Last summer we took a tour of the long-empty, super-trashed, and soon-to-be-demolished Northridge Mall. It was the last time folks could (legally) take a look inside the once-mighty mall before it started to (legally) come down. It was something!

Seven months later, demolition work is in full swing. Midwest-based Veit & Company recently razed the former Younkers on the east end of the mall; this week, work has begun on the former JCPenney. Here are some photos:


The City of Milwaukee says the project remains on schedule and budget. “Environmental work continues inside the remaining part of the mall,” a press release reads, “and the City expects all mall buildings to be demolished by mid-summer.” Veit’s winning bid for the project was $10,682,306.85.

A previously released schedule says the City “anticipates finishing the demolition work of the former mall buildings and getting the site ready for ground up development” by the fall of 2025. After that, the newly dubbed “Granville Station” site will be used for…something. Got any ideas of what that something should be? You can share them HERE.


In December 2023, Gov. Tony Evers awarded the City of Milwaukee $15 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to redevelop the 58-acre site. Milwaukee gained full control of the site from China-based U.S. Black Spruce Enterprise Group Inc. in January 2024, via property tax foreclosure. Black Spruce had floated various redevelopment plans for the abandoned mall over the years, though none came close to fruition.

Northridge Mall closed in 2003. In its many years as an abandoned and increasingly trashed mall, Northridge had become a magnet for urban spelunkers, popular YouTubers, clandestine YouTubers, arsonists, various ne’er-do-wells, and even skateboarders.

Want more Milwaukee Record? Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and/or support us on Patreon.


RELATED ARTICLES

See inside super trashed Northridge Mall before it’s torn down

Winning bid marks important step in demolition of former Northridge Mall

City seeking someone to demolish rest of former Northridge Mall by fall 2025

New & Wonderful Things: Northridge Mall saga continues

Gov. Evers announces $15 million grant for City of Milwaukee to redevelop blighted Northridge Mall property

Stuff We Missed: The end of sneaking into Northridge Mall?

Watch Thrasher skateboarders “rip the remains” of Northridge Mall

City attorney: Northridge unsecured, unsafe. Countless YouTube videos shot inside Northridge: Yep.

Watch Milwaukee YouTuber Tommy G sneak/break into, mess around in abandoned Northridge Mall

“We’ve Got It!” 10 videos from the ’80s heyday of Northridge Mall

Take another eerie trip through the abandoned Northridge Mall

Some dude “rescued” hundreds of old photos from Northridge Mall and they’re amazing

About The Author

Avatar photo
Co-Founder and Editor

Matt Wild weighs between 140 and 145 pounds. He lives on Milwaukee's east side.