West Acres Shopping Center is a regional shopping mall located in Fargo, North Dakota near the intersection of Interstates 29 and 94. It is the largest mall in North Dakota and includes four major anchors, nearly 130 stores and services, and a 750 seat food court. The mall is also home to The Roger Maris Museum, a collection of regional art, the Touchstone Energy Dinosaur Playland, and a collection of spearfishing decoys created by the late John Jensen.
West Acres Shopping Center was developed in August 1972 by William A. Schlossman along with several other investors. Upon opening, the mall featured Dayton's, Sears and DeLendrecie's. The Dayton's store was the first outside the state of Minnesota. A 1979 expansion added J.C. Penney as a fourth anchor. DeLendrecie's became Herberger's in 1998, and a food court was added in 2000. The Dayton's store was re-branded Marshall Field's in 2001, and Macy's in 2006. In 2010, the first Forever 21 in North Dakota opened at the mall.
A centerpiece since the mall opened in 1972 is the Fountain of Abundance, created by (and refurbished by) Moorhead State University art professor, P. Richard Szeitz. The fountain was originally located in front of Dayton's (currently Macy's) and was moved in front of J.C. Penney in 2001 during the construction of the food court.
Other featured artists at the mall include Marjorie Schlossman, Black Pinto Horse (Monte Yellow Bird), Walter Piehl, Star Wallowing Bull, Dan Jones, Robert Crowe, Carl Oltvelt, Ellen Deidrich, Brad Bachmeier, and Alfred Dacoteau. In 2007, West Acres was named the Business Art's Advocate by the Lake Agassiz Arts Council.
In December 2012, the addition of Ann Taylor Loft and White House Black Market increased the mall to 100% occupancy.
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“The most important fact about our shopping malls, as distinct from the ordinary shopping centers where we go for our groceries, is that we do not need most of what they sell, not even for our pleasure or entertainment, not really even for a sensation of luxury. Little in them is essential to our survival, our work, or our play, and the same is true of the boutiques that multiply on our streets.”
—Henry Fairlie (1924–1990)
“In England and America a beard usually means that its owner would rather be considered venerable than virile; on the continent of Europe it often means that its owner makes a special claim to virility.”
—Rebecca West (1892–1983)
“Happy the man whose wish and care
A few paternal acres bound,
Content to breathe his native air
In his own ground:”
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744)
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—For the State of California, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“Against the Word the unstilled world still whirled
About the center of the silent Word.”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)