Von Maur closing Valley West Mall location

Von Maur will close its doors at Valley West Mall right before it opens its new location at Jordan Creek Town Center next year, the Des Moines Register reports.

Why it matters: It's another dark, empty anchor in a mall that's struggled to attract and retain tenants in recent years.

• And the mall's smaller tenants rely on foot traffic from anchor destinations like Von Maur.

The big picture: Valley West Mall and the aging shopping centers neighboring it are in a high-traffic business corridor that city leaders want to renovate.

• Most of the centers like Water Tower Place and Governor Square were built in the 70s and 80s. The area was once the prime retail spot for the western suburbs, but its slowly lost stores, especially when Jordan Creek opened in 2004.

Watson Centers Inc., the mall's owner, proposed a $278 million redevelopment plan this year that includes transforming the space into restaurants, apartments, a hotel and entertainment center, the Business Record reports.

• They lost out on requested state funding, but still hope to break ground this year, per the Register.

Meanwhile, West Des Moines and Clive are working on a redevelopment plan between University Avenue and I-235 from 22nd Street west to Interstate Highway 35/80.

• COVID-19 has slowed work, said Clyde Evans, WDM economic development director.