Kirkwood Mall thrives due to small business
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – The first malls, strip malls, opened in the 1950s, but it took a few decades for malls to really take off.
In the 1980s, malls became a central hub for shopping and socializing.
Today, many malls have either closed or are struggling to keep up.
By leveraging its community’s small businesses, Bismarck’s Kirkwood Mall is not one of them.
Mighty Missouri Coffee Company began as a roastery in 2012 and has since expanded to two storefronts: one in Bismarck’s YMCA and, most recently, one in Kirkwood Mall in 2024.
Mighty Missouri owner Brian Jackson is amazed to see his business among other locally-owned businesses in the mall.
“It’s really special to have people walking by and seeing a local brand, seeing our presence, seeing our sign, and even just from a perspective of getting our word out,” said Jackson.
Leveraging the brand recognition of locally owned businesses has helped Kirkwood Mall stay ahead of the game in the ever-changing mall culture that has led to the closing of over 1,400 malls since the heyday of the 1980s.
Another locally-owned business that has benefited from the mall’s tailored experience is men’s clothing store Halberstadt’s.
“We like the idea that there isn’t another men’s store in the mall, which is really beneficial, so adding that factor was really huge for us. But, just looking at what other stores are in here. You know how the mall is, the vibe is, the energy,” said Halberstadt’s Co-Owner Alex Dahl.
Popular regional and national brands like Scheel’s and Target are important, and help drive foot traffic, but small businesses are at the heart of Kirkwood Mall.
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