Step Back in Time With Vintage Photos Ann Arbor’s Briarwood Mall

Ann Arbor, Michigan's Briarwood Mall will soon celebrate a significant date.

The Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor was first opened almost 50 years ago on October 3rd, 1973. When it first opened the two main anchor stores were JCPenney and Sears with Hudson's store opening up the following year. The fourth anchor store opened in 1980 and was a Lord & Taylor store.

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As will many malls in Michigan, this facility has gone through a number of ownership changes. It was first developed by A. Alfred Taubman. It is currently controlled by Simon Properties and was actually their first property in Michigan to manage.

Briarwood Mall underwent major renovations in 2004 and in 2013. Another renovation was announced in February of 2023. The new renovation plans include a new two-story retail building, a gourmet grocery store, a multi-family residential building, and an out lot building. Some of those new developments will be placed where the Sears building is, which will be demolished soon.

SEE ALSO: New Restaurant - Texas De Brazil Now Open in Ann Arbor

According to my co-worker, who recently attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, it is a great mall for students and the M Den there is awesome. It is pretty convenient for students as well as it is located right off of campus.

Looking at this photo takes me back to my childhood. While I never visited Briarwood, I remember several of the malls we went to as a kid that had these same "step-down seating pits."

Along with the new Texas De Brazil restaurant that just recently opened there, several other stores will be opening as well including:

• The new M Den Annex
• Wiggle Waggle Barkery
• Scrubs and More Boutique
• Totally Tea (Opened in April)

It is nice to see a mall in Michigan thriving right now. Big thanks to Tom Drake for the pics from back in the day at Briarwood Mall.

Sources: Tom Drake & MLive