South Square Mall
Encyclopedia
South Square Mall is a defunct
shopping mall
that was located in Durham, North Carolina
.
mall, its original anchors were Belk-Leggett
(later renamed Hudson-Belk), J.C. Penney
, and Montgomery Ward
. Other stores located there included Piccadilly Cafeterias
, Miller & Rhoads, Montaldo's (a high-end women's fashion boutique), a Big Star Supermarket, Central Carolina Bank (now SunTrust), and a four-screen movie theater. In addition, South Square had a food court located off to the side on the second level, making it the first mall in the Triangle area with one (Crabtree Valley Mall
, despite opening in 1972, did not get a food court until 1984).
During the mid-1980s, a number of significant changes took place. Montgomery Ward vacated its space in 1985 as part of a corporate restructuring move made by the company. That space would eventually be filled by Ivey's
(later Dillard's
) a year later. It was during this time that the mall received its only interior upgrade.
Big Star closed its store in 1988 after being bought out by Harris Teeter
, only to have the space filled by an Office Depot
. Montaldo's vacated the mall in the late 1980s to a new location down the road in Chapel Hill
. The movie theater closed in 1994 when a new cineplex operated by Carmike Cinemas
opened less than a mile away.
The mall was eventually razed to make way for a big box retail hub that includes a SuperTarget, Sam's Club
, Ross Dress for Less
, and Petco
. The lone remnants of the mall's former life, mainly Office Depot
, Firestone
, and a stand-alone Chick-Fil-A
have since remained open and have been integrated into the newly built development, which retains the "South Square" name. Other tenants on site include a Golden Corral
, Carolina Ale House, and Discount Tire Company
. A planned Applebee's
restaurant for the site has been on hold after the one located across the street closed in 2006 due to under-performing sales at that location.
Dead mall
A dead mall or greyfield is a shopping mall with a high vacancy rate or a low consumer traffic level, or that is dated or deteriorating in some manner. Many malls in the United States are considered "dead" when they have no surviving anchor store or successor that could serve as an entry into or...
shopping 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...
that was located in 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...
.
History
Opened in 1975 and closed in 2002 due to competition from the newly-opened Streets at SouthpointThe Streets at Southpoint
The Streets at Southpoint is a super-regional shopping mall located in southern Durham, North Carolina, at Interstate 40 and Fayetteville Road. The mall opened in 2002, and has 1,330,000 square feet of leasable area, and is anchored by Belk, J. C. Penney, Sears, Macy's and the first Nordstrom...
mall, its original anchors were Belk-Leggett
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...
(later renamed Hudson-Belk), J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is a chain of American mid-range department stores based in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas. The company operates 1,107 department stores in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. JCPenney also operates catalog sales merchant offices nationwide in many...
, and Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
. Other stores located there included Piccadilly Cafeterias
Piccadilly Cafeterias
Piccadilly Cafeterias is a chain of cafeteria-style restaurants found primarily in the Southern United States.The company began with a single cafeteria in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1944, founded by T.H. Hamilton. Today, the chain operates 130 locations in 15 states.The company expanded in 1998 when...
, Miller & Rhoads, Montaldo's (a high-end women's fashion boutique), a Big Star Supermarket, Central Carolina Bank (now SunTrust), and a four-screen movie theater. In addition, South Square had a food court located off to the side on the second level, making it the first mall in the Triangle area with one (Crabtree Valley Mall
Crabtree Valley Mall
Crabtree Valley Mall is a regional mall located in Raleigh, North Carolina. At , it is the largest enclosed mall in the Triangle. Crabtree Valley contains over 220 stores and is anchored by Belk, Sears, and Macy's. Higher-end restaurants located in the mall include The Cheesecake Factory, P. F...
, despite opening in 1972, did not get a food court until 1984).
During the mid-1980s, a number of significant changes took place. Montgomery Ward vacated its space in 1985 as part of a corporate restructuring move made by the company. That space would eventually be filled by Ivey's
Ivey's
Ivey's , a former department store chain, was acquired by Dillard's, Inc. in 1990. Ivey's was based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was founded in 1900 by Joseph Benjamin Ivey.-History:...
(later 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,...
) a year later. It was during this time that the mall received its only interior upgrade.
Big Star closed its store in 1988 after being bought out by 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...
, only to have the space filled by 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,...
. Montaldo's vacated the mall in the late 1980s to a new location down the road in Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
. The movie theater closed in 1994 when a new cineplex operated by Carmike Cinemas
Carmike Cinemas
Carmike Cinemas Inc. is a motion picture exhibitor headquartered in Columbus, Georgia in the United States of America. As of December 31, 2010 it operates or has an interest in 239 theaters with 2,236 screens in 35 states, making it the fourth largest theatre company in the United States.Carmike...
opened less than a mile away.
Life after the mall
After Belk and J.C. Penney relocated to Southpoint, Dillard's tried to hang in as the lone anchor, even though the mall itself was dying from the massive defections brought on by Southpoint's arrival. The mall closed in September 2002 after Dillard's shut down, only six months after Southpoint opened.The mall was eventually razed to make way for a big box retail hub that includes a SuperTarget, Sam's Club
Sam's Club
Sam's Club is a chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs owned and operated by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., founded in 1983 and named after Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. , the Sam's Club chain serves more than 47 million U.S. members...
, Ross Dress for Less
Ross Dress For Less
Ross Stores, Inc. , is a chain of American off-price department stores headquartered in Pleasanton, California, operating under the name Ross Dress for Less. It is the third largest off-price retailer in the United States, behind T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, both of which are owned by TJX Companies.As...
, and Petco
PETCO
PETCO is a chain of retail stores that offers pet supplies and services such as grooming and dog training. Founded in 1965 and incorporated in Delaware, it is headquartered in San Diego, California...
. The lone remnants of the mall's former life, mainly 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,...
, Firestone
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company is an American tire company founded by Harvey Firestone in 1900 to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. Firestone soon saw the huge potential for marketing tires for automobiles. The company...
, and a stand-alone Chick-Fil-A
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A |"fillet"]]) is a quick service restaurant chain headquartered in College Park, Georgia, United States, specializing in chicken entrées and is known for promoting the company founder's claims of Christian values. Long associated with the southern United States, where it has been a...
have since remained open and have been integrated into the newly built development, which retains the "South Square" name. Other tenants on site include a Golden Corral
Golden Corral
Golden Corral is an American family-style restaurant chain that features a large buffet and grill offering numerous hot and cold items, a carving station and their Brass Bell Bakery...
, Carolina Ale House, and Discount Tire Company
Discount Tire Company
Discount Tire Company is a tire and wheel retailer headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is the largest independent tire retailer in the United States, and sole retail outlet for the Arizonian brand of tires....
. A planned Applebee's
Applebee's
Applebee’s International, Inc., is an American company which develops, franchises, and operates the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar restaurant chain. As of September 2011, there were 2,010 restaurants operating system-wide in the United States, one U.S. territory and 14 other countries...
restaurant for the site has been on hold after the one located across the street closed in 2006 due to under-performing sales at that location.