Early Beginnings and Initial Development (1956–1962)
The Holiday Village Mall in Great Falls, Montana, was born out of a vision that started in 1956. Developers Don F. Robinson, Theodore J. Mitchell, and John T. Mitchell came together with a plan to build a new shopping center that would serve the growing needs of the local community.
Their project quickly gained momentum, and by November 1959, the first store opened its doors—Albertsons, a well-known food and drug retailer. This marked the beginning of what would become one of the central retail hubs in Great Falls.
By January 1960, the Holiday Village Mall held its grand opening. At this point, the mall was a 100,000 sq ft shopping center, and several local stores set up shop. Some of the first names included Hesteds, Kops Music Mart, Rosana, and Holiday Jewelry and Gifts.
Expansion quickly followed. In September 1962, the developers added an enclosed wing with new shops, offering even more retail options.
Among the additions was a 4B’s restaurant, which introduced a buffet-style dining experience—something new for many residents. With the mall’s growing popularity, another anchor tenant, Hesteds, expanded its department store in the same year.
The success of these early years set the stage for further growth, shaping Holiday Village Mall as a key player in the commercial landscape of Great Falls, a city already filled with things to do in Montana’s rich natural beauty.
Major Expansions and Changing Retail Landscape (1966–1979)
In February 1966, the Holiday Village Mall began another phase of expansion. This time, the plans were larger—adding new anchor tenants and a movie theater. Construction moved quickly, and by September of the same year, Montgomery Ward opened its doors.
The department store wasn’t just a new addition; it was a game-changer. Montgomery Ward brought a wide range of products, from clothing to appliances, which drew more shoppers to the mall. In addition, a service center opened to handle everything from auto repairs to home equipment servicing.
In 1967, Holiday Village Mall continued to grow. A new Buttrey-Osco store opened, combining grocery and pharmacy services under one roof—an innovation that made shopping more convenient.
Around the same time, the mall also welcomed a 796-seat movie theater, which quickly became a popular entertainment spot for families and teenagers.
However, the opening of this new section didn’t come without setbacks. A fire broke out and delayed the grand opening of the Buttrey-Osco, causing minor damage but not stopping the mall’s momentum.
In November 1975, Hesteds announced it would close its doors by the end of the year. The following spring, 1976, Buttrey Suburban—another early tenant—also announced its closure. Despite these changes, the mall didn’t lose its draw.
Herberger’s took over the former Hesteds space, and J.C. Penney moved into the spot left by Buttreys Suburban.
In 1979, Holiday Village Mall saw further modernization when it was acquired by the Macerich Company, a real estate firm known for revitalizing shopping centers.
Evolution and Anchor Store Changes (1980s–1990s)
In 1985, Skaggs Drug Centers, which had been operating inside the mall since the early days, was rebranded as Osco Drug.
The rebranding came after a merger between American Stores and Jewel Companies, which led to changes in the pharmacy’s operations.
The mall also saw the closure of its beloved Fox Holiday Theater in January 1989. The theater had been a popular entertainment venue for over two decades, but it eventually closed and was demolished in 1990 to make space for additional parking.
In 1990, Buttrey-Osco closed its doors, leaving a gap in the mall’s lineup of anchor stores. Shortly after, Sears announced it would move into the space left by Buttrey-Osco, officially opening in 1991.
Around this time, Herberger’s expanded its footprint within the mall, taking over 8,500 square feet from Big Bear Sports Centers, which occupied a lower-level space.
In January 1999, Montgomery Ward announced its closure after 33 years of operation at the Holiday Village Mall. Shortly after, the space caught the interest of The Bon Marché, which had just closed its downtown Great Falls store.
At the same time, another early tenant, Albertsons, announced in August 1999 that it would also be closing by the end of October.
The departure of these key stores marked the end of an era for the mall, but it also opened the door for new opportunities as Holiday Village Mall prepared to enter the 21st century.
The 21st Century: New Tenants and Modernization (2000–2018)
In March 2000, Herberger’s relocated to the space left vacant by Montgomery Ward, solidifying its place as one of the mall’s key anchor tenants.
This move came as department stores were evolving, and Herberger’s expanded into a larger, more modern space to serve shoppers in Great Falls better.
In 2005, Ross Dress for Less signed a lease for the empty Albertsons space. After delays, the Ross store finally opened in 2007, adding to the diversity of retail options available.
That same year, sporting goods retailer Scheels, which had been part of the mall since 1968, moved into a larger, newly renovated space.
Originally slated for demolition, the old Herberger’s space was remodeled for Scheels, allowing the store to double its size.
Bed Bath & Beyond soon followed, moving into the former Scheels space in October 2007, further modernizing the mall’s offerings.
In 2006, Macerich sold Holiday Village Mall to GK Development. Under new ownership, the mall continued to evolve.
By 2009, CVS Pharmacy, which had acquired Osco Drug, closed its store at the mall and relocated to a freestanding location nearby. In its place, Big Lots opened in November 2011, bringing discount retail options to the mall’s shoppers.
However, the mall also experienced setbacks—Sears closed its main store in December 2014, marking the end of another long-term tenant at Holiday Village Mall.
Recent Developments and Current Status (2019–2024)
In early 2017, Hobby Lobby and PetSmart opened in the space left vacant by Sears, giving the mall fresh energy. These large retailers filled the gap left by Sears’s departure and brought in more traffic, which helped keep the mall relevant as consumer shopping habits shifted.
In April 2018, Herberger’s, one of the mall’s longtime anchor tenants, closed its doors following the bankruptcy and liquidation of its parent company, The Bon-Ton Stores.
This closure left a large section of the mall empty, but it didn’t remain vacant for long. Harbor Freight Tools took over part of the former Herberger’s space, opening its doors in January 2019.
The new addition brought a new category of retail to the mall, catering to shoppers looking for tools and equipment.
In 2023, Bed Bath & Beyond became the latest store to close its location at Holiday Village Mall as part of a larger wave of closures across the country.
Despite these closures, Holiday Village Mall remains an important part of Great Falls, with new tenants moving in and keeping the mall’s doors open.