Boise Towne Square

Boise Towne Square is a regional shopping mall in Boise, Idaho, situated near the junction of Interstate 84 and Interstate 184. It is the largest retail complex in Idaho and serves the Boise metropolitan area and the wider Treasure Valley. The property contains a broad mix of department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, services, and freestanding businesses, with an adjacent shopping center known as Boise Towne Plaza forming part of the surrounding retail district. The mall opened in October 1988 after more than two decades of competing proposals, land negotiations, zoning disputes, transportation planning, and failed attempts to establish a large enclosed shopping center in or around Boise. Its initial anchor lineup included The Bon Marché, Sears, JCPenney, and Mervyn's. The opening shifted the region's retail gravity away from downtown Boise and contributed to declining traffic at Karcher Mall in nearby Nampa. The Bon Marché later became Macy's, while Mervyn's eventually left the property and was replaced by Kohl's for a period. Dillard's joined the center during a major late-1990s expansion, becoming its fifth and largest anchor at that time. Boise Towne Square expanded repeatedly as the local retail market developed. A 1998 expansion added Dillard's and substantial new retail space. The former cinema area was ultimately demolished and replaced by a PetSmart store after several changes in movie-theater operation. Additional expansion during the 2000s added retailers and restaurants, including Borders, The Cheesecake Factory, and Talbots, while interior renovation work modernized the common areas. The property has also hosted Idaho's first Apple Store, which opened in 2010. The adjacent Boise Towne Plaza broadened the overall tenant mix beyond the enclosed mall. Originally anchored by Circuit City and Linens 'n Things, it later accommodated retailers and entertainment operators including Old Navy, Nordstrom Rack, Ulta Beauty, and Dave & Buster's. The surrounding site also includes freestanding businesses such as PetSmart. Tenant turnover has reflected wider retail-industry changes, including the bankruptcies or closures of Mervyn's, Borders, Linens 'n Things, Circuit City, and Sears. The mall remains an important commercial destination, although its tenant base and anchor configuration have changed over time. Sears closed in early 2019, and Kohl's announced in January 2025 that its Boise Towne Square location would close as part of a nationwide store-reduction program; the store closed on March 29, 2025. The property is owned and operated within the Brookfield Properties portfolio through GGP. In addition to its commercial role, Boise Towne Square has been the site of major public-safety incidents, most notably the October 2021 shooting that killed two people and injured four others, including a police officer.

The concept of a large regional shopping mall in Boise was debated from the 1960s onward. In 1973, Karcher Mall developer Harry Daum attempted to acquire land near Cole and Franklin Roads, but the landowners sued to oppose the proposed development. A later agreement allowed commercial development under restrictions that initially favored a community shopping center and office project rather than a regional mall. Other proposals emerged during the early 1980s, including a downtown Boise redevelopment concept and a project near Meridian. The downtown plan lost momentum after ZCMI withdrew as an anchor and the city eventually abandoned the shopping-mall concept. In 1982, developer John Price proposed a mall near Interstate 84 and Cloverdale Road. The project attracted commitments from JCPenney, Lamonts, Sears, and ZCMI, and plans for a new interchange were advanced. At the same time, developer Larry Leasure pursued a competing project called Westpark near Cole and Franklin Roads. Zoning, access, and land-assembly issues delayed both efforts. By December 1986, construction had begun on Boise Towne Square at the Cole and Franklin site, which had been considered for a mall more than a decade earlier. The initial anchors were announced as Sears, JCPenney, Mervyn's, and The Bon Marché. The first stores opened on October 9, 1988, followed by JCPenney on October 12. The formal grand opening took place on October 19 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony involving Boise mayor Dirk Kempthorne. Mervyn's opened in February 1989. The new center redirected retail activity from downtown Boise and weakened the competitive position of Karcher Mall in Nampa. The property entered a major growth phase in the mid-1990s. In 1995, its owner, JP Realty, announced plans for a fifth anchor and a substantial addition. Dillard's was confirmed in 1996, but The Bon Marché challenged the project, arguing that its lease required consent for physical changes to the mall. The dispute was settled in January 1997, allowing construction to proceed. Dillard's and most of the new stores opened in August 1998, adding approximately 344,838 square feet to the complex. A food-court renovation followed in 1999. The mall's entertainment and specialty-retail footprint continued to change. A cinema that had opened in 1988 under Cineplex Odeon and later operated as Loews Cineplex closed in 2001. The Reel Theatre reopened the space in 2004 but left in 2007. After the former theater remained vacant, the structure was demolished in 2009 and replaced by PetSmart, which opened in 2010. Other 2000s improvements included additional retail space, the relocation of Borders and Talbots to the property, The Cheesecake Factory, and a major interior renovation completed in 2008. At one point the complex exceeded 180 stores. Anchor turnover became more pronounced after 2008. Mervyn's closed during the retailer's Chapter 11 reorganization. A Kohl's store was subsequently developed in the former Mervyn's building and opened in 2011. Borders entered bankruptcy in 2011 and ultimately liquidated its remaining stores, including the Boise location. H&M later announced plans to use the former Borders space for its first Idaho store. Sears closed in January 2019 after being included in a national store-closure program. Kohl's announced in January 2025 that it would close its Boise Towne Square store, which ceased operations on March 29, 2025. The adjacent Boise Towne Plaza was developed in the late 1990s as a complementary open-air shopping center. Its early anchors included Circuit City and Linens 'n Things, with Old Navy added later. A 1999 expansion added Hallmark and Famous Footwear. After Circuit City and Linens 'n Things closed during the retail-sector downturn, Nordstrom Rack opened in the former Linens 'n Things building in 2012. Ulta Beauty and Dave & Buster's subsequently occupied portions of the former Circuit City space. Boise Towne Square also became a site of public-safety incidents. In February 2009, police evacuated the mall after discovering several devices that were determined to be fake explosives. On October 25, 2021, a shooting killed security guard Jo Acker and shopper Roberto Padilla Arguelles and injured four others, including a Boise police officer. The suspected shooter died the following day from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The mall remains an active regional retail property in Brookfield Properties' portfolio through GGP.

