Is the Mall at Primm Completely Dead?

What's the latest on the mall out at Primm? Is it completely dead?

Yes indeed. It's not just dead. It is, as you surmise, completely dead. Vacant. Shuttered. All that's left is the burial.

The Primm Mall was originally known as the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas. It opened in Primm, 40 miles southwest of the city, in 1998 at a cost of $75 million to great fanfare, part of an effort to create a destination for travelers between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Designed as an outlet center, it boasted more than 100 stores with such popular brands as Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, and Gap. And it started out like gangbusters; only three years later, it was among the top-five outlet centers in the U.S., based on sales per square foot.

Over the years, however, the mall faced numerous economic challenges, including two foreclosures, and changed ownership and management many times.

It was 99% leased as late as 2007 and was appraised at nearly $30 million in 2019 before the pandemic. However, it went downhill very fast and in 2021, Kohan Retail Investment Group, a mall investment company based in Great Neck, New York, bought the hulk at a bankruptcy auction for $1.5 million.

By then, most of the outlets had abandoned the mall, now called Prizm. Michael Kors hung on until earlier this year and from what we understand, Sanithrift, "a sanitized thrift store," was the last retail shop open at the mall until it closed recently.

What happens now? Probably nothing, at least for the foreseeable future. Ideas for the building have been bandied about, from industrial space to an indoor theme park, along with mothballing it until the new airport opens nearby in 2037. But for now, the mall is a cadaver, resting in anything but peace.

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O2bnVegas Aug-10-2024

kudos for the reply

Once again, LVA, (AKA deke, LOL) gives us not just a 'yes' or 'no' answer, but a nice history of the Primm Mall and how/why it came to its demise.  I'd heard of Primm but never traveled that road, but this is an interesting tale from a retail/financial success/failure perspective.  And thanks to the reader who posed the question in the first place.

Candy

Jeff B. Aug-10-2024

Bummer...

After driving by the mall multiple times a year and never stopping until a couple of years ago. At that point, I was surprised to see maybe 5 stores still trying to operate, including Michael Kors, Levi's, and I think a Bath and Body Works (or one of those bath stores).  I'm bummed I missed it at its peak.

Reno Faoro Aug-10-2024

sad  , sad spot

WAS A GREAT PLACE - YEARS AGO !  3 NICE CASINOS , NICE SHOPPING . WE ARE SHOCKED THAT THE CASINO STILL HAS THEIR LIGHTS ON .  GAS STATION IS PROBABLY ONLY BUSINESS WITH A CHANCE AT MAKING A PROFIT .

Jeffrey Small Aug-10-2024

  Lottery Store?

I assume that the "world's largest lottery store" is still in operation, just south of the mall, 50 feet into California.  Also, the very expensive gas station, taking advantage of the drivers coming to/from CA. And a few restaurants, catering to travelers at the state line.  Too bad that the mall is gone.  I used to buy clothing at the Nieman Marcus outlet there--good prices and selection.  But, with the competition of outlet malls closer to the city, I always wondered if it would survive.  Maybe use it as the terminal building for the new airport!

Bernard Berg Aug-10-2024

Not just Primm...

It seems that many of the "Outlet Malls" have fallen on tough times.  The complex at Lenwood, just outside of Barstow, doesn't seem to be doing great and is half the size it once was.  Online shopping, especially Amazon, is the culprit, I would guess.

Gary Aug-10-2024

Primm Mall

It is now called Primm Mall. It is no longer called Prizm.

David Sabo Aug-10-2024

MEMORIES. MY FIRST VANS PURCHASE.

About 30 years ago I stopped at the mall.A store there had a super clearance on some really strange colored Vans. I bought every pair that they had kn my size and a half size bigger. I got 14 pairs of shoes for just over $100 OTD.What a deal! I couldn't  belive how well built those Vans were. Best shoe deal of my life. I still wear Vans  but all 14 pairs are long gone, just like the mall.

AL Aug-11-2024

Surprise?

I'm not an outlet-mall rat, so I was never interested in this mall at Primm, and never really noticed much about it. I definitely didn't know or notice that the number of stores was large. But in thinking about it, I'm surprised that so many people thought it would be a hit, and that so many people patronized it at one time. Most Californians I know who traveled to Vegas were itching to get to their hotel/casino, especially if they came from a part of CA that was farther away than the L.A. area (such as the SF Bay Area). And that would be doubly true if they were driving to Vegas in the (hot) summer. I could envision people getting to their hotel and then making a 10-minute drive to a mall the next day, but Primm is 40+ minutes from Vegas hotels. Also, malls generally rely on surrounding residential areas in order to thrive, needing to be within a short drive of a lot of people in order to have a lot of business. Primm was just not that. I'm surprised that it lasted as long as it did.

Dave Aug-13-2024

MALL TRIP

Honeymoon in 1999, stopped at that mall since we had some gift cards for some nice home store (cant remember the name) and came away with some great stuff, so that place will always have great memories.

Question of the Day - 10 August 2024

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