Take a Cool Walk, Enjoy Thin-Crust Pizza and Gelato, Grab a Ukrainian Pastry, Let the Children Play
Valley West Mall is going the way of Kodachrome ... but there is pizza, gelato, and Ukrainian pastries to be had. Plus, two fun spaces for toddlers to play.
Updated July 29, 2025 to reflect current mall occupants.
Greetings, Readers! So, who goes to the increasingly abandoned Valley West Mall anymore? Well, some of you might want to consider doing so, especially when temperatures climb again. Read on!
Seriously. Valley West Mall?
When I was leaving Valley West Mall recently, the song “Kodachrome” by Paul Simon was playing on the music system. How fitting, I thought, the mall being in that league of things (like film and brick-and-mortar stores) that are diminished or disappearing, if not having vanished altogether.
Yes, many stores at Valley West are shuttered, but when temperatures climb to their current scorching heights, there’s a reason or three to head here: The whole mall is a reasonably cool place for a walk. There’s also pizza, chocolates, gelato, and Ukrainian pastries to be had.
And some of the stores that remain are fun little gems—plus, there are places for kids to play.
First, the Walk
A friend of mine recently said, “I don’t think I could go there. It would be too depressing. I used to love that mall.” True, looping around empty storefronts is hardly a laugh-a-minute, but in a world where the selling never stops, it can be peaceful and oddly compelling to see where your mind wanders as you witness the quietude of the fading behemoth. Its very ghostliness makes it an off-the-beaten-path choice for a contemplative walk
The upside of the mall’s downturn is that it’s rarely crowded. P.S.: Lower level is cooler than the upper level, though neither was overly hot on this sunny, infernal day.
Pizza, Salad, and Gelato
I like Blaze Pizza’s thin-crust pie; the toppings are fresh and judiciously scattered, and the crust is toasty-crisp and lightly charred here and there. The salads aren’t bad.
We took our pizza to go and ate it downstairs at a table near a stand of tropical plants. We brought our own plates and tablecloth—items we often have in the car because we picnic anywhere. Our little set-up was enhanced by the persistent splashing of the still-extant waterfall nearby.
It was … quirky and satisfying in an endearingly quiet and low-key way. But if that sounds too eccentric for words, Blaze offers ample seating—and buzz—inside the restaurant, where you can also get Bud Light and Angry Orchard cider. And on not-crazy-hot days, you can eat on the patio.
We concluded the meal with a cool scoop of Chocolaterie Stam’s chocolate-walnut gelato ($5/small). Generally you get one flavor per cup, but I sweet-talked them into giving me a little slather of Mexican vanilla, too. (Why not—it’s the same amount of gelato, right? They were pretty nice about it!).
But Wait! There’s More! Check Out European Taste Ukrainian Bakery
I saved the best food item for last: A pleasant little Ukrainian bakery, which opened last spring, lies opposite Blaze. Many items are homemade (e.g., Napolean cake, turnovers, pavlova, honeycake), while others are not (e.g., macarons, cheesecake, Baklava). We took home a few homemade goodies home to enjoy later.
Pavlova—a meringue shell that’s filled (in this case) with whipped cream and a bonus slather of lemon curd—is one of my favorite summer desserts. If you’re entertaining, consider picking up a few of these beauties and serving them with cool sliced fresh berries or stone fruit. I appreciated the crisp cherry turnover, and it’s even better with ice cream. The Napoleon Cake alternated puff pastry, pastry cream, and a few raspberries—it’s a dense dessert that’s not nearly as sweet as its French cousin, the Napoleon pastry. Again, I’d probably shower this with fresh summer fruit if serving it for guests.
Some Nice Shops Endure. A Great Place for Kids
Don’t get me wrong—there is still some shopping to be had here. Find JC Penney’s, Eddie Bauer, Fit to Be Tied (for great active footwear), an optical shop, and a handful of other spots, including the cute gift shop, Cottage on the Creek.
I should also mention that the mall is quite tidy and well-kempt.
A Paradise for Toddlers
If I had toddlers, I’d head to the wonderfully whimsical Des Moines Children’s Museum when it’s too hot to play outside. To safeguard the privacy of the children in the museum, I didn’t take any photos, but the play-focused space has a pint-size doctors’ office, a fishing boat, a henhouse, a farmers’ market and more. It’s all pretty darned cute. I’ve never seen a kid crying in there, by the way—the joy on their little faces is infectious.
There’s also a little (free) play space that kids seem to adore just as much. Sometimes, when I do my mall tour, there’s a group of young dads watching their children. It looks like a good time is being had by all.
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Tender treatment of a mighty, fallen. Absolutely hittin’ the bakery! Thanks for everything, Wini. See you at your upcoming book events!
This is great for several reasons. One, I was thinking of going there just today because, of course, of the weather. Two, I'd meant to ask around if the Stam's was still open there. And three, I've been wanting to try a pavlova. Being a good German girl from Wisconsin, I love me some schaum tortes (my mom made them) and figured maybe if I couldn't find a schaum torte somewhere, maybe I could find a pavlova and if not maybe I'd tried to make either of them. Now I don't have to.