Drawing from Lenox Square, Incorporated
Drawing from Lenox Square, Incorporated
Showing posts with label Atlanta's Lenox Square (1959). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Atlanta's Lenox Square (1959). Show all posts
Drawing from Lenox Square, Incorporated
Photo from Curteichcolor / Gaston Photo Service
Another view of the Mall Level concourse, with Yohannan's Restaurant in the background.
Photo from Colourpicture Publishers, Incorporated
Yohannan's Esquire Room featured "Lamplight Dining" during evening hours.
Photo from Red Edgerton / Cary B. Wilmer, Junior
Advert from Rich's, Incorporated
Here we see the south end of the Mall Level concourse. That would be Davison's, and then Muse's, on the left. On the right is the upper level entrance of the S.S. Kresge 5 & dime.
Photo from Scenic South Card Company
The LENOX SQUARE Kresge's covered 40,500 square feet. The store included a basement sales floor.
Photo from the Kresge Company Annual Report 1959
If you descended -via escalator- from the south end of the Mall Level, you would have ended up at the Plaza Court. An entrance into the lower level of S.S. Kresge is seen in the center of the photo.
Photo from Scenic South Card Company
The marquee of the original, single-screen Lenox Square Theatre, which was installed in a portion of the shopping hub's Market Level in June 1963. Considering the film being shown, the photo must have been taken in early 1965. And yes, that's an Aston Martin DB5, similar to the one driven by "007" in the film.
Photo from Stan Malone Collection
The so-called "merry-go-round" filling station was built as part of the 1959 shopping complex. It stood at the northwest corner of the East Paces Ferry and Lenox Roads intersection. Today, the J.W. Marriott Atlanta Buckhead Hotel stands on the site.
The marquee of the original, single-screen Lenox Square Theatre, which was installed in a portion of the shopping hub's Market Level in June 1963. Considering the film being shown, the photo must have been taken in early 1965. And yes, that's an Aston Martin DB5, similar to the one driven by "007" in the film.
Photo from Stan Malone Collection
The so-called "merry-go-round" filling station was built as part of the 1959 shopping complex. It stood at the northwest corner of the East Paces Ferry and Lenox Roads intersection. Today, the J.W. Marriott Atlanta Buckhead Hotel stands on the site.
A physical layout of the shiny new "Lenox Mall." In 1959, the complex housed fifty-five stores and services and covered approximately 800,000 leasable square feet. Free parking was provided for 6,000 autos. The Market Level, beneath the Colonial grocery, included the Lenox Lanes bowling alley. The aforementioned movie theater would be installed on this level in 1963.
An eastern (Lenox Road) elevation of the mall site, showing how the 3 levels of the original shopping center were situated.
LENOX SQUARE TENANTS 1959:
RICH'S (with Beauty Salon, Magnolia Room restaurant and B'rer Fox Room cafeteria) / DAVISON'S (with Beauty Salon) / COLONIAL STORES supermarket (with Federal Bake Shop and Green Thumb gardening center) / S.S. KRESGE 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / A & S Beck Shoe Salon / Baker's Shoes / Bennett's Lenox Square / Bethune & Wisenant / Binder's / Chandler's Shoes / Cherokee Gift Shop / Courts & Company / Drapery Mart / Dwoskins of Atlanta wall coverings / Economy Auto Stores / Eugene Weinberg / F.A.O. Schwarz / Franklin-Simon apparel / Glass Shop / Gulf Oil service station (outparcel) / Haverty Furniture Company / Hirch's men's wear / Holiday Flagg Shoes / J.P. Allen ladies' wear / Joan Bari / John Jerrell / Joseph Brennan / Kay Jewelers / Lenox Cleaners / Lenox Lanes bowling alley / Lenox Record Center / Lenox Square Barber Shop / Lenox Toy & Hobby Center / Leon Froshin / Lerner Shops ladies' wear / Maternity Modes / Muse's apparel / National Shirt Shops / Northwest Airlines, Incorporated / Paris Hats / Parks-Chambers men's & boy's wear / Paul's Lenox Hair Styles / Pet Village / S & S Cafeteria / Schiff's Shoes / Singer's Casual Shop / Suburban Housewares / The Card Box / Thompson, Boland-Lee Shoes / Trust Company of Georgia / US Post Office / Walgreen Drug (with Walgreen Grill) / Weinstocks / Yohannan's restaurant / Zachry For Men
Our LENOX SQUARE logo montage features stores that operated in the original -circa-1959- mall.
