West Acres Shopping Center


West Acres Shopping Center is a regional shopping mall located in Fargo, North Dakota near the intersection of Interstate 29 and 94. It is the largest mall in North Dakota and includes three major anchors, nearly 130 stores and services, and a 750-seat food court. The mall is also home to The Roger Maris Museum, a collection of regional art, the Touchstone Energy Dinosaur Playland, and a number of spearfishing decoys created by John Jensen.

History

West Acres Shopping Center was developed in August 1972 by William A. Schlossman along with several other investors. Upon opening, the mall featured Dayton's, Sears, and Fargo-based DeLendrecie's — relocating from its earlier downtown location. The Dayton's store was the first outside the state of Minnesota. A 1979 expansion added JCPenney as a fourth anchor. DeLendecie's became Herberger's in 1998, and a food court was added in 2000. The Dayton's store was re-branded Marshall Field's in 2001, and Macy's in 2006.
In December 2012, the mall reached full occupancy. Since then, however, West Acres has lost various retailers due to the growing popularity of online shopping and expanding alternatives in the city. Sears closed their location at the mall in 2017. In 2018, Herberger's announced plans to shutter their anchor location. Additionally, Best Buy relocated from a mall outlot to the former Sears space.
An original centerpiece within the mall is the Fountain of Abundance, created and refurbished by Minnesota State University Moorhead art professor, P. Richard Szeitz. The fountain was originally located in front of Dayton's and was later moved to the JCPenney front entrance in 2001 during the construction of the food court.
Other featured artists whose work can be found in the mall include Marjorie Schlossman, Black Pinto Horse, Walter Piehl, Star Wallowing Bull, Dan Jones, Robert Crowe, Carl Oltvelt, Ellen Deidrich, Brad Bachmeier, and Alfred Dacoteau. In 2007, West Acres was named the Business Art's Advocate by the Lake Agassiz Arts Council.
On April 10, 2019, At Home announced plans to open in the former Herberger's.