Gwinnett Place Mall

Last updated
Gwinnett Place
Gwinnett Place Mall July 2016.jpg
Gwinnett Place Mall in July of 2016
Gwinnett Place Mall
Location Duluth, Georgia, United States
Coordinates 33°57′38″N84°07′34″W / 33.9606°N 84.126°W / 33.9606; -84.126 33.961216, -84.126236
Opening date1984 (1984)
Closing dateMarch 15, 2020 (2020-15-15)
Developer Cadillac Fairview [1] Simon Property Group
ManagementGwinnett County
OwnerUrban Redevelopment Agency of Gwinnett County
No. of stores and services3
No. of anchor tenants 3 (5 at peak)
Total retail floor area 1,278,000 sq ft (118,700 m2)
No. of floors2
Public transit access Gwinnett Transit Center

Gwinnett Place Mall is a largely vacant shopping mall located in the Pleasant Hill Road corridor of Duluth, Georgia, in the United States. Once the leading mall in the region, the mall centered on one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, until the openings of Mall of Georgia in Buford and Sugarloaf Mills in Lawrenceville. It was used as the Starcourt Mall filming location for the third season of Netflix's Stranger Things .

Contents

History

Original anchor tenants upon opening in 1984 were Rich's, Davison's and Sears. Mervyn's later joined the mall, and Davison's was changed to Macy's. Parisian then joined the mall anchoring a northwest wing. J. C. Penney took over the Mervyn's place in 1984 and closed later that year after a mall fire, with Beauty Master taking over in 2016. Macy's and Rich's merged in 2003 to form Rich's-Macy's until 2005 when the name was changed to Macy's. With two Macy's in the mall, the former Davison's closed and in 2010 reopened as the first MegaMart in the U.S. In 2007, Parisian was renamed Belk, which closed in 2013. [2]

The mall was challenged by the openings of the Mall of Georgia in 1999 and Sugarloaf Mills in 2001, and lost a large part of its customer base. The mall also failed to attract any new anchor stores for several years. In 2008, Gwinnett Technical College opened an International Education Center in the mall, where students take foreign language classes. Many of the mall's store fronts and food court vendors are empty and up for lease. The downturn of the mall in 2013 led to the closure of Belk and Simon Property Group losing the mall to foreclosure, where it was acquired by Moonbeam Capital Investments LLC. JCPenney closed on April 4, 2015, and Beauty Master purchased the former JCPenney building in March 2016. Beauty Master opened on August 4, 2016. [3]

In December 2017, the body of a 19-year-old woman was found in a back room of the food court, which was identified to be an abandoned Subway, where it had gone unnoticed for weeks. In January 2018, two mall employees were robbed and assaulted in the Macy's parking lot, and in March 2018, a 32-year-old female was arrested for indecent exposure, solicitation of prostitution, and possession of heroin and cocaine in the Sears parking lot. [4] On May 31, 2018, it was announced Sears would shutter as part of an ongoing decision to eliminate its brick-and-mortar format. [5] [6]

In late February 2019, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Gwinnett Daily Post reported that sports developer CricRealty intends to redevelop the Gwinnett Place Mall site to build a mixed-use development anchored by a 20,000-seat cricket stadium. [7] [8]

On December 15, 2020, officials from Gwinnett County's Urban Redevelopment Agency agreed to purchase the 39-acre Gwinnett Place Mall site from Moonbeam Capital Investments LLC for $23 million. [9] Several tenants, including Macy's, Mega Mart and Beauty Master, own their own property. The sale closed in April 2021 but plans for the site were not disclosed. [10]

On February 28, 2023, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners announced a revitalization strategy focusing on housing, mobility and greenspace in response to feedback from the public. The Gwinnett Place Mall Site Revitalization Strategy will take place over the next 20 years. [11] [12]

The third season of Stranger Things was filmed in the mall. Authentic signage and storefronts were returned through a cosmetic restoration of a portion of the Gwinnett Place Mall, to represent many businesses that have since ceased to exist. The transformation took place during May 2018, with production of the series taking place in the mall during the subsequent summer months. [13] [14] [15] After filming concluded, the Starcourt Mall set was dismantled in the summer of 2019 to prevent fans from vandalizing the set to steal souvenirs. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mall of Georgia</span> Shopping mall in Buford, Georgia

