Independence Center

This is, by far, the BEST mall in the KC area. It’s big enough to have an excellent selection of stores and edible options, but small enough that it’s convenient and you don’t have to walk forever to get anywhere. They are putting in a giant Dick’s Sporting Goods and have one wing of the mall under construction currently. There is a Mall Jump (bungee attraction) and a glorious FULL SIZE CAROUSEL in the center, and a wide-​open play area. Still prefer an indoor mall to an outdoor one, because of the convenience of going in any weather. If you go to customer service and purchase gift cards, they often give you a bonus gift card usable anywhere in the mall. Also, they have ticketmaster inside, and a variety of wireless carriers. The apparel store and shoe store options are endless, as well as a variety of options for salons/​spas. And, contrary to some malls, there is a lot here for the male element to enjoy: GameStop, several sports places (both apparel and memorabilia), ball cap shops, Sears for outdoor stuff, grill stuff, and car stuff, Foundry, Hoops, Spencers, etc. They have TWO pretzel places, one on the upper level, and one on the lower level. And they just added two new restaurants to the food court: Fenway Park Steakburgers and Teriyaki Grill. Check it out!!!

Independence Center gets a negative rap sometimes because of a few incidents that have occurred here in recent years. It’s unfortunate because it is a decent indoor mall.
I don’t go here often because it’s at least a 40 minute drive for me and most of the stores here can be found near me anyway. They do have a nice selection of sports related stores (Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, etc) that my son loves. The food court is fine enough if we need to grab a snack. Panda Express, Subway, etc. are fine. The last time we went, the bathroom area had the worst smell and I literally had to hold my breath for 2 minutes while we ran in and out. Ackkkkk! It was definitely a plumbing odor issue and hopefully maintenance has that under control now for the sake of mall patrons.
The kids play area is big and open. Just make sure you bring your GermX with you as I am a big fan of wiping off hands after playing in a public area where kids shoes have been removed! The day we were there, a child had just gotten into an accident. I think he must have severely broken an arm or collarbone. :(We witnessed mall security come quickly to take an accident report, saw some medical personnel quickly arrive and access the situation, bring out a rolling gurney, temporarily bandage up the child and whisk him away with his parents. It was all handled very quickly and professionally.
The atmosphere is comfortable here in my opinion. Lots of families, children, old folks lounging around, and young teens enjoying the mall with their friends. I don’t have any problems with it!

I love malls. I think my past review of the now defunct Metro North Mall voiced that thoroughly. I’m an 80’s kid so what can I say. The Mall was the thing back then. Nothing beats tons of shopping and food in climate controlled grandeur. Hopefully Independence Center will be around for the long haul.

It’s the way a mall should look. Plenty of stores… plenty of things to entertain the kids.

Great mall! Many shops, restaurants, and activities. Nice layout. I’m not usually a «mall walker», but I wouldn’t mind just going to walk around if I had nothing to do. It’s a very comfortable atmosphere.

Independence Center is a decent mall. Not many empty spots and plenty of parking. It is a nice big mall. Clean and safe for the most part.
One complaint though, if you are looking for a team hat or shirt, there are only like 5 stores that carry them in the mall, not including stores near by out in the parking lot or other connected strip malls.

Good olé independence center. I refuse to visit you from Nov to Jan but the off seasons I can find some cool stuff in a climate controlled mall. I don’t get the drive for open air malls in the midwest. We have this thing called winter that sucks really bad. Why would I want to walk around in the cold on icy sidewalks when Independence Center have a roof and a heater? Not too low end and definitely not high end I do most of my clothing shopping here.

I love the way this mall is setup. All stores are so easier to access. Just stay away on the weekend and holidays, yikes! We do like to take our kids to play in the children’s area but so of the other kids are too old /​big and ruff so you do have to watch the younger ones!

I went out here on a friend’s recommendation to find a good Macy’s. I was pleasantly surprised to find a thriving traditional mall. I thought they all died out. Decent store selection in a an area full of other shopping choices. It’s probably wonderful if you have kids, but I did almost get run over by the train. Dodging that hazard pushed me directly into Santa’s way. Yikes!

Decent mall. It’s clean but a little on the old side inside.

I am just happy to see an indoor mall that is not dying, empty, closed, or completely demolished.

