Nearly 30 years ago, Circle Centre Mall opened to much appeal and acclaim from the residents of Indianapolis. Now, it stands as a desolate reminder of a bygone era.
Once a centerpiece of shopping, dining and social gatherings, Circle Centre now finds itself at a crossroads as it contends with new ownership, shifting consumer behaviors and significantly reduced foot traffic.
The mall, developed with much local excitement in the mid-1990s, originally thrived as a bustling epicenter for shoppers of all ages. Its decline, however, aligns with larger trends affecting malls nationwide.
The shift in ownership from the Simon Family to Hendricks Commercial Properties around the tune of $600 million and a subsequent re-evaluation of business priorities has contributed to a noticeable loss in tenant occupancy. Many long-standing stores have closed or relocated, creating empty storefronts that only deepen the sense of abandonment.
Jennifer Valme, a long-time Indianapolis resident, recalls the mall’s golden years.
“Circle Centre was the mall when I was growing up,” Valme told the Indianapolis Recorder. “I remember when I was younger, I begged my mom to take me to the mall often, not just to shop but to be in the midst of all of the action and happenings downtown.”
Some of those happenings were the Indiana Black Expo and the Circle City Classic, which ironically, now deal with their own decline in foot traffic and engagement.
Valme said that Circle Centre Mall was accessible, full of shops and eateries and always full of fun times with friends and family.
“The opportunity to meet and see new people from all different schools and walks of life was a big part of why young people went to the mall,” Valme said.
The glory days of Circle Centre Mall
Valme believes that the momentum “died down” as she transitioned to adulthood.
“The older I got, the more I realized that Circle Centre Mall wasn’t ‘the place’ anymore,” Valme said.
Shopping malls nationwide face an uphill fight with e-commerce giants such as Amazon, Temu and Walmart’s expanding online division, which provide the convenience of home delivery and often lower prices than brick-and-mortar stores.
Retail analysts estimate that e-commerce sales will constitute nearly half of all retail sales by 2030, up from around 10% in 2013, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
While in-store shopping retains appeal for those who appreciate browsing and trying products, the numbers tell a story of inevitable death for many mall-based retailers.
Over the past few years in the mall, several major stores, including anchor tenants, have closed their doors, leaving swathes of empty space. It’s a phenomenon seen nationwide, with retail vacancy rates in malls reportedly doubling since the early 2000s.
The most recent anchor to close its doors was the Regal UA Theater, which opened alongside the mall in 1995.
Clayton Jones, another Indianapolis native, recalls a time when going to Circle Centre was not only about shopping but about a shared community space.
What’s next for Circle Centre Mall?
“Some of my earliest memories of Circle Centre Mall are attending with my grandmother and cousins,” Jones said. “During the summer, we’d visit the arcade upstairs. I can remember doing holiday shopping in the mall and ending the evening with a movie at the Regal.”
Jones, who also attended NBA All-Star Weekend in February, recalls how pop-up shops during that weekend felt like a bandage over a bigger problem.
“The city tried to make the mall interesting during All-Star Weekend, but it was nothing like how the mall used to be,” Jones said. “I know tourists could feel the problem just being in there for a weekend.”
Part of the mall’s appeal in the past was its ability to provide an experience — a chance to interact with products, watch films or visit a food court full of different cuisines.
Now, with many of these elements absent, the mall faces a formidable task in retaining its relevance among a generation of consumers who prefer digital convenience.
The road ahead for hubs like Circle Centre Mall remains uncertain. Without significant innovation and adaptation, Circle Centre risks falling into the ranks of other malls across the country : relegated to obscurity. For now, Circle Centre stands on the brink, awaiting a second chance at relevance= in a digital world.
“I feel like those glory days of Circle Centre are gone,” Jones said. “I don’t think they are ever coming back.”
Contact multi-media & senior sports reporter Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral.
