McFarland Mall
Encyclopedia
McFarland Mall is a regional 497000 square feet (46,172.8 m²) shopping mall
on U.S. Route 11 (Skyland Boulevard East) in Tuscaloosa
, Alabama
. Located at the interchange of Interstate 20
/59 with U.S. Route 82 (McFarland Boulevard), it is in the southern section of the city. After opening in February 1969, the mall has seen a steady decline since the opening of University Mall
and as of 2009 was rumored as a potential site for demolition and major redevelopment.
in Birmingham
, Heart of Huntsville Mall
and The Mall
in Huntsville
, Bel Air Mall
in Mobile
and Southgate Mall
in Muscle Shoals
. Constructed with one story, in 1975 Gayfers
(subsequently Dillard's
) added a second story and has since remained the only two story tenant. The mall's other anchor was originally Woolco
, which closed in 1983 and was replaced by Zayre
that same year. Following Zayre's closure in 1989, the anchor was divided among Jefferson Home Furniture (later Heilig-Meyers
), TJ Maxx and Drug Mart, of which only TJ Maxx opened out into the mall.
The mall saw significant renovations in 1980 and again in 1993, with the addition of a 320-seat food court and atrium, as well as a Goody's Family Clothing
. The mall remained under the ownership of the McFarland family through 2009. Drug Mart became Shoe Station, and a Crafts, Etc. (now Michaels
) store opened between Drug Mart and Heilig-Meyers in 1993. Heilig-Meyers subsequently became Sticks & Stuff.
In May 2009 it was announced the Tuscaloosa developer Stan Pate had purchased the mall from Ward McFarland, Inc. ending the McFarland family association with the facility. The new owners have declared that they will be looking at many options to make the facility more profitable, from future renovations to completely demolishing the structure and building anew. With the demolition of The Mall (2002), Eastwood Mall (2006) and Heart of Huntsville Mall (2007), McFarland is the second oldest enclosed mall in the state of Alabama with only Bel Air Mall being constructed earlier.
Following the closure of Dillard's and Goody's, the mall's only remaining anchor is TJ Maxx.
In March 2010, according to the Tuscaloosa News, it was stated that the eastern portion of the mall would be closed and demolished.
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...
on U.S. Route 11 (Skyland Boulevard East) in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. Located at the interchange of 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...
/59 with U.S. Route 82 (McFarland Boulevard), it is in the southern section of the city. After opening in February 1969, the mall has seen a steady decline since the opening of University Mall
University Mall (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
University Mall is the largest mall in western Alabama. It is located at the intersection of McFarland Boulevard and Veterans' Memorial Parkway in Tuscaloosa, the busiest in the city....
and as of 2009 was rumored as a potential site for demolition and major redevelopment.
History
The center was originally developed by Ward Wharton McFarland and James Hinton. When opened, in February 1969, McFarland Mall was the sixth fully enclosed mall constructed in the state of Alabama after Eastwood MallEastwood Mall
Eastwood Village, formerly Eastwood Mall, is a shopping mall located in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It is located between Montclair Road and Crestwood Boulevard Eastwood Village, formerly Eastwood Mall, is a shopping mall located in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It is located between...
in Birmingham
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...
, Heart of Huntsville Mall
Heart of Huntsville Mall
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."-History:...
and The Mall
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 Huntsville
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....
, Bel Air Mall
Bel Air Mall
Bel Air Mall is a super-regional shopping mall, located in Mobile, Alabama, United States. The mall has a gross leasable area of 1,345,000 square feet...
in Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
and Southgate Mall
Southgate Mall
-United States:* Southgate Mall, formerly Southgate Shopping Center, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin*Southgate Shopping Center in Southgate, Michigan*Westfield Southgate, formerly Southgate Plaza, in Sarasota, Florida*Southgate Mall in Elizabeth City, North Carolina...
in Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 12,846. The city is included in The Shoals MSA. It is famous for its contributions to American popular music.-Geography:Muscle Shoals is located...
. Constructed with one story, in 1975 Gayfers
Gayfers
Gayfers was a regional department store chain in the southern United States. Most stores were located in the Southeast. The chain became part of Dillard's in 1998.-History:...
(subsequently 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,...
) added a second story and has since remained the only two story tenant. The mall's other anchor was originally Woolco
Woolco
Woolco was an American-based discount retail chain. It was founded in 1962 in the city of Columbus, Ohio, by the F.W. Woolworth Company. It was a full-line discount department store unlike the five-and-dime Woolworth stores which operated at the time. At its peak, Woolco had hundreds of stores in...
, which closed in 1983 and was replaced by Zayre
Zayre
Zayre was a chain of discount stores that operated in the Northeastern, Southern and Midwestern United States from 1956 to 1990. The company's headquarters was in Framingham, Massachusetts. In 1988, the Zayre department stores were sold to the parent company of the competing Ames chain, and Zayre's...
that same year. Following Zayre's closure in 1989, the anchor was divided among Jefferson Home Furniture (later Heilig-Meyers
Heilig-Meyers
Heilig-Meyers was a retail furniture store chain founded in Goldsboro, North Carolina, in 1913 by two Lithuanian immigrants, H. A. Heilig and J. M. Meyers. Its corporate headquarters was in Richmond, Virginia. The chain grew to become the largest furniture retailer in the United States in...
), TJ Maxx and Drug Mart, of which only TJ Maxx opened out into the mall.
The mall saw significant renovations in 1980 and again in 1993, with the addition of a 320-seat food court and atrium, as well as a Goody's Family Clothing
Goody's Family Clothing
Goody's is a brand used for some clothing stores operated by Stage Stores, Inc., of Houston, Texas. It is a successor to Goody's Family Clothing, a chain of clothing retailers based in Knoxville, Tennessee...
. The mall remained under the ownership of the McFarland family through 2009. Drug Mart became Shoe Station, and a Crafts, Etc. (now Michaels
Michaels
Michaels is an arts and crafts retail chain. It currently operates more than 1040 Michaels Arts and Crafts Stores located in 49 U.S. states and in Canada. The company owns and operates the Aaron Brothers retail chain which consists of more than 140 stores...
) store opened between Drug Mart and Heilig-Meyers in 1993. Heilig-Meyers subsequently became Sticks & Stuff.
In May 2009 it was announced the Tuscaloosa developer Stan Pate had purchased the mall from Ward McFarland, Inc. ending the McFarland family association with the facility. The new owners have declared that they will be looking at many options to make the facility more profitable, from future renovations to completely demolishing the structure and building anew. With the demolition of The Mall (2002), Eastwood Mall (2006) and Heart of Huntsville Mall (2007), McFarland is the second oldest enclosed mall in the state of Alabama with only Bel Air Mall being constructed earlier.
Following the closure of Dillard's and Goody's, the mall's only remaining anchor is TJ Maxx.
In March 2010, according to the Tuscaloosa News, it was stated that the eastern portion of the mall would be closed and demolished.