Heart of Huntsville Mall
Encyclopedia
The Heart of Huntsville Mall was a shopping mall
located in Huntsville, Alabama
. It opened in 1961. The mall was demolished in 2007 to make way for a new $150 million mixed-use development called "Constellation."
. Its major tenant was a 48000 sq ft (4,459.3 m²) Sears
at the southern end of the mall.
Heart of Huntsville hosted many community events over the years including several Scout Expos and craft fairs. The long-running Delta Zeta
Arts and Crafts Show began in 1967 with roughly 100 booths at Heart of Huntsville Mall.
The mall prospered for decades until the opening of Madison Square Mall
in west Huntsville in 1984. Sears moved to Madison Square and, over time, other tenants would close as well. The Woolworth's
closed in 1992. As major chain stores closed, local businesses moved in to take advantage of lowered-rents.
In the late 1990s the center was renamed "Market Square." The two anchor tenants were Burlington Coat Factory
and Gold's Gym
with various smaller tenants including a club called "721," an exercise equipment shop, and Ivey's Restaurant. In the early 2000s the owner of the mall, Scott McLain, began plans to redevelop the center. He had recently completed a redevelopment of "The Mall", just north of Heart of Huntsville, into a power center with tenants such as Home Depot and Costco
. By mid-2007, all but one of the tenants, a tanning salon, had moved out of the mall to make way for a $150 million mixed-use development called "Constellation."
and a SpringHill Suites
), 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) of office space, and a seven-story condo/apartment tower with up to 80 residential units. The complex will also include a multideck parking garage. The developer had initially suggested that restaurants on the site might include a Hard Rock Cafe
or Cheesecake Factory but in November 2007 he announced that these concepts were unsuitable for the market and other concepts were being researched. In January 2008, Huntsville City Council president Glenn Watson suggested that the site might also be a good home for a new City Hall.
Construction on the project began in the Spring of 2008, with completion expected in 2010. McLain told The Huntsville Times
that the name Constellation is "a nod to Huntsville's space heritage, while also reflecting that it offers a 'collection' of venues, just as a constellation is a collection of stars." Construction on the SpringHill Suites
was to begin in August 2008 with the Courtyard by Marriott "soon to follow. The project has been stalled for some time now but it appears work is commencing as of 9/2009"
The site includes a tree planted in 1961, the year the original mall opened, and the developer has announced plans to include this tree in the "Constellation" development. McClain is working to have the project "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
" certified.
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...
located in Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
. It opened in 1961. The mall was demolished in 2007 to make way for a new $150 million mixed-use development called "Constellation."
History
The Heart of Huntsville Mall was the first enclosed shopping mall in Huntsville when it opened in 1961. The 250000 sq ft (23,225.8 m²) single-story complex was built just outside of downtown at the intersection of Clinton Avenue and Memorial ParkwayMemorial Parkway (Huntsville)
Memorial Parkway is a major thoroughfare in Huntsville, Alabama. It, in whole or in part, follows U.S. Route 231, U.S. Route 431, U.S. Route 72, and State Route 53 through the Huntsville city limits...
. Its major tenant was a 48000 sq ft (4,459.3 m²) 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...
at the southern end of the mall.
Heart of Huntsville hosted many community events over the years including several Scout Expos and craft fairs. The long-running Delta Zeta
Delta Zeta
Delta Zeta is an international college sorority founded on October 24, 1902, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Today, Delta Zeta has 158 collegiate chapters in the United States and over 200 alumnae chapters in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada...
Arts and Crafts Show began in 1967 with roughly 100 booths at Heart of Huntsville Mall.
The mall prospered for decades until the opening of Madison Square Mall
Madison Square Mall
Madison Square Mall is Huntsville, Alabama's largest enclosed shopping center, encompassing over . It is also now the oldest extant enclosed shopping mall in the city. Anchored by JCPenney, Dillard's Outlet, Sears, and Belk, the mall is located on the corner of University Dr. Madison Square Mall is...
in west Huntsville in 1984. Sears moved to Madison Square and, over time, other tenants would close as well. The Woolworth's
F. W. Woolworth Company
The F. W. Woolworth Company was a retail company that was one of the original American five-and-dime stores. The first successful Woolworth store was opened on July 18, 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store"...
closed in 1992. As major chain stores closed, local businesses moved in to take advantage of lowered-rents.
In the late 1990s the center was renamed "Market Square." The two anchor tenants were Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 450 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico.. In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction...
and Gold's Gym
Gold's Gym
Gold's Gym International, Inc. is an international chain of co-ed fitness centers originally started in California by Joe Gold. Each gym features a wide array of exercise equipment, group exercise classes and personal trainers to assist clients...
with various smaller tenants including a club called "721," an exercise equipment shop, and Ivey's Restaurant. In the early 2000s the owner of the mall, Scott McLain, began plans to redevelop the center. He had recently completed a redevelopment of "The Mall", just north of Heart of Huntsville, into a power center with tenants such as Home Depot and 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...
. By mid-2007, all but one of the tenants, a tanning salon, had moved out of the mall to make way for a $150 million mixed-use development called "Constellation."
Future
By September 2007, all of the former Heart of Huntsville Mall was razed to make way for "Constellation," a mixed-use 415000 square feet (38,554.8 m²) development that will include retail, restaurants, two five-story, 160-room hotels (a Residence Inn by MarriottResidence Inn by Marriott
Residence Inn by Marriott is a brand of extended stay hotels. The chain was launched in 1975 in Wichita, Kansas by Jack DeBoer, and acquired by Marriott International in 1987. As of April 2005, there were over 450 Residence Inn hotels in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The brand's slogan...
and a SpringHill Suites
SpringHill Suites
SpringHill Suites is part of the Marriott International family of hotels.In 1998, Marriott International announced plans to convert Fairfield Suites to SpringHill Suites by Marriott. By doing so, Marriott hoped to capture a share in the upper moderate-priced all-suite lodging segment of the hotel...
), 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) of office space, and a seven-story condo/apartment tower with up to 80 residential units. The complex will also include a multideck parking garage. The developer had initially suggested that restaurants on the site might include a Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
or Cheesecake Factory but in November 2007 he announced that these concepts were unsuitable for the market and other concepts were being researched. In January 2008, Huntsville City Council president Glenn Watson suggested that the site might also be a good home for a new City Hall.
Construction on the project began in the Spring of 2008, with completion expected in 2010. McLain told The Huntsville Times
The Huntsville Times
The Huntsville Times is the daily morning newspaper published in Huntsville, Alabama, and also serves the surrounding areas of north Alabama's Tennessee Valley region. The Times formerly operated as an afternoon paper, but moved to mornings after The Huntsville News ceased publication...
that the name Constellation is "a nod to Huntsville's space heritage, while also reflecting that it offers a 'collection' of venues, just as a constellation is a collection of stars." Construction on the SpringHill Suites
SpringHill Suites
SpringHill Suites is part of the Marriott International family of hotels.In 1998, Marriott International announced plans to convert Fairfield Suites to SpringHill Suites by Marriott. By doing so, Marriott hoped to capture a share in the upper moderate-priced all-suite lodging segment of the hotel...
was to begin in August 2008 with the Courtyard by Marriott "soon to follow. The project has been stalled for some time now but it appears work is commencing as of 9/2009"
The site includes a tree planted in 1961, the year the original mall opened, and the developer has announced plans to include this tree in the "Constellation" development. McClain is working to have the project "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
" certified.