Mall of Georgia is an enclosed super-regional shopping mall located in unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia, near the city of Buford, 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Atlanta. Opened in 1999, it is currently the largest shopping mall in the state of Georgia, consisting of 188 stores on three levels. Featured in the mall is a large village section, comprising lifestyle tenants and restaurants in an outdoor setting, as well as a 500-seat amphitheater. In 2017 the Mall of Georgia renovated the indoor food court area by updating the seating arrangements, furniture styles, and color schemes. Mall of Georgia was built by and is still owned by Simon Property Group. A portion of the Ivy Creek Greenway runs along the shopping mall area. The mall features the traditional retailers JCPenney, Belk, Dick's Sporting Goods, Macy's, Dillard's, and Von Maur, in addition to a 20-screen Regal Cinemas which also features IMAX. The anchor stores are Von Maur, Macy's, Dillard's, Belk, JCPenney, Havertys Furniture, Barnes & Noble, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Regal Cinemas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolina Place Mall</span> Shopping mall in Pineville, North Carolina

Carolina Place is a shopping mall located in Pineville, North Carolina, a suburb of Charlotte. The 1,200,000-square-foot (110,000 m2) GLA mall, in the shape of a curve, is anchored by Belk, a Dick's Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy combo store, Dillard's, and JCPenney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northlake Mall (Atlanta)</span> Shopping mall in Georgia, USA

Northlake Mall is a shopping mall northeast of Atlanta in the Northlake community of northern DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The mall is owned by Texas-based ATR Corinth Partners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cumberland Mall (Georgia)</span> Shopping mall in Georgia, United States

Cumberland Mall is a shopping mall in the Cumberland district of Metropolitan Atlanta near the suburbs of Smyrna and Vinings. It was the largest shopping mall in Georgia when it opened on August 8, 1973. The mall features the traditional retailers Macy's, Dick's Sporting Goods, Costco, in addition to Planet Fitness, and Round 1 Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Town Center at Cobb</span> Shopping mall in Georgia, U.S.

Town Center at Cobb, is a super-regional shopping mall located in Cobb County, Georgia near Atlanta. The anchor stores are two Macy's stores, a Belk, and a JCPenney. There is one vacant anchor stores that was once Sears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia Square Mall</span> Shopping mall in Georgia, United States

Georgia Square Mall is a shopping mall located in Athens, Georgia, in United States. Its clientele includes relatively few students attending the nearby University of Georgia, catering primarily to local residents of the Athens area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Point Mall</span> Shopping mall in Georgia, United States

North Point Mall is a shopping mall, located in Alpharetta, Georgia. The mall opened on October 20, 1993 as one of the largest shopping malls in the country. The mall was the second to last property built by Homart Development Company. The mall features the traditional retailers Dillard's, JCPenney, Macy's, and Von Maur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volusia Mall</span> Shopping mall in Florida, United States

Volusia Mall is a super-regional shopping mall located in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is the largest retail shopping center in the Volusia-Flagler market. Opened on October 15, 1974, the mall comprises more than 120 stores on one level, as well as a food court. Anchor stores are JCPenney and three Dillard's locations. The mall is owned and managed by CBL & Associates Properties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arbor Place</span> Shopping mall in Douglasville, Georgia, United States

Arbor Place is a shopping mall in Douglasville, Georgia, United States. Opened in 1999, the mall features the traditional retailers JCPenney, Belk, Macy's, and Dillard's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbia Place</span> Shopping mall in South Carolina, United States

Columbia Place is one of South Carolina's largest shopping malls, with nearly 1,100,000 square feet (100,000 m2) of retail space. The mall is located just off Interstate 20 and Interstate 77 on Two Notch Road in Columbia, South Carolina. The mall's current only anchor store is Macy's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mall of Louisiana</span> Shopping mall in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The Mall of Louisiana is a mid-scale shopping mall in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, between I-10 and Bluebonnet Blvd. It is the largest mall in Louisiana and contains the third largest indoor carousel in the world. It is the only regional mall in Baton Rouge. The anchor stores are 2 Dillard's stores, Main Event Entertainment, JCPenney, and Macy's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Oaks Mall (Orlando)</span> Shopping mall in Ocoee, Florida

West Oaks Mall is a local mall located in Ocoee, Florida near Orlando. It is anchored by Dillard's Clearance Center, J. C. Penney, a SunPass Customer Service Center, and a Bed Bath & Beyond Call Center, and has 115 store spaces, a food court, and a 14-screen AMC theater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burlington Center Mall</span> Shopping mall in Burlington Township, New Jersey

Burlington Center was a shopping mall located in Burlington Township, New Jersey. It was built by The Rouse Company of Columbia, Maryland. Its anchors were Macy's, JCPenney, and Sears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perimeter Mall</span> Shopping mall in Dunwoody, Georgia

Perimeter Mall is a shopping mall in Perimeter Center, Dunwoody, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, near the interchange of Interstate 285 and Georgia State Route 400. It is the second-largest shopping mall in the state of Georgia, the largest being the Mall of Georgia in Buford, Georgia. The mall features Macy's, Dillard's, Von Maur, and Nordstrom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southlake Mall (Atlanta)</span> Shopping mall in Morrow, Georgia

