Sharon and Fairview Roads
Charlotte, North Carolina
By the late 1960s, the Queen City had four mall-type shopping centers in its vicinity. These were CHARLOTTETOWN MALL (1959), COTSWOLD CENTER (1963), TRYON MALL (1967) and TYVOLA MALL (1968). All were smaller, community-class facilities.
Charlotte's two major department stores, Belk and J.B. Ivey, established J.V. Properties, Incorporated, a joint venture that would oversee development of a regional-class shopping mall. A plot located 9 miles south of downtown Charlotte had been acquired in 1962. However, it was eventually dismissed for being too far out in the hinterlands.
A second site, encompassing 104 acres, and located only 3.8 miles south of the center city, was purchased in 1965. Originally part of the 3,000 acre Morrocroft farm, the parcel had been owned by North Carolina Governor Cameron A. Morrison (D).
Preliminary construction commenced in April 1968. Modeled after Dallas, Texas' NORTHPARK, Charlotte's SOUTHPARK was designed by Ron Sineway of Atlanta's Toombs, Amisano & Wells firm. The 25 million dollar facility consisted of a single retail level and 1-level subterranean parking deck. It was anchored by a 4-level (195,000 square foot) Belk, 3-level (155,000 square foot) Ivey's and 2-level (187,000 square foot) Sears. The upper floors of the Belk and Ivey's stores were not utilized at first, but would be employed when needed.
A mall-wide grand opening was held on February 12, 1970. Nineteen stores opened their doors. These included Belk, Ivey's, Intimate Bookshop, Pat Arnolde's Talls, Florsheim Shoes, Joseph R. Harris, Hahn Shoes, Brittains Shoes, Barricini Candy, Tip Top Ties, First Citizens Bank & Trust and a (40,300 square foot) F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10.
Preliminary construction commenced in April 1968. Modeled after Dallas, Texas' NORTHPARK, Charlotte's SOUTHPARK was designed by Ron Sineway of Atlanta's Toombs, Amisano & Wells firm. The 25 million dollar facility consisted of a single retail level and 1-level subterranean parking deck. It was anchored by a 4-level (195,000 square foot) Belk, 3-level (155,000 square foot) Ivey's and 2-level (187,000 square foot) Sears. The upper floors of the Belk and Ivey's stores were not utilized at first, but would be employed when needed.
A mall-wide grand opening was held on February 12, 1970. Nineteen stores opened their doors. These included Belk, Ivey's, Intimate Bookshop, Pat Arnolde's Talls, Florsheim Shoes, Joseph R. Harris, Hahn Shoes, Brittains Shoes, Barricini Candy, Tip Top Ties, First Citizens Bank & Trust and a (40,300 square foot) F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10.
Sears was officially dedicated on August 12, 1970. At this time, there were sixty-four operational tenants. The final charter stores would be up and running by October 1970. Among these were Pet-A-Rama, Kinney Shoes, Richman Brothers men's wear, Size 5-7-9 Shops, Eckerd Drugs and a Morrison's Cafeteria. The fully-realized shopping hub encompassed approximately 1,070,000 leasable square feet, housed seventy-three stores and services, and provided free parking for 5,000 autos.
A northwest convenience center included a (25,000 square foot) Colonial supermarket, Budget Uniform Shop, Hector's Restaurant and the General Cinema Corporation Southpark Cinema I & II. This venue showed first features on August 21, 1970.
The first regional-class competitor, EASTLAND MALL {5.6 miles northeast, in Charlotte} was dedicated in July 1975. CAROLINA PLACE MALL {5.1 miles southwest, in Pineville} was launched in August 1991.
In September 1986, a renovation of the SOUTHPARK Belk was completed, with its floor area increased to 240,000 square feet. The downtown Charlotte store was then shuttered, with the SOUTHPARK unit becoming the chain's flagship. Ivey's began a renovation of their mall store in June 1987. When the project was completed in August 1988, it encompassed 172,200 square feet.
Meanwhile, the mall was conducting its own enlargement, adding a 190,000 square foot Northwest Wing. This was anchored by a 2-level (140,000 square foot), Richmond, Virginia-based Thalhimers, and included fifteen new stores. A 10-bay Food Court was also created. When the addition was dedicated, on August 18, 1988, SOUTHPARK encompassed 1,220,900 leasable square feet. This made it 5,700 square feet larger than EASTLAND MALL and earned SOUTHPARK the distinction of being the largest shopping center in the Tar Heel State.
