The Genesis of Magic Valley Mall
In 1979, the idea for a major shopping center in Twin Falls, Idaho, began to take shape. Lewis Douglas Co. first proposed plans for a mall that would be built on farmland at the corner of Blue Lakes Boulevard and Pole Line Road—land owned by a local farmer, Oren Boone.
The mall promised to bring new economic opportunities to the area, and people were excited to see how it might change their community.
By early 1980, General Growth Properties entered the scene and purchased the land from Lewis Douglas Co. They announced plans for a massive shopping complex, initially called Canyon Ridge Mall, that would feature up to 700,000 square feet of retail space.
The goal was to open in 1982 or 1983 with four department stores and about 90 smaller specialty stores. Around the same time, Woodbury Corporation had plans to build another mall directly across the street.
These competing visions created a bit of tension, especially when both projects sought the necessary zoning changes.
Things moved slowly after that. In 1981, Price Development Corporation joined the race and proposed building a third mall on a nearby 30-acre site. This project also faced its share of hurdles.
Residents from the Green Acres subdivision opposed it, leading to a two-year legal battle with the city. In the end, Price Development shifted its focus and bought the Canyon Ridge Mall site from General Growth Properties in 1983, abandoning the original concept.
The new plan called for a smaller, more manageable 450,000 sq ft mall—what would eventually become Magic Valley Mall.
Finally, in February 1984, the Twin Falls City Council approved the project, and momentum picked up. Price Development began courting anchor stores like JCPenney, The Bon Marché, and ZCMI to set up shop in the new mall.
Although ZCMI later pulled out, the project continued to move forward. Shopko became the anchor tenant in 1985, marking the start of something big for retail in Twin Falls.
Construction and Early Development
By August 1985, the Magic Valley Mall project was finally moving forward. Price Development Corporation officially broke ground on the mall on August 21 of that year, marking the beginning of construction for what would become a major retail destination in Twin Falls.
Anticipation grew as locals watched the site transform, eager to see how the new mall would reshape the area’s shopping scene.
Shopko, one of the first anchor tenants, opened its doors on October 13, 1986—just in time for the holiday season. The store’s opening was an exciting moment for the community, providing new retail options that had previously been limited in Twin Falls.
Shortly after, on October 29, 1986, the mall celebrated its grand opening with JCPenney, a staple of American department stores, joining as another major anchor.
The addition of these stores drew in shoppers from around the region, giving people new reasons to visit the mall.
In the months that followed, smaller retailers began filling up the mall’s remaining space, offering a mix of clothing, electronics, and specialty shops.
The Bon Marché, another key player in the mall’s early development, opened its doors in July 1987. This department store added a touch of variety to the mall’s offerings, helping it establish itself as the go-to place for shopping in the Magic Valley.
As the mall continued to grow, it quickly became a hub for the surrounding areas, creating new “things to do in Twin Falls, Idaho” for both locals and visitors alike.
Expansions and Challenges
Sears, which had been a retail mainstay in downtown Twin Falls, announced its decision to relocate to Magic Valley Mall in November 1988.
The new Sears location opened in August 1989. This added another major department store to the mall’s lineup, solidifying its place as a central retail destination.
In 1992, Lamonts became the mall’s fifth anchor tenant. However, the store didn’t last long—by December 1996, It had closed its doors.
Despite this setback, the mall continued to grow in other ways. In 1995, a strip mall was built adjacent to the main shopping center, featuring Barnes & Noble as a key tenant. This addition expanded the mall’s footprint and provided new shopping options for the community.
In 1998, a six-screen discount movie theater operated by Reel Theaters opened in the space that Lamonts had previously occupied. The theater gave the mall a much-needed entertainment boost, offering more than just retail shopping to attract visitors.
By 2000, the theater was sold to Interstate Amusements and renamed the Odyssey Theater. It continued to provide affordable movie-going experiences to locals.
Transformation in the 2000s
In 2003, The Bon Marché—one of the mall’s anchor stores—underwent a rebranding, becoming Bon-Macy’s. This was part of a larger move by Federated Department Stores to align its regional chains with the Macy’s name.
By 2005, Bon-Macy’s was fully transformed into a Macy’s store, adding a national retail presence to the mall that helped draw in a wider customer base.
At the same time, the mall also expanded its entertainment options. In 2011, Cinema West announced plans to build a new, state-of-the-art movie theater to replace the aging Odyssey Theater, which had been operating since the late 1990s.
The Odyssey Theater officially closed in September 2011, and the construction of the new Magic Valley Cinema 13 quickly followed.
The new 13-screen theater opened in May 2012, providing a modern entertainment experience that helped boost mall traffic.
However, the retail environment was becoming more challenging. In 2017, Macy’s announced that it would not renew its lease at the mall.
The store closed in early 2018, leaving a large vacancy that needed to be filled. Shortly after, Sears followed suit, closing its doors in April 2018.
These closures represented a shift in the retail industry, as brick-and-mortar stores struggled to compete with online shopping and changing consumer habits.
Modern-Day Magic Valley Mall
The departure of Macy’s and Sears left big holes in the Magic Valley Mall‘s roster, but the mall adapted to these challenges.
In 2018, Hobby Lobby took over the space left by Macy’s, adding a popular arts-and-crafts retailer to the mall’s lineup.
Hobby Lobby’s arrival brought a fresh wave of shoppers and helped revitalize the mall after the loss of two major department stores.
In 2019, Shopko—one of the mall’s original anchor tenants—announced it would be closing as part of a larger corporate restructuring.
Despite the loss of Shopko, the mall continued to reinvent itself. Kohl’s, another well-known department store chain, confirmed in August 2019 that it would move into the space vacated by Sears.
Kohl’s officially opened its doors in May 2020, giving shoppers another reason to return to the mall and helping restore some of the foot traffic lost with the earlier closures.
Recent Events and Developments at Magic Valley Mall (2023-2024)
In May 2024, the mall hosted a charitable initiative called “Julie’s Clothes for Kids.” This donation drive collected clothes and books for children in need, aiming to support underprivileged families in the Twin Falls area.
The community response was overwhelmingly positive, with local organizations and residents contributing generously. The event showcased the strong sense of community spirit in Twin Falls as people came together to support a worthy cause.
In August 2024, Magic Valley Mall made headlines by hosting the first-ever Comic Con in Twin Falls. The event brought a new level of excitement to the area, attracting both locals and visitors with a passion for pop culture.
Attendees enjoyed a variety of attractions, including comic book vendors, cosplay contests, panels, and artist meet-and-greets.
The convention was a milestone for Twin Falls, highlighting the growing cultural diversity and entertainment opportunities in the region. Families, comic enthusiasts, and casual visitors alike filled the mall, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.