Carolina Circle Mall
Encyclopedia
Carolina Circle Mall was a shopping mall
in the northeast section of Greensboro, North Carolina
on US 29
and Cone Boulevard, where The Shoppes at Pyramids Village are now.
Carolina Circle Mall was anchored by Belk
, Dillard's
(Ivey's
until 1990), Montgomery Ward
, and a six-screen movie theatre. Once family friendly
, the mall over the years had an ice skating rink, game room
, toy stores, and at one time, a teen disco called Current Event.
-based Belk Stores
. On the grand opening for the rest of the mall on August 4, 1976, twenty-two stores opened including Montgomery Ward
and Ivey's
first Greensboro
department store
.
named Annabelle's was considered to be the place for the "yuppie
crowd" of northern Greensboro. Annabelle's decor was reminiscent of an old inn, and the bar and restaurant was packed many nights, especially weekends where at times there was over an hour wait to be seated. Another popular place to eat at the mall included Piccadilly Cafeteria, which at one time hosted a Saturday morning radio broadcast on WBIG-AM
featuring announcer Bob Poole and George Perry, who played The Old Rebel on WFMY-2.
In 1988, mall owners eventually removed the ice skating rink and replaced it with a $250,000 carousel
, much to the dismay of area skaters who frequented the mall, especially on weekends. And although the addition of a skateboard park on the eastern mall property near the waterslide helped contribute to the family friendly
atmosphere, it was a constant source of complaints due the stench from a wastewater treatment plant
that was located behind the mall property.
on High Point Road (an indoor mall), and Friendly Center
on Friendly Avenue (an outdoor retail center).
The Carolina Circle Mall eventually became a problem spot for shoppers due to the growing problem with gangs in eastern Greensboro. Stories of crime at the mall made area newspapers and radio and television newscasts, and the consensus among many was that it was no longer safe to shop at the mall. Consequently, affluent shoppers began to stay away and did their shopping at Four Seasons Town Centre
and Friendly Center
.
To counter the perception of problems at the mall, its owners gave free space to the Greensboro Police Department to use as satellite offices, the idea that being that it would give shoppers the idea that the property is safe with constant police patrols. But many considered the police presence to be proof of the opposite, that there were serious problems on the property, and they continued to stay away. Between the growing problem with crime mixed with the constant complaints about the wastewater treatment plant
, the mall went into serious decline, eventually shutting down in 2002 when Montgomery Ward
closed its store there. The mall was then boarded (becoming a constant target for vandals
) until June 2005 when it was finally demolished.
In August 2006, Wal-Mart
opened a super center on the property, and it is now surrounded by other retail establishments in what is now called The Shoppes at Pyramids Village.
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
in the northeast section of Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
on US 29
U.S. Route 29 in North Carolina
U.S. Route 29 is an north–south United States highway that runs for from the South Carolina state line, near Blacksburg, to the commonwealth of Virginia, near Danville...
and Cone Boulevard, where The Shoppes at Pyramids Village are now.
Carolina Circle Mall was anchored 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...
, 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,...
(Ivey's
Ivey's
Ivey's , a former department store chain, was acquired by Dillard's, Inc. in 1990. Ivey's was based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was founded in 1900 by Joseph Benjamin Ivey.-History:...
until 1990), Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
, and a six-screen movie theatre. Once family friendly
Family-friendliness
Entertainment or information is called "family friendly" if it is considered suitable for all members of the average family. In particular it means that it is not considered inappropriate for children, which may imply restrictions on engagement in, or depiction of, nudity, sex, violence, horror,...
, the mall over the years had an ice skating rink, game room
Game Room
Game Room is a gaming service for the Xbox 360 video game system, Microsoft Windows PCs, and Windows Phone 7. Launched on March 24, 2010, Game Room lets players download classic video games and compete against each other for high scores...
, toy stores, and at one time, a teen disco called Current Event.
Opening
The first store at the mall that opened to the public in February 1976 was the popular southern department store chain, CharlotteCharlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
-based Belk Stores
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...
. On the grand opening for the rest of the mall on August 4, 1976, twenty-two stores opened including Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
and Ivey's
Ivey's
Ivey's , a former department store chain, was acquired by Dillard's, Inc. in 1990. Ivey's was based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was founded in 1900 by Joseph Benjamin Ivey.-History:...
first Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
.
