Comments on: Empire Mall and Empire East; Sioux Falls, South Dakota

By: Curious George

Curious George — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:55:54 +0000

Also, it should be very interesting to see the effect of the addition of both Dawley Farm Village and Galleria at Rivers Bend on Sioux Falls’ retail landscape. The location of the new lifestyle centers is not as conducive to attracting the out of town shoppers as the Empire/Empire East complex is, but I’m still willing to bet the Empire will be scheduling a renovation soon.

By: Curious George

Curious George — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:50:08 +0000

There actually was a food court prior to the current Harvest Court addition, but it was quite small. It was located in the round kiosk area in the center of the mall near the main mall entrance where Cinnabon is currently, and I might be wrong, but I think there were more food joints radiating from the round area up to the front of the mall. I didn’t go to the Empire that often back in those days, but I believe there was a Sbarro next to where Ann Taylor Loft is now. I distinctly remember Burger King was located where Great American Cookies is now and also a potato place and Dairy Queen were in the mix somewhere with a shallow seating area surrounding the restaurants. Can anyone else remember the other restaurant tenants? Maybe McDonalds? For decades, there was an Osco drug where the Gap is now located as well. The food court addition is very on par with the beautiful food courts at West Acres in Fargo, ND and Crossroads Center in Saint Cloud, MN.

By: Zeb

Zeb — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:37:35 +0000

Very interesting article! Thanks for taking the time to add a South Dakota mall to your archive! Rushmore Mall in Rapid City was probably your second choice, and it too has an interesting story to be told. As of late it’s been struggling due to the new open air shopping center, Rushmore Crossing. I would love to help out with an article concerning the Rushmore Mall. I’ve grown up visiting the mall. E-mail me if you’re interested.

By: mandy_Reeves

mandy_Reeves — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 10:34:14 +0000

I was looking at the interactive map…and noticed a Dag’s sandwhich shop. There used to be one in Wood Bridge or Monmouth mall in New Jersey…like in 82-83.

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:14:38 +0000

@Nathan Bush,

Had Famous-Barr not pulled out of Iowa, there would be a Macy’s at Jordan Creek. (The Younkers location at Jordan Creek was originally slated to be a Famous-Barr).

Macy’s has probably made a sound business move by avoiding Des Moines. Younkers still has a a lot of hometown loyalty behind it, even though the company is now based out of Pennsylvania. Von Maur also has a ton of Iowa loyalty. With Dillard’s in the mix as well, there is not a whole ton of room in the market for Macy’s.

Macy’s does not provide what it used to in terms of upscale focus and prestige. After I moved away from the Midwest, I found myself missing the level of service and market responsiveness Younkers and Von Maur offer.

By: Nathan Bush

Nathan Bush — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:59:55 +0000

My email is Nkbush@wccta.net if you guys wanna chat…

Anyways I still think it’s bull that South Dakota (and Wyoming for that matter) got Macy’s (by default) before Iowa did. I think Macy’s would be a great addition to Jordan Creek Town Center as a fourth anchor. That’s just my opinion though. The closest I’ve been to Sioux Falls is Sioux City that I can remember (my ‘rents took me to SD when I was like three)…

Oh and Jordan Creek totally knocks out Village Pointe in all aspects…IMHO there should be a Starbucks near…which there is not…there are Scooter’s….a LOCAL coffee chain based in Omaha…there’s one in Des Moines but Starbucks is WAY better…

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:52:31 +0000

The place is really dank and dark, but when the next closest mall is 90 miles away in Sioux City, Iowa the need to update these things is minimal at best.

By: shelivade

shelivade — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:00:32 +0000

I agree, they could use more skylights and higher ceilings.

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:33:40 +0000

Looks like a nice mall, but it can use more skylights, especially in the halls with the metal paneling in the ceiling.

By: Bobby P.

Bobby P. — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:11:29 +0000

Re: Empire East, what they should do is bump BB&B and Target out into the remaining wing/Jo-Ann Space, shift Applebee’s entrance to the front, move JoAnn to a superstore. Voila, no more mall.

Also, two questions, looking from the directory:

1. f.y.e. and New York & Company are HUGE. Were these stores something else previously?

2. There’s a Culver’s in the food court. I’ve never seen that before.