An eastern (Lenox Road) elevation of the mall site, showing how the 3 levels of the original shopping center were situated.
Photo from Scenic South Card Company
Joel Chandler Harris, Junior, son of the author of the "Uncle Remus" stories, officiates at the November 17, 1959 dedication of a series of LENOX SQUARE statues. "The Critters" have been installed along the Mall Level. Mr. Harris is joined by granddaughters Linda and Annette. The figures were created by Julian Hoke Harris (1906-1987).
Photos from www.wrensnestonline.com / "Iain"
Br'er Frog and Br'er Bear are seen on the left, with Br'er Rabbit and the Tar Baby on the right. The Critters statues were removed from the mall in 1972. They sat on the edge of the parking lot for years and were moved to their present home, at the Morgan County Public Library, in 1978.
Photo from www.wrensnestonline.com / "lain"
Br'er Frog and Br'er Bear are seen on the left, with Br'er Rabbit and the Tar Baby on the right. The Critters statues were removed from the mall in 1972. They sat on the edge of the parking lot for years and were moved to their present home, at the Morgan County Public Library, in 1978.
Photo from www.wrensnestonline.com / "lain"
A newspaper clipping from the early '60s informs the public about the new Community Fallout Shelter at LENOX SQUARE. The facility accommodated fifty persons for up to two weeks. Its entrance was on the mall's Plaza Level, near the Mall Level escalators.
Article from the Atlanta Daily World / February 16, 1962
A rare peek inside the LENOX Colonial store. At the time of this 1968 image, it had just been renovated.
Photo from Colonial Stores, Incorporated Annual Report 1968
By the early 1970s, LENOX SQUARE was falling behind several newer, fully-enclosed malls in its trade area. In June 1972, work commenced on a renovation to enclose and air-condition the Mall Level of the complex. Work was winding down by November 1972, when this ad appeared in the local newspaper.
Advert from Noble Properties
Along with the mall enclosure project came a third anchor department store. Dallas' trendy Neiman Marcus anchored a new Skylight Mall wing. The store was dedicated in August 1972.
Drawing from Broadway-Hale Stores, Incorporated
The roofing renovation and expansion was formally dedicated in January 1973. On this physical layout, the new Skylight Mall appears in medium gray. The previous Mall Level concourse is now known as the Garden Mall. With these improvements, LENOX SQUARE encompasses approximately 1.1 million leasable square feet, with ninety-three stores under its roof.
An early '70s view of the Plaza Court, showing the Delta Kiosk, a fixture there for several years. In front of Davison's is the south end of the fully-enclosed Garden Mall concourse.
Photo from www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
An early '70s view of the Plaza Court, showing the Delta Kiosk, a fixture there for several years. In front of Davison's is the south end of the fully-enclosed Garden Mall concourse.
Photo from www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
The mall's second major renovation replaced the open Plaza Court with a 3-level, fully-enclosed structure. Construction commenced in February 1979, with the new and improved Plaza Court being officially dedicated in August 1980. The facility housed forty-seven restaurants and boutiques.
Advert from Corporate Property Investors
The new Plaza Court (in dark gray) was the first phase of a major renovation and expansion of LENOX SQUARE. As part of this project, Macy's (nee' Davison's) and Rich's were enlarged. A second stage of construction brought a luxury hotel and office tower. Retail space was also added to the Plaza Court (in light gray). When construction dust settled in September 1988, the mall covered approximately 1.3 million square feet and housed over 200 stores and services.
