History
Homart Development Company announced plans for North Point Mall on April 20, 1989. The mall was set to feature 400,000 square feet of gross leasable space and accommodate 120 to 140 stores. Initial anchor stores included Sears, JCPenney, Rich's, Mervyn's, and Lord & Taylor.
The mall officially opened on October 20, 1993, with the five aforementioned anchors in place. A standout feature of the development was the Rich's store, which paid tribute to the chain's flagship location in downtown Atlanta—closed just two years earlier. Rich's at North Point was designed with distinctive historical elements, reflecting the legacy of the old store. Macy's was a planned anchor tenant; however, due to its bankruptcy, plans were delayed. Macy's later dropped out of its plans, leaving the sixth anchor pad vacant and available for lease. [3]
In 1995, the mall began an expansion project that added a sixth anchor tenant, Dillard's, along with a new parking deck. The following year, Mervyn's closed its store as part of shutting down all southern operations. The space was quickly filled by Parisian, elevating the mall's status to a more upscale shopping destination.
A significant renovation took place in 2003, modernizing the mall's interior and adding more seating areas. In 2004, an escalator was relocated from the East Court in front of Starbucks to the Sears wing.
In June 2004, The Cheesecake Factory opened its third Georgia location and first location outside of Atlanta at North Point. The store is located in the mall parking lot just beyond the parking deck. A walking path known as the "yellow brick road" connects the restaurant to the mall's Center Court. [4]
In 2005, Lord & Taylor was restructured and eventually closed its doors. Parisian followed suit in September 2007 after being acquired by Belk. Instead of occupying the former Parisian space, Belk chose to reopen in the previous Lord & Taylor location. However, Belk exited the mall in 2009.
In October 2010, Von Maur began renovating the two-story former Belk space, expanding it from 115,000 square feet (10,700 m²) to 140,000 square feet (13,000 m²). The new design featured reddish brick, a cupola, and columns, reflecting the architectural style of Georgia and the South. The remodeled store opened in November 2011. [5]
In January 2012, AMC Theatres announced plans to demolish the former Parisian store and build a new 12-screen theater on the site. The theater would include amenities such as a MacGuffins bar, recliners, Coca-Cola Freestyle machines, IMAX, and ETX screens. It officially opened in September 2012.
In June 2018, it was announced that Sears would close as part of a broader decision to phase out its brick-and-mortar stores. Shortly afterward, Brookfield revealed plans to demolish the former Sears location to make way for a mixed-use development. [6] [7]
In February 2019, the Alpharetta City Council approved plans for an 83-acre enhanced development on the northeast side of the mall. The project was set to include apartments, restaurants, new retail spaces, small parks and trails, a rock wall, a play fountain, and a lake. As part of the redevelopment, the former Sears building was slated for demolition, and the existing playground inside the mall was to be expanded. Following the approval, Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin remarked, "If you do it right, it's going to be special." However, the plans ultimately fell through. [7] [8]
In 2019, several of the mall's interior atriums were modernized with new seating areas and updated flooring, along with the addition of an LED color-changing tree.
On November 19, 2021, Dino Safari opened on the second floor of the former Sears store.
In March 2022, Brookfield Properties sold the mall to Trademark Properties, resulting in the rebranding of the shopping center as North Point. Plans were announced to redevelop the former Sears space into apartments, restaurants, new retail areas, and small parks, but these plans were abandoned after a contentious city council meeting. [9]
Dino Safari closed its location in October 2023.
In March 2024, Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment, led by former National Hockey League player Anson Carter, proposed a redevelopment of the North Point Mall site as part of an effort to bring the NHL back to the Atlanta metropolitan area. Carter's bid for an NHL franchise is in competition with The Gathering at South Forsyth, located near the Forsyth–Fulton County line, approximately six miles (10 km) north of the North Point Mall site. [10]
