Old Capitol Mall
Encyclopedia
The Old Capitol Mall is a shopping mall
in the downtown
area of Iowa City, Iowa
during the late 20th century (from 1981 to 1998). Located across the street from the south-east corner of the Pentacrest
(a four-block-sized parcel of land with a collection of five buildings with the old Iowa Territory
capitol in the middle), the Old Capitol Mall was a convenient shopping center for University of Iowa students, faculty, and staff. It was originally anchored by J.C. Penney
and Younkers
, and over 70 stores. In July 1998, JCPenney and other stores moved to larger Coral Ridge Mall
and divided into smaller stores. In 2004, Younkers announced it will close the Old Capitol Mall on January 2005, and was sat vacant today.
The Mall saw decreasing traffic after the opening of the Coral Ridge Mall
in the adjacent town of Coralville, Iowa. Many major retailers opted to focus on their Coral Ridge locations and close their low-performing Old Capitol locations. While some stores and restaurants still exist in the Old Capitol Mall, other spaces have been used by newspaper offices, the University of Iowa, or various political parties.
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
in the downtown
Downtown
Downtown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
area of Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
during the late 20th century (from 1981 to 1998). Located across the street from the south-east corner of the Pentacrest
Pentacrest
The Pentacrest is a collection of five buildings on the campus of the University of Iowa — the Old Capitol, Jessup Hall, Macbride Hall, MacLean Hall, and Schaeffer Hall — on a four-block-sized parcel of land in Iowa City, Iowa.-Description:...
(a four-block-sized parcel of land with a collection of five buildings with the old Iowa Territory
Iowa Territory
The Territory of Iowa was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1838, until December 28, 1846, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Iowa.-History:...
capitol in the middle), the Old Capitol Mall was a convenient shopping center for University of Iowa students, faculty, and staff. It was originally anchored by J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is a chain of American mid-range department stores based in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas. The company operates 1,107 department stores in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. JCPenney also operates catalog sales merchant offices nationwide in many...
and Younkers
Younkers
Younkers is an American department store chain founded as a family-run dry goods business in 1856 in Keokuk, Iowa. The retailer has since evolved over more than 150 years to include a presence in locations throughout Iowa and surrounding states in the Midwest region of the United States...
, and over 70 stores. In July 1998, JCPenney and other stores moved to larger Coral Ridge Mall
Coral Ridge Mall
Coral Ridge Mall is an enclosed super-regional shopping mall located just south of Interstate 80 in Coralville, Iowa. The mall's primary trade area includes Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and other parts of eastern Iowa...
and divided into smaller stores. In 2004, Younkers announced it will close the Old Capitol Mall on January 2005, and was sat vacant today.
The Mall saw decreasing traffic after the opening of the Coral Ridge Mall
Coral Ridge Mall
Coral Ridge Mall is an enclosed super-regional shopping mall located just south of Interstate 80 in Coralville, Iowa. The mall's primary trade area includes Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and other parts of eastern Iowa...
in the adjacent town of Coralville, Iowa. Many major retailers opted to focus on their Coral Ridge locations and close their low-performing Old Capitol locations. While some stores and restaurants still exist in the Old Capitol Mall, other spaces have been used by newspaper offices, the University of Iowa, or various political parties.