Alexandria Mall

Alexandria Mall is a regional shopping center in Alexandria, Louisiana, United States. It opened on August 1, 1973, after construction began in March 1972 by a family-owned construction company associated with Buddy Tudor of nearby Pineville. The original complex covered nearly 500,000 square feet and opened with more than 30 stores. Its initial anchor lineup combined national, regional, and local department-store operators, including JCPenney, Sears, Bealls, Weiss & Goldring, Gus Kaplan, and Wellan's. The center also included food service, specialty retail, and a two-screen cinema operated by General Cinema Corporation. A major expansion completed in August 1986 more than doubled the mall's footprint to approximately 869,732 square feet and added 56 stores. The project introduced Dillard's and Mervyn's as department-store anchors, created a food court known as The Market Place, renovated portions of the original building, and replaced the original cinema with a six-screen multiplex on the mall's perimeter. A locally publicized celebration associated with the expansion included the preparation of a 650-pound pizza. The tenant mix changed substantially over the following decades. Wellan's, the final remaining store in that chain, closed in 1989 after a prolonged rent-payment problem. Bealls was acquired by Stage Stores in 1994 and became Stage. The former Wellan's space was subsequently divided between Sam Goody and Stein Mart. Mervyn's closed in January 2006, and Stein Mart followed in April of that year. Burlington Coat Factory took over the former Mervyn's space in 2007. Weiss & Goldring moved from the mall to an adapted former Firestone property outside the center, and Bed Bath & Beyond later occupied the former Weiss & Goldring location. The former Stein Mart space was used for Slinkee's, a children's play venue, before being repurposed. The mall's management and ownership arrangements also evolved. General Growth Properties assumed leasing and management responsibilities in February 2001. J. Herzog Properties acquired the mall in 2004, while General Growth Properties continued managing it. In 2010, management was transferred from General Growth Properties to Jones Lang LaSalle. In the mid-2010s, several leases were terminated while space was prepared for Conn's, which opened on February 13, 2016. Later anchor changes reflected broader shifts in department-store and specialty-retail formats. Sears closed in September 2018 as part of a nationwide store-closure program, and Stage closed in early 2019. Bed Bath & Beyond left in March 2023, with Michaels subsequently opening in the space later that year. In fall 2024, Burlington Coat Factory moved from Alexandria Mall to nearby MacArthur Village shopping center, while Conn's closed during the retailer's bankruptcy proceedings. The mall has also experienced changes in food-service occupancy, including the closure of its Chick-fil-A location on December 31, 2025. Its current identity is that of a community and regional shopping destination anchored by retailers including Dillard's, JCPenney, and Michaels, although its tenant roster has changed repeatedly since opening.