Please pardon the quality. Above and below are two snapshots from one of my first visits to LENOX SQUARE, in 1986. These show the original, 3-level Plaza Court.
In this photo, we see the entrance to the mall's first Macy's (which was a Davison's and is now a Bloomingdale's).
LENOX SQUARE was enlarged again in 1994-1995. The Mall Level was double-decked with an Upper Level of stores. An Upper Level was built over the Neiman Marcus wing in 2007.
Photo from www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
The mall's Main Entrance, which faces Peachtree Road, as it appeared at the turn of the century.
Photo from www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
In our most recent LENOX layout, the mall encompasses approximately 1,545,000 leasable square feet and contains 240 stores and services. It is the Peach State's third-largest shopping venue. Changes made between 1994 and 2007 are shown in light gray on this circa-2008 site plan.
The oft-expanded and remodeled LENOX SQUARE was given another makeover between 2013 and 2014! Here we see the Main Entrance, as it appeared after the 2010s face lift.
Photo from www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
As part of the renovation, the existing Food Court was upgraded into the "Lenox Fashion Cafe." This food facility includes an outdoor patio area (not shown).
Drawing from www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
LENOX SQUARE
Peachtree and Lenox Roads
Atlanta, Georgia
Plans for a "supercolossal" regional shopping center were announced in January 1956. The complex would occupy a 75-acre plot; this located 8.6 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta's Five Points district. At the time, the typical suburban shopping center was built outside a city's corporate limits in order to avoid payment of city taxes. LENOX SQUARE, in Atlanta's Buckhead district, would lie entirely within the city limits of Atlanta.
At one time, the LENOX SQUARE site had contained Joyeuse, the estate of banker John King Ottley. The parcel was acquired by Lenox Square, Incorporated, a subsidiary of Oklahoma's Noble Foundation, in May 1956.
Initial approval for construction of the mall had been granted by the Atlanta-Fulton County Planning Board in February 1956. A rezoning of the site from residential to commercial, in December 1956, instigated months of litigation. Local residents, concerned that the proposed shopping center would devalue their homes, filed suit.
The Georgia Supreme Court ruled on the issue in October 1956 and October 1957, with the plan for the shopping center being upheld. A final legal hurdle was overcome when a U.S. District Court judge ruled in favor of LENOX SQUARE in December 1957.
By this time, several retail stores had signed onto the project. After some reluctance, Rich's committed to a LENOX location in May 1957. The Davison-Paxton Company signed on in September. Originally, a Food Fair supermarket was proposed. However, this plan was altered, with Colonial Stores signing a lease in October 1957.
Land clearing had commenced in July 1957. Building permits were issued in April and May 1958. The 32 million dollar shopping center was being developed by Edward E. Noble, under the auspices of the Noble Foundation, and was designed by Atlanta's Toombs, Amisano & Wells firm.
The open-air complex opened for business on August 3, 1959. William Berry Hartsfield (Mayor of Atlanta) presided over the mall dedication. In attendance were Richard Rich (President of Rich's, Incorporated) and Charles Ross (President of the Davison-Paxton Company). Instead of being cut, a ceremonial ribbon was tied together. This symbolized "the tying together of the merchants of LENOX SQUARE into a competitive but cooperative group."
Forty-two retailers (out of an eventual fifty-five) commenced operation. There were two Atlanta-based department stores; a 3-level (180,000 square foot) Rich's and 2-level (120,000 square foot) Davison-Paxon (a.k.a. Davison's). The mall included several 2-level inline stores; Haverty's Furniture, Muse's, J.P. Allen, Parks-Chambers and an S.S. Kresge 5 & 10.
Single-level stores and services included Pet Village, Thompson-Boland-Lee Shoes, S & S Cafeteria, Chandler's Shoes and Zachry For Men. The mall's (31,500 square foot) Colonial supermarket was reputedly the largest grocery store in the South. An outparcel Gulf service station, in the southeast parking area, resembled a spaceship.
