Iron Range Mall Announces Major Change As Space ‘Evolves’

The next 'evolution' of a Northern Minnesota shopping mall is drawing mixed reactions from locals.

The Uptown Virginia Mall in Virginia, Minnesota, is undergoing some pretty significant changes this month. One of them is the opening of a new major tenant in the Iron Range mall's space, as the retailer Marshalls opens on Thursday, October 22.

The other of those significant changes comes next week, as the mall changes in a pretty fundamental way.

Uptown Virginia has long been an indoor mall, with shoppers able to access stores from the interior concourse that runs through the center of the complex. The mall announced this "evolution" earlier this fall, saying it will be permanently closing this interior concourse at the end of the month.

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The permanent closure of the interior concourse on Saturday, October 31, means all stores will only be accessible from the exterior of the building. It also means that any of the mall traditions, like visiting Santa or strolling around the interior of the mall on a cold Northern Minnesota winter day, will be going away.

Also unclear is what will happen to the businesses with inside-only access.

A number of locals have shared frustrations and disappointment over this change, highlighting a number of reasons for their feelings. Among them, the indoor walking space in the winter and the new need to walk outside in the elements to get from store to store were the top things.

Others are looking at the change from a more hopeful perspective.

In an era when a lot of malls around the country are seeing growing vacancies and closings, Uptown Virginia just added a new tenant and has others that are doing well in the space.

While the mall is by no means full, some locals are hoping the addition of Marshalls and the overall change in how the mall space will operate might bring new businesses to the complex.

Taking an alternative angle on the exterior-only access for businesses, some have commented that it makes gaining access to these businesses a little more convenient. It allows you to park nearest to the business you want to visit and head right inside, instead of having to navigate the mall.

Regardless of your perspective on the changes coming to the Uptown Virginia Mall at the end of the month, the experience will certainly be different for the upcoming holiday season and beyond.