Cumberland Mall
Encyclopedia
Cumberland Mall, located in the Cumberland
district of Metropolitan Atlanta near the suburbs of Smyrna
and Vinings
, opened on August 8, 1973 and was the largest mall in Georgia, United States, when it first opened.
, Davison's
, Sears
and JCPenney. The mall was also two-levels and included a multi-story parking deck to accommodate the large crowds. The mall was modeled after similar Landover Mall
in Maryland
and was so far superior to Cobb County's first mall
that the older mall was unable to ever recover.
Cumberland Mall remained one of the leading malls in the region for over a decade before Town Center Mall in Kennesaw
opened in 1986. Cumberland Mall originally featured many distinct design elements to heighten the original mall experience, but as competition forced a major reshuffling of the mall, much of this was stripped away in the renovation of 1989. Some of the original tenants that were lost at this point were Magic Pan
, McDonald's
, Piccadilly Cafeteria and Cashin's Restaurant among others. One of the additions, however, was a food court
, which had not existed previously.
(formerly Davison's). The vacant store resulted in a major redevelopment plan. The redevelopment included the demolition of the old Macys, which was replaced with a new mall entrance complete with an open-air wing. The wing includes five new restaurants: Maggiano's Little Italy
, The Cheesecake Factory
, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Stoney River Legendary Steaks
and Ted's Montana Grill
. Other changes included the demolition of the JCPenney, which planned to close their store, for the construction of a new Costco
. The changes also included a complete interior renovation with new skylights and an expanded food court. These changes were planned to keep the mall competitive even with only two regular department stores remaining: Macy's (former Rich's) and Sears. All the renovations were completed in early 2007.
Cumberland (Atlanta)
Cumberland is a neighborhood and edge city in metro Atlanta, Georgia, United States. with approximately 122,000 workers and 103,000 residents. It is a major hub for business, convention, and retail in the region. Cumberland is situated ten miles northwest of downtown Atlanta at the junction of...
district of Metropolitan Atlanta near the suburbs of Smyrna
Smyrna, Georgia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 40,999 people, 18,372 households, and 9,498 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,949.9 people per square mile . There were 19,633 housing units at an average density of 1,412.6 per square mile...
and Vinings
Vinings, Georgia
Vinings is a census-designated place and an unincorporated town in Cobb County, Georgia, just across the Chattahoochee River from Atlanta. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 9,734. It is located between the affluent West Paces Ferry section of Buckhead in northwest Atlanta,...
, opened on August 8, 1973 and was the largest mall in Georgia, United States, when it first opened.
Early years
Cumberland Mall was the first four-anchor mall built in Georgia. The original anchors to the mall were Rich'sRich'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...
, Davison's
Davison's
Davison's of Atlanta was the major competition to Rich's, once itself an Atlanta shopping institution. The chain took the Macy's name in 1986.-Founding:...
, Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
and JCPenney. The mall was also two-levels and included a multi-story parking deck to accommodate the large crowds. The mall was modeled after similar Landover Mall
Landover Mall
Landover Mall was a large shopping mall located in Landover, Maryland directly across from FedEx Field, off MD 202 and Interstates 95 and 495. The mall was owned by Lerner Enterprises, and opened in 1972. Like its neighbor Capital Plaza Mall, it was a major attraction through its opening years in...
in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and was so far superior to Cobb County's first mall
Cobb Center Mall
Cobb Center Mall is a shopping mall in Smyrna, Georgia, United States. It was the second mall built in Georgia, and opened on August 15, 1963.-Early years:...
that the older mall was unable to ever recover.
Cumberland Mall remained one of the leading malls in the region for over a decade before Town Center Mall in Kennesaw
Kennesaw, Georgia
Kennesaw is a city in Cobb County, Georgia, United States. It had a population of 29,783 according to the 2010 census. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Founded in 1887, Kennesaw has a past surrounded with railroad history...
opened in 1986. Cumberland Mall originally featured many distinct design elements to heighten the original mall experience, but as competition forced a major reshuffling of the mall, much of this was stripped away in the renovation of 1989. Some of the original tenants that were lost at this point were Magic Pan
Magic Pan
The Magic Pan was an American chain of full-service restaurants specializing in crêpes, popular in the late 1970s through early 1990s.-History:...
, McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
, Piccadilly Cafeteria and Cashin's Restaurant among others. One of the additions, however, was a food court
Food court
A food court is generally an indoor plaza or common area within a facility that is contiguous with the counters of multiple food vendors and provides a common area for self-serve dining. Food courts may be found in shopping malls and airports, and in various regions may be a standalone development...
, which had not existed previously.
Mall makeover
In 2003 Cumberland Mall lost its first anchor, Macy'sMacy'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...
(formerly Davison's). The vacant store resulted in a major redevelopment plan. The redevelopment included the demolition of the old Macys, which was replaced with a new mall entrance complete with an open-air wing. The wing includes five new restaurants: Maggiano's Little Italy
Maggiano's Little Italy
Maggiano's Little Italy is an Italian-style chain of casual dining restaurants with locations throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Northern Ireland founded in Chicago's River North neighborhood in 1991 by Richard Melman's Lettuce Entertain You and named for Melman's late partner,...
, The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory, Inc. is a restaurant company in the United States. The company operates 165 upscale, casual, full-service dining restaurants: 151 under The Cheesecake Factory mark, 13 under the Grand Lux Cafe mark and one under the RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen mark...
, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Stoney River Legendary Steaks
Stoney River Legendary Steaks
Stoney River Legendary Steaks is a chain of steakhouses in the United States. There are 11 Stoney River Legendary Steaks restaurants in Georgia, Maryland, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee. Its parent company is O'Charley's, Inc...
and Ted's Montana Grill
Ted's Montana Grill
Ted's Montana Grill is an American restaurant chain specializing in bison. The company was founded by media entrepreneur and environmentalist Ted Turner and restaurateur George McKerrow Jr. with the help of corporate chef Chris Raucci as a for-profit effort to stop the extinction of the American...
. Other changes included the demolition of the JCPenney, which planned to close their store, for the construction of a new Costco
Costco
Costco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world...
. The changes also included a complete interior renovation with new skylights and an expanded food court. These changes were planned to keep the mall competitive even with only two regular department stores remaining: Macy's (former Rich's) and Sears. All the renovations were completed in early 2007.
Current anchors
- CostcoCostcoCostco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world...
(149647 sq ft (13,903 m²)) - Macy'sMacy'sMacy'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...
(278000 sq ft (25,827 m²)., formerly Rich'sRich'sRich'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...
) - Sears (194575 sq ft (18,077 m²)., 28000 sq ft (2,601.3 m²). TBA, 222575 sq ft (20,678 m²). total)
Former anchors
- Davison'sDavison'sDavison's of Atlanta was the major competition to Rich's, once itself an Atlanta shopping institution. The chain took the Macy's name in 1986.-Founding:...
(171999 sq ft (15,979 m²)., opened 1973, became Macy'sMacy'sMacy'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...
1986, closed 2003 was demolished for a new lifestyle center area in 2006) - JCPenney (148663 sq ft (13,811 m²)., closed 2005, was demolished for a CostcoCostcoCostco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world...
in 2006) - Rich'sRich'sRich'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...
(278000 sq ft (25,827 m²)., became Macy'sMacy'sMacy'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...
2005)
See also
- Sky City: Cumberland Mall (includes pre-renovation photos)
- CumberlandCumberland (Atlanta)Cumberland is a neighborhood and edge city in metro Atlanta, Georgia, United States. with approximately 122,000 workers and 103,000 residents. It is a major hub for business, convention, and retail in the region. Cumberland is situated ten miles northwest of downtown Atlanta at the junction of...
(edge-city of Atlanta) - Cobb GalleriaCobb GalleriaCobb Galleria is a large office park with six skyscrapers located in the Cumberland/Vinings district of Cobb in the U.S. state of Georgia and sandwiched between Marietta, Smyrna, Sandy Springs, and Atlanta...