Northpark Mall (Mississippi)
Encyclopedia
Northpark Mall is a two-level enclosed regional shopping mall on County Line Road in the city of Ridgeland, Mississippi
, across from the state capitol of Jackson, Mississippi
. The mall opened in 1984 with four anchors — Jackson-based McRae's
, Gayfers
, D.H. Holmes, and J. C. Penney
. Northpark also has a cinema located in the back of the mall, originally a 10-screen operation, which later expanded to a 14-screen state-of-the-art setup under Regal Entertainment Group
's United Artists Theatres brand.
Northpark's initial success took most of the remaining business from the struggling Jackson Mall, south of the Madison-Hinds county line, which had opened in 1969 with three anchors. J. C. Penney and Gayfers were two, both relocating to Northpark in 1985, while Woolco
closed prior to Northpark's opening. Jackson Mall has since been redeveloped as a medical mall, providing health care for the inner city urban poor.
Northpark Mall's current direct competition, Metrocenter Mall, was built in southwest Jackson in 1978, also with four anchors — McRae's, Gayfers, D.H. Holmes, and Sears. All D. H. Holmes stores would eventually be acquired by Dillard's
in 1989, with the Little Rock
-based chain assuming locations at both Northpark and Metrocenter. While Metrocenter was Mississippi's largest mall and remains so today, it began to suffer in the late 1990s due to the perception of crime in the city. The newer Northpark, in suburban Ridgeland, rode the economic boom.
In the midst of a volatile local market, a downturn came at Metrocenter in April 1999 when its Gayfers anchor closed due to the Dillard's buyout of Gayfers' parent company, Mercantile Stores
. Another blow came in 2004 when Dillard's announced they were closing its Metrocenter location, and consolidating operations to its Northpark properties — anchor spaces at the ends of the mall's north and south wings, acquired via D. H. Holmes and Gayfers.
A third anchor conversion came in March 2006, as all McRae's stores, including the store at Northpark and Metrocenter, were rebranded by Belk
. Both the McRae's and Proffitt's
chains had been purchased by Belk in late 2005. Belk of Metrocenter Mall was closed in August 2009. This will boost patronage at the Northpark and Dogwood Festival locations.
32.40145°N 90.12956°W
Ridgeland, Mississippi
Ridgeland is a city in Madison County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 20,173 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, across from the state capitol of Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
. The mall opened in 1984 with four anchors — Jackson-based 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:...
, Gayfers
Gayfers
Gayfers was a regional department store chain in the southern United States. Most stores were located in the Southeast. The chain became part of Dillard's in 1998.-History:...
, D.H. Holmes, and J. C. Penney
J. C. Penney
-External links:*...
. Northpark also has a cinema located in the back of the mall, originally a 10-screen operation, which later expanded to a 14-screen state-of-the-art setup under Regal Entertainment Group
Regal Entertainment Group
Regal Entertainment Group also known as REG is a movie theater chain headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. Regal operates the largest and most geographically diverse theater circuit in the United States, consisting of 6,775 screens in 548 locations in 39 states and the District of Columbia as of...
's United Artists Theatres brand.
Northpark's initial success took most of the remaining business from the struggling Jackson Mall, south of the Madison-Hinds county line, which had opened in 1969 with three anchors. J. C. Penney and Gayfers were two, both relocating to Northpark in 1985, while Woolco
Woolco
Woolco was an American-based discount retail chain. It was founded in 1962 in the city of Columbus, Ohio, by the F.W. Woolworth Company. It was a full-line discount department store unlike the five-and-dime Woolworth stores which operated at the time. At its peak, Woolco had hundreds of stores in...
closed prior to Northpark's opening. Jackson Mall has since been redeveloped as a medical mall, providing health care for the inner city urban poor.
Northpark Mall's current direct competition, Metrocenter Mall, was built in southwest Jackson in 1978, also with four anchors — McRae's, Gayfers, D.H. Holmes, and Sears. All D. H. Holmes stores would eventually be acquired by Dillard's
Dillard'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,...
in 1989, with the Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
-based chain assuming locations at both Northpark and Metrocenter. While Metrocenter was Mississippi's largest mall and remains so today, it began to suffer in the late 1990s due to the perception of crime in the city. The newer Northpark, in suburban Ridgeland, rode the economic boom.
In the midst of a volatile local market, a downturn came at Metrocenter in April 1999 when its Gayfers anchor closed due to the Dillard's buyout of Gayfers' parent company, Mercantile Stores
Mercantile Stores
Mercantile Stores Company Inc. until 1998, was a traditional department store retailer operating 102 fashion apparel stores and 16 home fashion stores in 17 states. The stores were operated under 13 different nameplates and varied in size, with the average store approximating . Store names...
. Another blow came in 2004 when Dillard's announced they were closing its Metrocenter location, and consolidating operations to its Northpark properties — anchor spaces at the ends of the mall's north and south wings, acquired via D. H. Holmes and Gayfers.
A third anchor conversion came in March 2006, as all McRae's stores, including the store at Northpark and Metrocenter, were rebranded by 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...
. Both the McRae's and Proffitt's
Proffitt's
Proffitt's was a department store chain based in Alcoa, Tennessee. On March 8, 2006, the Proffitt's and McRae's stores were converted into Belk stores. Belk acquired the two chains in July 2005 from Saks Incorporated.-Beginnings:...
chains had been purchased by Belk in late 2005. Belk of Metrocenter Mall was closed in August 2009. This will boost patronage at the Northpark and Dogwood Festival locations.
Anchors
- BelkBelkBelk 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...
(205,000 sq ft.), formerly McRae'sMcRae'sMcRae'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:... - Dillard's (North)Dillard'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,...
(155,276 sq ft.), formerly GayfersGayfersGayfers was a regional department store chain in the southern United States. Most stores were located in the Southeast. The chain became part of Dillard's in 1998.-History:... - Dillard's (South)Dillard'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,...
(150,000 sq ft.), formerly D. H. HolmesD. H. HolmesD. H. Holmes was a New Orleans department store and later a New Orleans based chain of department stores. The company was founded in 1842 by Daniel Henry Holmes, after whom it is named. In 1849 he moved his headquarters to Canal Street.... - J. C. PenneyJ. C. Penney-External links:*...
(177,449 sq ft.)
External links
- NorthPark Mall Website
- Northpark Mall on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- Jackson Medical Mall
32.40145°N 90.12956°W