The Port City shopping hub's original trademark, circa-1973.
Graphic from the Lat Purcer & Associates, Incorporated
A logo montage of stores that have operated in LONG LEAF MALL. These span from 1973 to the present day.
Showing posts with label North Carolina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label North Carolina. Show all posts
A circa-1973 site plan shows the mall's original configuration. Factoring in its north annex, the complex enveloped 232,200 leasable square feet and housed an initial thirty-three stores and services.
LONG LEAF MALL TENANTS 1973:
WOOLCO (with Red Grille) / WINN-DIXIE supermarket / Alexander's Fashion Shop / Balentine's Buffet / Becker's Gift & Decor Center / Bed & Bath Fashion Shop / Cloth World / Dolphin Bookshop / Eckerd Drugs (with luncheonette) / Firestone Car Care / First Citizens Bank & Trust / Hamilton Shoe Repair / Harvey Cannon, Limited Men's / Home Appliance Company / Justins II / Liz-Marie Shop / Long Leaf Mall Beauty Shop / Long Leaf Mall Cinemas I & II / Long Leaf Mall Cleaners / May's Shoes / Mills Keepsake Jewelers / Modern Bridal & Formal Shop / Olan Mills Studio / Oz / Payne's Men's / Radio Shack / Shields Ice Cream Shoppe / Su-Ann Shoes / The Beehive / The China Shop / The Needle / The Stork Shop / Wig Affair
Over the ensuing years, stores came and went at LONG LEAF MALL. The physical structure remained essentially the same until the year 2000. At that time, a demalling replaced the open-air concourses on the east end with a new supermarket (in light gray).
Photo https://www.flickr.com / "NCMike1981"
Harris Teeter, a North Carolina-based chain of supermarkets, has operated a LONG LEAF store since 1990. The location seen here replaced a smaller store in the fall of 2009.
Photo https://www.flickr.com / "NCMike1981"
As part of a 2009 mall refurbishment, a strip of stores was built onto the east side of the complex, facing South College Road. Charter tenants included Great Clips, Rita's Italian Ice and Miyako Express.
Photo from http://www.provisionarchitecture.com
Shipyard Boulevard / US 117 and South College Road
Wilmington, North Carolina
This shopping hub was one of the few new open-air malls built in the United States during the 1970s. Constructed on 25.1 acres, located 3.3 miles southeast of center city Wilmington, LONG LEAF MALL was developed by Charlotte-based Lat Purcer & Associates.
The mall's grand opening, held on May 14, 1973, was officiated by John C. Symmes (Mayor of Wilmington). He cut a ceremonial ribbon, assisted by Phyllis Griffin, "Miss Wilmington 1973." Music was provided by the New Hanover High School Band.
There were twenty-two stores in operation at the dedication. When fully leased, LONG LEAF MALL housed forty-eight. The single-level shopping hub encompassed 232,200 leasable square feet and was anchored by a 1-level (80,000 square foot) Woolco discount mart. Charter tenants included Eckerd Drugs, Balentine's Buffet, Cloth World, The Stork Shop, Wig Affair and a (26,400 square foot) Winn-Dixie supermarket.
Wilmington, North Carolina
This shopping hub was one of the few new open-air malls built in the United States during the 1970s. Constructed on 25.1 acres, located 3.3 miles southeast of center city Wilmington, LONG LEAF MALL was developed by Charlotte-based Lat Purcer & Associates.
The mall's grand opening, held on May 14, 1973, was officiated by John C. Symmes (Mayor of Wilmington). He cut a ceremonial ribbon, assisted by Phyllis Griffin, "Miss Wilmington 1973." Music was provided by the New Hanover High School Band.
There were twenty-two stores in operation at the dedication. When fully leased, LONG LEAF MALL housed forty-eight. The single-level shopping hub encompassed 232,200 leasable square feet and was anchored by a 1-level (80,000 square foot) Woolco discount mart. Charter tenants included Eckerd Drugs, Balentine's Buffet, Cloth World, The Stork Shop, Wig Affair and a (26,400 square foot) Winn-Dixie supermarket.
On the north end of the mall site was a (29,200 square foot) annex building with a Firestone Car Care store and twin cinema. The Stewart & Everett Theaters Long Leaf Mall Cinemas I & II showed first features on April 19, 1973.
