Century Plaza
Encyclopedia
Century Plaza was an enclosed shopping mall
in Birmingham, Alabama
, USA. Opened in 1975, the mall originally included four anchor stores and more than one hundred tenants, but lost three of those anchors (JCPenney, Belk
and Rich's
-Macy's
) in the mid-2000s. In May 2009, the mall was completely closed as Sears and the rest of the stores in the mall closed. The mall was managed by General Growth Properties
of Chicago, Illinois at the time of its closure.
, on U. S. Route 78 (Crestwood Blvd.) near Interstate 20
, across from the existing Eastwood Mall. The mall's original anchor store
s included Sears (which opened in 1974), Rich's
, Loveman's of Alabama
and JCPenney. Loveman's later was replaced by Pizitz
, which in turn became McRae
's in 1987.
Rich's was dual-branded as Rich's-Macy's
in 2003 when Macy's acquired the Rich's chain. The Rich's-Macy's store at Century Plaza, however, closed after only one year in operation and was never rechristened as "Macy's". A Piccadilly Cafeteria in the mall also closed that same year.
When plans were announced to demolish Eastwood Mall across the street in 2004, two of the mall's tenants (Books-A-Million
and Parisian) had announced preliminary plans to relocate to Century Plaza, with the latter taking over the McRae's space. McRae's was eventually converted to Belk
in 2006 when the chain was acquired, but closed later that same year. JCPenney also closed in 2006, and many inline tenants began to close as well. In February 2009, it was announced that Sears, the last remaining anchor, would close its store by May 31.
, Champs Sports
, Finish Line
and Radio Shack
remained open in the mall. General Growth Properties announced that Sears would remain open through June 14 in order to complete the liquidation of the store.
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 Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, USA. Opened in 1975, the mall originally included four anchor stores and more than one hundred tenants, but lost three of those anchors (JCPenney, 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...
and Rich's
Rich's
Rich's was a department store retail chain, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that operated in the southern U.S. from 1867 until March 6, 2005 when the nameplate was eliminated and replaced by Macy's...
-Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
) in the mid-2000s. In May 2009, the mall was completely closed as Sears and the rest of the stores in the mall closed. The mall was managed by General Growth Properties
General Growth Properties
General Growth Properties, Inc. is a publicly traded real estate investment trust in the United States. It is based in Chicago, Illinois at 110 North Wacker Drive, a historic building designed by architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White...
of Chicago, Illinois at the time of its closure.
History
Century Plaza opened in 1975 on the eastern side of Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, on U. S. Route 78 (Crestwood Blvd.) near Interstate 20
Interstate 20 in Alabama
In Alabama, Interstate 20 travels 214.7 miles through the center of the state. It enters the state from Mississippi near York, and travels northeastward through Tuscaloosa and Birmingham...
, across from the existing Eastwood Mall. The mall's original anchor store
Anchor store
In retail, an anchor store, draw tenant, anchor tenant, or key tenant is one of the larger stores in a shopping mall, usually a department store or a major retail chain....
s included Sears (which opened in 1974), Rich's
Rich's
Rich's was a department store retail chain, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, that operated in the southern U.S. from 1867 until March 6, 2005 when the nameplate was eliminated and replaced by Macy's...
, Loveman's of Alabama
Loveman's of Alabama
Loveman's of Alabama was a Birmingham, Alabama-based chain of department stores with locations across Alabama. It adopted this name to distinguish it from Loveman's department stores operating in Chattanooga, Tennessee and in Nashville, Tennessee.-History :...
and JCPenney. Loveman's later was replaced by Pizitz
Pizitz
Pizitz was a major regional department store chain in Alabama, with its flagship store in downtown Birmingham. At its peak it operated 12 other stores, mostly in the Birmingham area with several locations in Huntsville and other Alabama cities....
, which in turn became McRae
McRae
-People with the surname McRae:* Alister McRae, British Rally Champion* Alexander Duncan McRae, Canadian businessman, Army General, MP, Senator and farmer* Brian McRae, Major League Baseball player* Bruce McRae, American early actor...
's in 1987.
Rich's was dual-branded as Rich's-Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
in 2003 when Macy's acquired the Rich's chain. The Rich's-Macy's store at Century Plaza, however, closed after only one year in operation and was never rechristened as "Macy's". A Piccadilly Cafeteria in the mall also closed that same year.
When plans were announced to demolish Eastwood Mall across the street in 2004, two of the mall's tenants (Books-A-Million
Books-A-Million
Books-A-Million, Inc., also known as BAM!, is a company that owns the second largest U.S. bookstore chain and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. The company operates over 200 stores in the South, Midwest, Northeast...
and Parisian) had announced preliminary plans to relocate to Century Plaza, with the latter taking over the McRae's space. McRae's was eventually converted to 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...
in 2006 when the chain was acquired, but closed later that same year. JCPenney also closed in 2006, and many inline tenants began to close as well. In February 2009, it was announced that Sears, the last remaining anchor, would close its store by May 31.
Mall Closing
Century Plaza closed at the end of business on May 31, 2009. At the time of its closing, fewer than 40 stores, including Foot LockerFoot Locker
Foot Locker, Inc. is an American sportswear and footwear retailer, with its headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and operating in approximately 20 countries worldwide. Formerly known as Venator Group, Inc., it is the successor corporation to the F.W. Woolworth Company , and many of...
, Champs Sports
Champs Sports
Champs Sports, is the second-largest component retailer in the Foot Locker family of stores. Champs offers for sale footwear, apparel and sporting goods. The company sponsors the Champs Sports Bowl college football game...
, Finish Line
Finish Line, Inc.
Finish Line, Inc. is the second largest athletic retailer based in the United States, with international headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company, founded in 1976 by R.J. Davis and David Klapper, operates over 600 stores in 48 states under the Finish Line name.-History:In October 1976...
and Radio Shack
Radio shack
Radio shack is a slang term for a room or structure for housing radio equipment.-History:In the early days of radio, equipment was experimental and home-built. The first radio transmitters used a noisy spark to generate radio waves and were often housed in a garage or shed. When radio was first...
remained open in the mall. General Growth Properties announced that Sears would remain open through June 14 in order to complete the liquidation of the store.