Alexandria Mall was developed in Alexandria, Louisiana, during the early 1970s. Construction began in March 1972 through a family-owned construction company from Pineville associated with Buddy Tudor. The center opened on August 1, 1973, with more than 30 stores in nearly 500,000 square feet. Its original anchors represented several layers of the retail market: national department stores JCPenney and Sears, regional Louisiana retailer Bealls, and local department stores Weiss & Goldring, Gus Kaplan, and Wellan's. The opening tenant list also included Piccadilly Cafeteria, Peoples Shoes, Lerner Shops, and a two-screen General Cinema theater. The mall underwent its defining physical transformation in 1986. An expansion completed in August of that year increased the total size to approximately 869,732 square feet and added 56 stores. Dillard's and Mervyn's joined the anchor roster, and a food court called The Market Place was introduced. Existing areas were renovated, while the original two-screen cinema was replaced with a six-screen multiplex located at the mall's edge. The expansion was marked by a local promotional event involving a 650-pound pizza. Tenant turnover became a recurring feature of the mall's later history. Wellan's closed in July 1989 after failing to pay rent for seven months; the Alexandria location was the chain's last store. Bealls was acquired by Stage Stores in 1994 and renamed Stage. That year, the Sears wing and entrance were renovated. The former Wellan's space was later divided between Sam Goody, which occupied part of the space, and Stein Mart, which opened in the remainder in October 1995. In February 2001, General Growth Properties took over leasing and management. J. Herzog Properties purchased the mall in 2004, with General Growth Properties continuing to manage it. Mervyn's closed in January 2006, followed by Stein Mart on April 30. Burlington Coat Factory opened in the former Mervyn's location in March 2007. Weiss & Goldring moved out of the mall into a converted former Firestone tire center that became part of a strip-shopping development. Bed Bath & Beyond opened in the former Weiss & Goldring space in 2008, while the former Stein Mart space became Slinkee's, a children's play venue. Management changed again in 2010, when General Growth Properties transferred responsibility to Jones Lang LaSalle. In September 2015, the leases of Slinkee's and the neighboring Lagniappe Theater Company were terminated while the mall negotiated a conversion of the space for Conn's. Conn's opened there on February 13, 2016. The next phase of change involved large national chains: Sears closed in September 2018 under a nationwide closure plan, and Stage ended operations in early 2019. The mall continued adapting its tenant mix in the 2020s. Bed Bath & Beyond closed in March 2023, and Michaels subsequently opened in the space later that year. In fall 2024, Burlington Coat Factory moved to nearby MacArthur Village shopping center. Conn's also closed in connection with the retailer's bankruptcy proceedings. The mall's food-and-beverage lineup continued to evolve, including the closure of its Chick-fil-A location on December 31, 2025. Alexandria Mall remains a regional retail property whose history reflects the expansion of enclosed shopping centers, the decline and consolidation of traditional department stores, and the reuse of large-format retail space for newer specialty and service tenants.

• 2025

  Chick-fil-A location closes

  [1]Alexandria Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Chick-fil-A location at Alexandria Mall closes on December 31.

• 2024

  Burlington relocates and Conn's closes

  [1]Alexandria Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Burlington moves to MacArthur Village shopping center, and Conn's closes during its bankruptcy proceedings.

• 2023

  Michaels replaces Bed Bath & Beyond

  [1]Alexandria Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Bed Bath & Beyond closes in March, and Michaels later occupies the former store location.

• 2018

  Sears closes

  [1]Alexandria Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Sears anchor closes as part of a nationwide Sears store-closure program.

• 2016

  Conn's opens

  [1]Alexandria Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Conn's opens on February 13 in space created through the redevelopment of former entertainment and children's-play tenants.

• 2010

  Jones Lang LaSalle takes over management

  [1]Alexandria Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Management responsibility moves from General Growth Properties to Jones Lang LaSalle.

• 2007

  Burlington opens

  [1]Alexandria Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Burlington Coat Factory opens in the former Mervyn's location.

• 2004

  Ownership changes

  [1]Alexandria Mallen.wikipedia.org

  J. Herzog Properties acquires the mall while General Growth Properties remains involved in management.

• 2001

  General Growth Properties takes over management

  [1]Alexandria Mallen.wikipedia.org

  General Growth Properties assumes leasing and management responsibilities.

• 1994

  Bealls becomes Stage

  [1]Alexandria Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Stage Stores acquires Beall-Ladymon and changes the mall store's name to Stage.

• 1989

  Wellan's closes

  [1]Alexandria Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Wellan's closes after rent-payment problems, leaving the Alexandria Mall location as the chain's final store.

• 1986

  Major expansion completed

  [1]Alexandria Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The mall expands to approximately 869,732 square feet, adds 56 stores, introduces Dillard's and Mervyn's, and opens The Market Place food court.

• 1973

  Mall opens

  [1]Alexandria Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Alexandria Mall opens on August 1 with more than 30 stores and nearly 500,000 square feet of space.

• 1972

  Construction begins

  [1]Alexandria Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of Alexandria Mall begins through a family-owned Pineville construction company associated with Buddy Tudor.

Regional shopping center serving Alexandria and the wider central Louisiana market through department stores, specialty retailers, dining, and family-oriented services.