Encompassing 800,000 leasable square feet, the shopping hub was comprised of 3 levels. The Mall Level, coming off the Peachtree Road parking lot, had the main Rich's entrance, an open court area and landscaped concourse. Statues created by Julian Hoke Harris depicted characters in the "Uncle Remus" stories. Other statuary was produced by Elbert Weinberg. His works included "The Traveling Musicians," "The Cat & The Owl" and "The Magpie's Nest."
Work got underway in February 1979. The 100,000 square foot Plaza Court was officially dedicated on August 20, 1980. Retail tenants included Coin & Stamps Incorporated, Laura Ashley, Johnston & Murphy Shoes and a Time Out Family Amusement Center. The Food Court featured Chick-fil-A, Cozzoli Pizza, The Fish Market, Hot Doggery and Glass Oven Bakery. Sit-down restaurants were Presto Ristorante, Ruby Tuesday and Gilbert's Bistro.
Rich's was expanded again. A 2-level Men's Department and Budget Store were added to the Peachtree-facing front of the building. The renovation was completed in December 1982, with the store now covering approximately 306,000 square feet. Davison's was enlarged with a southward addition. A fourth floor was also created out of a basement parking garage. When construction dust settled in November 1985, the store's square footage had grown to 281,000 square feet. A parking garage had also been constructed on the south side of Davison's.
LENOX SQUARE included a 1,100-foot-long truck tunnel. There was also free parking for 6,000 autos in a series of color-coded lots. At the southeast end of the Mall Level corridor (in front of Davison's) was an escalator which descended to an open Plaza Court. This area had tree planters and two fountains. An entrance to Davison's lower level was situated on this court, as was the lower level entrance of the S.S. Kresge 5 & 10.
The Market Level and a sub-level parking deck were situated beneath the Plaza Court and Colonial supermarket. On June 19, 1963, the Georgia Theatre Company Lenox Square Theatre opened on this floor. The marque of the single-screen venue faced East Paces Ferry Road. In 1967, an adjacent indoor golf-driving range was refitted as an additional movie house. Eventually, there were six auditoriums in operation within the cinema complex.
The first of many mall expansions was completed in August 1962, when a fourth level was added to Rich's, increasing its square footage to 240,000 square feet. In 1966, the mall's first parking garage was built, which was adjacent to the south side of Rich's. Davison's completed a third level expansion in November 1968. That store now covered 180,000 square feet.
By the early 1970s, LENOX -still open-air- was falling behind newer, fully-enclosed shopping venues in the northern suburbs of Atlanta. PHIPPS PLAZA opened in 1969 and was located across Peachtree Road. PERIMETER MALL {5 miles northeast, in Dekalb County} was completed in 1971. CUMBERLAND MALL {6.2 miles northwest, in Cobb County} would be dedicated in 1973.
An enclosure of the LENOX Mall Level was undertaken. A new wing was added, with thirty inline stores and 2-level (120,000 square foot), Dallas-based Neiman-Marcus. This store opened its doors on August 28, 1972. As part of the mall's reconstruction, the Rich's parking garage was expanded. A second parking facility was built on the west side of Davison's.
The new Neiman Marcus wing, known as the Skylight Mall, opened in September 1972. Tenants included Hahn Salon, J. Riggings, Cuzzens, Tinder Box Tobacconist, The Magic Pan Creperie, Bailey, Banks & Biddle Jewelers, Custom Shop Shirt Makers and the El Chico International Restaurant.
The existing Mall Level concourse was now known as the Garden Mall. A formal opening was held for the two concourses on January 18, 1973. Jazz music was provided by Charlie Bornemann and Ernie Carson's Dixieland Five. LENOX SQUARE had been enlarged to 1.1 million leasable square feet. There were now ninety-three stores and services.
