The Olde Towne Mall Story
Back in 1856, an ambitious 22-year-old entrepreneur from New York, Joseph M. Bostwick, opened a dry goods store in young Janesville. His stores grew over the years, when in 1890, he acquired 20-26 S. Main Street, as an expansion of his successful retail enterprise. The Bostwick’s store flourished in Janesville for 122 years, when it finally closed in 1978.
Olde Towne Mall was born in 1986 out of the historic Bostwick’s store, and lives on and thrives today as a tribute to Janesville’s South Main Street Historic Shopping District.
The Mayor of Main Street
Jackie Wood is a Janesville community icon, affectionally known as the “Mayor of Main Street.” Jackie manages the historic Olde Towne Mall on South Main Street, Janesville. A location that has an amazingly rich history of successful retail shopping in the heart of our community’s original business district, beginning with J.M. Bostwick’s dry goods store in the mid-1800s to the NEW Olde Towne Mall shopping experience today.
“To see a business grow from a small business to a bigger business is just very exciting. I believe there are a lot of good people here and it's our people who make this community great.” ~ Jackie Wood
For nearly four decades, Jackie Wood has been committed in helping Janesville’s historic downtown remain vibrant and attractive. She actively works daily to help grow the local economy, to make Janesville a wonderful place to visit, work and live.
Jackie Wood has been at the heart of the Olde Towne Mall since its inception in 1986 and manages the property today.
Phone: 608-752-0295
Email: OldeTowneMall@yahoo.com
