CHUBBUCK — The Pine Ridge Mall redevelopment project is now underway as construction crews prepare to transform the complex into an outdoor shopping venue.

The enclosed shopping mall first opened in 1981 in Chubbuck and was a brick-and-mortar merchandise staple of the community for decades.

After months of preparation that included notices to current and former tenants that a redevelopment project was taking place, the Pine Ridge Mall has begun its transformation into an open-air shopping center. The new project will feature a combination of new and existing mall tenants and a modern design aimed to increase foot traffic and reduce operating costs.

The changes to the mall stem from a 2024 purchase of the complex by Arizona-based SimonCRE, a commercial real estate acquisition and development company founded by Josh Simon.

Once the renovations are completed, the new complex will have a freshly redesigned layout along with refurbished and renovated retail spaces, Simon said.

The changes will also add additional retail pad sites constructed in areas that are currently mostly-empty parking spaces surrounding the remnants of a bygone era forever changed by online shopping.

Four tenants of the Pine Ridge Mall will remain, including Buckle, Deseret Book, Shoe Dept. Encore and the American Red Cross, Simon said, adding that all businesses except the Buckle are currently in the process of relocating to the site of the former Herberger’s next to where Planet Fitness calls home.

The clothing store Buckle relocated to the former site of C-A-L Ranch and has already opened its doors for business. Simon said the move will only be temporary, with the western style clothing store to reside in that spot until at least early 2026 when the additional retail pad sites are expected to be near completion.

Planet Fitness, along with C-A-L Ranch, Hobby Lobby and the private charter school Gem Prep will be largely unaffected by the renovations.

Local residents have been excited about the prospect of new flagships and retail stores like Target, which announced its intention to open a 128,000-square-foot space at the Pine Ridge Mall last year.

While official updates regarding Target have been scant, Chubbuck Mayor Kevin England said he believes once the demolition stage of the development is finished and when plans and building permits are approved the city of Chubbuck will be more involved in the process.

”Once they get the demolition done and they start the restoration, I’m quite sure that Target is the first thing that’s going to happen,” England said. “If I remember his timeline correctly, that would be right after the first of the year (2026) when they probably start breaking ground for that, but that’s a moving target.”

SimonCRE is currently focusing on the initial redevelopment phase, Simon said.

It is presently unknown what other big box stores or other retail businesses will eventually fill the outdoor shopping venue once it’s completed, but the redesigned space is expected to incentivize plenty of businesses to locate there.