Maybe there's a Cottonwood Mall in Omaha too? Probably just a matter of them not wanting/needing the expense of renaming the mall for the story.
Really, it was just the name on the door to the security office and maybe another sign. Possibly a Cottonwood Mall in Omaha. They're also been a few other continuity issues in the series, like the SpringHill Suites adjacent to the Crossroads Motel, aka "Crystal Palace" which opened in 2020, well past the timing of the series.
The southwest decor could also give it away. That mall was used earlier in the series when the ladies from Sandpiper would go walking and Jimmy was trying to close out that case (maybe season 3 or so?).
And what of Gene's KC Royals lunchbag (they didn't show that for nothing)? Didn't Kim have a KC shirt? I wonder if she reappears in Gene-time again after all.
I noticed that too. Not sure if that was evident in prior scenes, but was certainly displayed to be scene.
And we heard about the "50 year-old science teacher..."
Looking forward to the next three episodes!