Colonial Brookwood Village
Encyclopedia
Colonial Brookwood Village (also known as Brookwood Village or Brookwood Mall) is a 750754 square feet (69,747 m²) upscale shopping mall located near Birmingham
in "the cities of Mountain Brook
and Homewood
, Alabama
".
An interior remodeling in the late 1980s decked over the fountain to create a dining and special events platform. New lighting, escalators and flooring were installed and many shop fronts were upgraded.
and renamed "Colonial Brookwood Village." Colonial embarked almost immediately on an extensive $50 million overhaul which was completed in 2001. Major additions include a new two-story atrium with a food court on the upper level with a "front entrance" for the mall, facing a new outdoor shopping street, modeled on "lifestyle centers" like the Summit Birmingham
. What had been a relatively anonymous interior-facing design was transformed into an attractive outdoor space with a pedestrian bridge over Shades Creek and a shared terrace for two anchor restaurants. This outdoor space also provides outside entrances for several mall tenants, features limited parallel parking, and serves as a valet parking station. The street is also part of a six-mile (10 km) long walking trail which follows Shades Creek from Green Springs Highway to Jemison Park in Mountain Brook
.
The enclosed three separate parking areas (East and West 2-level decks and Center Ground Level under the Mall have been connected by ramps. Faux building facades energize the outer walls of the decks. The redesign was conceptualized by Street-Works, an Arlington, Virginia-based urban design firm. HKW Architects of Birmingham served as architect of record and developed the conceptual designs for construction. Gar Muse of Cooper Carry, Inc. planned the interiors and contributed to the overall look, drawing from characteristics of the nearby Mountain Brook and Lakeshore communities. Brasfield & Gorrie
were general contractors for the revitalization.
Colonial Properties recently added a 9 story office tower on the western end of the mall to house its corporate headquarters as well as additional office and retail space. Further expansion will include a mix of retail, office, residential condos and possibly a hotel.
In 2005, the Rich's
location (which was one of the mall's original anchor stores) was converted to Macy's on March 6 marking Macy's third entry into the Birmingham market.
on the east end (replacing Rich's
which had been in the mall since 1975, 232000 sq ft (21,553.5 m²)) and Belk
(which replaced Parisian in 2007, 106000 sq ft (9,847.7 m²)), occupying the western end, representing a same-owner upgrade from McRae's
(Pizitz
until the late 1980s). Other major tenants include Gus Mayer
, Cache Luxe, Betsy Prince, Ann Taylor Loft, Z Gallerie, Books-A-Million
(formerly Books & Co.), American Eagle
, Victoria's Secret
, Hollister Co.
and Banana Republic. Full service restaurants include Plaza III the Steakhouse, Brio Tuscan Grille, Cocina Superior, and McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant.
Future plans for Brookwood Village have previously also mentioned a luxury hotel, but no firm plans regarding that possibility have been announced.
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
in "the cities of Mountain Brook
Mountain Brook, Alabama
Mountain Brook is a city in southeastern Jefferson County, Alabama, and a suburb of Birmingham. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 20,821. Mountain Brook is a particularly affluent city within the Birmingham metropolitan area and has appeared in several lists...
and Homewood
Homewood, Alabama
Homewood is a city in southeastern Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is a suburb of Birmingham, located on the other side of Red Mountain due south of the city center. It has one of the highest population densities in Alabama. As of 2009 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
".
History
It was constructed in 1973 by the Shepherd family. The original building was designed by Giattina Fisher Aycock Architects and won a design award that year from Shopping Center World Magazine. Because the mall is located next to a stream bed with weak soil, the foundation for the mall is built in deep piles bearing on rock strata. A feature of the original mall was a large skylit atrium in the center with a large fountain populated with tree-like sprayers that filled the area with white noise and mist.An interior remodeling in the late 1980s decked over the fountain to create a dining and special events platform. New lighting, escalators and flooring were installed and many shop fronts were upgraded.
Colonial Brookwood Village
In 1997, Brookwood Village was purchased for $35 million by Colonial PropertiesColonial Properties
"Colonial Mall" redirects here. All malls with that name are owned by this company.Colonial Properties Trust , headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a diversified Real Estate Investment Trust company...
and renamed "Colonial Brookwood Village." Colonial embarked almost immediately on an extensive $50 million overhaul which was completed in 2001. Major additions include a new two-story atrium with a food court on the upper level with a "front entrance" for the mall, facing a new outdoor shopping street, modeled on "lifestyle centers" like the Summit Birmingham
Summit Birmingham
The Summit, which opened in October 1997, is a 1 million square foot lifestyle center located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 280 and Interstate 459 in Birmingham, Alabama, United States.-Tenants:...
