Tom Daniels walks past a pile of trading cards and other merchandise piled in front of his Baseball Card Shoppe at Westgate Mall. The 1,200-square-foot store was inundated with nearly four feet of water in August 2018 that damaged a large portion of his inventory and forced the store to permanently close.
A $100 million project that includes housing, retail and restaurants would replace one of Madison’s oldest shopping centers — the largely shuttered Westgate Mall on the West Side — if plans are realized.
JT Klein Co., a Madison development company that since 2014 has overseen $60 million worth of housing projects, is under contract with Hy-Vee to purchase the 9 acres that hold Westgate Mall. The proposal, which does not include the grocery store site, would demolish the mall that was constructed in 1960 and bring new life to the property at the corner of Tokay Boulevard and South Whitney Way.
Jacob Klein, founder and president of the development company, declined to say how many apartments are planned and how much space would be allocated for restaurants and retail. However, he said the plans, which he intends to share at a neighborhood meeting later this month, would be designed to enhance and take advantage of nearby amenities, including the 80,000-square-foot Hy-Vee grocery store, the West Transfer Point for city buses across the street, proposed bus rapid transit, the new headquarters for Exact Sciences being constructed in the nearby UW Research Park and a proposed housing, hotel and commercial development at the corner of Whitney Way and Mineral Point Road.
“I’m really excited as a Madison guy to have the opportunity to be chosen by Hy-Vee to take on this site,” said Klein, who grew up on the Far West Side and graduated from Edgewood High School. “It’s been underutilized for a long time and it’s just incredibly exciting.”

Wisconsin Craft Market is the lone retailer remaining in the redevelopment zone at Westgate Mall. Hancock Fabrics, upper right, closed in 2016. Hy-Vee's 80,000-square-foot grocery store on the south side of the property would remain untouched as part of a redevelopment of the 9-acre property.
Craft store to close
The Westgate property was purchased by Hy-Vee in 2012 and the Iowa-based grocer opened a $20 million store in 2013 after removing the southern portion of the mall. But since that time, retailers, restaurants, a dance studio, movie theater and offices have closed or fled. The lone remaining business, Wisconsin Craft Market, announced Monday that it will close by April and not seek a new location elsewhere.
Paul Zarnikow, who has owned the business for nearly 31 years, said he made the decision to close because of his age and due to the volatility of retail. A going-out-of-business sale will start in March, Zarnikow said in a Facebook post.

The interior of Westgate Mall is largely vacant but would be removed to make way for a $100 million redevelopment project being proposed by a Madison company. The mall opened in 1960.
“Although my staff was unaware until just a couple of days ago, I’ve known about this for a little over a month and was trying to decide if there was a chance we could move rather than close, even starting negotiations on a new spot for a smaller version of Wisconsin Craft Market,” Zarnikow wrote. “However, after much agonizing and looking at the recent trends in brick-and-mortar retail, I arrived at the conclusion that with my next birthday being my 69th, it simply wasn’t a good idea to sign my name to a long-term lease.”

Marie Larson, who has been an employee with Wisconsin Craft Market for 30 years, helps customers at the store Wednesday. The longtime business will close in April after the owner decided not to open a new location elsewhere.
Neighborhood redevelopment
The departure of Wisconsin Craft Market clears the way for JT Klein to redevelop the property that opened in 1960, which was two years before Hilldale opened at Midvale Boulevard and University Avenue and more than a decade before the rise of East and West Towne malls.
An official with Hy-Vee told the Wisconsin State Journal in October that it was evaluating redevelopment proposals and was planning to sell the property but would retain ownership of the property that holds its grocery store.
In 2016, a Kansas City, Missouri, developer submitted a plan to raze the remaining mall property and replace it with a mix of retail and up to 125 housing units. However, that plan never materialized.
Ald. Zachary Henak, who represents the neighborhood around Westgate, said he is encouraged by Klein’s proposal, but issues such as stormwater runoff and flooding will have to be addressed following storms in 2018 that flooded some of the businesses on the property. Henak has had one meeting with Klein and city staff on the proposal, but Henak heard only conceptual ideas and did not get details of Klein’s plan, other than that it could include affordable and senior housing.
“This is still pretty new. I don’t have a plan, I don’t have any pictures,” Henak said Wednesday. “We’ll be doing a robust public input push. Hopefully we can get more input from the community and see what Jacob is interested in.”
Dates for neighborhood public meetings could be set by early next week and likely be scheduled for the end of the month, Henak and Klein said.

