Golf Mill opened to the public in October 1960 as an open-air mall and featured an office tower and Sears. It featured a full "mill" theme, complete with ponds, bridges, and a working waterwheel. Soon after opening, a Lord's department store was built, but closed after a few years and was replaced by JCPenney. Around that time, the Mill Run Playhouse was built at the north end of the complex. It wasn't connected to the mall corridors proper. General Growth Properties took over management of Golf Mill Shopping Center in 1994. After a turn of events with General Growth Properties, Milwaukee Golf Management Corporation took over management of Golf Mill Shopping Center in 2009. Sterling Organization purchased Golf Mill Shopping Center in August 2014 via a private equity fund, and its subsidiary, Sterling Retail Services is currently managing the property on behalf of the fund.
Store Openings
In 1989, MainStreet was acquired by Kohl's. On October 11, 1998, a Target opened near Kohl's. Value City Furniture was added in 2005 near Target and Kohl's. In 2010, Kerasotes ShowPlace 12 was acquired by AMC. Circuit City which opened in 1990 and located outside the mall closed in the mid-2000s. It was later replaced with a Lucky McGee's sports bar. It closed in January 2016. Gordon Food Service opened outside of the mall to customers in July 2011, located on the south section of the parking lot near JCPenney. Ross Dress for Less opened in 2012, replacing a dead section of the mall. The mall has added a Panera Bread across the main entrance in early 2017. Ulta Beauty opened on November 2017, replacing the south section of the food court. On October 4, 2018, it was announced that Sears would be closing as part of a plan to close 12 stores nationwide. The store closed in December 2018. A Chase Bank is also being built next to the Panera Bread and is set to open later this year. The mall also is planning to build a Chick-fil-A restaurant on the northwest corner of the parking lot.
Renovations
Renovations came to the mall in 1986, with the north end being demolished and rebuild as an enclosed portion anchored by MainStreet and enclosing the mall between the Sears and JCPenney. The renovations and new north wing containing a MainStreet also added a food court. In 2006, GGP remodeled the mall, installing new flooring, a new facade, lighting, and entrances, but only in the south wing of the mall. The remodel also added a 12-screen Kerasotes movie theater.
