If you drive down Dequindre Road today, you won’t see a hulking, windowless monolith with neon signs from the eighties. That version of the Universal Mall Warren MI is long gone. People still call it "the mall," but honestly, it hasn't been a traditional mall in well over a decade. It's a "power center" now. Basically, that’s just a fancy industry term for a strip mall on steroids.
You might remember the old days. The smell of soft pretzels, the dim lighting of the Cinemark, and the slow walk past Montgomery Ward. It was the quintessential suburban hangout. But like so many other Metro Detroit landmarks, the enclosed mall model just couldn't hold its breath any longer. By 2008, the wrecking balls arrived.
The 1965 Time Capsule
When Universal City—its original name—opened in 1965, it was the place to be. Warren was booming. We’re talking about a 57-acre site that used to be a farm. Forbes-Cohen developed it, and they didn't hold back. The heavy hitters were all there: Montgomery Ward, Woolworth, and Federal’s.
Things shifted in 1980 when Federal’s went belly up. Crowley’s stepped in, and the mall got its first big facelift. New floors, new ceilings—the works. By 1988, they added a western wing for Mervyns and later a movie theater. It felt like the growth would never stop.
Then the nineties happened.
Retail is a brutal business. Woolworth closed up shop in '97. Montgomery Ward followed suit in 2001. When Value City took over the Crowley’s spot, it felt like a temporary fix. By the time the late nineties rolled around, the occupancy rate had plummeted to about 35%. It was a "dead mall." You know the vibe—empty storefronts, echoing hallways, and a general sense of "why am I here?"
Why Universal Mall Warren MI Had to Die
Why did it fail? It’s easy to blame Amazon, but that’s not the whole story. In the early 2000s, shoppers stopped wanting to wander through giant, climate-controlled mazes. They wanted to park their car right in front of the store, grab what they needed, and leave.
Universal Mall Properties bought the place in 1999 and tried to renovate. They even got Burlington Coat Factory and A.J. Wright to move in. But by 2007, things were looking bleak again. The closure of Mervyns’ Michigan operations in 2006 was the final nail. The mall was down to 48% occupancy.
In June 2008, the doors officially closed.
Demolition didn't take everything, though. That’s the most interesting part of the Universal Mall Warren MI story. They didn't just flatten the whole site. The developers, working with Roncelli, Inc., were actually pretty smart about it. They kept the bones of the Burlington building and the theater. They literally tore the mall down around the Cinemark while it was still operating. Imagine watching a blockbuster while the building next door is being pulverized by a backhoe.
The Open-Air Transformation
The "New" Universal Shopping Center opened its first phase in 2009. Instead of one giant building, they built a boulevard. It was designed to look like a lifestyle center with fountains and storefront parking.
Here is what the lineup looks like these days:
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- Target: This was the big "get" for the redevelopment. It’s the anchor that keeps the whole site breathing.
- Kroger: A massive, high-performing grocery store that recently extended its lease.
- Marshalls & Burlington: The survivors of the old era, still drawing crowds.
- Petco: Tucked in there for the local pet owners.
- MJR Theatres: After Cinemark left in 2016, MJR took over and gave the theater a much-needed modern upgrade.
The Real Numbers Behind the Site
It’s a massive footprint. We are looking at over 600,000 square feet of retail space. Roughly 275,000 square feet of the old mall were demolished to make room for the new layout. To save money, they actually ground up the old asphalt from the parking lot and reused it as a base for the new one.
Today, the center is a mix of about 35 different tenants. It’s not just clothes and groceries anymore. You’ve got a Starbucks, a Beaumont Urgent Care (now Corewell Health), and plenty of food options like Del Taco and Golden City.
As of late 2025 and heading into 2026, the property has been back on the market. There are still vacancies—about 37,000 square feet of retail space is up for grabs. There’s even a 30,000-square-foot outlot opportunity. This tells us the site is still evolving. It’s not a "finished" project, and it probably never will be.
What People Get Wrong About the "Dead Mall"
There’s a huge misconception that when a mall "dies," the land just sits there rotting. That’s not what happened here. The Universal Mall Warren MI transformation is actually cited by planners as a "blueprint" for how to fix these properties.
Most people think you have to choose between a thriving mall and a vacant lot. You don't. You can recycle the infrastructure. The developers saved millions by keeping the utility lines and portions of the existing walls.
Another mistake? Thinking the mall died because Warren "went downhill." That’s just not true. The neighborhood around 12 Mile and Dequindre is still a high-traffic corridor. Over 30,000 vehicles pass by every single day. The average household income in the immediate area is around $69,000. People still have money to spend; they just don't want to spend it inside an enclosed 1960s hallway anymore.
Actionable Tips for Visiting Today
If you’re heading over to the current shopping center, there are a few things to keep in mind to make the trip easier.
Check the MJR Schedule First
The theater is usually the busiest part of the complex in the evenings. If you’re going for dinner at one of the outlot restaurants, try to avoid the 7:00 PM movie rush. The parking near the theater can get a bit tight compared to the wide-open spaces near Target.
Use the Dequindre Entrance for Target
Don’t try to weave through the whole center from the 12 Mile side if you just need a quick Target run. The Dequindre entrance is much more direct.
Watch for New Tenants
With the property recently being listed for sale again, expect some churn in the smaller storefronts. If you’re looking for a specific local business, it’s worth calling ahead. Some of the smaller spots in the 1,000 to 4,000 square foot range have been rotating recently.
Combine Your Trips
The whole point of this "power center" layout is convenience. You can hit the Kroger fuel station, grab groceries, and pick up a prescription at Target without ever leaving the 57-acre lot. It's much more efficient than the old mall days, even if it lacks the nostalgia of the old food court.
The story of the Universal Mall isn't a tragedy about retail death. It’s more of a middle-aged career change. It stopped trying to be a social hub and started being a functional tool for the people living in Warren and Madison Heights. It works because it’s practical.
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If you’re interested in the local real estate or just want to see how the site is changing, keep an eye on the outlot developments along Dequindre. That’s where the next wave of "upscale retail" is supposedly headed. For now, it’s just a solid, reliable place to get your shopping done.