What Happened to Desert Sky Mall?
Desert Sky Mall, originally known as Westridge Mall and opened in 1981, is a regional shopping center in west Phoenix, Arizona, managed by Macerich. Over the decades, it has adapted to the evolving demographics of its surrounding community, becoming a prominent bilingual destination for Hispanic families. While facing anchor store changes common to the retail industry, the mall continues to operate, with recent developments including a partial ceiling collapse in late 2025 and the ongoing transformation of its former Sears space into a major Latino entertainment venue in 2026.
Quick Answer
Desert Sky Mall remains open and active as of June 2026, serving as a key retail and cultural hub in west Phoenix. The mall experienced a temporary partial closure in November 2025 due to a ceiling collapse caused by a storm, but largely reopened shortly after. Currently, a significant redevelopment is underway to convert the former Sears store into a multi-level Latino entertainment destination, Club Capri, expected to be a major draw. On June 3, 2026, the mall was also the scene of a shooting incident where two people were injured.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Construction Begins
Construction for Westridge Mall, later Desert Sky Mall, began in late 1979.
First Anchor Stores Open
Sears and JCPenney, two of the original anchor stores, opened their doors ahead of the full mall opening.
Westridge Mall Opens
The mall officially opened as Westridge Mall, developed by Westcor, featuring three initial anchor stores.
Diamond's Becomes Dillard's
The original anchor store Diamond's was acquired by Dillard's and subsequently rebranded.
Renamed Desert Sky Mall
Westridge Mall was renamed Desert Sky Mall as part of a rebranding effort.
Major Expansion and Renovation
The mall underwent a significant expansion, adding Mervyn's and Montgomery Ward as new anchor stores, and completing a renovation of the original structure.
Macerich Acquires Westcor
The Macerich Company acquired Westcor, making Desert Sky Mall part of Macerich's portfolio and management.
Curacao Opens
Curacao, a major electronics and home goods retailer, opened in the space formerly occupied by JCPenney, drawing large crowds.
Mercado de los Cielos Replaces Mervyn's
Mervyn's closed, and its space was redeveloped into Mercado de los Cielos, a marketplace catering to the Hispanic community.
Macerich Gains Full Ownership
Macerich acquired the remaining 50% ownership of Desert Sky Mall from JCP Realty, gaining full control of the property.
Sears Closes
Sears, one of the mall's original anchors, closed its store as part of a nationwide plan to close 142 locations.
Latino Entertainment Center Announced
Plans were announced to transform the vacant former Sears building into a multi-level Latino-themed entertainment venue, Club Capri, by early 2025.
Partial Ceiling Collapse
A severe storm caused a partial ceiling collapse and flooding within the mall, leading to a temporary closure and damage to several businesses.
Mall Reopens
Desert Sky Mall largely reopened to the public, though a small portion, including a damaged dental office, remained closed for repairs.
Shooting Incident
At least two people were shot at Desert Sky Mall, prompting a police response and multiple detentions, though no shooter was immediately identified.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Desert Sky Mall, initially named Westridge Mall, first opened its doors in March 1981, developed by Westcor. It was designed to serve the rapidly growing southwest Phoenix area, with original anchor tenants including Sears, Diamond's, and JCPenney. The mall underwent a significant expansion and renovation in 1993, adding Mervyn's and Montgomery Ward, and was renamed Desert Sky Mall around the 1990s.
A key turning point for the mall's identity and strategy was the demographic shift in its surrounding neighborhoods, which saw a substantial increase in the Latino population. In response, Desert Sky Mall began to tailor its tenant mix and services to cater to this community, becoming a fully bilingual center. This adaptation included the arrival of stores like Curacao in 2007 (replacing JCPenney) and Mercado de los Cielos (replacing Mervyn's), which is a marketplace featuring over 200 vendors.
Ownership of the mall transitioned over time, with Westcor being acquired by The Macerich Company in 2002, making Macerich the owner and manager. Macerich later acquired full ownership of the mall in March 2011. The mall, like many across the U.S., saw the departure of traditional department store anchors. Sears, a long-standing anchor, closed in January 2019 after its property was spun off to Seritage Growth Properties in 2015. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001 and was replaced by Burlington.
In recent years, Desert Sky Mall has continued to evolve. In November 2023, plans were announced to transform the vacant 120,000-square-foot former Sears space into a Latino-themed entertainment center called Club Capri. This multi-level venue, owned by Melchor and Pedro Marques, aims to replicate features of popular Latino theaters and is expected to open by early 2025, with development ongoing into 2026. The mall faced a significant disruption on November 19, 2025, when a partial ceiling collapse and subsequent flooding occurred due to a storm. While no serious injuries were reported, the mall was temporarily closed, with some businesses, including a dental office, experiencing extensive damage and remaining closed for longer. The mall largely reopened the following day.
As of June 3, 2026, Desert Sky Mall remains operational, continuing its role as a vital shopping and community hub in west Phoenix. However, on this very day, the mall was unfortunately the scene of a shooting incident where at least two individuals sustained injuries. Police responded to the scene, detaining multiple people, though no suspects were immediately identified as the shooter. The ongoing redevelopment of the Sears space into Club Capri represents a significant investment in the mall's future as an entertainment destination, further solidifying its unique position in the regional retail landscape.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Desert Sky Mall made different choices?