This was the mall I went to growing up and will always be the mall I judge other malls against. It isn’t the biggest place in the world but it beats having to drive anywhere else. I remember trick-​or-​treating here as a little kid, and this is also where I got my very first job. I love how there are always birds inside. Unfortunately, visitors at this mall now run the risk of getting shot at, and stores open and close and relocate at an alarming rate — the reason I quit working here was because my store closed too. I haven’t been here in a while but the mall I remember is worth my four stars.

This is probably my favorite mall by far. My daughter loves the play area. The food court offers a lot of variety. The staff in the stores are usually friendly. The variety shopping wise is decent. Yeah, there has been some criminal activities happen there every once in a while but what mall hasn’t had problems? I’d rather have security there in case something did happen.
This mall also has the Easter bunny and Santa out to take pictures with every year. The staff that runs those are always so great to my daughter. We will continue to go a couple times a month.

I used to hear people talk so much shit on this mall, saying that it didn’t deserve to be a mall, that it was too small, not enough choice, blah blah blah. I don’t get it?
I can say that it is not the biggest mall I have been to, by far. But I personally, hate those large malls. The idea of a mall is so strange to me anyway. Yes, it’s convenient to have that many stores together, INDOOR, avoiding the elements… whatever, it just seems weird.
I think this mall is absolutely fine. Good selection for it’s size. Not too over bearing. Good little play place for the kids. (Our 4 year old BEGS to go ride the carousel on a weekly basis) I use it to bribe her. «if you’re good for 5 days, we’ll go to the carousel.» it works! I like that that kid-​playland thing has hand sanitizer at all of the entrances! Wonderful idea! Kids are diiiiiiirty and pass their sickness around way to easily. Be sure to stop at the sanitizer station on the way in and out!
MY biggest complaint about Independence Center is that there is basically one entrance to get in and out of the mall. maybe 2. But around the holiday season it SUCKS navigating around there. I don’t understand why there isn’t a service road around the mall with more exits. Seems like a planning flaw to me. If that we’re fixed, I would give it a much better rating.

I have to give it 5 stars, why? Cause I live in Independence, and Oak Park Mall is too far to drive. Besides the fact that Indep. Center also has a pretty cool Hot Topics, and a large enough Pac Sun. I spend alot of time in Pac Sun, and I know their products, as well as they do. (skateboarder in the house).
I watched them tear down the center food court. I watched them rebuild the food court, and now it’s pretty cool. They recently added Orange Julious. Too many places to eat to list here. I love the lay out, it’s comfortable, not too much walking. Architecturally, it’s sound. I don’t mind the walking. They have benches throughout the mall, and also little restaurants (Annie’s, Gloria Jeans, etc…) for breaks. I spend alot of time at this mall.
Macy’s, Dillards, a Sears I don’t go in except when I need my car battery fixed (See my Sears review). Large Old Navy, Lids, Applebee’s, T-​Mobile, Sprint, The Walking Store, Bath and Body Works, Wilson’s Leather, Payless Shoes (I don’t shop there), Zumiez-​one of my favorites, Tradehome-​another favorite. Ton’s others. The stores are spacious, and I usually find what I want. Which is often having to do with the Mac make-​up counter at Macy’s. The mall is made up of carpeted ramps, and kiosk’s a plenty. 3 sets of escalators, and cool glass elevators you can see through.
The guys are Tradehome rock my world, and are so awesome and so cool, I should just write a separate review for Tradehome.
The problem I’ve seen, and it’s not been solved yet, and has nothing to do with Indep. Center is, there’s not a very close gas station. That might actually be solved by traveling over to Wal-​mart. That has nothing to do with Mall, I just added that cause it’s late and I felt like it. Khol’s, Best Buy and Barnes and Noble are across 39^th street.

Great mall. I’ve been going here since I was a child. Best layout of any indoor mall I’ve been to. It’s built in a large circular fashion, actually it has three spokes, three stories high so you can see most of the stores inside from any vantage point. The food court is located on the bottom floor right in the middle. Probably the oldest mega mall in the KC area. Has a lot of great stores, Dillards, Macy’s, Sears anchor the mall. It has Old Navy, Men’s Warehouse, hat stores, and Bath and Body works. Not as upscale as Oak Park mall in Overland Park. I wish Independence had Nordstrom and Banana Republic but the area just isn’t that type. It’s a blue collar mall. Independence center is all alone as an indoor mall in this part since Blue Ridge mall faded away into dust and became a Wal-​Mart. There are plenty of outdoor malls and shops in this area now and traffic is thick.