Competition came in 1979, with the completion of INDEPENDENCE MALL {1.2 miles northwest, in Wilmington}. The shuttering of the LONG LEAF MALL Woolco, in January 1983, was the center's first major vacancy. It was filled by a Henderson, North Carolina-based Roses, which opened on June 1, 1983. This discount department store was in business until July 1991.
A temporary tenant, American All-Star Gymnastics, was signed. Then, a Canton, Massachusetts-based Hills renovated the store and opened on October 25, 1995. In the late 1990s, Rocky Hill, Connecticut-based Ames absorbed stores in the Hills chain. Ames rebranded the LONG LEAF Hills in October 1999 and were in business there until September 2001.
Competition came in 1979, with the completion of INDEPENDENCE MALL {1.2 miles northwest, in Wilmington}. The shuttering of the LONG LEAF MALL Woolco, in January 1983, was the center's first major vacancy. It was filled by a Henderson, North Carolina-based Roses, which opened on June 1, 1983. This discount department store was in business until July 1991.
A temporary tenant, American All-Star Gymnastics, was signed. Then, a Canton, Massachusetts-based Hills renovated the store and opened on October 25, 1995. In the late 1990s, Rocky Hill, Connecticut-based Ames absorbed stores in the Hills chain. Ames rebranded the LONG LEAF Hills in October 1999 and were in business there until September 2001.
A Home Accents Superstore took the empty space in May 2003. This store was replaced by Buy-Rite Furniture, which was shuttered in August 2005. The latest tenant in the old Woolco space, Murfreesboro, Tennesse-based Old Time Pottery, began business in the spring of 2006.
Meanwhile, the mall, itself, was to undergo several changes. A half-million-dollar renovation in 1984-1985 added new landscaping and lighting and removed the original Moorish Modern mall entrance. The center was also renamed LONG LEAF PLAZA.
This metamorphosis was successful for a time, but by the early 1990s, the complex was over fifty- percent vacant and in need of maintenance. Wilmington-based Zimmer Development purchased the property in December 1999, becoming its fourth owner. They began a demalling in August 2000, with the eastern half of the shopping center being demolished.
This redevelopment stalled out soon after. It would not be completed until the fall of 2009. Meanwhile, a Harris Teeter supermarket had assumed the Winn-Dixie space, which had been vacated in 1986. Harris Teeter relocated into a newly-built (52,000 square foot) store. It was officially dedicated on September 23, 2009.
A strip of inline stores was also built on the east end of the complex. Tenants included Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches, Great Clips, LongLeaf Nails, Rita's Italian Ice, Miyako Express and Mattress Capital. The old Harris Teeter space was taken by Columbus, Ohio-based Big Lots, who held a grand opening on November 12, 2010. The remodeled shopping complex, which housed 172,800 leasable square feet, was known -once again- as LONG LEAF MALL.
This redevelopment stalled out soon after. It would not be completed until the fall of 2009. Meanwhile, a Harris Teeter supermarket had assumed the Winn-Dixie space, which had been vacated in 1986. Harris Teeter relocated into a newly-built (52,000 square foot) store. It was officially dedicated on September 23, 2009.
A strip of inline stores was also built on the east end of the complex. Tenants included Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches, Great Clips, LongLeaf Nails, Rita's Italian Ice, Miyako Express and Mattress Capital. The old Harris Teeter space was taken by Columbus, Ohio-based Big Lots, who held a grand opening on November 12, 2010. The remodeled shopping complex, which housed 172,800 leasable square feet, was known -once again- as LONG LEAF MALL.
Gabriel Brothers, Incorporated, of West Virginia, acquired stores in the Old Time Pottery chain in April 2023. The LONG LEAF location morphed into a Gabe's store on October 7, 2023. The Tennessee-based Tractor Supply Company purchased eighteen Big Lots leases, including one for the LONG LEAF MALL store. It was shuttered in late 2024 and re-opened -as a Tractor Supply Company- in late 2025.
Sources:
The Wilmington Star News
http://www.myreporter.com / Judy Royal
https://etax.nhcgov.com / New Hanover County, North Carolina
https://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.wilmingtonbiz.com
Sources:
The Wilmington Star News
http://www.myreporter.com / Judy Royal
https://etax.nhcgov.com / New Hanover County, North Carolina
https://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.wilmingtonbiz.com
https://www.zdc.com / Zimmer Development Company
https://www.starnewsonline.com
"Gabe's" article on Wikipedia
Drawing from the Community Research & Development Corporation
COTSWOLD CENTER, Charlotte's second mall, opened for business between 1958 and 1963. It was basically a strip-type complex, with two enclosed concourses. The center was anchored by Ivey's, with a Roses and A & P (later Harris Teeter) supermarket.