1. 2025Kohl's store closes

   The Kohl's location closed on March 29 as part of the retailer's nationwide store-reduction plan.

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2. 2021Fatal shooting

   A shooting on October 25 killed two people and injured four others, including a police officer.

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3. 2012Boise Towne Plaza gains Nordstrom Rack and new tenants

   Nordstrom Rack opened in the former Linens 'n Things space, while Ulta Beauty and Dave & Buster's were announced for the former Circuit City building.

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4. 2010First Apple Store in Idaho opens

   Apple opened Idaho's first Apple Store at Boise Towne Square.

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5. 1999Food court renovation completed

   The mall completed a five-month renovation of its food court.

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6. 1998Dillard's expansion opens

   A major expansion added Dillard's as a fifth anchor and brought substantial new retail space.

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7. 1988Mall opens

   The mall opened in October with The Bon Marché, Sears, JCPenney, and Mervyn's as its initial anchor tenants.

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8. 1986Construction begins

   Construction started on Boise Towne Square near Cole and Franklin Roads.

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9. 1982Competing regional-mall proposal advances

   John Price proposed a mall near Interstate 84 and Cloverdale Road and secured interest from several department-store chains.

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A dominant regional shopping and dining destination serving Boise and the Treasure Valley, positioned around a large enclosed mall, department-store anchors, national specialty retailers, and complementary adjacent retail and entertainment.

• Enclosed regional shopping mallRetail property1988

  The core Boise Towne Square property is a large enclosed shopping mall serving Boise and the Treasure Valley. Its tenant mix has historically included department stores, apparel and footwear retailers, electronics, beauty, books, home goods, restaurants, and services. The mall has been expanded and renovated several times since opening, and its anchor lineup has changed as national retail chains entered bankruptcy, rebranded, or closed stores.

• Boise Towne PlazaAdjacent shopping center1997

  Boise Towne Plaza is an adjacent open-air shopping center developed to complement the enclosed mall. Its tenant history includes Circuit City, Linens 'n Things, Old Navy, Hallmark, and Famous Footwear. Later occupants included Nordstrom Rack, Ulta Beauty, and Dave & Buster's, giving the wider property a mixture of off-price retail, beauty, apparel, dining, and entertainment.

• Department-store anchor collectionDepartment stores1988

  Department stores have historically formed the mall's principal anchors. The original group included The Bon Marché, Sears, JCPenney, and Mervyn's; Dillard's was added in the 1998 expansion. The Bon Marché later became Macy's, Mervyn's was replaced by Kohl's, and Sears and Kohl's subsequently closed their Boise Towne Square stores.

• 2012Backfill Boise Towne Plaza vacanciesStrategy

  The adjacent center lost major tenants after the closures of Linens 'n Things and Circuit City.

  What changed. Nordstrom Rack, Ulta Beauty, and Dave & Buster's were introduced to occupy or divide the former anchor spaces.

  Aftermath. The adjacent center gained a new combination of off-price fashion, beauty, restaurant, and entertainment uses.

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• 2010Add Idaho's first Apple StoreProduct launch

  Apple selected Boise Towne Square for the state's first location, extending the mall's specialty-retail and technology offering.

  What changed. The Apple Store opened on September 11, 2010.

  Aftermath. The opening strengthened the mall's role as a destination for national flagship and specialty retailers.

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• 2009Replace vacant cinema with PetSmartStrategy

  The mall theater had closed after successive operators, and the space remained unused after The Reel Theatre departed.

  What changed. The former theater was demolished and the site was redeveloped for a PetSmart store.

  Aftermath. PetSmart opened at the mall in 2010, converting an underused entertainment space into a freestanding retail use.

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• 1996Proceed with Dillard's-led expansionStrategy

  The mall sought to add a fifth anchor and more than 300,000 square feet of retail space. The Bon Marché challenged the project under its lease.

  What changed. Following settlement of the lease dispute in January 1997, the owner proceeded with construction of Dillard's and the associated retail expansion.

  Aftermath. Dillard's and most new stores opened in August 1998, establishing the mall as Idaho's largest retail complex.

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• 2025Kohl's announces closure of its Boise Towne Square store

  Kohl's announced that its store at the mall would close as part of a plan to shut 27 locations. The store closed on March 29, 2025.

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• 2021Two killed in October 2021 mall shooting

  A shooting at the mall killed security guard Jo Acker and shopper Roberto Padilla Arguelles, injured four people including a Boise police officer, and ended when the suspected gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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• 2018Sears announces closure of its Boise Towne Square store

  Sears included the Boise Towne Square location in a nationwide closure program; the store closed in January 2019.

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• 2010Idaho's first Apple Store opens at Boise Towne Square

  Apple selected Boise Towne Square for Idaho's first Apple retail location, which opened in September 2010.

  Product launch
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• 2009Former theater space is redeveloped for PetSmart

  The vacant mall cinema, which had operated under several theater brands, was demolished and replaced by a PetSmart store that opened in 2010.

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• 1998Dillard's expansion is approved and completed

  After a lease-related dispute with The Bon Marché was settled, the mall proceeded with a large expansion that added Dillard's as a major anchor and increased the property's retail area.

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• 1988Boise Towne Square opens to the public

  The mall formally opened in October 1988 following the arrival of its initial department-store anchors, including The Bon Marché, Sears, and JCPenney.

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1. Boise Towne Square
2. Boise Towne Square official website