From a bustling shopping center to mixed-use site: the redevelopment of Metro North Mall in Kansas City, Missouri

Metro North Mall, Kansas City, Missouri.Photo byMike Kalasnik from Charlotte, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

In September 1976, the Metro North Mall located at 400 NW Barry Road, in Kansas City, Missouri opened. It was located north of the Missouri River. At the time, it was the second largest mall, with the Oak Park Mall in Overland Park, Kansas being larger. This mall had been a part of Kansas City's Northland for over three decades.

The mall was developed by Frank Morgan and Sherman Dreiseszun who was Morgan's uncle.

On April 15, 2014, the mall closed after experiencing a downhill decline. In early 2017, the whole mall was torn down but Macy's continues to operate. When the mall opened, there were 125 storefronts and four anchor stores. There wasn’t a food court as we know it to be, but there were two restaurants, Dairy Queen and In-a-Tub. There was an arcade and a six-screen AMC theatre.

The mall was well-visited during the holidays. In the 1990s, restaurants were added along the border of the mall property and another theatre was added behind the mall.

Whenever there's a new shopping development, the window is open for the competition which happened with the building of Zona Rosa. There were discussions to redevelop the area, but it didn’t come to life due to the recession, and the mall owner, Dreiseszun, died.

In 2010, there were new plans to bring life to the area by MD Management, Inc. In 2013, it was decided the mall would be replaced with an enclosed mall having one level and would be smaller. But that changed with more announcements. In 2015, it was announced by MD Management that IAS Partners Ltd. was going to acquire the shopping center. The plan was to have a brand new open-air center that would include retailers, multifamily housing, and possibly office spaces.

In August 2016, it was announced the existing mall was going to be torn down and replaced. The plan was to have a mixed-use site that would include retail space, office space, restaurant space, a hotel, and residential units. The same team working on the redevelopment of the area was also involved with Antioch Crossing (formerly Antioch Mall) and Blue Ridge Crossing (formerly The Blue Ridge Mall).

Some of the stores at Metro North Mall are listed below:

• Macy's is still operating and opened in 2006; it replaced The Jones Store
• MC Sporting Goods opened in 2002 and closed in 2009
• Dillard's opened in 1986 and closed in 2008
• JC Penney opened in 1976 and closed in 2008
• Montgomery Ward opened in 1976 and closed in 2001
• AMC Theatres that were in the mall and outside of it closed in 2002

The mall site today

In 2020, a golf-hitting facility called T-Shotz opened on the former mall site near 169 Highway and Barry Road. "It features 66 climate-controlled hitting bays spread over three levels, plus a restaurant and event space." (Source.)

The site referred to as Metro North Crossing now plans to have Macy's be part of the redevelopment that has been occurring. Across from T-Shotz, you'll find Woodstone at Metro Crossing housing one and two-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom townhomes.

Added restaurants include one of my colorful favorites, Hawaiian Bros. Island Grill, and Whataburger.

Anchored with entertainment concepts unique to the Kansas City area, Metro North Crossing will be the premier destination for entertainment, shopping and dining experiences in the Northland. (Source.)

The good news is instead of the former site of the Metro North Mall appearing depressingly empty, the revitalization is a welcome view.

There is a sadness associated with malls that have been abandoned. Photographer Seth Lawless has exquisitely captured some thought-provoking images of abandoned malls. Click here, if you want to explore them.

Thanks for reading!