Sunday, November 23, 2008
NORTH DEKALB CENTER TENANTS 1965
(PARTIAL LIST):
RICH'S (with outparcel Tire Center) / F.W. WOOLWORTH 5 and 10 / Hickock Sporting Goods / Zachary Shops / Regenstein's / Playboy Shop / Flagg Brothers Shoes / Butler's / Thompson, Bolend and Lee Shoes / Decatur Federal Savings and Loan (outparcel) / Casual Corner / Pearle Optical / Pet Village / Hickory Farms of Ohio / Milton Bradley Store / Orange Julius / The Limited / Spinnaker's Restaurant / North Dekalb Theatre (single-screen) [opened 1966]
(PARTIAL LIST):
RICH'S (with outparcel Tire Center) / F.W. WOOLWORTH 5 and 10 / Hickock Sporting Goods / Zachary Shops / Regenstein's / Playboy Shop / Flagg Brothers Shoes / Butler's / Thompson, Bolend and Lee Shoes / Decatur Federal Savings and Loan (outparcel) / Casual Corner / Pearle Optical / Pet Village / Hickory Farms of Ohio / Milton Bradley Store / Orange Julius / The Limited / Spinnaker's Restaurant / North Dekalb Theatre (single-screen) [opened 1966]
The original, 420,000 square foot center, which was Metro-Atlanta's
second fully-enclosed shopping complex. The plan above shows the
venue as it was situated at its inauguration in July 1965. Additions were
done in 1966-'67 and in 1985-'86.
A late '60s site plan, showing additions built onto the existing shopping
center between 1966 and 1968. These are shown in dark gray. The
NORTH DEKALB Rich's, which had opened as the fourth suburban store
in the Atlanta-based chain, had also been enlarged.
By the mid-1980s, NORTH DEKALB MALL had gone through a meta-
morphosis into MARKET SQUARE AT NORTH DEKALB. The western
half of the mall had been gutted, taking in Woolworth in the process.
139,000 square feet of retail was added and two new anchors came
inline; California-based Mervyn's and Massachusetts-based Lechmere.
A late '80s view of the new Food Court area, a component
of the award-winning reinvention of the center into MARKET
SQUARE AT NORTH DEKALB.
Photo from www.nannis.com
What will suffice as a present-day site plan of NORTH DEKALB MALL.
The forty-three year-old shopping venue has gone through two reno-
vations. A third is set to begin in the near future.
A basic renovation plan, proposed by Hendon Properties, would
demolish only the existing Food Court and Main Entrance and
insert a new, 152,000 square foot Costco.
Plan from Hendon Properties / www.indecatur.org
The "ultimate plan", a second proposal that would completely demall the
existing structure. Most inline stores would be demolished and replaced
with an "urban village" thoroughfare and open-air shops. Anchors, such
as Macy's and Burlington Coat Factory, would be retained. A new Costco
would be built and the existing AMC 16 multiplex remodeled into a totally
stadium seating venue of 12 auditoriums.
Plan from Hendon Properties / www.indecatur.org
NORTH DEKALB CENTER
Lawrenceville Highway / US 78 and North Druid Hills Road
Dekalb County, Georgia
"Leave your umbrella at home" was the slogan heard when Atlanta's sixth mall, the second fully-enclosed shopping center in the city, opened for business.
The official dedication of NORTH DEKALB CENTER was held July 29, 1965. Originally housing fifty-four stores and services, the single-level complex was situated on 66.6 acres, located 8.7 miles northeast of center city Atlanta.
Built by Atlanta-based Scott Development and designed by Stevens and Wilkinson of Marietta, Georgia, the 8.5 million dollar center was anchored by a 2-level, Atlanta-based Rich's and 1-level F.W. Woolworth 5 and 10. Inline stores in the 420,000 square foot shopopolis included Regenstein's, Flagg Brothers Shoes and Hickock Sporting Goods.
The single-screen North Dekalb Theatre, on the west mall corridor, was completed in 1966. It was twinned in the early 1980s.
An expansion of the shopping center was finished by 1968. A new store structure was added at the northwest corner (possibly a supermarket) and Rich's was enlarged with a single-level addition on the southeast. By now, the complex was known as NORTH DEKALB MALL.
Commercial competitors included COLUMBIA MALL (1964) [June 2008 archive], near Decatur, and -eventually- NORTHLAKE MALL (1971) [November 2008 archive], near unincorporated Tucker.
