Future plans for the Kalispell Center Mall include redesigning the Main Street property to include an event space, new retail spots, restaurants, and potentially adding a national grocery chain as part of a vision to make it an “active18-hour spot.”  

“It’s an asset that’s been under-utilized for a good bit of time,” said John Doubleday with SHOP Companies, the Texas company that acquired the mall last year.  

Showing a mockup featuring the redesign of the 7 acres of the west side of the site at the May 8 Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Growth Summit, Doubleday gave a glimpse into the future of what the property along the Parkline Trail might look like.  

The concept includes the event space that could play host to music events, the future location for the Flathead County Library on the northwest corner of the property and a hotel. Multi-family and retail spaces, along with park space, would make up the rest of the western portion of the property. The company is in conversation with Glacier Art Museum about creating an outdoor sculpture garden as part of the park.  

The demolition of the former Herberger’s would make way for new developments. A good portion of the mall would remain with the existing JCPenney space and the Red Lion Hotel. 

Doubleday said that the Red Lion Hotel has been responsive to talks about making improvements. 

Pointing to the Parkline Trail as an asset to the mall and downtown, Doubleday painted a picture of the mall becoming a place to take a yoga class in the morning and return in the evening to grab a beer at the brewery. Changes to the mall will look to bring in “great coffee, great food and a brewery to take advantage of the connection with the Parkline Trail,” he said.  

While Doubleday shied away from an official announcement of what retailers might join the mall, he did say that Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s have shown interest.    

While there is no definitive timeline, Doubleday said the plan is to work “as fast as possible.”  

“The largest hurdle normally for something like this is community enthusiasm, right?” Doubleday said. “But that’s not an issue here at all. What makes Kalispell great, I mean the list is longer than my arm, but one of the things is the purpose and the passion of the people that are here and how much they care about their community.”  

SHOP Companies also recently closed on the Whitefish Mountain Center, which Doubleday said would provide benefits in attracting retailers that want to have locations in both cities.  

LOOKING TO the rest of Main Street and downtown, business leaders pointed to challenges like limited restaurants and nightlife to overcome in increasing activity in the city’s core.  

City plans to potentially redesign Main Street by reducing the road to three lanes thus increasing sidewalk width for improved pedestrian access and outdoor space could lead to increased commercial activity, but more needs to be done to ensure vacant buildings are filled, speakers said.  

Kisa Davison, with the Kalispell Business Improvement District, challenged those in attendance to find ways to make the downtown more vibrant. 

“If we don’t take action, we’re going to get more of what we have, which is a dying downtown,” she said. “Yes, there are lots of opportunities. Yes, there are businesses that are coming together." 

Casey Wyckoff with LSW Architects pointed to photos taken on a sunny Saturday showing few pedestrians in downtown Kalispell. He noted challenges facing downtown, but said it’s also a blank canvas with opportunity.  

“Very small improvements can contribute to a neighborhood,” Wyckoff said. “We are who we’ve been waiting for. This is it. It’s us.” 

Planned to be located at the corner of First Avenue Northeast and East Montana Street, the Bowman Block commercial building was highlighted as a protentional addition to downtown Kalispell. Dentist Mike Bowman shared his goal of constructing the 20,000-square-foot building. 

Development in North Kalispell was outlined as continuing at a rapid rate in particular in the Kalispell North Town Center on the east side of U.S. 93 at Rose Crossing.  

The growth has been “super dynamic,” said Stan Converse with Cedar House Properties.

The 485-acre property is expected to be the future home of a new Costco building, a new Kalispell Toyota dealership, a new hotel and residential lots. Other plans include a Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers restaurant and various commercial office buildings.   

Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or [email protected].