Augusta Mall
Encyclopedia
Augusta Mall is a two level super-regional shopping mall
located in Augusta, Georgia
. It opened on August 3, 1978, one week after the now-defunct Regency Mall. It is one of the largest malls in the state of Georgia
, and it is the largest mall in the Augusta metro area.
, JCPenney, Sears, Macy's
, and Dick's Sporting Goods
. Barnes & Noble
serves a junior anchor to the mall. When it first opened, its anchors were Rich's
(now Macy's) and Davison's
(now site of The Promenade), both out of Atlanta. It had 100 stores at that time. JCPenney moved into the mall in 1979 after deciding not to build at Regency Mall. Davison's, owned by Macy's since the 1920's, was rebranded as Macy's in 1986. Sears joined the mall in 1987 as part of a large expansion of Augusta Mall including other stores and a new food court. J.B. White was the last anchor to join the mall; it closed its Regency Mall location and joined in 1998. Many of the stores that opened were exclusive to the Augusta
market such as Abercrombie & Fitch
, Nine West
, The Body Shop
, Helzberg Diamonds
, and Sbarro
. Just as it joined, J.B. White immediately became Dillard's, after the J.B. White chain was sold.
After poor sales and loss of customers, a certain number of Macy's
stores were to be closed in the late 1990s/early 2000s, the Macy's store at Augusta Mall was one of them, they closed in 2000. Federated Department Stores
(which was the owner of both Rich's and Macy's) began transitioning its Rich's/Goldsmith's/Lazarus stores into the Macy's moniker, in hopes to revitalize the Macy's name and keep their stores simply under the Macy's or Bloomingdale's
name (which is currently a successful change). Macy's came back to the mall into the Rich's location and became Rich's-Macy's in 2003. At the same time, the lower level of the original Davisons/Macy's building was converted into Macy's Furniture Showroom, the upper level was closed from the public. In 2006, Rich's-Macy's became Macy's after the company decided to change most of its stores to the "Macy's" moniker. Later that year, the Macy's Furniture Showroom was closed, and the entire abandoned upper level was demolished to make way for the new lifestyle center
, The Promenade. Now, Dick's Sporting Goods
sits in the original lower level location, which is now the only remains of the original Davison's/Macy's building. The Promenade lies directly above it where the original upper level of the building used to be.
During the construction of the lifestyle center, a new shopping center, The Village at Riverwatch
, was also under construction at the time, but was held back for unknown reasons.
, The Walking Company, Sephora
, The Buckle
, and P. F. Chang's China Bistro
.
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
located in Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
. It opened on August 3, 1978, one week after the now-defunct Regency Mall. It is one of the largest malls in the state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and it is the largest mall in the Augusta metro area.
History
Augusta Mall has five anchors: Dillard'sDillard's
Dillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
, JCPenney, Sears, Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
, and Dick's Sporting Goods
Dick's Sporting Goods
Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. , or Dick's, is a Fortune 500 American corporation in the sporting goods and retail industries.The company's headquarters are on the grounds of Pittsburgh International Airport in Findlay Township near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dick's has 451 stores in 42 states as of...
. Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...
serves a junior anchor to the mall. When it first opened, its anchors were Rich's
Rich's
Rich's was a department store retail chain, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that operated in the southern U.S. from 1867 until March 6, 2005 when the nameplate was eliminated and replaced by Macy's...
(now Macy's) and Davison's
Davison's
Davison's of Atlanta was the major competition to Rich's, once itself an Atlanta shopping institution. The chain took the Macy's name in 1986.-Founding:...
(now site of The Promenade), both out of Atlanta. It had 100 stores at that time. JCPenney moved into the mall in 1979 after deciding not to build at Regency Mall. Davison's, owned by Macy's since the 1920's, was rebranded as Macy's in 1986. Sears joined the mall in 1987 as part of a large expansion of Augusta Mall including other stores and a new food court. J.B. White was the last anchor to join the mall; it closed its Regency Mall location and joined in 1998. Many of the stores that opened were exclusive to the Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
market such as Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch is an American retailer that focuses on casual wear for consumers aged 18 to 22. It has over 300 locations in the United States, and is expanding internationally....
