The asking price for Westland Shopping Center has tumbled from $30 million to $18 million, and city officials say that price cut is finally drawing developers through the doors of the more than 1 million-square-foot mall. The 55-acre property at 35000 Warren Road has spent years bleeding tenants, but Westland leaders now say potential investors are touring the site and sitting down with city officials to talk redevelopment.
A Steep Discount and a Big Vision
The price drop was confirmed by Alex Garza, Westland’s chief business development officer, who told the Detroit Free Press that “They were at $30 million last year, and now they’ve come down to $18 million.” The mall is being discussed as a potential redevelopment site. City leaders envision a mixed-use redevelopment for the site that would combine retail, housing and entertainment, and Garza said potential investors are taking note, touring the mall and meeting with city officials.
Not everyone agrees the property is formally for sale. Namdar Realty Group, the New York-based owner of Westland Shopping Center, told the Free Press that Westland Mall is not publicly listed for sale, either in full or in part — though the company said it remains open to conversations about residential redevelopment of the former Sears and Macy’s anchors. Westland Mayor Kevin Coleman struck an optimistic tone regardless, saying, “I’m optimistic we’ll see a mixed-use development there in the next few years for sure.”
A Mall Built for Twice as Many Stores
Westland Shopping Center opened in 1965, Hometown Life reported. The former Macy’s and Sears anchors have been discussed as possible sites for residential redevelopment. Kohl’s and JCPenney are among the mall’s operating retailers.
Just how empty the mall has become depends on who’s counting. The listing itself reports 45% occupancy, but Garza told the Free Press that mall occupancy has fallen to about 33%. Other outlets have landed on different numbers entirely — Fox 2 Detroit described the property as only about 35% occupied, while a mall visitor quoted by Hometown Life estimated “This mall is probably 40% occupied.” Whatever the precise figure, the mall’s own footprint tells the story on its own: an earlier Hometown Life report on the property found a combined 55 stores and restaurants operating in a facility meant to accommodate over 120 stores.
What’s Still Open, and Who’s Still Showing Up
Shoppers who visited the mall found sparse but present foot traffic, with operating retailers including JCPenney, Kohl’s, Victoria’s Secret and several shoe stores.
The City’s Broader Bet on Redevelopment
Westland leaders envision a mixed-use redevelopment of the mall, combining retail, housing and entertainment…