Eclipse Center

Eclipse Center

Former Beloit Plaza/Mall under redevelopment
Location	Beloit, Wisconsin, United States
Address	Riverside Dr. and Henry Ave.
Opening date	1966
Closing date	2000
Developer	Hendricks Development Group
Management	Hendricks Development Group
Owner	Hendricks Development Group
No. of stores and services	60+ (peak)
No. of anchor tenants	0, 3 major, 3 minor
Total retail floor area	450,000 square feet (42,000 m2)
No. of floors	1
Public transit access	Beloit Transit

Eclipse Center, formerly known as Beloit Plaza or Beloit Mall, is a mixed-use development and former shopping mall in Beloit, Wisconsin. It is undergoing a renovation with the aim of making it a pivotal point in the city. It formerly housed the department store Elder-Beerman, and still houses several Rock County government offices, a convention center and bar, and two School District of Beloit charter schools. There are also an automotive shop and a culinary program run by students from Beloit Memorial High School.

Overview

Set on a high profile, 30-acre (120,000 m²) site on a bluff overlooking Riverside Drive (US Highway 51) and the Rock River, the 400,000-square-foot (37,000 m²) Beloit Plaza was the first major shopping center in Rock County.^{[ citation needed ]} Early success was followed by a decline resulting from competition with the Janesville Mall and developments in Janesville and Beloit with easy access to Interstate 90. Several redevelopment efforts failed, but with the involvement of Beloit billionaire Ken Hendricks beginning in 2004, a new plan to make it a mixed-use development with public services and other facilities has raised local hopes for the site.

Tenants included an Elder-Beerman store, Cardinal Stritch University, the University of Wisconsin–Extension, the Beloit Public Library, the Rock County Health Department, the Beloit Area Community Health Center, School District of Beloit facilities, a convention and banquet facility, and smaller businesses. Elder-Beerman closed in 2018 and later was demolished in 2025. ^{[1] [2]}

Some parts of the mall, including former Kohl’s and Main Entrance, were demolished to create a new Charter School. The project was initiated by Kids First Beloit, a nonprofit group led by Diane Hendricks, board president. Construction started in June 2020, and took a year to be built. It was completed in July 2021. ^{[3] [4]}

The mall includes an event venue known as the Eclipse Events Centre. ^{[5] [6]}

References

1. Montgomery, Austin (May 15, 2019). "Shoppers say they'll take dollars elsewhere". Beloit Daily News. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
2. Johnson, Neil Johnson. "Bon-Ton to close Elder-Beerman store in Beloit". GazetteXtra. Janesville, Wisconsin. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
3. Conniff, Ruth (July 7, 2020). "Beloit billionaire Diane Hendricks' controversial charter school • Wisconsin Examiner". Wisconsin Examiner. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
4. Hembree, Mark (May 11, 2022). "the Lincoln Academy provides vision of school of the future" . Retrieved September 10, 2025.
5. "Eclipse Event Center | Beloit, Wisconsin Special Event Venue". Eclipse. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
6. Crozier, Robert (March 25, 2016). "Eclipse Center unveiled". Beloit Daily News. Retrieved June 9, 2019.

External links

• Hendricks Development Group

42°31′15″N89°01′52″W / 42.52083°N 89.03111°W / 42.52083; -89.03111