Montgomery Mall (Alabama)
{{short description|Former shopping mall in Montgomery, Alabama}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox shopping mall
| name = Montgomery Mall
| image = Montgomery Mall Montgomery, AL (15410648496).jpg
| image_width =
| caption = Entrance to Montgomery Mall, March 2013
| location = Montgomery, Alabama, United States
| coordinates = {{Coord|32.3293|-86.2460|display=inline,title}}
| address = 2899 E. South Blvd.
| opening_date = 1970
| closing_date = 2008
| developer = Jim Wilson & Associates
| manager =
| owner =
| architect =
| number_of_stores = approx. 100
| number_of_anchors = 3
| floors = 1
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
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.
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.{{cite journal|year=1970|title=Alabama|journal=Chain Store Age, Executives Edition Combined with Shopping Center Age|publisher=Lebhar-Friedman|volume=46|issue=1ā6|pages=Eā54|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P8kSAQAAMAAJ&q=%22montgomery+mall%22+%22gayfers%22}} The Montgomery Fair store was later rebranded Gayfers.{{cite news |last=Sherman |first=Mike |date=11 June 2000 |title=Dillard's looks to future |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-dillards-look/169784396/ |accessdate=2025-04-07 |work=Montgomery Advertiser |page=I1 |via=Newspapers.com}} An expansion, begun in 1987 and completed in 1988, added a new wing anchored by Parisian.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2M4yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hcgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6709,3433215&dq=montgomery-mall+parisian&hl=en|title=Parisian plans new store|date=15 February 1987|work=Times Daily|accessdate=28 February 2013}}
In 1998, Glimcher Realty Trust bought the mall for $70 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Glimcher+Closes+$70+Million+Acquisition+of+Montgomery+Mall+In...-a020912779|title=Glimcher Closes $70 Million Acquisition of Montgomery Mall In Montgomery, Ala.|date=16 July 1998|work=PR Newswire|accessdate=28 February 2013}} By the early 2000s, several stores had begun to close in the mall, including Piccadilly Cafeteria,{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-113955009.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325172819/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-113955009.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 March 2016|title=Struggling Montgomery, Ala., Mall Loses Eatery.|last=Ray|first=Tiffany|date=5 March 2004|work=Montgomery Advertiser|accessdate=28 February 2013}} Gap, Eddie Bauer, Ruby Tuesday,{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-96342270.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309190647/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-96342270.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 March 2016|title=Montgomery, Ala., Mall Loses Several High-Profile Stores.|last=Clanton|first=Brett|date=9 January 2003|work=Montgomery Advertiser|accessdate=28 February 2013}} and American Eagle Outfitters.{{cite news |last=Ray |first=Tiffany |date=25 March 2004 |title=Montgomery Mall loses American Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-montgomery-mal/169784503/ |accessdate=2025-04-07 |work=Montgomery Advertiser |page=8C |via=Newspapers.com}} 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,{{cite web|url=http://www.wsfa.com/story/1641837/jc-penney-leaving-montgomery-mall?clienttype=printable|title=J.C. Penney Leaving Montgomery Mall|date=11 February 2005|work=WSFA.com|accessdate=28 February 2013}} while Dillard's moved to The Shoppes at Eastchase.
Although Steve & Barry's replaced the former Dillard's in early 2005,{{Cite news |last=Ray |first=Tiffany |date=2005-02-03 |title=Sportswear store new mall anchor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-sportswear-sto/169784626/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |work=The Montgomery Advertiser |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} Parisian closed in 2006,{{Cite news |last=Irvin |first=David |date=2006-01-05 |title=Parisian leaving mall in March |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-parisian-leavi/169784726/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |work=The Montgomery Advertiser |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Irvin |first=David |date=2006-05-30 |title=Montgomery Mall owner criticized |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-montgomery-mal/169784810/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |work=The Montgomery Advertiser |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} Glimcher sold off the mall in May 2007.{{cite web |date=10 May 2007 |title=Glimcher Announces The Sale Of Montgomery Mall In Montgomery, Alabama |url=http://glimcher.com/press/release/24-glimcher-announces-the-sale-of-montgomery-mall-in-montgomery-alabama |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130113310/http://glimcher.com/press/release/24-glimcher-announces-the-sale-of-montgomery-mall-in-montgomery-alabama |archive-date=2008-01-30 |work=Glimcher}} The mall closed in 2008, with Steve & Barry's staying until September of that year.{{Cite news |last=Harmon |first=Rick |date=2008-09-03 |title=Mall's last tenant to close |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-malls-last-te/169785192/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |work=The Montgomery Advertiser |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}
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.{{cite web |last=Wales |first=Bethany |date=12 May 2011 |title=New vision for old Montgomery Mall |url=https://www.wsfa.com/story/14634122/new-vision-for-old-montgomery-mall/ |accessdate=2025-04-07 |work=WSFA}} 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.{{cite web |last=Kachmar |first=Kala |date=15 January 2013 |title=The New Montgomery: Development: Former Montgomery Mall's revival gains momentum |url=http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/99999999/NEWS03/399990215/The-New-Montgomery-Development-Former-Montgomery-Mall-s-revival-gains-momentum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526032530/http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/99999999/NEWS03/399990215/The-New-Montgomery-Development-Former-Montgomery-Mall-s-revival-gains-momentum |archive-date=2015-05-26 |work=Montgomery Advertiser}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060829182152/http://www.montgomerymallshopping.com/ Montgomery Mall] (Wayback Machine archive, August 2006)
{{Shopping malls in Alabama}}
Category:1970 establishments in Alabama
Category:2008 disestablishments in Alabama
Category:Abandoned shopping malls in the United States
Category:Buildings and structures in Montgomery, Alabama
Category:Shopping malls established in 1970
Category:Shopping malls disestablished in 2008