By the mid-1980s, NORTH DEKALB MALL was in decline. Its owner at the time, Toronto-based Cadillac Fairview Shopping Centers, announced a major renovation in October 1985.
Woolworth, vacant by this time, was gutted along with the entire western half of the mall structure. 236,000 square feet of store area was rebuilt, with 139,200 square feet of retail space added.
Two new anchors came inline; a 1-level (75,200 square foot) Mervyn's and 1-level (63,300 square foot), Woburn ["woo-burn"], Massachusetts-based Lechmere ["leech-meer"]. Thirty inline stores were added to the retail roster, including a 9-bay Food Court. Rich's was expanded for a second time. The store now encompassed 195,700 square feet.
A new name for the renewed retail hub was announced in April 1986; MARKET SQUARE AT NORTH DEKALB. The 626,700 square foot, eighty-five store complex was officially dedicated in October 1986.
Lechmere was the first anchor store to change nameplates. It became a Phar-Mor Drug in 1992 and was eventually sectioned into an expanded movie theater; the Market Square 4 in 1990 and North Dekalb 16 in 1996. The remaining space became a furniture store.
Mervyn's was shuttered (along with all Georgia locations) in 1996. Its space was taken by Norcross, Georgia-based Uptons. This space, in turn, reopened as a Burlington, New Jersey-based Burlington Coat Factory in November 2002.
The official name of the shopping center reverted to NORTH DEKALB MALL in 2000. Once again in a state of decline, the center was sold in October 2003. The new owner, Atlanta-based Hendon Properties, devised a second redevelopment of the venue.
First proposed in 2004, the project was to be anchored by a 1-level (152,000 square foot), Issaquah, Washington-based Costco. This would occupy roughly the same area as Woolworth in the circa-1965 mall.
In an "ultimate plan" for redevelopment, anchor stores -and the cinema- would be left standing, with the middle area of the existing mall being demolished. A wide boulevard would be cut through and all stores reoriented into an open-air format.
After some problems with community opposition to the construction of a parking garage on the northwest corner of the mall site, the demalling plan received initial approval in 2008.
The best case scenario would have demoltion / construction beginning in early 2009, with completion slated for 2010. However, current economic conditions could delay the project indefinitely.
Sources:
"North Deklab Mall" article on Wikipedia
Dekalb County, Georgia tax assessor website
Craig Brickey, former "Mass" resident
www.georgiaretailmemories.com / "J.T." webmaster
www.cinematreasures.com
www.nannis.com
www.georgiaencyclopedia.com
Atlanta Business Chronicle
www.godekalb.com
http://www.northdekalbmall.com/
Lawrenceville Highway / US 78 and North Druid Hills Road
Dekalb County, Georgia
"Leave your umbrella at home" was the slogan heard when Atlanta's sixth mall, the second fully-enclosed shopping center in the city, opened for business.
The official dedication of NORTH DEKALB CENTER was held July 29, 1965. Originally housing fifty-four stores and services, the single-level complex was situated on 66.6 acres, located 8.7 miles northeast of center city Atlanta.
Built by Atlanta-based Scott Development and designed by Stevens and Wilkinson of Marietta, Georgia, the 8.5 million dollar center was anchored by a 2-level, Atlanta-based Rich's and 1-level F.W. Woolworth 5 and 10. Inline stores in the 420,000 square foot shopopolis included Regenstein's, Flagg Brothers Shoes and Hickock Sporting Goods.
The single-screen North Dekalb Theatre, on the west mall corridor, was completed in 1966. It was twinned in the early 1980s.
An expansion of the shopping center was finished by 1968. A new store structure was added at the northwest corner (possibly a supermarket) and Rich's was enlarged with a single-level addition on the southeast. By now, the complex was known as NORTH DEKALB MALL.
Commercial competitors included COLUMBIA MALL (1964) [June 2008 archive], near Decatur, and -eventually- NORTHLAKE MALL (1971) [November 2008 archive], near unincorporated Tucker.
By the mid-1980s, NORTH DEKALB MALL was in decline. Its owner at the time, Toronto-based Cadillac Fairview Shopping Centers, announced a major renovation in October 1985.
Woolworth, vacant by this time, was gutted along with the entire western half of the mall structure. 236,000 square feet of store area was rebuilt, with 139,200 square feet of retail space added.
