Aug. 2, 2022

Dillard’s is back on track to open at The Empire Mall.

The department store first announced a Sioux Falls store in late 2018 with plans to open about a year later.

Today, mall owner Simon and Dillard’s confirmed the first location in the Upper Midwest is expected to open in the fall of 2023.

Dillard’s will take over the former Younkers space and add about 40,000 square feet to the west of the existing 100,000-square-foot store. This will be the 30th state of operation for the national retailer.

“We are very happy to continue our plans for The Empire Mall, bringing our premier shopping experience to our new Sioux Falls customers. We are looking forward to developing longstanding client relationships by serving the area at an exceptional level,” Dillard’s senior vice president Chris Johnson said in a statement.

The new store will present Dillard’s “latest concepts in store design, presenting a full assortment of fashion selections specifically tailored to the tastes and preferences of the company’s new Sioux Falls customers,” according to the statement.

Dillard’s has 251 locations and 29 clearance centers. The company announced its first quarter earnings in May and reported a 23 percent year-over-year increase in same-store sales and a record retail gross margin of 47.3 percent, leading to net income of $251 million, or $13.68 per share.

For The Empire Mall, the expansion means three of the four department store anchor spots will be filled on campus. The former Sears space is still available for redevelopment.

“We are excited to bring Dillard’s to the Sioux Falls market, adding to our already compelling array of retail offerings at The Empire Mall,” said Mark Silvestri, president of Simon Development. “This collaboration is a perfect extension of our commitment to bringing the best-of-the-best shopping experience to our discerning Sioux Falls shopper and continually raising the bar on what it means to be the premier retail destination in the state of South Dakota.”

Empire Mall manager details plans for Dillard’s, more activity within the mall