CHESTERFIELD, Mo.—It’s an end of an era for the Chesterfield Mall. After nearly 50 years, the doors will close Aug. 31 as plans move forward to tear the building down for a 117-acre development called Downtown Chesterfield. 

There’s been an uptick in activity inside recently, but it isn’t shoppers, instead moving crews and store owners are packing up. Some local businesses are also benefitting. The owner of New Moon Studios in St. Peters says they saved the sound proofing from the AMC Theater and it will be a great addition. 

There have also been curious members of the public stopping by to snap pictures and take video. There is even a documentary being filmed titled Mall Odyssey.

For those that have fond memories of seeing Santa or going on a date at the movie theater, an online auction was liquidating hundreds of the mall’s remaining assets including Christmas decorations, the Easter bunny’s gazebo popcorn makers, mall signs and even a stone oven from the old California Pizza Kitchen.

One of the anchor department stores will be staying, sort of. There will be a Dillard’s in the Downtown Chesterfield redevelopment.

The retailer filed a suit trying to stop the project and prevent the city from tearing down the store. Dillard’s and developer The Staenberg Group reached an agreement where the retailer will reopen as part of the new development.

Demolition is slated for Oct. 15. Chesterfield officials previously told Spectrum News that depends on when a grading and demo permit are approved.

In 2022, the city of Chesterfield approved more than $350 million in tax increment financing for the $2 billion project. Wildhorse Village, a neighboring $1 billion redevelopment project, is already underway.

The new development will have a a 3.5 acre central park, grocery, retail, street parking for 450 cars, a 1.25 mile trail, townhomes, office space, and potential for expansion.

Downtown Chesterfield will offer a "walkable, safe, and ecologically sustainable urban district that gives priority to the pedestrian over the automobile. With over 25% of the site dedicated to public plazas, parks, sidewalks, trails, and rain gardens thereby reducing the heat island effect of the development and ensuring its legacy as a new vision for Downtown Chesterfield," the project’s website says.