Photo from the Sharon Corporation
Photo from the Sharon Corporation
A rendering of a retail complex being developed by an Ivey's and Belk joint venture. This circa-1965 design would be altered considerably before construction on the "Regional Shopping Center" would get underway.
Photo from J.V. Properties, Incorporated
By 1968, the final design had been established. Construction on the project, to be known as SOUTHPARK, was well underway by 1969.
Photo from J.V. Properties, Incorporated
A circa-'70 site plan of Charlotte's shiny new SOUTHPARK. Promoted as "a full dimension in shopping," the mall encompassed 1,070,000 leasable square feet on a single level. The middle-section of the complex was built over a covered parking deck.
SOUTHPARK TENANTS 1970:
BELK (with Gold Room Cafeteria, La Marick Beauty Salon, Fur Salon, Budget Store and medical clinic) / IVEY'S (with Beauty Salon and wig salon) / SEARS (with Coffee House, Garden Center, Fur Salon, Community Room and freestanding Auto Center) / F.W. WOOLWORTH (with Harvest House Coffee Shop & Cafeteria) / COLONIAL supermarket (outparcel) / American Express / Bailey, Banks & Biddle Jewelers / Bakers Shoes / Barricini Candy / Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream / Bell's Linen Closet / Bernard's Wig Salon / Brittain's / Bush Stationers / Capezio & Things / Casual Corner ladies' wear / Chess King men's wear / Chick-fil-A / Coplon's apparel / Deb Shops ladies' wear / Douglas Furs / Eastern Airlines ticket office / Eckerd Drugs (with luncheonette) / Edward's Junior Bootery / First Citizen's Bank & Trust / First Federal Savings & Loan Association / Florsheim Shoes / Foxmoor Casuals ladies' wear / Franklin Simon apparel / Garden Bake Shop / Garibaldi & Bruns / Hahn Shoes / Hardy Shoes / Interior Systems / J. Riggings men's wear / Jewel Box / Jo-Ann Fabrics / Joan Bari / J.O. Jones Men's / Joseph R. Harris ladies' wear / Julie's ladies' wear / Kinney Shoes / Kosher Pantry / Lillie Rubin ladies' wear / Lynn House, Limited / Morrison's Cafeteria / My Maternity Shop / Now / Park Lane Hosiery / Pat Arnolde's Talls / Peggy's Candles / Pet-A-Rama / Record Bar / Regal Shoes / Richman Brothers men's wear / Ritz Camera Center / Sharon Luggage, Limited / Shop of John Simmons / Singer Sewing Center / Size 5-7-9 Shop / SouthPark Barber Shop / SouthPark Cinema I & II (outparcel) / SouthPark Hallmark / SouthPark Optical / Stride-Rite Bootery / Stuarts ladies' ready-to-wear / Susie's Casuals ladies' wear / Suzy Boutique ladies' wear / Tate-Brown / The Cheese Shop / The Forum restaurant / The Intimate Bookshop / Thom McAn Shoes / Tip Top Ties / Tobacco Village / Wilson's Men's Store / Zales Jewelers
Graphics from the F.W. Woolworth Company
A cut-away view of the original mall, showing the orientation of its single level of retail and "down under" parking deck, which had spaces for 500 autos. The mall parking lot accommodated 4,500 more.
The SOUTHPARK mall was expanded between 1986 and 1988. The Belk and Ivey's anchor stores opened up unused top floors and a new Northwest Wing (in medium gray) was built. This included a Richmond-based Thalhimers and fifteen inline stores. The gross leasable area of the mall now measured approximately 1,220,900 square feet.
