Mills Corporation

Mills Corporation
IndustryReal estate
Founded1967; 57 years ago (1967) (as Western Development Corporation)
1985 (1985) (as Mills Corporation)
DefunctApril 6, 2007; 17 years ago (2007-04-06)
FateBankruptcy
SuccessorSimon Property Group
HeadquartersChevy Chase, Maryland
ProductsShopping malls
Websitewww.themills.com (2003 archive)

The Mills Corporation was a publicly traded real estate investment trust headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States, acquired on April 3, 2007, by an investment group composed of Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management. The company developed, owned, and operated major super-regional shopping malls. The company built 18 "Landmark" centers in which the malls were named after "Mills", like "Vaughan Mills", or "St. Louis Mills"; and also over 20 "21st Century Retail" regional malls that they started operating in 2002, like Del Amo Fashion Center and Southdale Center. Most former Mills facilities have a large movie theater from 10 to 30 screens, and a large food court (sometimes two). Their facilities were normally built in colorful modern/abstract architectural designs, but in recent years have been renovated to more conventional designs with mainly neutral colors. Simon Property Group assumed management of the former Mills properties after the acquisition, and is operating the former "Landmark Mills" group as a separate operating segment within its organization.