SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — In 1968, the Western Mall opened as the first enclosed retail center in the state. At the time, it was surrounded by cornfields.
“When you have a landmark retail asset, people start putting up housing around you and other retail, you know, assets on 41st Street,” said John Barker, the owner of The Western Mall. “So, it definitely had a big impact on local development in our area.”
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Today, the mall is still a major shopping hub, spanning from Scheels to Best Buy.
In the 1970s, the Empire Mall opened, causing the first major shift for the Western Mall…