Two new anchors came inline; a 1-level (75,200 square foot) Mervyn's and 1-level (63,300 square foot), Woburn ["woo-burn"], Massachusetts-based Lechmere ["leech-meer"]. Thirty inline stores were added to the retail roster, including a 9-bay Food Court. Rich's was expanded for a second time. The store now encompassed 195,700 square feet.
A new name for the renewed retail hub was announced in April 1986; MARKET SQUARE AT NORTH DEKALB. The 626,700 square foot, eighty-five store complex was officially dedicated in October 1986.
Lechmere was the first anchor store to change nameplates. It became a Phar-Mor Drug in 1992 and was eventually sectioned into an expanded movie theater; the Market Square 4 in 1990 and North Dekalb 16 in 1996. The remaining space became a furniture store.
Mervyn's was shuttered (along with all Georgia locations) in 1996. Its space was taken by Norcross, Georgia-based Uptons. This space, in turn, reopened as a Burlington, New Jersey-based Burlington Coat Factory in November 2002.
The official name of the shopping center reverted to NORTH DEKALB MALL in 2000. Once again in a state of decline, the center was sold in October 2003. The new owner, Atlanta-based Hendon Properties, devised a second redevelopment of the venue.
First proposed in 2004, the project was to be anchored by a 1-level (152,000 square foot), Issaquah, Washington-based Costco. This would occupy roughly the same area as Woolworth in the circa-1965 mall.
In an "ultimate plan" for redevelopment, anchor stores -and the cinema- would be left standing, with the middle area of the existing mall being demolished. A wide boulevard would be cut through and all stores reoriented into an open-air format.
After some problems with community opposition to the construction of a parking garage on the northwest corner of the mall site, the demalling plan received initial approval in 2008.
The best case scenario would have demoltion / construction beginning in early 2009, with completion slated for 2010. However, current economic conditions could delay the project indefinitely.
Sources:
"North Deklab Mall" article on Wikipedia
Dekalb County, Georgia tax assessor website
Craig Brickey, former "Mass" resident
www.georgiaretailmemories.com / "J.T." webmaster
www.cinematreasures.com
www.nannis.com
www.georgiaencyclopedia.com
Atlanta Business Chronicle
www.godekalb.com
http://www.northdekalbmall.com/
Metro-Atlanta's third interior mall, as it was situated in 1969. A single-
screen cinema had just opened on the basement level, soon to be joined
by a branch of the Atlanta Public Library.
A potent of things to come, shopping mall-wise. Chick-Fil-A opened
its first mall store at GREENBRIAR in the early 1970s.
Photo from Malls of America Blogspot
A late '80s physical layout. The mall had just been given its first major redo, with a new Circuit City added as a mall-adjacent outparcel. Also, a Food Court had been fashioned out of a previously-existing middle entrance hall. Chick-Fil-A had moved from its original location on the main mallway.
The mall's west anchor opened, in 1965, as a "new look" J.C. Penney.
It served as a Norcross, Georgia-based Upton's for a minute...and was
eventually leased as a Burlington Coat Factory.
Photo from www.loopnet.com
A current site plan of the southside center. Naturally, the original anchor
stores have been rebranded and there are now two vacant junior
anchors on the mall's northwest corner. Still, the Afro-American-
marketed mall is doing reasonably well. It has become the hub of a
thriving music and entertainment community.
GREENBRIAR CENTER
Greenbriar Parkway Southwest and Headland Drive
Atlanta, Georgia
Metro-Atlanta's seventh mall, and its third fully-enclosed shopping complex, was officially dedicated in August of 1965, barely one month after the grand opening of NORTH DEKALB CENTER.
GREENBRIAR CENTER was developed by the Atlanta-based Carter Company and designed by the firm of Edwards and Portman. The complex was situated on 88.2 acres, 10 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta. Its site was adjacent to the route of the Lakewood Freeway, which was under construction at the time.
Originally encompassing 644,000 leasable square feet, GREENBRIAR consisted of a single level of retail with a small basement. It was -by far- the largest interior mall in the region. Its counterparts, Dekalb County's COLUMBIA MALL (1964) [June 2008 archive] and NORTH DEKALB CENTER were both in the 400,000 square foot range.
The anchors of GREENBRIAR CENTER were a 3-level (180,000 square foot), Atlanta-based Rich's and 2-level (129,900 square foot) J.C. Penney.