1980's heyday
In the early '80s, a restaurant/bar that overlooked the ice rinkIce rink
An ice rink is a frozen body of water and/or hardened chemicals where people can skate or play winter sports. Besides recreational ice skating, some of its uses include ice hockey, figure skating and curling as well as exhibitions, contests and ice shows...
named Annabelle's was considered to be the place for the "yuppie
Yuppie
Yuppie is a term that refers to a member of the upper middle class or upper class in their 20s or 30s. It first came into use in the early-1980s and largely faded from American popular culture in the late-1980s, due to the 1987 stock market crash and the early 1990s recession...
crowd" of northern Greensboro. Annabelle's decor was reminiscent of an old inn, and the bar and restaurant was packed many nights, especially weekends where at times there was over an hour wait to be seated. Another popular place to eat at the mall included Piccadilly Cafeteria, which at one time hosted a Saturday morning radio broadcast on WBIG-AM
WWBG
WWBG is an American radio station licensed to serve Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. The station, launched in 1999, is currently owned by the Qué Pasa Media Network and the broadcast license is held by Davidson Media Station WWBS Licensee, LLC.WWBG broadcasts a Spanish-language contemporary music...
featuring announcer Bob Poole and George Perry, who played The Old Rebel on WFMY-2.
In 1988, mall owners eventually removed the ice skating rink and replaced it with a $250,000 carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
, much to the dismay of area skaters who frequented the mall, especially on weekends. And although the addition of a skateboard park on the eastern mall property near the waterslide helped contribute to the family friendly
Family-friendliness
Entertainment or information is called "family friendly" if it is considered suitable for all members of the average family. In particular it means that it is not considered inappropriate for children, which may imply restrictions on engagement in, or depiction of, nudity, sex, violence, horror,...
atmosphere, it was a constant source of complaints due the stench from a wastewater treatment plant
Sewage treatment
Sewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and household sewage, both runoff and domestic. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants...
that was located behind the mall property.
Decline
The mall did well for about fourteen years, keeping the spaces rented, but it appears that the mall's decline began around 1990. Some say that the demise of the Carolina Circle Mall can be traced to increased crime in the area. But others attribute it to many of the mall businesses being lured away to other locations like Four Seasons Town CentreFour Seasons Town Centre
Four Seasons Town Centre is a three-story shopping mall in Greensboro, North Carolina. Opened in 1974, it was the first enclosed shopping center in Greensboro. Currently it is anchored by Belk, Dillard's and J. C. Penney and it is the only indoor shopping mall within Greensboro's city limits;...
on High Point Road (an indoor mall), and Friendly Center
Friendly Center
Friendly Center is a large, open-air shopping center located in northwestern Greensboro, North Carolina, at the intersection of Wendover Avenue and Friendly Avenue. The shopping center opened in August 1957. With its unusual sector design, Friendly Center is essentially an outdoor lifestyle center....
on Friendly Avenue (an outdoor retail center).
The Carolina Circle Mall eventually became a problem spot for shoppers due to the growing problem with gangs in eastern Greensboro. Stories of crime at the mall made area newspapers and radio and television newscasts, and the consensus among many was that it was no longer safe to shop at the mall. Consequently, affluent shoppers began to stay away and did their shopping at Four Seasons Town Centre
Four Seasons Town Centre
Four Seasons Town Centre is a three-story shopping mall in Greensboro, North Carolina. Opened in 1974, it was the first enclosed shopping center in Greensboro. Currently it is anchored by Belk, Dillard's and J. C. Penney and it is the only indoor shopping mall within Greensboro's city limits;...
and Friendly Center
Friendly Center
Friendly Center is a large, open-air shopping center located in northwestern Greensboro, North Carolina, at the intersection of Wendover Avenue and Friendly Avenue. The shopping center opened in August 1957. With its unusual sector design, Friendly Center is essentially an outdoor lifestyle center....
.
To counter the perception of problems at the mall, its owners gave free space to the Greensboro Police Department to use as satellite offices, the idea that being that it would give shoppers the idea that the property is safe with constant police patrols. But many considered the police presence to be proof of the opposite, that there were serious problems on the property, and they continued to stay away. Between the growing problem with crime mixed with the constant complaints about the wastewater treatment plant
Sewage treatment
Sewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and household sewage, both runoff and domestic. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants...
, the mall went into serious decline, eventually shutting down in 2002 when Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
closed its store there. The mall was then boarded (becoming a constant target for vandals
Vandals
The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe that entered the late Roman Empire during the 5th century. The Vandals under king Genseric entered Africa in 429 and by 439 established a kingdom which included the Roman Africa province, besides the islands of Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics....
) until June 2005 when it was finally demolished.
In August 2006, Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
opened a super center on the property, and it is now surrounded by other retail establishments in what is now called The Shoppes at Pyramids Village.