Augusta Mall

Augusta Mall is a two level super-regional shopping mall in Augusta, Georgia. It is one of the largest malls in the state of Georgia, and it is the largest mall in the Augusta metropolitan area. Augusta Mall has five anchors: Dillard's, J. C. Penney, Macy's, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Barnes & Noble.

Augusta Mall
Augusta Mall Entrance
LocationAugusta, Georgia
Opening dateAugust 3, 1978 (1978-08-03)
DeveloperThe Rouse Company
ManagementBrookfield Properties Retail Group
OwnerBrookfield Properties Retail Group
No. of stores and services149
No. of anchor tenants6 (5 open, 1 vacant)
Total retail floor area1,099,224 sq ft (102,121.3 m2)
No. of floors2
Parking5,400 spaces
Websitewww.augustamall.com
[1]

Augusta Mall is situated in the Forest Hill neighborhood in West Augusta, one of the more affluent areas of the city. Within a 10-mile radius of the mall, over 60% of people have a higher education and are white-collar workers. The median household income is $67,997.[1]

History

Augusta Mall opened on August 3, 1978, one week after the now-defunct Regency Mall opened.[2]

Augusta Mall had about 90 retail spaces when it first opened, anchored by two department stores: Rich's and Davison's. Many of the mall's design features were borrowed from other successful malls developed by The Rouse Company. The space frame ceiling is a replica of The Mall in Columbia, Governor's Square Mall, Tampa Bay Center and Hulen Mall while the center fountain and elevator was taken from Beachwood Place, which opened the same month as Augusta.

Since its opening, the mall has undergone 5 major expansions and several smaller renovations. The first of these began in 1987, when the mall added a 132,000-square-foot expansion for a new location of J C. Penney.

In 1990, the mall underwent its second expansion, when Sears joined as the fourth anchor, in a 157,000-square-foot store. The $32 million renovation project also updated the interior of the mall and expanded the number of retail spaces from about 100 to more than 130.

In October 1992, Vice President of the United States Dan Quayle held a rally at the mall during the final stretch of the campaign before the 1992 United States presidential election. Over 5,000 supporters showed up, well above expectation for 1,000 attendants.[3]

By 1998, when the third expansion was announced, Augusta Mall had become the region’s prime shopping area. J. B. White closed its store at Regency Mall and relocated to Augusta Mall to become its fifth anchor store, now Dillard's. Traffic congestion became a problem on Wrightsboro Road and Interstate 520 - the main freeway connecting the mall. The city funded a $231,000 project for expanded lanes as well as road improvements and new exit ramps to the mall.

In 2002, Regency Mall was officially closed to the public, and boarded up.

Also in 2002, the Augusta Mall infrastructure was upgraded, including: storm drain maintenance, a new parking lot, and other interior work.[4] Macy’s closed during this time, and its lower level was converted into a furniture store.

Former Davison's and Macy's was partly destroyed to make way for the Promenade as well as Dick's Sporting Goods and Macy's.

In 2006, a fourth expansion, “The Augusta Promenade”, a 180,000 sq ft (17,000 m2) lifestyle center addition to the mall was announced. Construction of the development started in the summer of 2006, with the grand opening on November 8, 2007.[5]

In 2007, a man drove his car into the mall.[6]

In January 2013, Abercrombie & Fitch closed its location at the mall.[7]

In July 2014, a thief stole $2,000 worth of panties from the Victoria's Secret store at the mall.[8]

In January 2016, Vans, Torrid, and rue21 announced plans to open locations at the mall.[9][10][11]

In January 2017, Buca di Beppo, which had opened in February 2012, closed its location at the mall.[12]

In April 2017, several men robbed the Apple Inc. store at the mall.[13]

In April 2018, Williams Sonoma closed its location at the mall.[14] Also that month, the mall began to be powered by a 435-kilowatt rooftop solar panel system.[15]

In September 2018, QC Nails Salon announced plans to open a 4,500 square foot location at the mall.[16]

On February 8, 2020, it was announced that Sears would be closing as part of a plan to close 39 stores nationwide. The store closed in April 2020.[17]

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See also

Photos
  • Interior entrance to Macy's in the Augusta Mall. This was formerly Rich's.
  • Interior entrance to JCPenney in the Augusta Mall
  • Sign off Wrightsboro Road in Augusta, Georgia for the Augusta Mall.
  • Clock in the center of Augusta Mall

References
  1. "Augusta Mall". Brookfield Properties Retail Group.
  2. Rhodes, Don (July 26, 2018). "Ramblin' Rhodes: Augustans welcomed two malls 40 years ago". The Augusta Chronicle.
  3. De Witt, Karen (October 30, 1992). "THE 1992 CAMPAIGN: The Vice President; In the Final Push, Quayle Rallies Turn Into a Blur". The New York Times.
  4. "Project Portfolio: Augusta Mall". Beam’s Contracting.
  5. Thomas, Chris (October 23, 2007). "Changes coming to Augusta Mall". WRDW-TV.
  6. Campbell, Tom (March 9, 2007). "Man plows SUV through Augusta Mall". WRDW-TV.
  7. Martin, Jenna (January 25, 2013). "Abercrombie closing Saturday in the Augusta Mall". The Augusta Chronicle.
  8. Daher, Natalie (July 21, 2014). "wipes 200 Panties From Victoria's Secret". NBC News.
  9. "Three new stores coming to the Augusta Mall". WRDW-TV. January 20, 2016.
  10. Kane, Chris (January 20, 2016). "Three New Stores To Open At Augusta Mall In Spring 2016". WJBF.
  11. "New stores coming to Augusta Mall". WFXG. January 20, 2016.
  12. "Buca di Beppo closing Augusta Mall restaurant". WRDW-TV. January 2, 2017.
  13. "Deputies: Apple Store burglarized by several men". WRDW-TV. April 18, 2017.
  14. Cline, Damon (March 23, 2018). "Williams-Sonoma to close at Augusta Mall; Mori to reopen". The Augusta Chronicle.
  15. Cline, Damon (March 18, 2018). "Augusta Mall goes solar". The Augusta Chronicle.
  16. Cline, Damon (September 8, 2018). "Scuttlebiz: Area's largest nail salon headed for Augusta Mall". The Augusta Chronicle.
  17. Tyko, Kelly. "Sears and Kmart store closings continue. Is your location closing in early 2020?". USA TODAY.

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