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Rob Kallas is pictured in his office on his last day of work Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, at University Place in Orem.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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University Place in Orem is pictured in an undated photo.

Courtesy Woodbury Corp.

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University Place General Manager Rob Kallas is pictured in a newspaper clipping.

Courtesy Kallas family

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University Place General Manager Rob Kallas is pictured.

Courtesy Kallas Family

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University Place General Manager Rob Kallas is pictured in a newspaper clipping.

Courtesy Kallas Family

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University Place General Manager Rob Kallas is pictured.

Courtesy Kallas Family

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In the 1970s, Woodbury Corp. launched a two-anchor mall in Orem, anchored by ZCMI on the west end and JCPenney on the east.

Over the last half-century, the property has grown into the sprawling campus now called University Place, which is arguably the retail hub of Utah County, fitted with stores, restaurants, apartments and entertainment amenities.

One man behind the mall’s evolution is Orem native Rob Kallas, who has been with Woodbury Corp. since 1974 and became the mall’s general manager in 1978.

After nearly a half-century of managing the property, Kallas is calling it a career. He will retire and be replaced by Michael Jorgensen after helping build what Woodbury Vice President Randy Woodbury called the largest tax-generating entity in Utah County.

“It does make me really proud,” Kallas said. “I was born and raised in Orem, and I grew up, went to Orem High School, I went to BYU, and I married a girl from Orem, and I raised my kids in Orem. It’s really, really satisfying to know that you’ve had some influence in your community that you love so much.”

A kid from Orem

Woodbury said it is rare to have continuity in the business world these days, but that Kallas bucked the trend, working for Woodbury Corp. through four generations of leadership.

“Who else these days works for over 50 years anywhere, much less for one company?” he said. “That kind of loyalty and continuity has just been invaluable. Rob is like an extended family member, and we have had a level of trust virtually through our whole careers together that’s just been wonderful.”

The relationship started when Kallas returned from military service and wanted to find employment that would keep him in the area.

“I looked up the biggest development in that community and pestered them until they hired me,” Kallas said.

Kallas was brought on by Woodbury Corp. to work in real estate management in 1974 and took on the general manager position in 1978. He has played an integral role in planning and expansion decisions since.

Kallas believes he managed to do so with local interests in mind. He said there were times when neighbors would call to complain about a new carpet style in the mall, and that he would listen and, in some cases, make a change.

When Woodbury Corp. bought 30 to 40 homes north of the mall — land that later became a Costco, which opened in 1999, and then apartments — it was Kallas who facilitated the deal, because he knew many of the residents from growing up in the area.

“Rob has always maintained a real estate license throughout his whole career with us,” Woodbury said. “He had those relationships, and he was the one who basically negotiated all of those acquisitions as the property has grown in size.”

“I had so many close friends that I knew around the mall, and I think it really helped,” Kallas said. “I think I knew personally about five or six of the mayors that went through while I was at the mall and became good friends with any that I didn’t know.”

Persistent leadership

Kallas said the goal for the mall was always to see it grow and develop, even in the face of economic turmoil.

During the recession in the late 2000s, he said they focused on managing efficiently while keeping costs relatively low so tenants could survive. Through that approach, he said, the mall endured and was later able to attract new retailers who saw its success.

“There were a lot of times when national tenants were not expanding, but they did take a second look at what we were doing and were impressed enough to give us a chance. And that success begat success,” Kallas said.

Even after the recession, enclosed malls continued to struggle as many department stores declined. This marked a major inflection point for University Mall, Kallas said, prompting leaders to step back and determine the best path forward.

They chose to invest in a $500 million revitalization project to turn the mall into a mixed-use facility equipped with new retail, office, hotel and residential space. University Mall was rebranded as University Place in 2015.

“We just decided that this was way too important for us as a family and for the community,” Woodbury said. “So we more than doubled down.”

As new phases of the project unfolded, Kallas became the face of the transformation. His role evolved from mall manager to real estate manager overseeing infrastructure and retail for the 112-acre facility. Woodbury said Kallas continued to excel in his ability to “bend over backward” to maintain relationships with tenants, despite years of disruptive construction.

New entities that have arrived at University Place in the last decade include RC Willey, Trader Joe’s, Sephora, Courtyard by Marriott, The Cheesecake Factory and LEGO.

“In many respects, it’s like its own little city, and Rob’s been the mayor of that for a long time,” Woodbury said.

Looking back on his career, Kallas said the most important lesson he learned, and would pass on to others, is persistence.

“Hang in there. Don’t give up,” he said. “Things have ups and downs and hardships, and you stick with it. You try to face it and overcome it. I’ve always been the kind of person that says, ‘Why do I think it’s going to be any better somewhere else? Why not just make it good here?’ And just solve your problems.”