Empire Mall manager details plans for Dillard’s, more activity within the mall
Aug. 2, 2022
Dan Gies finally has an answer he can share to the question he said he receives from customers at least once a day.
Dillard’s is coming to The Empire Mall, and the plan is to open in the fall of 2023.
“Every day we get asked by our customers, more than multiple times a day,” said Gies, the mall’s general manager. “They’re excited. They liked Younkers, and they’re excited something even bigger and better is coming back.”
The department store space has been vacant since 2018, except for a brief use as Spirit Halloween.
It still looks essentially as it did when the bankrupt department store pulled out, Gies said.
Dillard’s plans to start demolition of the 100,000-square-foot space soon, “and that will take a little while,” he said. “There’s a lot to clear out.”
The hope is to have the foundation for a 40,000-square-foot addition to the west done by the end of the year.
Over the winter, work will happen inside the existing space, and then it will finish out in the new area once the shell is up next year.
Dillard’s is “one of the most successful traditional department stores right now,” Gies said. That’s because they’re “focusing on a high level of customer service and expanding their brands — they have an excellent cosmetics lineup, which the store will do really well with, (and) shoes, that’s what the majority of customers are wanting is that staple back.”
Sioux Falls will be the first store for Dillard’s in the Upper Midwest, which “says a lot about the Sioux Falls market and a lot about The Empire Mall,” he continued. “It’s a hot market right now, and shopping in person is still the favorite.”
New brands have continued to enter The Empire Mall this year, including Anthropologie, Lovisa, Lauriebelles and children’s store Tullabee. Jewelry store Pandora returned. And more openings are coming, including Revival, a store from the owners of Altar’d State that specializes in athleisure; Daily Thread, an affordable clothing store; and Gibby’s, a throwback-style arcade that will have two locations, including one in the food court.
Seasonal retailers also are helping fill up space. Spirit Halloween will open in the coming week in the former Gordmans building.
Go Calendars, Toys and Games has moved into the former PacSun. The larger space allows the holiday season retailer to carry a wide selection of toys and puzzles in addition to its calendars.
It’s already open, and the 2023 calendars are beginning to come in.
For the mall, sales are tracking similarly to 2019, which was “a really good year,” Gies said. “So it’s positive, and so far back-to-school is a good start. Usually, it’s about August, but July had a good start.”
Other new additions will include a Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, which is under construction near Hy-Vee. There’s also interest in the former Wendy’s, Gies said.
As for the one remaining vacant department store — Sears — “there’s really nothing to share,” he said. The Gordman’s space has “active” interest, and a deal could come together yet this year, he said.
Being able to publicly talk about Dillard’s committing to a timeline likely will drive more interest in local businesses leasing, he added.
“We’ve been talking about it for years, and now that we’re getting more details on the actual opening, we think that will help our leasing locally.”
