Claypool Hill Mall

The Claypool Hill Mall broke ground in 1981, at the intersection of U.S. Route 19 and U.S. Route 460.{{cite news |title=Claypool Hill Mall To Be Developed|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clinch-valley-news-and-richlands-press-c/135582159/ |newspaper=Clinch Valley News and Richlands Press |date=November 19, 1980 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 22, 2023}} Located on approximately 25 acres of land, planned anchors called for a 55,552 square foot Kmart store, a then unnamed 41,586 square foot department store, a 28,875 square foot Piggly Wiggly, and a 10,125 square foot space for a drug store. The Piggly Wiggly would not be built. Inline mall space would amount to 75,625 square feet, and have room for 38 shops.{{cite news |title=Mall still scheduled for March opening|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clinch-valley-news-and-richlands-press-c/135582317/ |newspaper=Clinch Valley News and Richlands Press |date=February 17, 1982 |page=43 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 22, 2023}} The developer for the property was Paul Buskill, and Claypool Hill Associates.

The mall opened its doors on March 18, 1982, with anchors Kmart and Leggetts.{{cite news |title=Supervisors' Newsletter|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clinch-valley-news-and-richlands-press-c/135582439/ |newspaper=Clinch Valley News and Richlands Press |date=March 24, 1982 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 22, 2023}} Popular names occupying the new shopping center included Sidney's, Hickory Farms, and Kinney Shoes. The mall was built as to "provide a natural effect and feel of the outdoors," by having live plants and garden beds present throughout the mall, in addition to 3 fountains. Also notable in the mall was a community room with space for 400 people.

Leggetts wouldn't have their grand opening until August 18, 1982. With roughly 34,000 square feet of retail space, it would have room for 43 merchandise departments and employ 72 people.{{cite news |title=New Leggett's To Open August 18 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1008695690/?match=1&clipping_id=136518678

|newspaper=Clinch Valley News and Richlands Press |date=August 11, 1982 |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=December 9, 2023}}{{cite news |title=Media Day At Leggett |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clinch-valley-news-and-richlands-press-l/135582382/

|newspaper=Clinch Valley News and Richlands Press |date=August 11, 1982 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 22, 2023}}

In 1994, Food City would break ground on a 33,562-square-foot grocery store on the mall property. The expected opening was slated for June 1995.{{cite news |title=Food City 'superstore' coming to Claypool Hill |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clinch-valley-news-and-richlands-press-c/135581759/

|newspaper=Clinch Valley News and Richlands Press |date=October 19, 1994 |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 22, 2023}}

Leggett would officially become Belk at the Claypool Hill Mall in January 1997, with the old signage being taken down for the new Belk insignia.{{cite news |title=Belk makes it official|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clinch-valley-news-and-richlands-press-l/136520278/ |newspaper=Clinch Valley News and Richlands Press |date=January 29, 1997 |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=December 9, 2023}} All 31 Leggett Stores were acquired by Belk and underwent this name change, but the stores would resume operations as normal.{{cite news |title=Belk stores Celebrate|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clinch-valley-news-and-richlands-press-b/136520287/ |newspaper=Clinch Valley News and Richlands Press |date=March 26, 1997 |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=December 9, 2023}}

Stores shown off in a 1998 flyer for the mall included Disc Jockey, Dollar General, Merle Norman, Regis, Belk, Sears, and Shoe Show, among others.{{cite news |title=Here We Grow Again |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clinch-valley-news-and-richlands-press-c/135581996/

|newspaper=Clinch Valley News and Richlands Press |date=February 25, 1998 |page=25 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 22, 2023}}

The mall was sold from its owner of over ten years, Ruby Clifton, to a group known as C&J Associates in September 1999 for an undisclosed amount. The group, headquartered in Bristol, Virginia, operated six retail centers, including the mall, at the time of purchase. The C & J in their name stood for the owners, Tim Carter and Steve Johnson.{{cite news |title=Claypool Hill Mall sold|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/bristol-herald-courier-claypool-hill-mal/135581730/

|newspaper=Bristol Herald Courier |date=September 25, 1999 |page=32 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 22, 2023}}

In September 2000, a couple from nearby Richlands, Virginia announced they would open a multiplex cinema at the mall. Featuring reclining love-seat style seating and a 2000-square-foot arcade, the theater was scheduled to open on November 1, 2000.{{cite news |title=Couple announces plans to operate new multiplex cinema at Claypool Hill Mall|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/bristol-herald-courier-claypool-hill-get/135581886/

|newspaper=Bristol Herald Courier |date=September 19, 2000 |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 22, 2023}}

On April 28, 2001, it was announced that Dixie Pottery would join the mall. The expected opening was May 1, and it would be the second location in the company's 44-year history.{{cite news |title=New Dixie Pottery To Open |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/bristol-herald-courier-dixie-pottery-cla/136519724/

|newspaper=Bristol Herald Courier |date=April 28, 2001 |page=28 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=December 9, 2023}}

At the start of 2016, it was announced that the Kmart location, operating under Big Kmart, would close in April. The store employed 50 people, and the liquidation sale would start on January 24, 2016.{{cite web |url=https://www.bdtonline.com/news/claypool-hill-kmart-closing/article_27289176-bf20-11e5-ad66-af3135b31bf2.html |title=Claypool Hill Kmart Closing|last=Owens |first=Charles|date=January 20, 2016 |newspaper= Bluefield Daily Telegraph |access-date=December 9, 2023}}

In March 2023, it was announced that Belk would switch to an outlet-style location, offering discounted items from other Belk stores nationwide.{{cite web |url=https://swvatoday.com/news/community/richland-clinch-valley/article_c64b0126-cfdf-11ed-b1d4-d3265f5faa6e.html |title=Claypool Hill Belk getting new look|last=Talbert |first=Jim|date=March 31, 2023 |newspaper= Clinch Valley News and Richlands Press |access-date=December 9, 2023}}

Belk is stated to be one of the final remaining tenants occupying the mall.

{{reflist}}

{{Shopping malls in Virginia}}

Category:Shopping malls in Virginia

Category:Shopping malls established in 1982

Category:Tourist attractions in Tazewell County, Virginia

Category:1982 establishments in Virginia