Following the construction of several new homes in the area, as well as increase in traffic along US-23 and Interstate 96,[2] plans were made in 2004 to build a new lifestyle center called Green Oak Village Place at the interchange of U.S. 23 and Lee Road southeast of town. A small shopping center featuring Costco and Kohl's had already been built at the southwestern quadrant of this interchange.[3] In December 2004, a preliminary approval was granted to build the center, which was developed by Lormax Stern in association with REDICO and Quadrants, Inc. The city's officials formed a task force to determine the impact that the mall would have on the city's downtown business district.[4] Construction began in June 2005, ahead of schedule.[5] At the same time, the Lee Road interchange with U.S. 23 was rebuilt to include three roundabouts,[6] leading one local resident to create a board game based on the roundabouts.[7]
Three of Green Oak Village Place's anchors — DSW Shoe Warehouse, Dick's Sporting Goods and Old Navy — were the first stores to open, doing so in mid-2006.[8]Barnes & Noble opened as the fourth anchor on October 25,[9] followed by a grand opening of the mall on October 27.[1] Inline stores began opening in October as well. Two months after the mall opened, a display at the Victoria's Secret store led to boycotts and protests from members of the community.[10]
A 104,000-square-foot (9,700 m2) JCPenney department store opened in March 2007,[11] and HomeGoods opened as a sixth anchor in September 2008. TJ Maxx opened in 2016[12] In 2020, Pier 1 Imports closed after the company filed for bankruptcy in February.[13]
