West Blackstock Road and W.O. Ezell Boulevard / US 29
Spartanburg, South Carolina
In April 1972, plans for a major Sparkle City retail complex were announced. This would be developed by Chattanooga's Arlen Shopping Centers (precursor of today's CBL Properties), the First National City Bank and Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, both of New York City. The mall was being designed by the Humphreys & Associates firm.
A 75-acre site, located 3 miles southwest of downtown Spartanburg, was purchased from the Yeomans family. An official groundbreaking was held on September 12, 1974. A 2-level (193,400 square foot) Sears became the first operational WESTGATE store on August 21, 1975. Next came a 1-level (70,000 square foot), Greenville-based Meyers-Arnold, which was dedicated on October 3rd.
A 2-level (124,500 square foot), Spartanburg-based Belk-Hudson made its debut, along with fifteen inline stores, on April 21, 1976. . At this time, WESTGATE MALL encompassed 786,000 leasable square feet and housed sixty-eight stores and services.
Charter WESTGATE tenants included Topps & Trowsers, Camelot Music, Record Bar, Chick-Fil-A, Curious Cargo, Pet Luv, Ormond Junior Specialty Shop and a Piccadilly Cafeteria. The basic footprint of the mall was established with the completion of its fourth anchor store. A 1-level (99,100 square foot) J.C. Penney commenced operation on March 1, 1978.
Meanwhile, the ABC Southeastern Westgate Twin Theatres had been built on a pad located .3 mile southeast of the mall. The first features were shown on December 25, 1975. This movie house, which eventually housed four auditoria, was in operation until 1990. A second theatrical venue, the General Cinema Corporation Westgate Mall Cinema VI, was built in the mall's west parking area. It was dedicated February 17, 1984 and was shuttered and demolished in 1996.
The only sizable competition that WESTGATE had in its early years came from HILLCREST MALL (1982){5.9 miles northeast, in Spartanburg}. WESTGATE eventually prevailed, with HILLCREST suffering a prolonged demise. It was demalled between 1999 and 2001.
An official dedication of the "fully-climatized" mall was held on October 29, 1975, when forty-five stores and services opened for business. In attendance were Jay Solomon and Charles B. Liebovitz (of Arlen Shopping Centers), John Baehr (Mayor of Spartanburg) and Robert G. Rowell (Spartanburg County Commission Chairman).
Assisting in a ceremonial ribbon cutting were Annette Huckaby ("Miss Spartanburg 1975") and Rita Chastain ("Miss Greenville 1975"). Entertainment was provided by the University of South Carolina Bicentennial Chorus, Paul W. Dorman High School Band, Spartanburg High School Band Color Guard and members of Miss Marion's Dancers.
A 2-level (124,500 square foot), Spartanburg-based Belk-Hudson made its debut, along with fifteen inline stores, on April 21, 1976. . At this time, WESTGATE MALL encompassed 786,000 leasable square feet and housed sixty-eight stores and services.
Charter WESTGATE tenants included Topps & Trowsers, Camelot Music, Record Bar, Chick-Fil-A, Curious Cargo, Pet Luv, Ormond Junior Specialty Shop and a Piccadilly Cafeteria. The basic footprint of the mall was established with the completion of its fourth anchor store. A 1-level (99,100 square foot) J.C. Penney commenced operation on March 1, 1978.
Meanwhile, the ABC Southeastern Westgate Twin Theatres had been built on a pad located .3 mile southeast of the mall. The first features were shown on December 25, 1975. This movie house, which eventually housed four auditoria, was in operation until 1990. A second theatrical venue, the General Cinema Corporation Westgate Mall Cinema VI, was built in the mall's west parking area. It was dedicated February 17, 1984 and was shuttered and demolished in 1996.
The only sizable competition that WESTGATE had in its early years came from HILLCREST MALL (1982){5.9 miles northeast, in Spartanburg}. WESTGATE eventually prevailed, with HILLCREST suffering a prolonged demise. It was demalled between 1999 and 2001.
A 1 million dollar mall renovation got underway in January 1986. The West Court was rebuilt, with its vintage locomotive removed. A food court, known as The Garden, was created. Existing restaurants -Cossenza's Pizza, Chick-Fil-A and Grecian Expo- were joined by Taco Bell, Yummy Yogurt and Sbarro the Italian Eatery. New flooring, landscaping, skylights, mirrors and neon lighting were installed. The food facility was officially dedicated on June 1, 1986.
Meyers-Arnold's was shuttered on August 2, 1987, after the chain was acquired by Norcross, Georgia-based Uptons. The store was remodeled and re-opened, as an Uptons, on November 1, 1987. It was shuttered in September 1999 and divided into a (36,100 square foot) Bed, Bath & Beyond and (35,000 square foot) Dick's Sporting Goods. These stores began business in late 2000 and early 2001, respectively.