, Nine West
Nine West
Nine West is a fashion wholesale and retail company best known for quickly translating runway trends into styles attainable by mass consumers. Initially founded as a fashion footwear brand, Nine West has since expanded into handbags, sunglasses, legwear, outerwear, jewelry, belts, watches, cold...
, The Body Shop
The Body Shop
The Body Shop International plc, known as The Body Shop, has 2,400 stores in 61 countries, and is the second largest cosmetic franchise in the world, following O Boticario, a Brazilian company...
, Helzberg Diamonds
Helzberg Diamonds
- Leadership :In April 2009, Beryl Raff, former executive vice president and general merchandise manager of fine jewelry at JCPenney, was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Helzberg.-History:...
, and Sbarro
Sbarro
Sbarro is a bankrupt chain of pizza restaurants that specializes in traditional Italian cuisine, including its most popular menu item "pizza by the slice." Its headquarters is located in Melville, Huntington, New York.- History :...
. Just as it joined, J.B. White immediately became Dillard's, after the J.B. White chain was sold.
After poor sales and loss of customers, a certain number of Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
stores were to be closed in the late 1990s/early 2000s, the Macy's store at Augusta Mall was one of them, they closed in 2000. Federated Department Stores
Federated Department Stores
Macy's, Inc. is a department store holding company and owner of Macy's and Bloomingdale's department stores. Macy's Inc.'s stores specialize mostly in retail clothing, jewelery, watches, dinnerware, and furniture....
(which was the owner of both Rich's and Macy's) began transitioning its Rich's/Goldsmith's/Lazarus stores into the Macy's moniker, in hopes to revitalize the Macy's name and keep their stores simply under the Macy's or Bloomingdale's
Bloomingdale's
Bloomingdale's is an American department store owned by Macy's, Inc. .Bloomingdale's started in 1861 when brothers Joseph and Lyman G. Bloomingdale started selling hoop-skirts in their Ladies Notions' Shop on Manhattan's Lower East Side...
name (which is currently a successful change). Macy's came back to the mall into the Rich's location and became Rich's-Macy's in 2003. At the same time, the lower level of the original Davisons/Macy's building was converted into Macy's Furniture Showroom, the upper level was closed from the public. In 2006, Rich's-Macy's became Macy's after the company decided to change most of its stores to the "Macy's" moniker. Later that year, the Macy's Furniture Showroom was closed, and the entire abandoned upper level was demolished to make way for the new lifestyle center
Lifestyle center (retail)
A lifestyle center is a shopping center or mixed-used commercial development that combines the traditional retail functions of a shopping mall with leisure amenities oriented towards upscale consumers...
, The Promenade. Now, Dick's Sporting Goods
Dick's Sporting Goods
Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. , or Dick's, is a Fortune 500 American corporation in the sporting goods and retail industries.The company's headquarters are on the grounds of Pittsburgh International Airport in Findlay Township near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dick's has 451 stores in 42 states as of...
sits in the original lower level location, which is now the only remains of the original Davison's/Macy's building. The Promenade lies directly above it where the original upper level of the building used to be.
During the construction of the lifestyle center, a new shopping center, The Village at Riverwatch
The Village at Riverwatch
The Village at Riverwatch is a planned lifestyle center located in Augusta, Georgia .-History:In July 2005, the MGHerring Group—the developer of the center—announced that it would be built in the upcoming months and would have a grand opening of 2007. Construction initially started in October 2005....
, was also under construction at the time, but was held back for unknown reasons.
