The mall, at the corner of State Rd. (US 40) and I-635, was built in 1971. Anchors at one time included Montgomery Ward, Dillard's and JC Penney, with about 60-70 smaller stores. However, the anchors left between 1997-2001, and the mall soon deteriorated. An attempt was made to change the building into a non-retail center, leasing some of the vacant space to office and flex users, and government entities such as the Public School District and the Children's Museum of Kansas City, as well as some Unified offices, still operate out of the building.

However, the Unified Government decided in 2006 to take the property, and won the right after it was declared a blighted zone in court. Now, the mall will be demolished, probably by next summer, says a spokesman for the government. "There's about seven to nine tenants left," he says. "We're working with a law firm on the relocation of those tenants within the next nine to 10 months."

He says the government wants to keep the site retail, though options such as multifamily residential and office uses are also desirable. "We're looking to revitalize that midtown area," the spokesman tells GlobeSt.com. "There's not much coming or going in that area. We see this as an opportunity to give a jump-start." The government is now in talks with developers about the new use, but the spokesman says he could not provide details about the discussions. "I can say it won't be another enclosed mall," he says.