Montgomery Mall (Alabama)

Montgomery Mall was an enclosed shopping mall in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Opened in 1970, it closed in 2008 after several years of declining traffic. In February 2013, redevelopment began on the vacant mall property. There are 3 vacant anchor stores that were once Steve & Barry's, JCPenney, and Parisian.

Montgomery Mall
Entrance to Montgomery Mall, March 2013
LocationMontgomery, Alabama, United States
Coordinates32.3293°N 86.2460°W / 32.3293; -86.2460
Address2899 E. South Blvd.
Opening date1970
Closing date2008
DeveloperJim Wilson & Associates
No. of stores and servicesapprox. 100
No. of anchor tenants3
Total retail floor area726,882 sq ft (67,529.5 m2)[1]
No. of floors1

History

Montgomery Mall opened in 1970 with Montgomery Fair and JCPenney as its anchor stores. Other major tenants at the time included Lerner New York, Morrison's Cafeteria, Singer Sewing Center, and Elmore Variety Store.[2] The Montgomery Fair store was later rebranded Gayfers.[3] An expansion, begun in 1987 and completed in 1988, added a new wing anchored by Parisian.[4]

In 1998, Glimcher Realty Trust bought the mall for $70 million.[5] By the early 2000s, several stores had begun to close in the mall, including Piccadilly Cafeteria,[6] Gap, Eddie Bauer, Ruby Tuesday,[7] and American Eagle Outfitters.[8] Both JCPenney and Dillard's, which acquired the Gayfers chain in 1998, closed their stores at Montgomery Mall in 2005. JCPenney relocated to a new store at Eastdale Mall,[9] while Dillard's moved to The Shoppes at Eastchase.

Although Steve & Barry's replaced the former Dillard's in early 2005,[10] Parisian closed in 2006,[11] as did several other stores. In 2007, Montgomery mayor Bobby Bright criticized Glimcher as using the mall for a tax write-off, and said that they "never showed willingness" to improve it.[12] Glimcher sold off the mall in May 2007.[13] The mall closed in 2008, with Steve & Barry's staying until September of that year.[14]

In May 2011, Keith Corporation announced plans to purchase 440,000 square feet of mall space, including the former JCPenney store, for conversion to health offices.[15] Redevelopment began in February 2013. Under the redevelopment plans, the former Steve & Barry's building will become a fire station, the former JCPenney will become a library, and the former Parisian will be used by Montgomery Technical Education Center.[16]

Sign for Montgomery Mall, March 2013

References
  1. "Leasing sheet" (PDF). Glimcher. Archived from the original on October 16, 2006. Retrieved 28 February 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. "Alabama". Chain Store Age, Executives Edition Combined with Shopping Center Age. Lebhar-Friedman. 46 (1–6): E–54. 1970.
  3. Sherman, Mike (11 June 2000). "Dillard's looks to future". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  4. "Parisian plans new store". Times Daily. 15 February 1987. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  5. "Glimcher Closes $70 Million Acquisition of Montgomery Mall In Montgomery, Ala". PR Newswire. 16 July 1998. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  6. Ray, Tiffany (5 March 2004). "Struggling Montgomery, Ala., Mall Loses Eatery". Montgomery Advertiser. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  7. Clanton, Brett (9 January 2003). "Montgomery, Ala., Mall Loses Several High-Profile Stores". Montgomery Advertiser. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  8. Ray, Tiffany (25 March 2004). "Montgomery Mall loses American Eagle". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  9. "J.C. Penney Leaving Montgomery Mall". WSFA.com. 11 February 2005. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  10. Ray, Tiffany (3 February 2005). "Sportswear store new mall anchor". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  11. Irvin, David (5 January 2006). "Parisian leaving mall in March". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  12. Irvin, David (30 May 2006). "Montgomery Mall owner criticized". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  13. "Glimcher Announces The Sale Of Montgomery Mall In Montgomery, Alabama". Glimcher. 10 May 2007. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  14. Harmon, Rick (3 September 2008). "Mall's last tenant, Steve & Barry's, to close". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  15. Wales, Bethany (12 May 2011). "New vision for old Montgomery Mall". WSFA. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  16. Kachmar, Kala (15 January 2013). "The New Montgomery: Development: Former Montgomery Mall's revival gains momentum". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 28 February 2013.


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