The Oldest Mall in Iowa Just Turned 68 and is Still Going Strong

While the common belief is that massive retail structures like shopping malls are a dying breed (and there is some truth to that), recent reports have indicated that malls are experiencing a post-COVID surge.

You could probably chalk that up to how much online shopping we did as a culture during that dark period in the world. However, local malls, like Dubuque's Kennedy Mall and Des Moines' Merle Hay Mall, are still going strong. But you might be surprised to learn the oldest mall in Iowa continues to serve hundreds of thousands of people every day.

The Village Shopping Center in Davenport, IA is technically the oldest shopping mall in the state of Iowa. Upon opening in 1956, the Village Shopping Center was only 14,000 square-feet. Since then, it's grown to cover 250,000 square-feet, and has a variety of stores for a plethora of different shoppers.

The Village Shopping Center opened on March 1st, 1956, which means it just had its 68th birthday!

How the Village Shopping Center Has Grown:

In 1973, less than 20 years after opening, Davenport developer Raymond J. Philips completed a sizable addition on the east end of the shopping center. That expansion brought about an Eagle Foods store and a Perkins Restaurant (now The Family Restaurant), per QC Times.

More renovations came in 1987 when the center's then-owner launched a $3.6 million expansion project that included a T.J. Maxx store in place of an empty department store that never came to fruition. Come 2014, the Village Shopping Center in Davenport was 95% leased.

What Stores Currently Make Up the Mall?:

Today, the Village Shopping Center boasts dozens of stores, including: Five Below, Ross Dress for Less, Shoe Carnival, Subway, Tuesday Morning, Video Games ETC, and Quick-Tag, to name a few. There's also a performing arts facility, multiple restaurants both family and chain, and a job corps admission outpost.

More About the Oldest Mall in Iowa:

While the Village Shopping Center doesn't have a website, you can see their complete directory, hours, and more on the website Malls in America. You can also read more about the mall's many expansions and history on the QC Times' website.