The Convenience Center supermarket morphed into a Big Star grocery in May 1973. A Harris Teeter nameplate was installed in March 1984. Anchor store rebrandings commenced at SOUTHPARK on June 4, 1990. Ivey's morphed into a Dillard's. The second conversion, which transpired on February 2, 1992, rebranded Thalhimers as an Arlington, Virginia-based Hecht's. This store received a Macy's nameplate on February 1, 2006.
The ownership of SOUTHPARK changed in November 1996, when Rotterdam, Holland's Rodamco acquired the shopping venue. They announced a major expansion in March 1998. The project became a bitterly-contested issue. A rezoning battle between Rodamco and area residents was fought over the next 3 years.
Rodamco prevailed in March 2001. A three-phase renovation and expansion of SOUTHPARK got underway soon after. Phase One consisted of a thorough interior refurbishment and second expansion of the Belk store. A 34 million dollar addition was built on its south-facing facade and the interior and exterior were remodeled. The store, re-dedicated on October 25, 2002, encompassed 329,000 square feet.
Phase Two of the renovation was comprised of a 34,300 square foot addition to the east side of the mall proper, which included Maggiano's Little Italy and The Cheesecake Factory. These opened in late 2002. In the midst of all the SOUTHPARK construction was a second change in ownership. The Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group bought the mall in April 2002.
Phase Three of the remodeling was the most ambitious aspect of the three-pronged project. A 374,000 square foot Southwest Wing was built, anchored by a 2-level (144,000 square foot) Nordstrom. This store held its grand opening on March 12, 2004. A 2-level (80,000 square foot) Neiman Marcus held its grand opening on September 15, 2006. Among the forty inline stores in the new wing were Janie & Jack, Lucky Brand Jeans, L'Occitaine En Provence, Sur La Table and Brighton.
Sears, which had been outpositioned by the upscale shift of the shopping hub, closed their store on June 28, 2003. The building was demolished, with an open-air Lifestyle Plaza built in its place. This included Urban Outfitters, Joseph Beth Booksellers and California Pizza Kitchen; these opening for business in April 2005.
Across the way was a 2-level (79,000 square foot) Dick's Sporting Goods, which had opened in October 2004. The mall's circa-1988 Food Court was also relocated into a new 8-bay area, previously occupied by Morrison's Cafeteria.
Topping off the remodeling were three parking structures. A Southeast Garage was completed in 2002, a Southwest in 2004 and Northeast in 2006. Adjacent to the Northeast parking structure was THE VILLAGE AT SOUTHPARK, a combination retail and residential complex. Its 2-level (35,000 square foot) Crate & Barrel was dedicated on September 15, 2006.
The final facets of the mall's metamorphosis were expansions and renovations of two anchor stores. The Thalhimers / Hecht's / Macy's re-opened (with 201,000 square feet) on March 10, 2004. Dillard's (now encompassing 270,000 square feet) held its official re-dedication in early 2007. With all construction dust finally settled, SOUTHPARK proper encompassed 1,794,400 leasable square feet and housed 135 store spaces.
Upscale, destination-type malls such as SOUTHPARK exist in a near-constant state of renovation. The latest overhaul was done between June and November 2015. During this project, interior columns were refinished. Soft seating, landscaping, wi-fi service and new signage were installed. The mall's Circle Court was also remodeled and its existing Food Court upgraded to a "Dining Pavilion."
Sources:
The Charlotte Observer
http://stevenswain.blogspot.com (Live Malls)
Info and photos from Pat Richardson
http://charlotteeats.blogspot.com
www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina property tax assessor website
http://www.cmhpf.org / Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historical Landmarks Commission
"Southpark" article on Wikipedia
A northwest convenience center included a (25,000 square foot) Colonial supermarket, Budget Uniform Shop, Hector's Restaurant and the General Cinema Corporation Southpark Cinema I & II. This venue showed first features on August 21, 1970.
The first regional-class competitor, EASTLAND MALL {5.6 miles northeast, in Charlotte} was dedicated in July 1975. CAROLINA PLACE MALL {5.1 miles southwest, in Pineville} was launched in August 1991.
