Westland Shopping Center. Did you know it inadvertently gave a city its name? Let’s step back to the early 1960s.
The J.L. Hudson Corporation envisioned a grand shopping destination. Victor Gruen Associates designed it. The location was in Nankin Township. Livonia eyed annexing that part of Nankin Township. The Westland Shopping Center changed everything.
The mall opened on July 28 1965. It joined Northland and Eastland malls. These were already Detroit Metro destinations. Nankin Township residents reacted to Livonia’s annexation attempts. They voted to incorporate the township as a city on May 16 1966. They named it Westland after the shopping center.
Early tenants included a four-story Hudson’s. There was also a Kroger grocery store and a Kresge store. JCPenney became a second anchor in 1976. MainStreet joined in 1987 and became Kohl’s a year later. Sears was proposed in 1991 and opened in 1997. It was the first new Sears in Metro Detroit in 20 years. Hudson’s became Marshall Field’s in 2001. Then it turned into Macy’s in 2006.
Westland Shopping Center got a major renovation in 2014. Bath and Body Works and Victoria’s Secret were remodeled. ULTA Beauty Charming Charlie and Shoe Carnival opened.
Macy’s closed its Westland store in March 2017. Sears closed in August 2021. It was the last Sears in Michigan. JCPenney and Kohl’s are now the remaining anchors.
The Westland Shopping Center has a rich history. It features art. “Column” by George Rickey stood in the East Court. “The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg” was a landmark. Samuel Kashwan created it. “Jack and the Beanstalk” was another Kashwan piece. Earl Krentzin created “Acrobats”.
Many remember the East Court. It had a glass elevator and a fountain. The fountain had colored lights. A restaurant overlooked the court.
The West Court had its own charm. It included Sam Raimi’s mother’s store. There was also a Jack and the Beanstalk sculpture. A Kroger grocery store was nearby. A birdcage and fish tank were popular.
The Westland Shopping Center significantly impacted its community. It spurred the creation of a city. It offered shopping dining and entertainment. While some stores have closed the mall continues. Westland Shopping Center remains a local hub.