Montgomery Mall (Alabama)

Montgomery Mall
Entrance to Montgomery Mall, March 2013
LocationMontgomery, Alabama, United States
Coordinates32°19′45″N 86°14′46″W / 32.3293°N 86.2460°W / 32.3293; -86.2460
Address2899 E. South Blvd.
Opened1970
Closed2008
DeveloperJim Wilson & Associates
Storesapprox. 100
Floor area726,882 sq ft (67,529.5 m2)[1]
Floors1

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. Three former anchor tenants buildings are occupied by Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP) High School, Montgomery Preparatory Academy for Career Technologies (MPACT), and the City of Montgomery Department of Public Safety which encompasses the South Central Montgomery Police Department.[2][3][4]

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.[5] The Montgomery Fair store was later rebranded Gayfers.[6] An expansion, begun in 1987 and completed in 1988, added a new wing anchored by Parisian.[7]

In 1998, Glimcher Realty Trust bought the mall for $70 million.[8] By the early 2000s, several stores had begun to close in the mall, including Piccadilly Cafeteria,[9] Gap, Eddie Bauer, Ruby Tuesday,[10] and American Eagle Outfitters.[11] 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,[12] while Dillard's moved to The Shoppes at Eastchase.

Although Steve & Barry's replaced the former Dillard's in early 2005,[13] Parisian closed in 2006,[14] 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.[15] Glimcher sold off the mall in May 2007.[16] The mall closed in 2008, with Steve & Barry's staying until September of that year.[17]

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.[18] Redevelopment began in February 2013. Under the redevelopment plans, the former Steve & Barry's building became a fire station, the former JCPenney became a magnet high school, and the former Parisian is used by Montgomery Technical Education Center.[19]

Sign for Montgomery Mall, March 2013

References

  1. ↑ "Leasing sheet" (PDF). Glimcher. Archived from the original on October 16, 2006. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Department store transformed into home of top AL high school". www.wsfa.com. August 4, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  3. ↑ Burylo, Rebecca. "MPACT breathes new life in old mall". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  4. ↑ Edgemon, Erin (January 21, 2014). "New fire station, police precinct opens in south Montgomery; will quicken response times (photos)". al. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Alabama". Chain Store Age, Executives Edition Combined with Shopping Center Age. 46 (1–6). Lebhar-Friedman: E–54. 1970.
  6. ↑ Sherman, Mike (June 11, 2000). "Dillard's looks to future". Montgomery Advertiser. p. I1. Retrieved April 7, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Parisian plans new store". Times Daily. February 15, 1987. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Glimcher Closes $70 Million Acquisition of Montgomery Mall In Montgomery, Ala". PR Newswire. July 16, 1998. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  9. ↑ Ray, Tiffany (March 5, 2004). "Struggling Montgomery, Ala., Mall Loses Eatery". Montgomery Advertiser. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  10. ↑ Clanton, Brett (January 9, 2003). "Montgomery, Ala., Mall Loses Several High-Profile Stores". Montgomery Advertiser. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  11. ↑ Ray, Tiffany (March 25, 2004). "Montgomery Mall loses American Eagle". Montgomery Advertiser. p. 8C. Retrieved April 7, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "J.C. Penney Leaving Montgomery Mall". WSFA.com. February 11, 2005. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  13. ↑ Ray, Tiffany (February 3, 2005). "Sportswear store new mall anchor". The Montgomery Advertiser. p. 1. Retrieved April 7, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Irvin, David (January 5, 2006). "Parisian leaving mall in March". The Montgomery Advertiser. p. 1. Retrieved April 7, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Irvin, David (May 30, 2006). "Montgomery Mall owner criticized". The Montgomery Advertiser. p. 1. Retrieved April 7, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Glimcher Announces The Sale Of Montgomery Mall In Montgomery, Alabama". Glimcher. May 10, 2007. Archived from the original on January 30, 2008.
  17. ↑ Harmon, Rick (September 3, 2008). "Mall's last tenant to close". The Montgomery Advertiser. p. 1. Retrieved April 7, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ Wales, Bethany (May 12, 2011). "New vision for old Montgomery Mall". WSFA. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  19. ↑ Kachmar, Kala (January 15, 2013). "The New Montgomery: Development: Former Montgomery Mall's revival gains momentum". Montgomery Advertiser. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015.
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