in its place.)
- Sears (This store closed in April 2020.)
How Tucson Mall Got Started
Did you know the idea for Tucson Mall came from a woman named Helen Wetmore? Her family owned the land where the mall now stands for a very long time. In the 1930s, she visited Chicago and saw a shopping center. She thought, "That's exactly what I want on my land!" She kept the land together until 1978, and that's when plans for the mall officially began with a company called Forest City Enterprises.
A Look Back: Tucson Mall's History
The Tucson Mall first opened its doors in 1982. Back then, it had about 100 stores and five big department stores: Broadway, J. C. Penney, Mervyn’s, Diamond's, and Sears. Just two years later, in 1984, Diamond's became Dillard's.
Growing Bigger: Mall Expansions
In 1990, the mall started a big project to get even larger.
- First, the Dillard's store was made bigger, and a parking garage was added next to it.
- Then, a whole new section was built on the east side of the mall. This new part opened in 1991, adding over 70 new stores and a sixth anchor store called Foley's. This made the mall much, much bigger!
Fun Upgrades: Food Court and Arizona Avenue
In 1993, the food court got a makeover. They even added a fun carousel and created "Arizona Avenue," the arcade area.
Store Name Changes Over Time
- In 1996, the Broadway store changed its name to Macy's.
- In 1997, all the Foley's stores in Arizona, including the one at Tucson Mall, changed their name to Robinsons-May.
- In 2006, Robinsons-May also became a Macy's. The older Macy's store on the south side of the mall then closed.
Big Makeover in 2003
In 2003, the mall got a huge $15 million update! It was the first big change since it opened. They put in shiny new tile floors, glass railings, new escalators and elevators, and a new play area for kids. The restrooms were updated, and the food court and Arizona Avenue got a fresh look too. They even changed the fountains and painted the mall a new color.
More Changes and New Stores
- In 2007, the old Macy's store was taken down to make way for even more changes on the south side of the mall. This included a grand new entrance, more stores, and new water features. New stores like REI and The Cheesecake Factory were added. A new parking garage was also built.
- In 2009, Forever 21 opened in the large space where Mervyn's used to be.
- In 2020, the Sears store closed its doors.
Getting There: Transportation
If you need a ride to the mall, Sun Tran's Tohono Tadai Transit Center is right next to it. It opened in 1994, making it easy to get to Tucson Mall by bus.
