Construction finishes on the Newton Shopping Center and stores begin opening in late September.
In October, Younkers opens its new 15,000 sq. ft. store in the shopping center; Newton is the 18th store in the Younkers organization.
The formal grand opening is held on December 1 at 7PM, attended by approximately 1,800 people.
The center's opening is the culmination of 5 years of planning and construction. John A. Wiebe of Omaha is the developer. The architect is Kenneth C. Welch of the J & G Daverman Co. of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The shopping center sustains major damage in a fire that started overnight January 5 in Iowa's Best Steak House. Damages are later set at nearly $1.2 million.
Some stores are able to re-open within a few days, but a major remodel is needed and will take 5 months to complete.
The shopping center interior is renovated into a new look called the "Cedar Mall." The skylights over the center mall are removed in the renovation, and the exposed steel trusses are now covered by a tiled drop ceiling.
Spurgeon's Department Store relocates from the downtown square to the shopping center, occupying the former Neisner's space.
Sunday hours are added for most stores for the first time.
A 25,000 sq. ft. expansion of the north entrance and grocery store is completed as Hy-Vee moves into the former Super Valu location.
Newton Shopping Center is rebranded as the Newton Mall, with new exterior signage and awnings.
After 30 years in the mall, Younkers closes in January.
In July, Spurgeon's announces it will close its store in Newton.
On Cue, a music, books and movies retailer operated by The Musicland Group, opens in part of the former Spurgeon's space. Goodwill occupies the remainder of the space.
Stage department store opens in the former Younkers space, the mall's only non-grocery anchor space.
In June, Hy-Vee buys the mall property for $1.98 million with plans to build a new store on the site.
Following the Hy-Vee purchase, several mall tenants close including Maurices and Christopher Banks. T&M Center Lanes closes at the end of July, and Morgan Jewelers closes in December.
Other tenants including Radio Shack and Natural Therapeutics relocate to other areas around Newton.
Goodwill and Associated Dentists relocate away from the mall. The mall interior is closed to the public.
In May, demolition work begins on the south end of the mall.
Hy-Vee's current store, opened in 2007, occupies the former mall site, sitting roughly over the footprint where Younkers once stood.