There was also a 1-level (52,900 square foot) Woolworth 5 and 10, as well as Radio Shack, Merry-Go-Round, Frederick's of Hollywood, Happy Herman's Liquors and sixty-one other stores and services.
A wide, sunlit mallway was at the center of the center. It featured large, concrete animal statues, two fountains and a bird aviary. Rich's Magnolia Room, a third level terrace restaurant, looked over the East Court of the mall.
In 1969, a single-screen theatrical venue, the Greenbriar Mall Theatre, opened in the basement level of the complex. It was made into a twin-screen complex in the mid-1970s and closed in 1992.
In its early years, GREENBRIAR had only one retail rival on the city's southwest side. STEWART-LAKEWOOD CENTER (1958) [June 2008 archive] was the first shopping mall in the state. It was a small, community-sized venue which was unable to compete with GREENBRIAR, which was more than twice its size.
By the early 1970s, the shopping center was known as GREENBRIAR MALL. It was joined by SOUTHLAKE MALL (1976), in Morrow, and SHANNON MALL (1980), in Union City.
The first major renovation of the circa-1965 shopping center was completed in 1987. A small Food Court was installed in the center corridor and a 35,000 square foot Circuit City built at the northwest corner of the structure.
J.C. Penney became the first anchor store to receive a new nameplate. It was shuttered and reopened as a Norcross, Georgia-based Upton's. This store space was eventually taken by Burlington, New Jersey-based Burlington Coat Factory.
The next major redo of the mall was undertaken in the mid-1990s. Woolworth's vacant spot was sectioned into five smaller stores. New mall entrances were built and the interior and exterior of the complex were given a facelift.
Moreover, a 12-screen, Magic Johnson multiplex was constructed on a southwest parcel. The new theater was dedicated November 22, 1996, with the mall -itself- being rededicated in December 1997.
Throughout its long history, GREENBRIAR MALL has had its ups and downs. The venue was the victim of so-called "white flight" from its environs during the 1970s and '80s. However, through clever remarketing to the Afro-American community, it went on to eclipse the SOUTHLAKE and SHANNON malls, its first commercial competitors.
However, a third -more formidable- opponent, CAMP CREEK MARKETPLACE, came on the scene in 2003. The CAMP CREEK complex, a new-era, power center, drew much commerce from GREENBRIAR and grabbed its Circuit City store.
The Toronto-based Dundee Real Estate Investment Trust, who had acquired the GREENBRIAR property in January 1997, placed the mall on the open market in the mid-2000s. Eventually, they decided not to sell the holding but to enter into a 50 / 50 joint venture with Atlanta-based Hendon Properties. The transaction was finalized in June 2006.
So, GREENBRIAR carries on as one of the region's more successful "urban style" shopping centers. It has become a magnet for several music and entertainment studios now in its vacinity.
Sources:
"Greenbriar Mall" article on Wikipedia
www.cinematreasures.com
www.georgiaretailmemories.com / "J.T. Webmaster
www.carterusa.com
Fulton County, Georgia tax assessor website
www.mallsofamerica.blogspot.com / Keith Milford Webmaster
Atlanta Business Chronicle
www.shopgreenbriar.com
Greenbriar Parkway Southwest and Headland Drive
Atlanta, Georgia
Metro-Atlanta's seventh mall, and its third fully-enclosed shopping complex, was officially dedicated in August of 1965, barely one month after the grand opening of NORTH DEKALB CENTER.
GREENBRIAR CENTER was developed by the Atlanta-based Carter Company and designed by the firm of Edwards and Portman. The complex was situated on 88.2 acres, 10 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta. Its site was adjacent to the route of the Lakewood Freeway, which was under construction at the time.
Originally encompassing 644,000 leasable square feet, GREENBRIAR consisted of a single level of retail with a small basement. It was -by far- the largest interior mall in the region. Its counterparts, Dekalb County's COLUMBIA MALL (1964) [June 2008 archive] and NORTH DEKALB CENTER were both in the 400,000 square foot range.
The anchors of GREENBRIAR CENTER were a 3-level (180,000 square foot), Atlanta-based Rich's and 2-level (129,900 square foot) J.C. Penney.
There was also a 1-level (52,900 square foot) Woolworth 5 and 10, as well as Radio Shack, Merry-Go-Round, Frederick's of Hollywood, Happy Herman's Liquors and sixty-one other stores and services.