Meanwhile, Chattanooga-based CBL & Associates Properties had acquired the mall building (but not the land) in March 1995. Basically, they reestablished ownership of a property that had been sold some years before by the company's predecessor, Arlen Shopping Centers.
Work on a two-phase addition commenced in August 1995. Included in the project were a 2-level (150,000 square foot) Dillard's, built at the original Main Entrance, and a West Wing, added to the rear of the mall. This would be anchored by a 2-level (158,000 square foot), Augusta, Georgia-based J.B. White (a.k.a. "White's").
Belk, on the north end of the complex, was expanded into a 156,800 square foot store. The existing mall was also given a major makeover, with new storefronts, flooring and entrances installed. Forty stores and services were added during the expansion.
The new West Wing, which included an 8-bay Food Court and two casual dining restaurants, was dedicated on October 23, 1996. Stores new to the mall included The Gap, Gadzooks, Small Sports, Gardens Botanica, Marks & Morgan Jewelers and a J.B. White For The Home store (a northern outparcel).
The Regal Westgate Mall 8 occupied a second level over the Food Court and opened October 25, 1996. The mall now housed 1.2 million leasable square feet and 120 stores and services. HAYWOOD MALL (1980) {in Greenville County} and WESTGATE MALL now possessed the same square footage. Both vied for the position of largest mall in the Palmetto State.
J.B. White at WESTGATE was short-lived. It was rebranded by Alcoa, Tennessee-based Proffitt's on October 3, 1998. This chain was bought by Belk in July 2005. With two prospective Belk locations at WESTGATE, the parent company decided to permanently close the Proffitt's store in December 2005. The building, which was only 10 years old, was razed in 2006.
Meyers-Arnold's was shuttered on August 2, 1987, after the chain was acquired by Norcross, Georgia-based Uptons. The store was remodeled and re-opened, as an Uptons, on November 1, 1987. It was shuttered in September 1999 and divided into a (36,100 square foot) Bed, Bath & Beyond and (35,000 square foot) Dick's Sporting Goods. These stores began business in late 2000 and early 2001, respectively.
Meanwhile, Chattanooga-based CBL & Associates Properties had acquired the mall building (but not the land) in March 1995. Basically, they reestablished ownership of a property that had been sold some years before by the company's predecessor, Arlen Shopping Centers.
Work on a two-phase addition commenced in August 1995. Included in the project were a 2-level (150,000 square foot) Dillard's, built at the original Main Entrance, and a West Wing, added to the rear of the mall. This would be anchored by a 2-level (158,000 square foot), Augusta, Georgia-based J.B. White (a.k.a. "White's").
Belk, on the north end of the complex, was expanded into a 156,800 square foot store. The existing mall was also given a major makeover, with new storefronts, flooring and entrances installed. Forty stores and services were added during the expansion.
The new West Wing, which included an 8-bay Food Court and two casual dining restaurants, was dedicated on October 23, 1996. Stores new to the mall included The Gap, Gadzooks, Small Sports, Gardens Botanica, Marks & Morgan Jewelers and a J.B. White For The Home store (a northern outparcel).
The Regal Westgate Mall 8 occupied a second level over the Food Court and opened October 25, 1996. The mall now housed 1.2 million leasable square feet and 120 stores and services. HAYWOOD MALL (1980) {in Greenville County} and WESTGATE MALL now possessed the same square footage. Both vied for the position of largest mall in the Palmetto State.
J.B. White at WESTGATE was short-lived. It was rebranded by Alcoa, Tennessee-based Proffitt's on October 3, 1998. This chain was bought by Belk in July 2005. With two prospective Belk locations at WESTGATE, the parent company decided to permanently close the Proffitt's store in December 2005. The building, which was only 10 years old, was razed in 2006.
A 1-level (150,600 square foot), Washington State-based Costco was built as a freestanding unit with no connection to the interior mall. The store opened on August 15, 2007. With this modification, the retail area of the WESTGATE MALL (sans Costco) had been reduced to around 954,300 leasable square feet. Two major tenants pulled up stakes. Sears, which had anchored WESTGATE MALL for 43 years, went dark on September 2, 2018. The Regal Westgate Mall 8 closed in 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Apparently, the theater was permanently shuttered in February 2022.
Meanwhile, CBL & Associates filed for bankruptcy in November 2020. They defaulted on their WESTGATE loan. In September 2023, the New York City-based Spinoso Real Estate Group became receiver and manager of the property until a buyer could be found. The mall (but not the land) was sold to Great Neck, New York's Namdar Realty Group in May 2024.
Sources:
The Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, South Carolina)
The Greenville News (Greenville, South Carolina)
http://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.westgate-mall.com (website on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
Spartanburg County, South Carolina tax assessor website
The Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, South Carolina)
The Greenville News (Greenville, South Carolina)
http://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.westgate-mall.com (website on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
Spartanburg County, South Carolina tax assessor website
https://www.westgate-mall.com
"Westgate Mall" article on Wikipedia
"Westgate Mall" article on Wikipedia
