Crown Center Shopping Mall

First opening in 1971 with five office buildings and a public greenspace, Crown Center has become one of Kansas City’s premier shopping and entertainment districts for millions of visitors each year. It was first conceptualized by Hallmark Cards founder Joyce Clyde "J.C." Hall as “a city within a city” as part of his urban revitalization plan for the area surrounding Hallmark’s headquarters. By 1973, the Crown Center Shops, Ice Terrace, and first of two hotels opened and has continued to develop over the years. The urban complex now offers business space, residential living, shopping, interactive and creative family experiences, and includes multiple art installations and fountains, two performing arts theaters, and an entertainment pavilion that is host to an array of live events and festivals throughout the year. 

In the early 1960s as Hallmark Cards was rapidly growing, the land around their headquarters was becoming decrepit with abandoned warehouses, crumbling parking lots, and the remains of closed businesses. Founder J.C. Hall believed that the city that gave him so much deserved far better, so he conceived an urban revitalization plan. The plan included a remodel of their 1916-built office building and redevelopment of the surrounding area into a mixed-use, urban complex. 

J.C. had spent decades acquiring small parcels of land adjacent to Hallmark and after he retired in 1966, he partnered with the new CEO, his son Donald J. Hall to carry out his vision. With inspiration from the Hallmark crown symbol, they agreed to call it Crown Center. After the city approved the privately financed endeavor, they formed the Crown Center Redevelopment Corporation to oversee the project and consulted with developers and urban planners. J.C. also sought advice from James Rouse, a builder of shopping centers out of Baltimore, and creative thinker and longtime friend Walt Disney. Feasibility studies and the original plan were completed by Victor Gruen & Associates of Los Angeles, then revised and carried out by architect Edward Larrabee Barnes of New York. Groundbreaking for the new development took place on September 16, 1968. 

The first phase of Crown Center was completed in 1971 with five 7-story, interconnected office buildings, an underground garage, and a public square with walkways and fountains. By 1973, a second square, the Ice Terrace ice skating rink, Grand Avenue Bank & Trust building, the Crown Center Hotel (now Westin by IHG), and the Crown Center Shops opened. The 3-level, L-shaped Crown Center shops contained space for eighty stores, including the new Halls specialty retail store which was relocated from downtown. The Hyatt Regency Hotel (now Sheraton) opened in 1980, followed by the Rice Innovation Center in 1985. More office buildings were constructed in the late 80s, as well as an elevated, glass pedestrian bridge called The Link in 1988. 

Crown Center has grown to become “a city within a city” and offers an array of office and residential space, shopping, and entertainment for visitors of all ages. The Crown Center complex is home to the Hallmark headquarters and Visitors Center, Legoland, Sea Life Aquarium, and the Crown Center Ice Terrace, while additionally featuring seasonal events and festivals. Public courtyards offer seating, walking paths, fountains, and landscaped greenspace. Art installations include Shiva, a red, 6-legged steel sculpture, Triple Crown, multiple polished cylinders on the south lawn, and Bringing the Pieces Together, representing massive puzzle pieces. Dozens of national and local shops reside in the Crown Center Shops, as well as two theaters - the Coterie and Musical Heritage Theater, and Kaleidoscope - a children’s creative art exhibit founded by Donald Hall.

Hall, Joyce C.. Anderson, Curtiss. When You Care Enough. Kansas City, MO. Hallmark Cards, Inc., 1979.

About, Crown Center. Accessed June 8th 2022. https://www.crowncenter.com/about-crown-center.

Kansas City's Crown Center, Crown Center. January 1st 2017. Accessed June 8th 2022. https://www.crowncenter.com/sites/default/files/inline-files/KCs_Crown_Center_Jan_2017_1.pdf.

National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form - Crown Center Historic District, Missouri State Parks. September 20th 2019. Accessed June 8th 2022. https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/Crown-Center-Historic-District.pdf.

Crown Center Redevelopment Corp., Hallmark Corporate. Accessed June 8th 2022. https://corporate.hallmark.com/about/hallmark-cards-company/our-businesses/crown-center/.