A wide, sunlit mallway was at the center of the center. It featured large, concrete animal statues, two fountains and a bird aviary. Rich's Magnolia Room, a third level terrace restaurant, looked over the East Court of the mall.
In 1969, a single-screen theatrical venue, the Greenbriar Mall Theatre, opened in the basement level of the complex. It was made into a twin-screen complex in the mid-1970s and closed in 1992.
In its early years, GREENBRIAR had only one retail rival on the city's southwest side. STEWART-LAKEWOOD CENTER (1958) [June 2008 archive] was the first shopping mall in the state. It was a small, community-sized venue which was unable to compete with GREENBRIAR, which was more than twice its size.
By the early 1970s, the shopping center was known as GREENBRIAR MALL. It was joined by SOUTHLAKE MALL (1976), in Morrow, and SHANNON MALL (1980), in Union City.
The first major renovation of the circa-1965 shopping center was completed in 1987. A small Food Court was installed in the center corridor and a 35,000 square foot Circuit City built at the northwest corner of the structure.
J.C. Penney became the first anchor store to receive a new nameplate. It was shuttered and reopened as a Norcross, Georgia-based Upton's. This store space was eventually taken by Burlington, New Jersey-based Burlington Coat Factory.
The next major redo of the mall was undertaken in the mid-1990s. Woolworth's vacant spot was sectioned into five smaller stores. New mall entrances were built and the interior and exterior of the complex were given a facelift.
Moreover, a 12-screen, Magic Johnson multiplex was constructed on a southwest parcel. The new theater was dedicated November 22, 1996, with the mall -itself- being rededicated in December 1997.
Throughout its long history, GREENBRIAR MALL has had its ups and downs. The venue was the victim of so-called "white flight" from its environs during the 1970s and '80s. However, through clever remarketing to the Afro-American community, it went on to eclipse the SOUTHLAKE and SHANNON malls, its first commercial competitors.
However, a third -more formidable- opponent, CAMP CREEK MARKETPLACE, came on the scene in 2003. The CAMP CREEK complex, a new-era, power center, drew much commerce from GREENBRIAR and grabbed its Circuit City store.
The Toronto-based Dundee Real Estate Investment Trust, who had acquired the GREENBRIAR property in January 1997, placed the mall on the open market in the mid-2000s. Eventually, they decided not to sell the holding but to enter into a 50 / 50 joint venture with Atlanta-based Hendon Properties. The transaction was finalized in June 2006.
So, GREENBRIAR carries on as one of the region's more successful "urban style" shopping centers. It has become a magnet for several music and entertainment studios now in its vacinity.
Sources:
"Greenbriar Mall" article on Wikipedia
www.cinematreasures.com
www.georgiaretailmemories.com / "J.T. Webmaster
www.carterusa.com
Fulton County, Georgia tax assessor website
www.mallsofamerica.blogspot.com / Keith Milford Webmaster
Atlanta Business Chronicle
www.shopgreenbriar.com
The footprint of the original -circa-'71- SOUTH DEKALB
MALL. Spanning 797,000 square feet and seventy-six
stores and services, the mall enjoyed a successful run
until being bested by MALL AT STONECREST, in 2001.
Although I never once entered Decatur's NORTH
DEKALB MALL, its south county counterpart served
as my neighborhood shopping center. I frequented the
SOUTH DEKALB Winn Dixie, Penney's and Rich's...and
dined -many a time- at its new Food Court.
Photo from www.southdekalbmall.com
The American Screenworks 12, an expansion and remodeling of the old
South Dekalb Twin, opened in April 2007. The state-of-the-art venue
includes a jazz lounge and game room.
Photo from www.brphoto.com
Today's GALLERY AT SOUTH DEKALB, something
of a "gone ghetto" success story. This mid-century
mall has endured cycles of prosperity and decline and
emerged as a center of community and commerce.
SOUTH DEKALB MALL
Candler and Flat Shoals Roads
Dekalb County, Georgia
The tenth shopping mall in the Atlanta metropolis, and its sixth fully-enclosed shopping venue, was built on a 77.1 acre spread, 9.3 miles southeast of the urban core. The mall site was adjacent to the Interstate 20 and 285 expressways.
SOUTH DEKALB MALL started out with a 2-level (176,000 square foot), Atlanta-based Rich's, which opened for business in 1969. This was joined by a 2-level (167,300 square foot) J.C. Penney and single-level (seventy-four store) mall structure. These opened in stages during 1970.
