Former Northridge Mall demolished, city leaders celebrate completion

Former Northridge Mall demolition; city leaders celebrate completion

City of Milwaukee leaders on Wednesday, Oct. 29 celebrated the completion of the former Northridge Mall demolition.

MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and other city leaders on Wednesday highlighted the completed demolition of the former Northridge Mall.

Demolition complete

What they're saying:

The final structural demolition of the mall property occurred on Sunday night, Sept. 21. Officials noted in a Facebook post that "crews worked hard to ensure the safest environment possible. They made surgical cuts in the steel beams and pulled the structure with cables. Activity now moves into earthwork."

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"We committed to doing this a little over a year ago, and we're proud to show our community that we have fulfilled that promise," said Johnson. "The mall has come down. This site has long stood as a reminder of what once was. Today, though, it stands as a symbol of what can be here on the northwest side of the city."

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Milwaukee’s Northridge Mall demolition; final look inside

Through shattered glass, torn down ceilings and moldy floors, cameras captured the inside of Northridge Mall one last time.

The mall's demolition marks a milestone for the city's ongoing efforts to transform what has been dubbed Granville Station and pave the way for future redevelopment. Johnson said demolition was finished on time and on budget.

"It's ready to pave the way for the next phase of opportunity and growth here in this community," he said. "This represents more than just the clearing of a site, it represents the creation of a foundation, because there's huge opportunity here for new jobs, for new housing, new investment in an area that deserves continued commitment and attention."

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Vacant mall

The backstory:

Milwaukee's Northridge Mall opened in 1972 and closed in 2003. 

"It’s been difficult, having such a large area just standing there – especially with the decay that it’s had over the number of years," Al Hill, a longtime Granville neighborhood resident and past president of the former Granville-Brown Deer Chamber of Commerce, told FOX6 News in November 2024. "I think that’s been a real detriment for the branding of the community."

The eyesore and frustration included multiple police and fire calls.

Granville Station

What's next:

The Milwauke Department of City Development team is now in the redevelopment planning process. Officials anticipate listing the site for sale in early 2026.

The public can follow developments and provide input on the city's website. To learn more about the Granville Station project, visit the city's project website.