The indoor days of Conestoga Mall are now over

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - It’s the end of an era as the public can no longer go inside the former Conestoga Mall.

The south side of the mall had been open with a handful of shops still operating until they moved to the new section on the northeast side.

Woodsonia’s Mitch Hohlen confirmed to Local4 that the enclosed mall is now closed.

Red caution tape now blocks the southside entrance of the former mall with a sign reading the indoor part closed as of Wednesday. It originally opened its doors 1974.

But as Grand Island residents say goodbye to the former mall, they can say hello to something new.

The northeast side of the Conestoga Marketplace is now up and running with stores like Maurices and Buckle open for business.

Buckle Store Manager Alex Arrieta said he’s thrilled with the outcome from their first two days open.

“It’s been great,” he said. “So our first day was awesome, way more business than what we expected it to be.”

Arrieta said they are still working through the transition but are excited for it. Guests have been pumped about the new location and the space, he said.

He added that their last day was Tuesday with them working within 24 hours to be open Wednesday so they wouldn’t miss out on sales.

Back in March 2023, Woodsonia closed the deal to buy the Conestoga Mall with big plans to develop with plans to make the stores outward facing, as well as improving eating and entertainment options on the grounds.

Then in April of 2023, Chief Industries broke ground on the future Conestoga Marketplace.

“If you look back 20 years ago, Conestoga Mall was a vibrant mall,” Woodsonia Mitch Hohlen told Local4 back in April 2023. “It had all the anchors operating, it was a great retail trade hub. Where Grand Island’s position in Nebraska give it the opportunity to pull in from neighboring communities. The redevelopment is really going to revitalize what was here 20 years ago.”

Then in December 2023, former Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce President Cindy Johnson said construction was “ahead of schedule.”

Johnson told Local4 at the time that the marketplace module connects everything together, and having a facility with multiple functions will make it appealing to visitors.

The Conestoga Marketplace will add the anchor store on the south side, which will be Target. At last check, that’s anticipated to open in 2026.

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