The single-level, 797,000 square foot SOUTH DEKALB MALL included the South Dekalb Twin Cinema (quaded in 1977) and the fortieth Piccadilly Cafeteria (dedicated November 27, 1971) as well as B. Dalton Bookseller and John's Coiffeurs.
In its early years, the primary retail rivals of SOUTH DEKALB were COLUMBIA MALL (1964) [June 2008 archive] and NORTH DEKALB CENTER (1965) [November 2008 archive]. Nonetheless, SOUTH DEKALB persevered.
Atlanta-based Capitalist Ventures, completed a remodeling project in late 1997, soon after acquiring the property. This renovation included the installation of an 8-bay Food Court and new Main Entrance.
However, the dedication of MALL AT STONECREST, near Lithonia ["liy-thow-nee-ah"], in 2001, presented a problem. The new -1,162,000 square foot- retail hub snatched the thirty year-old Penney's at SOUTH DEKALB...taking a good deal of trade with it.
The older center was increasingly remarketed toward the affluent, Afro-American populace that lived in its vacinity. The first level of the vacant Penney's was leased as a Burlington Coat Factory, with a Bally's Fitness Center occupying its second floor.
These eventually gave way to a 2-level Amazing Rooms furniture store. Rich's, by this time the best-performing store in the entire chain, was rebranded as Rich's-Macy's in 2003...becoming fully "Macy-ated" in 2005.
A new mall owner came on the scene in March 2003; New York City-based Thor Equities. They gave the mall a fifteen million dollar overhaul in 2004, which included new marble floors, roofing and skylights.
The 4-screen cinema had closed in the early 1990s. A deal to expand and reopen the theater as a Magic Johnson multiplex fell through in 1999. American Screenworks took over the shuttered venue and -after a major overhaul- dedicated their 42,000 square foot, Screenworks 12 Theatre on April 20, 2007.
Now encompassing 837,000 leasable square feet, the mall was given a new moniker in late 2006; GALLERY AT SOUTH DEKALB. Today, it is the most successful of Metro-Atlanta's "urban style" shopping centers, housing ninety-one stores and services.
Sources:
"Gallery At South Dekalb" article on Wikipedia
Dekalb County, Georgia property tax assessor website
www.cinematreasures.com
www.godekalb.com
www.southdekalbmall.com
www.thorequities.com
Candler and Flat Shoals Roads
Dekalb County, Georgia
The tenth shopping mall in the Atlanta metropolis, and its sixth fully-enclosed shopping venue, was built on a 77.1 acre spread, 9.3 miles southeast of the urban core. The mall site was adjacent to the Interstate 20 and 285 expressways.
SOUTH DEKALB MALL started out with a 2-level (176,000 square foot), Atlanta-based Rich's, which opened for business in 1969. This was joined by a 2-level (167,300 square foot) J.C. Penney and single-level (seventy-four store) mall structure. These opened in stages during 1970.
The single-level, 797,000 square foot SOUTH DEKALB MALL included the South Dekalb Twin Cinema (quaded in 1977) and the fortieth Piccadilly Cafeteria (dedicated November 27, 1971) as well as B. Dalton Bookseller and John's Coiffeurs.
In its early years, the primary retail rivals of SOUTH DEKALB were COLUMBIA MALL (1964) [June 2008 archive] and NORTH DEKALB CENTER (1965) [November 2008 archive]. Nonetheless, SOUTH DEKALB persevered.
Atlanta-based Capitalist Ventures, completed a remodeling project in late 1997, soon after acquiring the property. This renovation included the installation of an 8-bay Food Court and new Main Entrance.
However, the dedication of MALL AT STONECREST, near Lithonia ["liy-thow-nee-ah"], in 2001, presented a problem. The new -1,162,000 square foot- retail hub snatched the thirty year-old Penney's at SOUTH DEKALB...taking a good deal of trade with it.
The older center was increasingly remarketed toward the affluent, Afro-American populace that lived in its vacinity. The first level of the vacant Penney's was leased as a Burlington Coat Factory, with a Bally's Fitness Center occupying its second floor.
These eventually gave way to a 2-level Amazing Rooms furniture store. Rich's, by this time the best-performing store in the entire chain, was rebranded as Rich's-Macy's in 2003...becoming fully "Macy-ated" in 2005.
A new mall owner came on the scene in March 2003; New York City-based Thor Equities. They gave the mall a fifteen million dollar overhaul in 2004, which included new marble floors, roofing and skylights.