This aerial photo of Madison's West Side was taken in the late 1950s and shows the future site of Westgate Mall, which opened in 1960. The Beltline intersection with Whitney Way can be seen in the lower center portion of the photograph.
‘Much needed’
When Westgate opened, there were tenants like Meuer’s Photoart, Ragatz Shoes, Manchester’s Department Store, Uncle Paul’s Toy Shop, Kresge and J.C. Penney. A 20,000-square-foot Piggly Wiggly later became an Eagle and then a Kohl’s grocery store. In more recent years, the tenants included Famous Footwear, Klinke Cleaners, Hancock Fabrics and Rocky Rococo.
Westgate Cinemas closed in 2008 after 30 years in business, and last year T.J. Maxx moved from Westgate to the revamped Whitney Square Shopping Center across the street, which also includes a new Sierra Trading Post and Five Below, both discount retailers.

What is now Westgate Mall opened in 1960 and is one of the oldest shopping centers in Madison, but is now largely vacant.
“It’s much needed,” Klein said of the mall’s redevelopment.
“I’ve been excited to see the mall across the street and Exact Sciences nearby, and we want to be part of that,” Klein said. “We want to be part of the activity and create a unique space for people to live and work. There will be a range of uses.”
JT Klein’s projects over the last three years have included 8Twenty South Park Street — a $21 million, 95-unit apartment building with 2,000 square feet of commercial space at 820 S. Park St. — and three projects in Middleton. They are Stagecoach Trail Apartments, a $9 million, 46-unit building along Century Avenue; a four-story 83-unit senior-living apartment building on Lisa Lane; and, next door, Meadow Ridge Middleton, a 95-unit apartment building.
The Westgate redevelopment, which would include retail along South Whitney Way and housing to the east, would be JT Klein’s largest project to date and one that is being met with great anticipation by the neighborhood.
“We have a concept we are refining, but it has to be a plan that makes sense for everybody,” Klein said.
Photos: A look back at Westgate Mall over the years
Photos: A look back at Westgate Mall over the years
Westgate Mall 1950s

An aerial view of Madison's West Side, which appears to show the future site of Westgate Mall. The Beltline is left to right in the lower part of the photo. The photo isn't dated but is believed to be from the late 1950s. Westgate opened in 1960.
Aerial view, 1959

J.C. Penney in Westgate, 1960

The management staff of the new J.C. Penney department store gather around specially designed spotlights for their jewelry counters.
Grand opening, 1960

An evening view of the Westgate Shopping Center reflected in a Montgomery Ward store window at the time of opening, while the center was still partially under construction.
Montgomery Ward, 1960

Mr. and Mrs. Tony Krantz of Verona take part in a square dance at the new Montgomery Ward store's open house Sept. 13, 1960.
S.S. Kresge Store, 1960

Interior view of the S.S. Kresge Store, which was the first to open in Westgate. It's pictured March 9, 2960.
Westgate parking, 1960

An elevated view of the parking lot at the Westgate Shopping Center on July 30, 1960. The storefronts are on the left and include Ragatz Shoes, Three Sisters, S.S. Kresge Co., Pearson and the Piggly Wiggly.
Westgate, 1965

The parking lot at Westgate Shopping Center in August 1965.
Westgate, 1974

Photo taken in March 1974.
Westgate Mall, 1995

A Milwaukee company is taking over management of Westgate Mall, above, and Whitney Square at Odana Road and Whitney Way in Madison.
Westgate Mall, 1996

