Madison Wisconsin business news: Von Maur opens its West Towne Mall store

 

Photos by Retiring Guy

Wisconsin State Journal, 10/15/2022

The Boston Store that once occupied West Towne Mall had two floors of merchandise covering 140,000 square feet, making it one of the largest retailers in Madison. 

But when it closed in 2018, it left a void here at the same time the now-closed Sears store was downsizing and the nearby Toys R Us was going out of business. The Apple Store had bolted for Hilldale a year prior, and in January 2019 Shopko, located across the parking lot from West Towne, would announce that it was shuttering its stores, leaving another glaring retail hole in the market. 

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. 

And while there are at least 11 empty storefronts and a few others operating with reduced hours at West Towne, the mall received a major boost this week when Von Maur opened the doors on its 85,000-square-foot store filled with high-end clothing, shoes, handbags and cosmetics.

Von Maur is known for its upscale shopping experience.   And they have the prices to prove it!  Extra large.

Related Von Maur series of post:

Von Maur West Towne Mall construction project.

Other West Towne Mall posts:

2022

Von Maur construction.  (series)

Malls in America:  Everything's coming up roses (9/24)

Business is booming at Urban Air Adventure Park.  (8/14)

2021

Hobby Lobby is ready for its close-up.  (11/23)

Portillo's.  (11/23)

Scrubs now occupies long-vacant Apple Store location.  (10/17)

JC Penney side of West Towne Mall appears to be emptying out.  (10/17)

Train D1fferent takes over former locations of Payless and Name of the Game.  (10/17)

Transformation of south end of West Towne Mall.  (10/17)

Room for a couple more at the south end of West Towne Mall.  (9/20)

Room for one more at the entrance to West Towne Mall.  (9/20)

Name of the Game fills in for Justice.  (4/25)

2020

West Towne Mall shuttered Shopko UPDATE: Storefront looks less abaondoned in bright winter sunlight.  (12/21)

Ragstock goes to West Towne Mall.  (11/21)

UPDATE. What does Seritage have planned for the remaining portion of Sears at West Towne Mall?  (7/1)

2019

Not so Forever 21.   (10/4)
Boston Store UPDATE. While management wonders what to do with 140,000 square feet of empty space, they invite young white women to hang out.  (8/19)
Can't hide the emptiness at the former Payless Shoe Source store.  (8/12)
UPDATE. Space formerly occupied by Sears remains vacant.  (7/9)
Wind-driven signage.   (5/1)
Then and Now: North and south of the Beltline and east of West Towne Mall.  (4/30)
Then and Now: North and south of the Beltline in the West Towne Mall area.  (4/2)

2018
Food court directory.  (9/24)
UPDATE. West Towne Mall Management now prefers traffic cones to pothole repair.  (4/30)
Total Wine UPDATE:  Now open for business.  (4/22)