In September 1986, a renovation of the SOUTHPARK Belk was completed, with its floor area increased to 240,000 square feet. The downtown Charlotte store was then shuttered, with the SOUTHPARK unit becoming the chain's flagship. Ivey's began a renovation of their mall store in June 1987. When the project was completed in August 1988, it encompassed 172,200 square feet.
Meanwhile, the mall was conducting its own enlargement, adding a 190,000 square foot Northwest Wing. This was anchored by a 2-level (140,000 square foot), Richmond, Virginia-based Thalhimers, and included fifteen new stores. A 10-bay Food Court was also created. When the addition was dedicated, on August 18, 1988, SOUTHPARK encompassed 1,220,900 leasable square feet. This made it 5,700 square feet larger than EASTLAND MALL and earned SOUTHPARK the distinction of being the largest shopping center in the Tar Heel State.
The Convenience Center supermarket morphed into a Big Star grocery in May 1973. A Harris Teeter nameplate was installed in March 1984. Anchor store rebrandings commenced at SOUTHPARK on June 4, 1990. Ivey's morphed into a Dillard's. The second conversion, which transpired on February 2, 1992, rebranded Thalhimers as an Arlington, Virginia-based Hecht's. This store received a Macy's nameplate on February 1, 2006.
The ownership of SOUTHPARK changed in November 1996, when Rotterdam, Holland's Rodamco acquired the shopping venue. They announced a major expansion in March 1998. The project became a bitterly-contested issue. A rezoning battle between Rodamco and area residents was fought over the next 3 years.
Rodamco prevailed in March 2001. A three-phase renovation and expansion of SOUTHPARK got underway soon after. Phase One consisted of a thorough interior refurbishment and second expansion of the Belk store. A 34 million dollar addition was built on its south-facing facade and the interior and exterior were remodeled. The store, re-dedicated on October 25, 2002, encompassed 329,000 square feet.
Phase Two of the renovation was comprised of a 34,300 square foot addition to the east side of the mall proper, which included Maggiano's Little Italy and The Cheesecake Factory. These opened in late 2002. In the midst of all the SOUTHPARK construction was a second change in ownership. The Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group bought the mall in April 2002.
Phase Three of the remodeling was the most ambitious aspect of the three-pronged project. A 374,000 square foot Southwest Wing was built, anchored by a 2-level (144,000 square foot) Nordstrom. This store held its grand opening on March 12, 2004. A 2-level (80,000 square foot) Neiman Marcus held its grand opening on September 15, 2006. Among the forty inline stores in the new wing were Janie & Jack, Lucky Brand Jeans, L'Occitaine En Provence, Sur La Table and Brighton.
Sears, which had been outpositioned by the upscale shift of the shopping hub, closed their store on June 28, 2003. The building was demolished, with an open-air Lifestyle Plaza built in its place. This included Urban Outfitters, Joseph Beth Booksellers and California Pizza Kitchen; these opening for business in April 2005.
Across the way was a 2-level (79,000 square foot) Dick's Sporting Goods, which had opened in October 2004. The mall's circa-1988 Food Court was also relocated into a new 8-bay area, previously occupied by Morrison's Cafeteria.
Topping off the remodeling were three parking structures. A Southeast Garage was completed in 2002, a Southwest in 2004 and Northeast in 2006. Adjacent to the Northeast parking structure was THE VILLAGE AT SOUTHPARK, a combination retail and residential complex. Its 2-level (35,000 square foot) Crate & Barrel was dedicated on September 15, 2006.
The final facets of the mall's metamorphosis were expansions and renovations of two anchor stores. The Thalhimers / Hecht's / Macy's re-opened (with 201,000 square feet) on March 10, 2004. Dillard's (now encompassing 270,000 square feet) held its official re-dedication in early 2007. With all construction dust finally settled, SOUTHPARK proper encompassed 1,794,400 leasable square feet and housed 135 store spaces.
Upscale, destination-type malls such as SOUTHPARK exist in a near-constant state of renovation. The latest overhaul was done between June and November 2015. During this project, interior columns were refinished. Soft seating, landscaping, wi-fi service and new signage were installed. The mall's Circle Court was also remodeled and its existing Food Court upgraded to a "Dining Pavilion."
Sources:
The Charlotte Observer
http://stevenswain.blogspot.com (Live Malls)
Info and photos from Pat Richardson
http://charlotteeats.blogspot.com
www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina property tax assessor website
http://www.cmhpf.org / Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historical Landmarks Commission
"Southpark" article on Wikipedia