Westgate Mall's $2 million facelift, shown here in June 1996, includes work on the shopping center's exterior, interior and parking lot, the first updating of the 34-year-old far West Side shopping center since the early 1970s. The exterior is getting a new stucco finish, which will feature three shades of taupe. The parking lot is being redesigned, repaved and restriped, and new lights will be installed to improve light levels and traffic movement, said Stan Sapiro of the Milwaukee-based Polacheck Co., which took over management of the mall last summer. The main entrance will feature a tree-lined pedestrian path. Interior refurbishing includes replacement of the floor in the common areas, new lighting and the addition of signs featuring a new mall logo. The 240,000-square-foot shopping center is owned by RIK Inc., a real estate holding company based in Des Moines, Iowa.
Westgate, 1996

Westgate Mall had a new logo and look inside, in October 1996, part of a multimillion-dollar remodeling effort.
Westgate Mall 1997

From Whitney Way, construction of the $10 million addition to Epic Systems Corp. appears to rise from Westgate Mall, shown here in March 1997. The addition nearly triples the size of Epic, which is located in the former Odana School at 5301 Tokay Blvd., northeast of the shopping center.
Westgate Mall 2004

Crossing this busy median break, shown here in August 2004, on Whitney Way between Odana Road and Tokay Boulevard was one of the more precarious maneuvers Madison drivers could undertake in 2003. More crashes happened here than any other intersection in the city.
Westgate Mall 2005

Westgate Mall officials hope to boost customer traffic with the introduction of a new anchor store. Photo is from February 2005.
Westgate Mall 2005

Westgate Mall, photographed Feb. 17, 2005, near the central entrance, facing north.
Westgate Mall 2005

Cindy Brekken, back from left, Barbara Rosser, Cathy Gauthier and Joanne Gauthier stroll Westgate Mall in December 2005.
Westgate Mall 2007

The Madison Cosmetology College, previously called the Scientific College of Beauty and Barbering, was a fixture at Westgate Mall for many years. It's shown here in February 2007.
Westgate Mall 2007

Empty storefront at Westgate Mall in April 2007.
Famous Footwear, 2007

Famous Footwear in Westgate Mall, said to be Madison's first enclosed shopping center, is shown here in April 2007. Changes planned at the time included an infusion of new retail and construction at Westgate Art Cinemas. The mall now leases more space to service businesses and offices and is 91 percent leased with 33 retailers.
Bead Bin, 2007

Bead Bin is shown at Westgate Mall in April 2007
Marquee, 2007

Westgate Art Cinemas, an anchor at Westgate Mall, photographed in May 2007. It was planning to soon serve alcohol and refurbish its theater.
Demolition, 2012

In this May 2012 photo, demolition is under way on the south end of Westgate Mall, near Whitney Way and Odana Road, to make way for a Hy-Vee grocery store.
Making way for Hyvee, 2012

Demolition at Westgate Mall is shown May 17, 2012. Space was being cleared for an 80,500-square-foot grocery store run by Iowa-based Hyvee.
Hyvee opens, 2013

The Westgate grocery store, shown in May 2013, was Hy-Vee's second in Madison.
Considering redevelopment, 2016

Missouri-based R.H. Johnson is mulling a redevelopment of Westgate Mall off of South Whitney Way in Madison. When this photo was taken in June 2016, the center had about 24 vacant stores.
Flood damage, 2018

On Sept. 5, 2018, Tom Daniels walks past a pile of trading cards and other merchandise piled in front of his Baseball Card Shoppe at Westgate Mall. The 1,200-square-foot store was inundated with nearly four feet of water in August that damaged a large portion of his inventory.
Deserted mall, 2019

A sign in the nearly deserted Westgate Mall is shown in May 2019.
Empty interior, 2019

Westgate Mall interior on May 19, 2019.
Westgate, 2019

Shoppers leave Westgate Mall after shopping at T.J. Maxx on May 19, 2019. A 2016 plan to redevelop the property never materialized.