Southlake Mall is a shopping mall located in Morrow, Georgia, United States. The mall is in Clayton County and its trade area includes Henry County, one of the fastest-growing areas in Georgia. The mall is located along Interstate 75 and State Highway 54, also known as Jonesboro Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Station (shopping mall)</span> Shopping mall in Georgia, United States

Union Station was a shopping mall in Union City, Georgia, in southwest Metro Atlanta adjacent to Interstate 85. Originally "Shannon Mall", it opened in 1980 and initially thrived until the 1990s when growth in neighboring cities drew shoppers away from the mall. After new ownership and renovations in 2006, the name was changed from "Shannon Mall" to "Union Station Mall" in 2006. After many years of decline, the mall closed in November 2010, and demolition began in late October 2014 to make way for a movie studio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macon Mall</span> Shopping mall in Georgia, United States

Macon Mall is a two-level, 1.1-million-square-foot (100,000 m2) shopping mall located in Macon, Georgia. It is a dead mall with a 74% and rising vacancy rate with only one anchor store, Burlington. It has three vacant anchors left by Belk, J.C. Penney and Macy's. Sears once occupied the space currently taken by Burlington. The lower level is still empty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mall at Barnes Crossing</span> Shopping mall in Mississippi, United States

Mall at Barnes Crossing is a super regional shopping mall located in Tupelo, Mississippi, United States. It is managed and partially owned by David Hocker & Associates and is home to over 90 specialty shops, 5 anchor store tenants, an 8-screen Cinemark movie theater, and a 600-seat food court. The anchor stores are Barnes & Noble, Jos. A. Bank, JCPenney, Ulta Beauty, 2 Belk stores, Cinemark, and Dick's Sporting Goods. There is 1 vacant anchor store that was once Sears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seminole Towne Center</span> Shopping mall in Florida, United States

Seminole Towne Center is a super-regional enclosed mall located in Sanford, Florida, 20 mi (32 km) north of Orlando near the I-4/SR 417 interchange. It has 1,136,579 square feet (105,591.6 m2) of gross leasable space. Current anchors are JCPenney, Dillard's, Dick's Sporting Goods, & Elev8 Fun, with 2 vacant anchors which are the former Macy's & Burlington.

Gulf View Square Mall is an enclosed mall in Port Richey, Florida. Opened in 1980, it is anchored by Best Buy & Dillard's Clearance Store and is owned by Namdar Realty Group.

References

  1. Kempner, Matt. "Kempner: Gwinnett Place's first manager staggered by mall's decline". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  2. Green, Josh; Atlanta, Curbed. "Gwinnett Place: The Long, Slow Death of a Suburban Mall" . Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  3. Yeomans, Curt. "BeautyMaster opening new Gwinnett Place Mall location this week". Gwinnett Daily Post. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  4. Matt Kempner, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Kempner: Body unnoticed in Atlanta area mall for weeks? A mall fades". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  5. Smith, Aaron (31 May 2018). "Is your Sears or Kmart closing? Check the list". CNNMoney.
  6. Coyne, Amanda C.; Becca J. G. Godwin, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Sears closing 3 'non-profitable' metro Atlanta stores". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  7. Estep, Tyler (February 26, 2019). "Gwinnett Place Mall might be sold — and become a cricket stadium?". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  8. Yeomans, Curt (February 26, 2019). "Media report: Gwinnett Place Mall may be sold, converted to cricket stadium". Gwinnett Daily Post. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  9. Kass, Arielle; Journal-Constitution, The Atlanta. "BREAKING: Gwinnett County to buy Gwinnett Place Mall". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  10. Kass, Arielle. "County closes on $23 million Gwinnett Place mall purchase". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  11. Nunez, Gabriella. "Gwinnett Place Mall to get a facelift" . Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  12. Green, Josh (2024-01-08). "Report: Gwinnett Place Mall has lost nearly 88 percent of its value". Urbanize Atlanta. Archived from the original on 2024-01-08. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  13. Coming Soon: The Starcourt Mall! Hawkins, Indiana (Stranger Things Season 3 Teaser | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXyju7zFwyE
  14. Gwinnett Place Mall Transformed for 'Stranger Things' Season 3 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hWG5tnCj2g
  15. Ho, Rodney (May 11, 2018). "Gwinnett Place Mall goes back to the future for 'Stranger Things'". Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  16. Ho, Rodney (July 10, 2019). "'Stranger Things' dismantling what's left of Starcourt Mall at Gwinnett Place Mall". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 2, 2019.

33°57′38″N84°07′33″W / 33.960553°N 84.125953°W / 33.960553; -84.125953