New York City's Corporate Property Investors acquired LENOX SQUARE in October 1976. A second major mall renovation was announced in May 1978. The 8 million dollar project, designed by Atlanta's Greenberg Farrow Architecture, would replace the open-air Plaza Court.
The Market Level and a sub-level parking deck were situated beneath the Plaza Court and Colonial supermarket. On June 19, 1963, the Georgia Theatre Company Lenox Square Theatre opened on this floor. The marque of the single-screen venue faced East Paces Ferry Road. In 1967, an adjacent indoor golf-driving range was refitted as an additional movie house. Eventually, there were six auditoriums in operation within the cinema complex.
The first of many mall expansions was completed in August 1962, when a fourth level was added to Rich's, increasing its square footage to 240,000 square feet. In 1966, the mall's first parking garage was built, which was adjacent to the south side of Rich's. Davison's completed a third level expansion in November 1968. That store now covered 180,000 square feet.
By the early 1970s, LENOX -still open-air- was falling behind newer, fully-enclosed shopping venues in the northern suburbs of Atlanta. PHIPPS PLAZA opened in 1969 and was located across Peachtree Road. PERIMETER MALL {5 miles northeast, in Dekalb County} was completed in 1971. CUMBERLAND MALL {6.2 miles northwest, in Cobb County} would be dedicated in 1973.
An enclosure of the LENOX Mall Level was undertaken. A new wing was added, with thirty inline stores and 2-level (120,000 square foot), Dallas-based Neiman-Marcus. This store opened its doors on August 28, 1972. As part of the mall's reconstruction, the Rich's parking garage was expanded. A second parking facility was built on the west side of Davison's.
The new Neiman Marcus wing, known as the Skylight Mall, opened in September 1972. Tenants included Hahn Salon, J. Riggings, Cuzzens, Tinder Box Tobacconist, The Magic Pan Creperie, Bailey, Banks & Biddle Jewelers, Custom Shop Shirt Makers and the El Chico International Restaurant.
The existing Mall Level concourse was now known as the Garden Mall. A formal opening was held for the two concourses on January 18, 1973. Jazz music was provided by Charlie Bornemann and Ernie Carson's Dixieland Five. LENOX SQUARE had been enlarged to 1.1 million leasable square feet. There were now ninety-three stores and services.
New York City's Corporate Property Investors acquired LENOX SQUARE in October 1976. A second major mall renovation was announced in May 1978. The 8 million dollar project, designed by Atlanta's Greenberg Farrow Architecture, would replace the open-air Plaza Court.
The Colonial supermarket would be razed. An enclosed 3-level atrium would be built, which incorporated the previously-existing Market Level. Part of this floor was reconfigured as a 9-bay Food Court, with a new entrance for the 4-screen Lenox Square Theatre built. Sit-down restaurants would be installed on the Plaza Level, with retail stores occupying new space on the Garden Level above.
Work got underway in February 1979. The 100,000 square foot Plaza Court was officially dedicated on August 20, 1980. Retail tenants included Coin & Stamps Incorporated, Laura Ashley, Johnston & Murphy Shoes and a Time Out Family Amusement Center. The Food Court featured Chick-fil-A, Cozzoli Pizza, The Fish Market, Hot Doggery and Glass Oven Bakery. Sit-down restaurants were Presto Ristorante, Ruby Tuesday and Gilbert's Bistro.
Rich's was expanded again. A 2-level Men's Department and Budget Store were added to the Peachtree-facing front of the building. The renovation was completed in December 1982, with the store now covering approximately 306,000 square feet. Davison's was enlarged with a southward addition. A fourth floor was also created out of a basement parking garage. When construction dust settled in November 1985, the store's square footage had grown to 281,000 square feet. A parking garage had also been constructed on the south side of Davison's.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) extended service to LENOX SQUARE. Lenox Station, part of an Arts Center-to-Brookhaven North Line extension, opened on December 15, 1984. The train terminal was a short walk from the mall's south (Food Court) entrance.
