RiverTown Crossings is a two-story, enclosed mall located in Grandville, Michigan. It is the largest mall in West Michigan. The mall has five main stores that are currently open: Kohl's, JCPenney, Dick's Sporting Goods, Celebration Cinema, and Soar N Bounce. Two of the main stores were previously occupied by Macy's and Sears but are now empty. One main store is partially empty, as it was last used by Younkers. The mall has space for up to 128 retail stores, and 88% of its space is currently used. This is a higher percentage than the average for most shopping malls.

History

The area where the mall now stands was once the site of Shoemaker Airfield, built in the 1960s. In 1980, plans for a commercial development in Grandville began when voters approved changing the use of 100 acres of land near Rivertown Parkway and Wilson Avenue after a petition. A year later, General Growth Properties (GGP) bought 99 acres of land on Rivertown Parkway.

In 1990, Homart Development Company, a company owned by Sears, began planning a new mall near the intersection of 44th Street and Ivanrest. They asked the city for approval to build a 1 million square foot mall on 94 acres of land, changing the land use from industrial to commercial. GGP opposed this plan, saying they wanted to build their own mall, but city officials heard little from GGP about their plans. In January 1991, the city rejected Homart’s proposal, explaining that a 99-acre lot on Rivertown Parkway, already owned by GGP and zoned for commercial use, was available. Homart’s plan was delayed after its director left the company, and Homart was sold to GGP in 1995.

In October 1994, GGP’s vice president, John Bergstrom, proposed a 150-store mall with four anchor stores, planning to finish construction by Spring 1997. This plan was also rejected in October 1994, with Grandville’s mayor stating the city did not need more commercial development.

In January 1996, GGP suggested a 425 Agreement with the city of Wyoming to gain access to 80 acres of land. Under this agreement, Grandville would provide permits and utilities, while Wyoming would grant access to the land and receive tax revenue. In August 1996, GGP proposed acquiring more land in Grandville, creating a total site of 138 acres. A deal was made in October 1996 after GGP promised the mall would stay in Grandville, not extend into Wyoming. Grandville’s mayor said, “The construction of this mall has been anticipated for years. Our goal will be to provide the finest shopping mall in Michigan.”

In 1997, a petition was started to change the zoning of 16 acres of land to improve drainage. Some local residents and businesses opposed the plan, and Taubman Company, owner of Woodland Mall, also opposed it. Concerns were raised about possible gang activity and environmental issues related to building on wetlands, but these arguments were rejected in court. GGP spent $41,534 (equivalent to $81,165 in 2024) to support the initiative, while Taubman spent $13,378 ($26,143 in 2024) to oppose it. Some people questioned the objectivity of city council member Ken Bouma, who had previously supported annexing land in Wyoming instead of using the 425 Agreement. Voters approved the mall’s construction, leading Woodland Mall to spend millions on renovations.

In May 1997, a revised plan for the mall was approved, reducing its size and naming it RiverTown Crossings. Construction began on December 6, 1997, with about 344 workers on site daily and 1,000 workers total. Materials used included 400 loads of concrete, 5,000 cans of paint, 200,000 floor tiles, and 7.6 million pounds of steel. Inside, glass and brass fixtures were used, and images of the Great Lakes were displayed. Murals by artist Thomas Melvin were added in 1999. Outside, 7,000 parking spaces were built, and neon lighting greeted visitors at the entrance. Landscaping included nearly 10,000 plants, such as 3,000 shrubs and 1,600 trees.

To compete with online retailers, GGP designed RiverTown Crossings with “clusters” of similar stores to reduce shopping times. The mall took 498 days to build and cost $160 million (equivalent to $301,302,437 in 2024). It covers 116 acres and has 1,249,697 square feet of retail space for over 130 stores.

RiverTown Crossings opened on November 3, 1999, with five anchor stores: Sears, Hudson’s, Kohl’s, Younkers, and JCPenney. Junior anchors included Barnes & Noble, Pottery Barn, and Restoration Hardware. A 40-rider carousel, costing $1 for a two-minute ride, was a central feature. A food court with six restaurants and seating for 1,000 diners was also present, along with a 20-screen Cinemark theater and Kahunaville, a tropical-themed restaurant that served alcohol.

During the grand opening, shoppers waited in lines up to two hours in cold weather. Local news covered the event, and over 345,000 people visited the mall in its first five days, exceeding expectations. At the time, local malls used promotions to attract shoppers amid competition from online retailers.

After opening, the area around the mall grew, with new stores and restaurants opening nearby. By late 2000, Tumbleweed, a Disney Store, Galyan’s, and Old Navy opened, with Old Navy becoming a junior anchor and Galyan’s the sixth anchor. Galyan’s grand opening in 2000 featured sports celebrities and a rock climbing wall. A NASCAR racing center was also present, and in 2000, the mall became the first in Michigan to promote online shopping through Mallibu.com.

In 2001, Hudson’s was renamed Marshall Field’s. The NASCAR racing center closed in 2001 after its creator stopped operations. A Meijer store opened next to the mall in 2002. In 2003, the former Tumbleweed restaurant was converted.

Current features and attractions

The mall can house 130 businesses and has 1,249,697 square feet (116,100.7 m²) of space for stores. Food and drink businesses are spread throughout the mall. On the second floor, a food court with fast-service restaurants and a carousel in the center is located.

North of the food court, a 20-screen Celebration Cinema movie theater is found. The theater was renovated in 2025 and is one of the mall’s main tenants. It is also one of the most popular movie theaters in Michigan, consistently ranked among the top three in the state.

Across from Dick's Sporting Goods on the second floor, a Soar N Bounce Trampoline and Adventure Park is located. This is the first location of the franchise and the largest trampoline park in West Michigan.

The mall has murals painted by artist Thomas Melvin from Chicago in 1999, when the mall first opened. During a small renovation in 2017, the murals in the center court and the two wings were covered, leaving only those above the anchor stores visible.

The mall’s slogan was “Mix it up” when General Growth Properties owned the mall. This was one of the few major slogans used by General Growth Properties for some of its malls.