After a ceremonial kickoff to the Chesterfield Mall demolition in October, the heavy equipment got to work tearing down the building this week.
“Game on!” said Michael Staenberg, president and owner of The Staenberg Group, which is tearing down the defunct mall to create a “downtown” Chesterfield project, a $2 billion investment which will build apartments, restaurants, businesses, retail, a park, bike trail and pedestrian pathways.
The demolition work is expected to take until spring. Planners don’t expect any residential buildings to open at the site until 2028.
The Staenburg Group is also behind Chesterfield Valley Square and The District. The developer acquired the Chesterfield Mall in 2020. In 2022, Chesterfield City Council approved $353 million in tax increment financing meant to go toward paying for new infrastructure at the mall site and nearby areas.
Heavy machinery carries debris near the former Macy’s department store on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, during demolition of the former Chesterfield Mall.
A section of Chesterfield Mall between Dillards and Macy’s department stores is seen as demolition continues on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, by Spirtas.
Workers with Spirtas demolition company prepare a piece of heavy machinery on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, during the early phases of heavy demolition of Chesterfield Mall.
Heavy machinery used to pick apart buildings passes by the former Macy’s department store on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, as workers conduct demolition of Chesterfield Mall.
A worker with Spirtas Worldwide demolition company climbs into his excavator on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, during the demolition of Chesterfield Mall.
A worker with Spirtas demolition company walks through rubble on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, to get to an excavator as demolition on Chesterfield Mall continues.
Workers with Spirtas Worldwide demolition company use heavy machinery on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, to demolish Chesterfield Mall.
The sign of Chesterfield Mall is torn down on Oct. 15, 2024 as The Staenberg Group begins its plan to create a downtown concept with residential areas, shopping and parks in the plot. Video by Allie Schallert, [email protected]
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In photos: The rise and fall of Chesterfield Mall
The entry sign to the Chesterfield Mall, near the old Cheesecake Factory, is demolished as workers take down the ceremonial first piece of the mall on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Chesterfield resident Tricia Capps and her children watch from outside the fences as the ceremonial beginning of demolition happens at the old Chesterfield Mall on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. “They all love construction sites, especially excavators,” said Capps. “My husband grew up going to the mall. He said it’s bittersweet to see it go.”
A rendering of the new Downtown Chesterfield development is posted near fencing that blocks access to the Chesterfield Mall on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. Demolition of the mall is scheduled to begin on Oct. 15.
AMC Theaters’ location in Chesterfield Mall is closed to the public on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. Tenants of the mall were told to vacate by August by landlord The Staenberg Group.
Abdullah Kuziez, left, Ilias Bouchibti and Mohammed Kuziez prepare to have their photo taken standing inside the old Polo Ralph Lauren display in the shuttered Chesterfield Mall Macy’s on Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan on Friday, April 21, 2023. Thousands of area Muslims filled the empty store for a final Eid prayer.
Muslim women pray in the old women’s activewear area of an empty Macy’s at the Chesterfield Mall on Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan on Friday, April 21, 2023. Photo by Robert Cohen, [email protected]
Workers remove the star from the exterior of Macy’s on Nov. 14, 2022, at Chesterfield Mall. It was the last major department store at the shopping center.
Men play a game of pickleball in the old food court area of the Chesterfield Mall on Sunday, May 16, 2021. The Arch Badminton Center has filled much of the first floor public spaces with badminton and pickleball courts, rented out by the hour on the company’s app.
Badminton players are reflected in the windows of a shuttered store at the Chesterfield Mall on Sunday, May 16, 2021. The Arch Badminton Center has filled much of the first floor public spaces with badminton and pickleball courts, rented out by the hour on the company’s app.
The service and appliance pickup side of a shuttered Sears department store is photographed on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, outside Chesterfield Mall. In May 2018, Sears closed two area locations, at Chesterfield Mall, and South County Center.
Shoppers make their way around Chesterfield Mall on Friday, March 4, 2016 in Chesterfield.
A third floor water leak pools in the lower entrance to Dillard’s at the Chesterfield Mall after it was closed on Sept. 7, 2016
Gracie Koch, 3, of Marthasville, Mo., sizes up Santa Claus as she stands in line to have her picture taken at the Chesterfield Mall on Black Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. After a brief hesitation by her sister Claire, 4, the Koch girls had their photo taken by workers at Cherry Hill Photo.
Protesters stage a die-in at center court of the Chesterfield Mall on Black Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, where they stayed put for 4 and-a-half minutes, representing the more than 4 hours that Michael Brown’s body was lying in the street after he was killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.
Customers pay for their purchases at Old Navy in the Chesterfield Mall during Black Friday shopping on Nov. 29, 2013.
Carrying both her American Girl Dolls, Julie and Emily, Sydney O’Brien, of Affton, explores the American Girl store Wednesday, April 18 , 2012, in Chesterfield. “My mom told me we had to go to the doctor’s but she surprised me and we came here,” said a very happy O’Brien.
A customer enters the Bakers shoe store in Chesterfield Mall on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, on the first day of a liquidation sale at that location as the footwear chain undergoes bankruptcy.
“It’s the only series of books I have ever read. They are that good,” said Alex Haueisen, 16, of Town and Country, who dressed as “Draco Malfoy” for the midnight show of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” at the AMC Chesterfield 14 at Chesterfield Mall on Thursday night, July 14, 2011. AMC installed their first IMAX-3D screen at the theatre. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” is the first film to be shown there in the IMAX 3-D.
Workers prep the new Bam! store in Chesterfield Mall, on June 16, 2011. New retailers such as Bam! are moving into spaces once occupied by “big box” retailers, in this case a Borders bookstore.
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