Promenade section
The Augusta Promenade is the newest addition to the Augusta Mall, and is 180000 sq ft (16,722.5 m²). Construction of the development started in the Summer of 2006, with a grand opening of November 8, 2007. It brought many upscale stores and restaurants new to the area, many that are new to Georgia outside of Atlanta. Some of these stores and restaurants include Williams-SonomaWilliams-Sonoma
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is a high-end American consumer retail company that sells kitchenwares, furniture and linens, as well as other housewares and home furnishings, along with a variety of specialty foods, soaps and lotions...
, The Walking Company, Sephora
Sephora
Sephora is a chain of cosmetics stores founded in France in 1970 and acquired by Paris-based conglomerate LVMH in 1997. The Sephora chain includes more than 750 stores in 17 countries...
, The Buckle
The Buckle
The Buckle, Inc. is an upscale retailer selling apparel, footwear, and accessories for fashion-conscious young men and women.-History:Buckle began as a men's clothing store in 1948 in Kearney, Nebraska. The first store was founded by David Hirschfeld and operated under the name "Mills Clothing"....
, and P. F. Chang's China Bistro
P. F. Chang's China Bistro
'P. F. Chang's China Bistro, Inc. is an American restaurant chain with headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona.The chain was founded in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1993 by Paul Fleming and Philip Chiang. The restaurants serve American Chinese cuisine from a menu originally conceived and planned by chef...
.
Current
- Dillard'sDillard'sDillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
— formerly J.B. White, became Dillard's in 1998 shortly after move from Regency Mall - JCPenney — opened in 1979
- Sears — opened in 1990, replacing free-standing location in downtown Augusta
- Macy'sMacy'sMacy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
— formerly operated as separate Macy's and Rich's locations, the two stores merged into the Rich's location in 2003 (branded Rich's-Macy's); store didn't change exterior Rich's sign until they officially became Macy's in 2005 - Dick's Sporting GoodsDick's Sporting GoodsDick's Sporting Goods, Inc. , or Dick's, is a Fortune 500 American corporation in the sporting goods and retail industries.The company's headquarters are on the grounds of Pittsburgh International Airport in Findlay Township near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dick's has 451 stores in 42 states as of...
— opened October 2007 in the original lower level of the old Davison's/Macy's building - Barnes & NobleBarnes & NobleBarnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...
— opened Fall 2008 in Promenade section, replacing former location on Augusta West Parkway
Former
- Macy's Furniture ShowroomMacy'sMacy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
— opened in 2003, closed in 2006 to make way for Promenade addition - Rich'sRich'sRich's was a department store retail chain, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that operated in the southern U.S. from 1867 until March 6, 2005 when the nameplate was eliminated and replaced by Macy's...
— opened in 1978, became Rich's-Macy's in 2003, then became Macy'sMacy'sMacy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
in 2005 - Davison'sDavison'sDavison's of Atlanta was the major competition to Rich's, once itself an Atlanta shopping institution. The chain took the Macy's name in 1986.-Founding:...
— opened in 1979, became Macy'sMacy'sMacy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
in 1986, Macy's closed in 2000, lower level became Macy's Furniture ShowroomMacy'sMacy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
in 2003, closed in 2006, upper level demolished as part of Promenade addition. The lower level and its exterior remodeled for Dick's Sporting Goods.
See also
- List of shopping malls in the United States
- Augusta ExchangeAugusta ExchangeThe Augusta Exchange is an regional power center in Augusta, Georgia located at the southeast corner of the intersection of I-520 and I-20 and is a 1/4 of a mile from Augusta Mall. Located on former farm land, the center opened in October 1997 and leases approximately of retail space. Its main...
- The Village at RiverwatchThe Village at RiverwatchThe Village at Riverwatch is a planned lifestyle center located in Augusta, Georgia .-History:In July 2005, the MGHerring Group—the developer of the center—announced that it would be built in the upcoming months and would have a grand opening of 2007. Construction initially started in October 2005....
External links
- Augusta Mall — official website