Valley West Mall's Jimmy John's closed last year. It reopened in Clive.
A Jimmy John's franchise formerly located at the Valley West Mall reopened recently about a half-mile away.
Merchant Investments, which operates the franchise, closed the Valley West store on April 1 after 20 years in business. Recently the restaurant reopened at 1300 N.W. 100th St. in Clive. Kashaan Merchant, managing director of Merchant Investments, cited dwindling foot traffic at Valley West Mall and Jimmy John's emphasis on drive-thru locations as the reasons for the move.
"The relocation aligns with Merchant Investments' commitment to enhancing customer experience and offering accessible dining options," Merchant said in a news release.
In 2022 U.S. Bank foreclosed on the mall's owners Watson Centers of Minneapolis, saying the company failed to make $3.5 million in payments on a $50 million loan.
More: Worried area could 'die on the vine,' West Des Moines pushes Valley West Mall redevelopment
Merchant Investments operates 31 Jimmy John's locations in central Iowa. In April Merchant said his company loved the store, but that a move was necessary.
"We have seen sales go down over the past year or so," Merchant said in April. "The sad thing is the mall is in great shape. It's not dilapidated. There's not tiles coming off. For some reason there's not traffic in there."
Philip Joens covers retail, real estate and RAGBRAI for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached at 515-284-8184, pjoens@registermedia.com or on Twitter @Philip_Joens.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Valley West Jimmy John's reopens in Clive year after closure