The 4-screen cinema had closed in the early 1990s. A deal to expand and reopen the theater as a Magic Johnson multiplex fell through in 1999. American Screenworks took over the shuttered venue and -after a major overhaul- dedicated their 42,000 square foot, Screenworks 12 Theatre on April 20, 2007.
Now encompassing 837,000 leasable square feet, the mall was given a new moniker in late 2006; GALLERY AT SOUTH DEKALB. Today, it is the most successful of Metro-Atlanta's "urban style" shopping centers, housing ninety-one stores and services.
Sources:
"Gallery At South Dekalb" article on Wikipedia
Dekalb County, Georgia property tax assessor website
www.cinematreasures.com
www.godekalb.com
www.southdekalbmall.com
www.thorequities.com
NORTHLAKE MALL TENANTS 1971
(PARTIAL LIST):
DAVISON'S / J.C. PENNEY / SEARS (with outparcel Auto Center) / J.G. McCrory 5 and 10 / Piccadilly Cafeteria / Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour / Waldenbooks / The Limited / Hickory Farms of Ohio / Merry-Go-Round apparel / Gentry Shop / Record Bar / Oshman's Sporting Goods / County Seat apparel / Frederick's of Hollywood / Zales Jewelers / Orange Julius / Spencer Gifts / Motherhood Maternity / Things Remembered / Bakers Shoes / GNC / Lane Bryant / Kay Jewelers
(PARTIAL LIST):
DAVISON'S / J.C. PENNEY / SEARS (with outparcel Auto Center) / J.G. McCrory 5 and 10 / Piccadilly Cafeteria / Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour / Waldenbooks / The Limited / Hickory Farms of Ohio / Merry-Go-Round apparel / Gentry Shop / Record Bar / Oshman's Sporting Goods / County Seat apparel / Frederick's of Hollywood / Zales Jewelers / Orange Julius / Spencer Gifts / Motherhood Maternity / Things Remembered / Bakers Shoes / GNC / Lane Bryant / Kay Jewelers
One of two superregional centers opened in Metro-Atlanta's north
Dekalb suburbs during 1971, NORTHLAKE MALL spanned 840,000
leasable square feet, with a retail roster of ninety-seven stores and
services.
The NORTHLAKE configuration, following the mid-'90s renovation. The
center now encompassed 985,000 leasable square feet, with four anchor
stores. A new Birmingham-based Parisian extended from the southwest-
facing front and the 13-bay Food Garden connected into the Lower Level
of the mall.
A contemporary site plan of the center. The latest additions to the store
directory are Old Navy (2000) and Kohl's (2008).
NORTHLAKE MALL
Briarcliff and Lavista Roads
Dekalb County, Georgia
The sixth shopping mall in Georgia's Dekalb County was situated on 63.9 acres, lying 13 miles northeast of Atlanta's center city. Access to the mall site was provided by the Interstate 285 Expressway, which had been dedicated October 15, 1969.
NORTHLAKE MALL, the region's eighth fully-enclosed shopping center, came inline during 1971. Atlanta's Carter Company developed the center, along with the GREENBRIAR (1965), CUMBERLAND (1973) [April 2008 archive] and SOUTHLAKE (1976) malls.
Encompassing two levels of retail and 840,000 leasable square feet, NORTHLAKE was anchored by a 3-level (187,000 square foot), Atlanta-based Davison's, 2-level (179,000 square foot) J.C. Penney and 2-level (199,000 square foot) Sears.
There were ninety-seven stores and services in the original complex. These included Hickory Farms of Ohio, Frederick's of Hollywood, a Piccadilly Cafeteria and J.G. McCrory 5 and 10.
A freestanding movie theater, the Northlake I-II-III Cinemas, was built as a northwest outparcel. It opened soon after the mall proper and remained in business until 1984.
The nearest regional retail competitor was NORTH DEKALB MALL (1965), near Decatur. Next was PERIMETER MALL (1971), near Dunwoody. Later on came GWINNETT PLACE MALL (1984), near Duluth.
NORTHLAKE was given a major renovation in the mid-1990s. A 2-level (100,000 square foot), Birmingham-based Parisian was added (with 40% of its area using space previously occupied by J.G. McCrory (Lower Level) and Piccadilly Cafeteria (Upper Level).
