Cape's West Park Mall getting major facelift

A group of Southeast Missouri developers this week announced plans to redevelop West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau.

River City Centre LLC. acquired ownership of the 68-acre retail property and stated its intentions to return the mall to its former place as "one of the region's primary draws," according to a news release.

The mall first opened in 1981. Christy Easley, the mall's general manager since 2012, said in the release there has been no major development at the mall under previous owners since Barnes & Noble moved in 17 years ago.

West Park Mall was purchased by an Australian corporation for more than $64 million in 2006. It was later appraised by the Cape Girardeau County assessor, for $16 million in 2020. The group bought the mall in 2021 for $9.8 million during an online auction. The J.C. Penney store located in the mall was excluded for the original sale because it was under separate ownership. 

RCC representative Nick Martin said in the release the group has built a team focused on making the mall a "destination" again.

RCC is partnering with a St. Louis design firm to help with the redevelopment. The Lawrence Group has redeveloped three malls in the St. Louis area, and also worked on Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus and Academic Hall.

Developers estimate that the renovations will begin in August.




Artist's conception of redesigned West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau. (Provided by RCC)