BELK (with La Marick Beauty Salon and Budget Store) / IVEY'S (with Arthur's Restaurant & Wine Shop) / SEARS (with Coffee Shop, Garden Center, Community Room and freestanding Auto Center) / THALHIMERS (with Fur Salon and Food Market restaurant) / F.W. WOOLWORTH / HARRIS TEETER supermarket (outparcel) / Accessory Lady / Afterthoughts / Alanby / American Athletics / American Express / Ann's Hallmark / Audrey Jones ladies' wear / August Max / Bailey, Banks & Biddle Jewelers / Baker's Shoes / Baskin Robbins Ice Cream / Benetton / Brooks Fashions / Bubba's / Bush Stationers / Butterfields / Carlyle & Company / Caswell Massey / Casual Corner ladies' wear / Charley's / Chaz / Chess King men's wear / Chick-fil-A / Churchill Galleries / The Closet / Connie Shoes / Dana / Docktor Pet Center / Eckerd Drugs / Everything Yogurt / Fifty's / First Citizens Bank / First Federal Savings & Loan Association / Florsheim Shoes / Foxmoor Casuals ladies' wear Gantos / The Gap / Garibaldi & Bruns / GNC / Great Steak & Fry / Hahn Shoes / Hickory Farms of Ohio / Hot Dogs & More / Intimate Bookshop / Jeans West / Jessica's Cookies / Johnston & Murphy / J.O. Jones / Just Pants / Julie's / Kinney Shoes / Kirklands / Laura Ashley / Mother & Child / Leather 'N Wood / Manchu Wok / Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio / Montaldo's / Morrison's Cafeteria / Naturalizer Shoes / Pappagallo Shoes / Paul Simon / Perry's Emporium / Petite Sophistocate ladies' wear / Radio Shack / Record Bar / J. Riggings men's wear / Regal Shoes / Robby's Sports / Sbarro Italian Eatery / Sharon Luggage / Sno White / Soft Shoes / SouthPark Barbers / SouthPark Cinema I-II-III (outparcel) / SouthPark Optical / Stride-Rite Shoes / Stuart's ladies' wear / Susie's Casuals ladies' wear / Taco Bell / T. Edwards / Teddy Bear's Friend / The Tinder Box Tobacconist / This End Up / Thom McAn Shoes / Todd's Flowers / Trocadero / Tweed Shop / Units / Victoria's Secret / Wolf Camera / Wooden Spoon / Zales Jewelers
Photo from https://www.embree-reed.com / Embree-Reed Mechanical & Plumbing Contractors
Said store, as it appeared following a 2006-2007 makeover.
Photo from http://livemalls.blogspot.com / Steven Swain
Photo from http://livemalls.blogspot.com / Steven Swain
The Symphony Park band shell, a 2003 addition to the mall and venue for Summer Pops concerts by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.
Photo from http://www.concordengineering.com / CESI Land Development
The opulent Main Entrance, which faces toward the southeast. It was a component of the new millennium mall makeover.
Photo from www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
Above, we see the two SOUTHPARK logos. The first dates all the way back to 1970. The second trademark was introduced in 2014. It uses a standard design and typeface that is the same for every shopping mall in the Simon Property Group portfolio.
Graphics from www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
A subsequent SOUTHPARK renovation was completed in 2015. It touched up some of the mall's interior spaces. Here we see a rendering of the newly-refurbished Food Court...err, make that Dining Pavilion.
Drawing from www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
We'll just call this one slumming @ SouthPark. The 2015 redo added luxurious soft seating to the central court area in the Southwest Wing.
Photo from www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
Toney tenants in the Southwest Wing include Kate Spade, David Yurman and Tommy Bahama.
Photo from www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
SOUTHPARK
Sharon and Fairview Roads
Charlotte, North Carolina
By the late 1960s, the Queen City had four mall-type shopping centers. 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.
Sharon and Fairview Roads
Charlotte, North Carolina
By the late 1960s, the Queen City had four mall-type shopping centers. 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. The tract was originally part of the 3,000 acre Morrocroft Farm. 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.
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. The new wing housed forty inline stores. These included 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. A recent refurbishment, done between June and November 2015, remodeled the mall's interior. Columns were refinished, with soft seating areas, landscaping, wi-fi service and new signage installed. The mall's Circle Court was also spruced up and its 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
https://www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
https://property.spatialest.com / Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
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. The new wing housed forty inline stores. These included 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. A recent refurbishment, done between June and November 2015, remodeled the mall's interior. Columns were refinished, with soft seating areas, landscaping, wi-fi service and new signage installed. The mall's Circle Court was also spruced up and its 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
https://www.simon.com / Simon Property Group
https://property.spatialest.com / Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
http://www.cmhpf.org / Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historical Landmarks Commission
"Southpark" article on Wikipedia
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