Major changes underway at West Ridge Mall

TOPEKA (KSNT) - The new owners of Topeka's West Ridge Mall revealed their ideas Friday for the future of the building.

Tracey Stratton with Advisors Excel shared in a press release on Jan. 24 that the mall exterior will be transformed in the coming years as the new state-of-the-art headquarters for the company. Russell Glen, a Dallas-based real estate development firm, is helping to guide the new master plan for the building and attract new tenants.

“We are actively conversing with several companies, including retailers, grocery, and restaurants, about opening new locations at West Ridge Mall,” said Terrence Maiden, chief executive officer of Russell Glen. “The interest in the project is very encouraging, which I think is driven by our plans for the redevelopment and the number of employees Advisors Excel will have working on the campus. The stores we are in talks with are very well-known and should generate a lot of excitement for the Topeka community.”

Stratton said JC Penney will be closing soon with no specific date set yet for its final day, marking a big change for the mall. The second floor of the former JC Penney location in the mall will be turned into Advisors Excel office space while the first floor will have a mix of restaurants and retail locations.

“We are excited for the possibilities the future holds with the mall transformation,” said Cody Foster, co-founder of Advisors Excel. “When the project is complete, and all the Advisors Excel staff have relocated to the mall, there will be a real buzz for retailers. We will have over 1,000 employees walking through the mall daily, utilizing all the goods and services. I think it will positively impact the tenants' bottom line.”

Two architectural firms, RDCollaborative and Hufft, are leading the new creative vision for the mall as it undergoes extensive renovation work. This work will include redesigned entrances, new outdoor spaces and a modern outside façade.

Foster told 27 News Advisors Excel has been working with national retail tenants to find out what they want at the mall while also working with RDC and Hufft to give the mall a new look. He said his company will have more than 1,000 employees at the mall in the future, giving local retailers plenty of new customers to boost business.

"It's been a really rough year for retail, 2024 was brutal," Foster said. "A lot of people survived out here, a lot haven't. We've done some things to improve traffic but its still we can do everything we can but there's still some headwinds they're facing."

Foster said he thinks early 2027 will see the start of major construction at the mall along with moving in Advisors Excel's headquarters. Mall visitors can expect to see some minor work taking place in the meantime.

"As we get into [2027-2028], it's gonna look completely different out here," Foster said.

Staci Williams, owner of Petland and Mall Munchies and leasing manager for the mall, said seeing the new plans for the mall is a "breath of fresh air." She is feeling optimistic for the mall's future and bringing more people back to the space.

"I see a vision for the future and I know that there is a group of very great people in Topeka that see the same great vision as we do," Williams said. "Petland, over the years, has battle scars, from the different years and different owners. But I will be honest, this is... this is hope for us."

27 News also spoke with April Glynn, store manager at the Dillard's located inside the mall, about what the changes will mean for her company's space at West Ridge Mall. She said Dillard's is a top shopping destination for Topekans and hopes to get more visitors as the reimagining process gets started. She said she envisions the mall as a new nightlife location with plenty of new restaurants to bring in business to the building.

"You can feel with the community they're excited to see what the development will look like," said April Glynn, store manager of Dillard's. "This year, I think 2025 is really getting into the growth of the vision and I'm excited. You can tell our community is. We'll see what happens."

Advisors Excel purchased West Ridge Mall in September 2023. The company announced that Russell Glen would be helping reimagine the space in early 2024.

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