It’s weirdly quiet in there. If you grew up in Wichita, the silence inside Towne West Square Mall today is jarring compared to the 1990s roar of food court chatter and arcade beeps. Honestly, it’s a bit like walking through a time capsule that hasn't been dusted in a decade. People keep asking if it’s officially dead, but it’s not—not exactly. It’s more in a state of purgatory.
Towne West Square Mall Wichita was once the premier shopping destination for the west side of town. It opened its doors in 1981, a sprawling 900,000-square-foot behemoth that made the drive to the east side's Towne East Square feel unnecessary. But things shifted. Hard.
The Power Struggle and the Power Bills
The biggest headline involving Towne West lately isn't about a new store opening. It’s about the electricity. In late 2023 and early 2024, Evergy—the local power utility—repeatedly threatened to pull the plug because of unpaid bills totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. Imagine a massive regional mall going dark in the middle of a Tuesday. It almost happened.
Kohne Properties, the current ownership group based in New York, has been at the center of this financial storm. They bought the place when it was already struggling, and since then, the narrative has been one of lawsuits, tax liens, and "will they or won't they" utility payments. When a mall can't keep the lights on, it's usually the final signal to shoppers that the ship is sinking. Yet, remarkably, the doors stayed open.
Why the Decline Isn't Just "Amazon's Fault"
It’s easy to blame Jeff Bezos for every dying mall. That's lazy. In the case of Towne West Square Mall Wichita, the decline is a messy cocktail of bad luck, shifting demographics, and a lack of reinvestment.
Wichita's retail center of gravity moved. When NewMarket Square exploded in the early 2000s, it offered an open-air, "lifestyle center" vibe that felt modern. Towne West stayed stuck in the 80s. The carpet got thinner. The skylights got grimy. Major anchors like Sears and JCPenney bailed, leaving massive, echoing holes at the ends of the corridors. When Dillard's converted one of its two spaces into a clearance center, it felt like a white flag.
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Then there’s the physical maintenance. Roof leaks have been a recurring nightmare. Local business owners who still operate inside have frequently complained about buckets in the hallways and temperatures that fluctuate wildly. It's hard to convince a family to spend their Saturday afternoon in a building that feels like it’s slowly being reclaimed by the elements.
The "Zombie Mall" Economy
Despite the gloom, Towne West isn't empty. That’s the most fascinating part. It has entered a phase retail experts call the "Zombie Mall" or "Adaptive Reuse" era, though it’s leaning more toward the former.
Dick’s Sporting Goods and Dillard’s Clearance Center still draw a steady stream of hunters looking for deals. But the real soul of the mall right now is local. You’ve got small fitness studios, niche hobby shops, and weirdly specific service businesses that couldn't afford the sky-high rents at NewMarket Square or Towne East. For these entrepreneurs, the low-cost space is a lifeline.
- The Movie Machine: Still a go-to for many because it’s cheaper than the luxury theaters.
- Local Boutiques: One-of-a-kind shops that fill the gaps left by Gap and Abercrombie.
- Service Centers: Places where you can get a phone fixed or a suit tailored while looking at a shuttered fountain.
This transition from national brands to local "mom and pop" shops is a double-edged sword. It keeps the building occupied, but it doesn't generate the foot traffic needed to pay for the massive overhead of a million-square-foot climate-controlled facility.
The Legal Tangle and City Intervention
The City of Wichita is in a tough spot. They can’t just seize a private property because it’s "ugly" or "sad." However, they can step in when it becomes a safety hazard.
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In recent years, the city has had to get aggressive regarding code violations. There have been discussions about turning the site into something else entirely—apartments, a medical complex, or even a mixed-use industrial park. The problem? The debt. With millions in unpaid taxes and utility bills, any developer looking to buy the land has to factor in a massive financial hole before they even swing a sledgehammer.
What's Actually Left Inside?
If you decide to visit Towne West Square Mall Wichita today, set your expectations. It’s a surreal experience. The main concourse still has that distinct mall smell—a mix of pretzels and floor wax—but it's fainter now.
You’ll find a few stalwarts. Bath & Body Works usually manages to survive in these environments because their margins are high and their fans are loyal. Spencer’s is still there, seemingly immune to the passage of time. But for every open storefront, there are three or four covered in metal gates or plywood.
The food court is the ghost of its former self. Gone are the days of Sbarro and Bourbon Chicken samples being handed out on toothpicks. Now, it’s a skeleton crew of vendors. If you’re looking for a bustling social hub, you’re about twenty years too late.
A Realistic Look at the Future
What happens next? Most retail analysts believe the current model is unsustainable. A mall cannot survive on Dillard’s Clearance and a handful of local shops while its ownership is in constant litigation over utility bills.
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There are three likely paths:
- Total Demolition: This is the most expensive but cleanest option. Level it and start over with a "Lifestyle Center" or high-density housing.
- Partial Repurposing: Keep the anchor buildings (like the former Sears or JCPenney) and turn them into call centers or warehouses, while keeping a small portion of the mall for retail.
- The Slow Burn: The current status quo. The mall continues to decay until a major structural failure or a final tax foreclosure forces the city to condemn the building.
Honestly, the "Slow Burn" is what we're seeing right now. It’s a tragedy of the commons where no one wants to take responsibility for a decaying giant.
How to Navigate Towne West Right Now
If you're a shopper or a business owner considering the space, you need to be realistic. For shoppers, it’s a place for specific errands, not a "day out." Go for the clearance deals at Dillard's or the specific local shop you support, but don't expect a premium experience.
For potential tenants, the rent is cheap for a reason. You're trading foot traffic for low overhead. It’s a gamble. If the power goes out again, or if the city finally loses patience with the ownership, your business could be locked behind a "Closed" sign with no notice.
Practical Steps for Wichita Residents
- Support the remaining locals: If you want to see the space utilized, shop at the small businesses that are braving the conditions.
- Monitor City Council meetings: Real change at Towne West will start with zoning changes or municipal intervention.
- Lower your expectations for national brands: Don't wait for H&M or Sephora to move in. They won't. The future of this site is either local or non-retail.
The story of Towne West Square Mall Wichita is a cautionary tale about the "Malling of America" and what happens when that bubble finally bursts. It isn't just about shopping; it's about a massive piece of Wichita infrastructure that is currently looking for a new identity in a world that has moved on.
Strategic Action Plan for Navigating the Current Mall Status:
- Verify Store Hours Individually: Don't trust the mall's general website. Many remaining stores set their own hours because of staffing or mall condition issues. Call ahead.
- Parking Awareness: Stick to the well-lit areas near the active anchors like Dick’s Sporting Goods. Avoid the vast, empty stretches of the lot near the shuttered Sears entrance, as maintenance is minimal.
- Report Safety Concerns: If you encounter significant hazards like major roof leaks or electrical issues, don't just tell a store clerk. Contact the Wichita Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD) to ensure it's on the city's radar.
- Follow Local Journalism: Keep an eye on the Wichita Eagle or local news stations for updates on the tax status. The future of this property will be decided in a courtroom or a city hall chamber before it's ever decided by a developer's blueprint.