Macon Mall facts for kids
Macon Mall entrance facing Mercer University Drive.
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| Location | Macon, Georgia, United States |
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| Opening date | 1975 |
| Developer | Colonial Properties |
| Management | Hull Property Group |
| Owner | Hull Property Group |
| No. of stores and services | 39 (150 at peak) |
| No. of anchor tenants | 5 (1 open, 4 vacant) |
| Total retail floor area | 1,080,000 sq ft (100,000 m2). |
| No. of floors | 2 |
The Macon Mall is a large, two-story shopping mall located in Macon, Georgia. It opened in 1975 and was once a very busy place with many stores. Today, it has a lot of empty spaces, and only one main store, Burlington, is still open. Other big stores like Belk, J.C. Penney, and Macy's have closed their doors.
Contents
Mall History: From Opening to Expansion
Early Years: 1975 to Mid-1990s
The Macon Mall first opened in 1975. It was a huge shopping center, covering over 1 million square feet! It had four major stores: Davison's, Belk, JCPenney, and Sears. When it first opened, the mall had a fun, disco-like style with many light bulbs. However, this look quickly became old-fashioned and expensive to keep up. So, the mall got its first makeover in 1983.
In 1986, a food court was added, giving shoppers more places to eat. Around this time, Davison's changed its name to Macy's. The opening of Macon Mall was so popular that it led to the closing of another mall nearby, called Westgate Mall.
Big Changes: 1997 Renovation and Growth
In 1997, the Macon Mall went through a massive renovation and expansion. It almost doubled in size, becoming one of the largest malls in Georgia! This big change brought in two new major stores: Dillard's and Parisian. It also added over 40 new shops, making the mall feel more upscale and modern.
To handle all the new shoppers, two parking garages were built. The food court also got an extra level with more restaurants and an arcade. In 1998, Macy's at the mall changed its name to Rich's. For a couple of years, Macon Mall was the biggest mall in Georgia, until the Mall of Georgia opened in 1999.
In the early 2000s, some stores moved out, like Old Navy, which went to a new shopping center nearby. Later, Rich's changed back to Macy's in 2005.
Mall Decline: Late 2000s to Today
Challenges Begin: Late 2000s
The mall started facing tough times in the late 2000s. In 2006, Parisian was bought by Belk and then closed in 2007. A new, outdoor shopping center called The Shoppes at River Crossing opened in 2008. This new center attracted Dillard's away from Macon Mall. Dillard's said they could serve customers better with just one store.
With Dillard's gone, two of the big stores added in 1997 were now empty. This caused many other stores to leave the mall in 2009, including popular brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, The Gap, and Starbucks. Some of these stores moved to the new shopping center, while others closed down completely.
Renovation and Demolition: 2011 Changes
More stores continued to leave the mall in 2010. A new company bought the mall and decided to make big changes. They planned to tear down the east wing of the mall, which included the empty Parisian building. The rest of the mall would be renovated.
Demolition began in August 2011. Many remaining stores moved to the west wing of the mall. Some popular stores, like American Eagle Outfitters and Victoria's Secret, decided to leave the mall entirely.
The renovation was completed by the end of 2011. The mall got new carpets, skylights, and restrooms. A carousel was removed, and staircases were moved around. A new, large restaurant called Smok’n Pig opened, taking up several former store spaces.
However, the mall continued to lose its big stores. In December 2011, Sears announced it would close its Macon Mall store in April 2012. Then, Belk closed its doors in September 2012. Over the next two years, more stores left, including The Children's Place and RadioShack.
Current Status: Continued Decline
In 2015, Burlington Coat Factory moved into the upper level of the former Sears store. It is now known simply as Burlington. However, the mall's challenges continued.
On March 17, 2017, JCPenney announced it would close its Macon Mall store as part of a nationwide plan. It closed in July 2017. By 2018, even more stores were leaving, and the food court was becoming emptier.
Finally, on January 6, 2020, Macy's announced it would close its Macon Mall location in March 2020. This left Burlington as the only major store still open in the mall.
