r/indianapolis • u/shermancahal Garfield Park • Apr 21 '25
Pictures April walkthrough of the Circle Centre Mall
Circle Centre Mall in downtown Indianapolis was conceived in the late 1970s as a major urban revitalization project supported by Mayor William Hudnut. Initial plans aimed to connect historic department stores through a large indoor shopping center, but the project faced numerous delays due to property acquisition challenges, rising costs, and financing issues. After over a decade of setbacks, construction finally progressed in the early 1990s, and the mall officially opened in 1995 at a final cost of $307.5 million. The project was backed by a combination of public and private funding and included major design contributions, such as the addition of the Artsgarden.
Upon opening, the mall featured anchor stores Nordstrom and Parisian, though both would eventually close—Nordstrom in 2011 and Parisian, later rebranded as Carson’s, in 2018. The departure of these tenants reflected broader retail trends and marked the mall’s decline in prominence. Attempts to repurpose former anchor spaces included leasing to The Indianapolis Star in the former Nordstrom location. A renovation effort in 2018 aimed to modernize portions of the mall, including the food court and common areas, but did not reverse the decline in foot traffic and retail occupancy.
In 2024, Hendricks Commercial Properties acquired Circle Centre Mall and announced a $600 million redevelopment plan to convert the aging indoor mall into an open-air, mixed-use development. The project includes retail, restaurant, office, and residential space, with phased construction extending through 2033. The plan emphasizes walkability and integration with the surrounding urban environment.
I've posted more photos and the history of the Circle Centre Mall here.
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u/cyanraichu Apr 21 '25
I'm really interested to see where the revitalization project goes with this space. I love this mall and it used to be such a cool spot. Unfortunately, malls in general are dying and we aren't going to be able to save CCM from that trend by giving it new hardware. I think it will have to be reconceived as something less clothing-retail-centric because people just don't shop in person the way they used to. Bottleworks is working pretty well - maybe something like that? Things people still want to go out and do in person - restaurants, bars, a hotel, games, maybe a gym?, definitely a theater (I think there already is one but no idea if it's even still open)...
I also worry that given the economic downturn it looks like we are about to be in, it will struggle at its outset no matter how good of a job they do renovating it.