• Anchor retail · 1973

  Department-store retail

  The mall's anchor format has historically centered on department stores offering apparel, footwear, cosmetics, home goods, and general merchandise. JCPenney and Dillard's are identified as current anchors in the reference material, while Sears, Mervyn's, Stage, Bealls, Wellan's, Gus Kaplan, and Weiss & Goldring have occupied anchor or major-store roles at different points.

• Arts and crafts retail · 2023

  Michaels

  Michaels is a specialty arts-and-crafts retailer that opened at Alexandria Mall in 2023 after Bed Bath & Beyond vacated its space. Its assortment typically serves crafting, seasonal decoration, framing, hobby, and do-it-yourself needs, adding a specialty category to the mall's anchor mix.

• Food court · 1986

  The Market Place

  The Market Place was the food court introduced during the 1986 expansion. It formed part of the mall's enlarged dining and social offering alongside existing food-service tenants such as Piccadilly Cafeteria. The available reference material does not specify its current operating status or individual tenant roster.

• Entertainment and mall services · 1973

  Family entertainment and services

  Alexandria Mall has accommodated entertainment and family-oriented uses over time, including General Cinema's original two-screen theater, a later six-screen multiplex, Lagniappe Theater Company, and the children's play venue Slinkee's. These uses illustrate the mall's changing role beyond conventional merchandise retail, although the reference material does not establish which comparable venues currently operate.

• 1986Expansion celebration pizza

  Alexandria, Louisiana

  A local promotional event associated with the 1986 expansion featured pizza chefs preparing a 650-pound pizza to celebrate the enlarged mall.

  Outcome. The event served as a public celebration of the expansion; longer-term campaign performance is not reported.

  Source

• 2024

  Accommodate anchor-space turnoverStrategy

  Background

  Large-format retail tenants were changing as national chains consolidated or entered financial distress.

  Action taken

  Burlington Coat Factory moved from Alexandria Mall to nearby MacArthur Village shopping center, while Conn's closed during its bankruptcy proceedings.

  Aftermath

  The changes reduced the mall's existing large-store roster and left the property dependent on continued tenant replacement and space reutilization.

  Source

• 2023

  Replace Bed Bath & Beyond with MichaelsStrategy

  Background

  Bed Bath & Beyond closed its mall store in March 2023 amid the retailer's broader store reductions and subsequent bankruptcy.

  Action taken

  Michaels later opened in the former Bed Bath & Beyond location.

  Aftermath

  The replacement maintained a large specialty-retail presence while shifting the category toward arts, crafts, hobbies, and seasonal merchandise.

  Source

• 2015

  Redevelop space for Conn'sStrategy

  Background

  The mall was negotiating to replace Slinkee's and the neighboring Lagniappe Theater Company with a larger retail occupant.

  Action taken

  The leases of both tenants were terminated on September 29, and their spaces were converted for Conn's.

  Aftermath

  Conn's opened in the redeveloped space on February 13, 2016.

  Source

• 2004

  Transfer ownership to J. Herzog PropertiesM&A

  Background

  The property changed hands while General Growth Properties was responsible for leasing and management.

  Action taken

  J. Herzog Properties acquired Alexandria Mall, with General Growth Properties retaining its management role.

  Aftermath

  The transaction separated property ownership from the continuing management arrangement until management later moved to Jones Lang LaSalle.

  Source

• 1986

  Expand the mall and add a food courtStrategy

  Background

  The original mall had opened with nearly 500,000 square feet and more than 30 stores. The operator pursued a major enlargement to increase capacity and broaden the tenant and entertainment offer.

  Action taken

  The completed project more than doubled the mall to approximately 869,732 square feet, added 56 stores, brought in Dillard's and Mervyn's, created The Market Place food court, renovated existing areas, and replaced the two-screen cinema with a six-screen multiplex.

  Aftermath

  The expansion established the mall's larger regional format and reshaped its anchor and leisure offer.

  Source

1. 1Alexandria Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Alexandria Mall official websitealexandriamall.com