Northgate Mall (Durham)
Encyclopedia
Northgate Mall is a regional shopping mall
located off Interstate 85
and Gregson Street (exit 176) in northern Durham, North Carolina
, United States. The mall is in close proximity to Duke University
and downtown Durham, between the Trinity Park and Walltown neighborhoods.
and eventually a cinema opened in 1962. In 1973 facing increased competition from other enclosed shopping centers, developers decided to add a Sears and Thalhimers department store and build an enclosure connecting the two stores. In 1986, Thalhimers relocated its store, building a new store in front of its original store.
After Hecht's
took over Thalhimers, a new wing was built where the original section of Northgate shopping center stood. This new wing included a brand new Hecht's department store at one end and a new food court, called the food gallery. The former Hecht's/Thalhimer's building went to Hudson Belk
. Hudson Belk left the mall in 2005, and that store was replaced by a Phoenix Theaters, and that part of the mall renovated into an outdoor plaza. Also that year, the Harris Teeter
closed, becoming a C&H Cafeteria and Guitar Center
and an Office Depot
that replaced Office Max. This section was renamed "The Shops at Northgate." The former Old Navy
space next to Sears is a Tiger Direct
/CompUSA
today.
Adjacent to the mall are "The Shops at Northgate" a strip-style plaza on the property's west side which includes Guitar Center
, C&H Cafeteria, a regional cafeteria chain, and Office Depot
. In recent years, the tenant mix of the mall has shifted from national chains to more mom-and-pop stores.
In more recent years, the mall has begun to reinvent itself as a community center, especially focusing on its local ownership. Additionally, the demise of South Square Mall
has helped Northgate because competition remains to be farther away now. However, crime at the mall remains to be seen as an issue. Local news reports say that the mall has had five violent incidents in the last five years, including a fatal stabbing in 2007, many of these provoked by fights and teen violence.
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 off Interstate 85
Interstate 85
Interstate 85 is a major interstate highway in the Southeastern United States. Its current southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 65 in Montgomery, Alabama; its northern terminus interchanges with Interstate 95 in Petersburg, Virginia, near Richmond...
and Gregson Street (exit 176) in northern Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
, United States. The mall is in close proximity to Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
and downtown Durham, between the Trinity Park and Walltown neighborhoods.
History
Northgate opened in 1960 as a traditional open air strip shopping center developed by W. Kenan Rand. The original center ran perpendicular to W. Club Blvd. Original tenants included Colonial Stores, Roses, Kerr DrugKerr Drug
Kerr Drug is an American chain of 76 drug stores throughout North Carolina. Its headquarters is located in Raleigh, North Carolina.The company was founded in Raleigh by Banks Kerr in 1951. The chain was operating 97 stores when it was acquired in 1995 by JCPenney...
and eventually a cinema opened in 1962. In 1973 facing increased competition from other enclosed shopping centers, developers decided to add a Sears and Thalhimers department store and build an enclosure connecting the two stores. In 1986, Thalhimers relocated its store, building a new store in front of its original store.
After Hecht's
Hecht's
Hecht's, also known as Hecht Brothers, Hecht Bros. and the Hecht Company, was a large chain of department stores located mainly in the mid-Atlantic and southern region of the United States....
took over Thalhimers, a new wing was built where the original section of Northgate shopping center stood. This new wing included a brand new Hecht's department store at one end and a new food court, called the food gallery. The former Hecht's/Thalhimer's building went to Hudson 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...
. Hudson Belk left the mall in 2005, and that store was replaced by a Phoenix Theaters, and that part of the mall renovated into an outdoor plaza. Also that year, the Harris Teeter
Harris Teeter
Harris Teeter is a chain of supermarkets based in Matthews, North Carolina, just outside Charlotte. , the chain operates 207 stores in eight Southern states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.Harris Teeter is a...
closed, becoming a C&H Cafeteria and Guitar Center
Guitar Center
Guitar Center is the largest chain of musical instrument retailers in the world with 223 locations throughout the United States. Its headquarters is in Westlake Village, California....
and an Office Depot
Office Depot
Office Depot is a supplier of office products and provides many services. The company's selection of brand name office supplies includes business machines, computers, computer software and office furniture, while its business services encompass copying, printing, document reproduction, shipping,...
that replaced Office Max. This section was renamed "The Shops at Northgate." The former Old Navy
Old Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing brand as well as a chain of stores owned by Gap, Inc., with corporate operations in San Francisco and San Bruno, California. It is one of the first major corporations to house headquarters in the new Mission Bay district of San Francisco.Gap, Inc. was run by...
space next to Sears is a Tiger Direct
Tiger Direct
Tiger Direct is a direct online and catalog retailer of computers and consumer electronics. It is a Systemax subsidiary. Its headquarters are in Fountainbleau, Florida.-Overview:...
/CompUSA
CompUSA
CompUSA is a retailer and reseller of consumer electronics, technology products and computer services. Its headquarters are in Miami, Florida.Until its reorganization, CompUSA, Inc. was a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. Commercial Corp S.A.B...
today.
Adjacent to the mall are "The Shops at Northgate" a strip-style plaza on the property's west side which includes Guitar Center
Guitar Center
Guitar Center is the largest chain of musical instrument retailers in the world with 223 locations throughout the United States. Its headquarters is in Westlake Village, California....
, C&H Cafeteria, a regional cafeteria chain, and Office Depot
Office Depot
Office Depot is a supplier of office products and provides many services. The company's selection of brand name office supplies includes business machines, computers, computer software and office furniture, while its business services encompass copying, printing, document reproduction, shipping,...
. In recent years, the tenant mix of the mall has shifted from national chains to more mom-and-pop stores.
In more recent years, the mall has begun to reinvent itself as a community center, especially focusing on its local ownership. Additionally, the demise of South Square Mall
South Square Mall
South Square Mall is a defunct shopping mall that was located in Durham, North Carolina.- History :Opened in 1975 and closed in 2002 due to competition from the newly-opened Streets at Southpoint mall, its original anchors were Belk-Leggett , J.C. Penney, and Montgomery Ward...
has helped Northgate because competition remains to be farther away now. However, crime at the mall remains to be seen as an issue. Local news reports say that the mall has had five violent incidents in the last five years, including a fatal stabbing in 2007, many of these provoked by fights and teen violence.
Anchors
- Sears 175428 sq ft (16,297.8 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...
(Previously relocated Hecht'sHecht'sHecht's, also known as Hecht Brothers, Hecht Bros. and the Hecht Company, was a large chain of department stores located mainly in the mid-Atlantic and southern region of the United States....
) 185090 sq ft (17,195.4 m²). - Phoenix Theaters Stadium 10 (Formerly Hudson Belk, previously Thalhimers and Hecht'sHecht'sHecht's, also known as Hecht Brothers, Hecht Bros. and the Hecht Company, was a large chain of department stores located mainly in the mid-Atlantic and southern region of the United States....
)