. What had been a relatively anonymous interior-facing design was transformed into an attractive outdoor space with a pedestrian bridge over Shades Creek and a shared terrace for two anchor restaurants. This outdoor space also provides outside entrances for several mall tenants, features limited parallel parking, and serves as a valet parking station. The street is also part of a six-mile (10 km) long walking trail which follows Shades Creek from Green Springs Highway to Jemison Park in Mountain Brook
Mountain Brook, Alabama
Mountain Brook is a city in southeastern Jefferson County, Alabama, and a suburb of Birmingham. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 20,821. Mountain Brook is a particularly affluent city within the Birmingham metropolitan area and has appeared in several lists...
.
The enclosed three separate parking areas (East and West 2-level decks and Center Ground Level under the Mall have been connected by ramps. Faux building facades energize the outer walls of the decks. The redesign was conceptualized by Street-Works, an Arlington, Virginia-based urban design firm. HKW Architects of Birmingham served as architect of record and developed the conceptual designs for construction. Gar Muse of Cooper Carry, Inc. planned the interiors and contributed to the overall look, drawing from characteristics of the nearby Mountain Brook and Lakeshore communities. Brasfield & Gorrie
Brasfield & Gorrie
Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC is a privately held construction management, general contractor|general contracting, and design-build service provider. Founded in 1921 by Thomas C. Brasfield as the Thomas C...
were general contractors for the revitalization.
Colonial Properties recently added a 9 story office tower on the western end of the mall to house its corporate headquarters as well as additional office and retail space. Further expansion will include a mix of retail, office, residential condos and possibly a hotel.
In 2005, the 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...
location (which was one of the mall's original anchor stores) was converted to Macy's on March 6 marking Macy's third entry into the Birmingham market.
Tenants
Anchor tenants for Brookwood Village are Macy'sMacy'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...
on the east end (replacing 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...
which had been in the mall since 1975, 232000 sq ft (21,553.5 m²)) and Belk
Belk
Belk is a department store chain founded in 1888 in Monroe, North Carolina, today part of the Charlotte metropolitan area. After the founding of the first Belk store, the company grew in size and influence throughout the South via the chain in the USA, with its stores primarily located in the...
(which replaced Parisian in 2007, 106000 sq ft (9,847.7 m²)), occupying the western end, representing a same-owner upgrade from McRae's
McRae's
McRae's was a mid-range regional department store chain founded and based in Jackson, Mississippi, with locations in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida. The nameplate was in existence for more than a century.-History:...
(Pizitz
Pizitz
Pizitz was a major regional department store chain in Alabama, with its flagship store in downtown Birmingham. At its peak it operated 12 other stores, mostly in the Birmingham area with several locations in Huntsville and other Alabama cities....
until the late 1980s). Other major tenants include Gus Mayer
Gus Mayer
Gus Mayer is a Birmingham, Alabama based, family-owned, upscale specialty department store that caters to upper-end clientele and is known for its high-end fashions. The two-store chain is owned by the Pizitz Management Group...
, Cache Luxe, Betsy Prince, Ann Taylor Loft, Z Gallerie, Books-A-Million
Books-A-Million
Books-A-Million, Inc., also known as BAM!, is a company that owns the second largest U.S. bookstore chain and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. The company operates over 200 stores in the South, Midwest, Northeast...
(formerly Books & Co.), American Eagle
American Eagle Outfitters
American Eagle Outfitters is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1977 by Mark and Jerry Silverman as a subsidiary of Retail Ventures, Inc., a company which also owned and operated Silverman's Menswear...
, Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret is an American retailer of women's wear, lingerie and beauty products. It is the largest segment of publicly-traded Limited Brands with sales of over US$5 billion and an operating income of $1 billion in 2006...
, Hollister Co.
Hollister Co.
Hollister Co., sometimes advertised as Hollister or HCo., is an American lifestyle brand by Abercrombie & Fitch Co. The concept was originally designed to attract consumers aged 14–18 through its SoCal-inspired image and casual wear. Goods are available in-store and through the company's online store...
and Banana Republic. Full service restaurants include Plaza III the Steakhouse, Brio Tuscan Grille, Cocina Superior, and McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant.
Colonial Center
In February 2006 Colonial Properties went before the Homewood Planning Commission with plans for a new nine-story office tower to be located adjacent to Belk on the west side of the mall. In April, law firm Johnston Barton Proctor & Powell announced that they would be moving from their present offices in downtown Birmingham into 40000 square feet (3,716.1 m²) of the new $35.8 million 160000 square feet (14,864.5 m²) office building. Colonial Properties Trust also plans to consolidate its Birmingham-area staff of about 150 people into the new building. Plans call for 13000 square feet (1,207.7 m²) of ground floor specialty retail, a covered walkway connecting the building to Belk, and redundant power feeds from two separate substations to reduce the likelihood of outages.Future plans for Brookwood Village have previously also mentioned a luxury hotel, but no firm plans regarding that possibility have been announced.