West County Center: A Top Indoor Mall in St. Louis

Malls are not what they used to be. Thanks to the rise of the internet and online shopping, people no longer go to malls in the way they did in the heyday of the 1980s. St. Louis is no exception to that trend: formerly busy mall spaces like Jamestown Mall, Northwest Plaza, and St. Louis Mills have either been repurposed for different uses or demolished entirely. The malls that remain are less busy.

We still see a value for malls, though. There are some things that are just better to see in person before you buy — clothing is an obvious example. We also like indoor shopping malls because they can be a good place to walk around when the weather is too hot, too cold, or too rainy. This being St. Louis, all of those things are on the table in any given year.

There are a handful of large outdoor malls left in the area, including South County Center, The Galleria, and Mid-Rivers Mall in St. Peters.

In the middle of it all sits the area longtime residents might still call West County Mall. Today, it’s called West County Center.

Getting There

West County Center (Google Maps link) sits off of Manchester (MO-100) just east of I-270 in Des Peres. Most people will take I-270 to the Manchester exit. It’s a little easier coming from the south than it is coming from the north. Coming from the south, you can turn right into West County Center Dr. without even having to get on Manchester. Coming from the north, on the other hand, requires getting over a couple of lanes, which can be tricky especially if you take the left lane (MO-100) off the southbound exit rather than the right lane (West County Center Dr.).

If you miss the first West County Center turn, there are a couple more entrances on Manchester and more still if you make a right on New Ballas Road and head behind the mall.

Parking

West County Center offers both outdoor and covered parking. You can find outdoor parking all along the north, south, east, and west sides of the mall. In addition, there are three multi-level parking garages: the Manchester garage (northwest side of the mall), the Ballas garage (northeast side of the mall), and the I-270 garage (southwest side of the mall). You can find numerous entrances to the mall next to the outdoor parking and from inside the parking garages. Some entrances deposit you in the upper level, while others enter by way of the lower level.

All parking is free.

We spotted a valet station near the west outdoor parking, but when we were there we didn’t spot anyone, so we don’t know if it’s used or how it might be used.

Costs and Considerations

As of 2025, West County Center is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Individual stores may have hours that differ from the mall. You can find individual store hours in the mall’s directory.

As is typical in a mall, every store will have different policies regarding forms of payment and other things.

The mall has three floors: a lower level, an upper level, and a small third floor. The floors are accessible by way of various escalators, elevators, and stairs. The escalators are located throughout the mall, including along the main floor, while you can find stairs and elevators on the north and south side of the mall. If you don’t like escalators — and at least one member of my family does not — plan accordingly.

Things to Do

Malls are primarily about shopping, and West County Center has plenty of that. There are three multi-floor anchor department stores in the space — J.C. Penney, Nordstrom, and Macy’s — surrounded by a range of other retailers and services. You can find an interactive map on the mall’s directory page or at one of the directory stations around the mall itself.

Here’s what you can find in the major areas of the mall:

The Lower Level. In addition to the anchor stores, the first floor is occupied mostly by clothing stores like H&M, Aerie, and Hollister. We also saw a sprinkling of other retailers that sell things like home decor (Pub Decor), jewelry (Sephora), and toys (Go! Games / Go! Toys and the LEGO Store). We also spotted at least one hair salon, one international real estate service, and various kiosks along the middle of the mall walkways. For little kids, you can pay to ride the trackless train near Macy’s or play in the small enclosed playspace just outside J.C. Penney.

Restaurant Village. Located outside of the mall just west of the lower level, Restaurant Village is not much of a restaurant village, as the only two establishments we saw were 1) Renewal by Anderson store, for those needing new windows or doors, and 2) J. Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks and Seafood.

The Upper Level. You can access all three anchor stores on the upper level as well. Same for H&M. You’ll find more clothing here, including luluemon and American Eagle, along with a few jewelry retailers in Claire’s, Helzberg, Kay, and Pandora. Other upper level stores include Apple, Bath and Body Works, LensCrafters, and a massage center. Barnes and Noble is alive and well along the west side of the mall just above Restaurant Village.

The Food Court. Located on the southeast side of the mall on the Upper Level, the food court is an open and well-stocked space that includes Asian, Tex-Mex, Mediterranean, and Americana options.

The Third Floor. There are third floor sections on both the north and south ends of the mall. On the north end, Macy’s extends up to a third floor. On the south end, the entrance to Dick’s Sporting Goods can be found just off the food court.

Our Thoughts

West County Center has a lot going for it. It’s just off 270, one of the more accessible freeways in St. Louis. There’s plenty of parking, including garage parking that is a welcome sight during rain. In addition, it is, at least in 2025, a well-kept, mostly full mall: if you’re looking for clothes, this mall is especially strong on that front, with sellers that range from activewear to formalwear.

We also like the mall for its walkability. During the hot summer or frigid winter — St. Louis has plenty of both — this is a great place to get out of the elements and get some exercise. The skylights let in a ton of natural light, making it a serene place to take a stroll.

It’s not perfect. It can be a little tricky to get to from the north. It doesn’t have a movie theater, something you would find at Mid-Rivers or the Galleria. And Restaurant Village is, at present, uninspiring.

Still, we think, on the whole, that this is arguably the area’s best mall. We like its store offerings and food court better than both Mid-Rivers and the Galleria, and it’s got covered parking, which Mid-Rivers lacks. It’s also better located for most people in the St. Louis area than its sister mall, South County Center.

In our view, that makes West County Center a top spot to check out if you need to shop, grab a snack, or get your steps in.