In addition, a 13-bay Food Court was constructed in the mall's northwest corner. These -and other- improvements came inline in 1994. The shopping center now encompassed 985,000 leasable square feet and one hundred and ten stores and services.
Davison's had been the first of the NORTHLAKE anchors to be rebranded. The store became a Davison's-Macy's in 1985 and full-fledged Macy's in 1986. With the consolidation of Federated Stores in 2003, the store operated briefly as Rich's-Macy's. In 2005, it -again- sported a Macy's moniker.
Meanwhile, the mall had changed hands in February 1998. Indiana's Simon Property Group [March 2008 archive] acquired New York City-based Corporate Property Investors...taking on properties such as New York's City's ROOSEVELT FIELD, Boston's SOUTH SHORE PLAZA and Phoenix's METROCENTER, as well as NORTHLAKE, LENOX SQUARE and GWINNETT PLACE in / around Atlanta.
A 24,700 square foot Old Navy opened at NORTHLAKE MALL on September 27, 2000. The most recent major store opening occurred in early 2008, when Menomenee Falls, Wisconsin-based Kohl's assumed the place of Parisian, which had been shuttered in September 2007.
Sources:
"Northlake Mall" article on Wikipedia
www.simon.com
Dekalb County, Georgia tax assessor website
www.carterusa.com
www.georgiaretailmemories.com / "J.T." webmaster
http://www.cinematreasures.com/
Briarcliff and Lavista Roads
Dekalb County, Georgia
The sixth shopping mall in Georgia's Dekalb County was situated on 63.9 acres, lying 13 miles northeast of Atlanta's center city. Access to the mall site was provided by the Interstate 285 Expressway, which had been dedicated October 15, 1969.
NORTHLAKE MALL, the region's eighth fully-enclosed shopping center, came inline during 1971. Atlanta's Carter Company developed the center, along with the GREENBRIAR (1965), CUMBERLAND (1973) [April 2008 archive] and SOUTHLAKE (1976) malls.
Encompassing two levels of retail and 840,000 leasable square feet, NORTHLAKE was anchored by a 3-level (187,000 square foot), Atlanta-based Davison's, 2-level (179,000 square foot) J.C. Penney and 2-level (199,000 square foot) Sears.
There were ninety-seven stores and services in the original complex. These included Hickory Farms of Ohio, Frederick's of Hollywood, a Piccadilly Cafeteria and J.G. McCrory 5 and 10.
A freestanding movie theater, the Northlake I-II-III Cinemas, was built as a northwest outparcel. It opened soon after the mall proper and remained in business until 1984.
The nearest regional retail competitor was NORTH DEKALB MALL (1965), near Decatur. Next was PERIMETER MALL (1971), near Dunwoody. Later on came GWINNETT PLACE MALL (1984), near Duluth.
NORTHLAKE was given a major renovation in the mid-1990s. A 2-level (100,000 square foot), Birmingham-based Parisian was added (with 40% of its area using space previously occupied by J.G. McCrory (Lower Level) and Piccadilly Cafeteria (Upper Level).
In addition, a 13-bay Food Court was constructed in the mall's northwest corner. These -and other- improvements came inline in 1994. The shopping center now encompassed 985,000 leasable square feet and one hundred and ten stores and services.
Davison's had been the first of the NORTHLAKE anchors to be rebranded. The store became a Davison's-Macy's in 1985 and full-fledged Macy's in 1986. With the consolidation of Federated Stores in 2003, the store operated briefly as Rich's-Macy's. In 2005, it -again- sported a Macy's moniker.
Meanwhile, the mall had changed hands in February 1998. Indiana's Simon Property Group [March 2008 archive] acquired New York City-based Corporate Property Investors...taking on properties such as New York's City's ROOSEVELT FIELD, Boston's SOUTH SHORE PLAZA and Phoenix's METROCENTER, as well as NORTHLAKE, LENOX SQUARE and GWINNETT PLACE in / around Atlanta.
A 24,700 square foot Old Navy opened at NORTHLAKE MALL on September 27, 2000. The most recent major store opening occurred in early 2008, when Menomenee Falls, Wisconsin-based Kohl's assumed the place of Parisian, which had been shuttered in September 2007.
Sources:
"Northlake Mall" article on Wikipedia
www.simon.com
Dekalb County, Georgia tax assessor website
www.carterusa.com
www.georgiaretailmemories.com / "J.T." webmaster
http://www.cinematreasures.com/
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