The Food Court area was reconfigured in 1992. In February 1994, another expansion of the shopping hub was disclosed. The north-south portion of the Mall Level concourse would have a 187,000 square foot Upper Level added, which would house forty inline stores. The addition opened, with an initial thirty-two tenants, on November 9, 1995.
In September 1998, the Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group acquired the assets of Corporate Property Investors, with Simon becoming the new owner of LENOX SQUARE. The mall's Rich's was expanded, for a third time, in the year 2000. Its Men's Department had a third level added, with the store now covering 433,000 square feet.
Anchor rebrandings at LENOX SQUARE had begun in the 1980s. Davison's became a Davison's-Macy's on March 10, 1985, a full-fledged Macy's on November 17, 1985 and Bloomingdale's on October 16, 2003. The Rich's name remained until February 2, 2003, when stores were rebannered as Rich's-Macy's. On March 6, 2005, the Rich's name was retired, with all stores in the chain rebranded as Macy's.
Yet another renovation of the shopping center came to light in the fall of 2006. It would entail the addition of a 35,000 square foot Upper Level of retail over the existing West Wing. Neiman Marcus would also be enlarged to 205,700 square feet. This "Luxury Wing" project was completed in September 2007.
The Food Court area was reconfigured in 1992. In February 1994, another expansion of the shopping hub was disclosed. The north-south portion of the Mall Level concourse would have a 187,000 square foot Upper Level added, which would house forty inline stores. The addition opened, with an initial thirty-two tenants, on November 9, 1995.
In September 1998, the Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group acquired the assets of Corporate Property Investors, with Simon becoming the new owner of LENOX SQUARE. The mall's Rich's was expanded, for a third time, in the year 2000. Its Men's Department had a third level added, with the store now covering 433,000 square feet.
Anchor rebrandings at LENOX SQUARE had begun in the 1980s. Davison's became a Davison's-Macy's on March 10, 1985, a full-fledged Macy's on November 17, 1985 and Bloomingdale's on October 16, 2003. The Rich's name remained until February 2, 2003, when stores were rebannered as Rich's-Macy's. On March 6, 2005, the Rich's name was retired, with all stores in the chain rebranded as Macy's.
Yet another renovation of the shopping center came to light in the fall of 2006. It would entail the addition of a 35,000 square foot Upper Level of retail over the existing West Wing. Neiman Marcus would also be enlarged to 205,700 square feet. This "Luxury Wing" project was completed in September 2007.
A subsequent LENOX SQUARE remodeling was announced in September 2012. The existing Food Court was upgraded into the "Lenox Fashion Cafe," which included an outdoor patio. The Peachtree Street mall entrance was also rebuilt with an exterior-entranced Streetscape of casual dining restaurants. The Cheesecake Factory, Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar and True Food Kitchen opened in June 2014. An adjacent Crate & Barrel store had been shuttered. A portion of its space was rebuilt into a (23,900 square foot) Nike Store, which welcomed first customers on October 30, 2013.
With its latest renovations, LENOX SQUARE encompassed approximately 1,559,000 leasable square feet and housed over 250 stores and services. The complex was now the third-largest shopping mall in Georgia.
Sources:
The Atlanta Journal
With its latest renovations, LENOX SQUARE encompassed approximately 1,559,000 leasable square feet and housed over 250 stores and services. The complex was now the third-largest shopping mall in Georgia.
Sources:
The Atlanta Journal
The Atlanta Constitution
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Southern Isrealite (Atlanta, Georgia)
"Dual Anchor Shopping Centers 1952-1965" / Richard Longstreth
Memories of Stan Malone
https://www.lenoxsquare.com
https://www.itsmarta.com
https://www.library.gsu.edu
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://www.lenoxsquare.com
https://www.itsmarta.com
https://www.library.gsu.edu
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://www.pasttensega.com
https://www.cinematour.com
https://fultonassessor.org / Fulton County Georgia
https://www.cinematour.com
https://fultonassessor.org / Fulton County Georgia
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