Asheville Mall
A regional shopping mall in Asheville, North Carolina, serving as the largest mall in Western North Carolina.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Asheville Mall is a regional shopping center located along Interstate 240 in eastern Asheville, North Carolina. Predominantly configured as a one-story enclosed mall, it serves the Asheville metropolitan area and a broader Western North Carolina trade region. The center has approximately 132 stores and is widely described as the largest mall in Western North Carolina, giving it a dominant position in the area's conventional retail market. The property was developed by R. L. Coleman and Company and opened in stages. Sears began operating at the site on February 3, 1972, while the main portion of the shopping center opened on November 23, 1973. Development faced opposition from some city officials and nearby property owners, and construction included several unusual incidents, including a reported confrontation involving a neighbor and a bulldozer operator. During the final construction phase, a helicopter carrying air-conditioning equipment crashed onto the roof and had to be removed by crane. The original anchor lineup consisted of The Bon Marche, Belk, and Sears. The S & W Cafeteria relocated from downtown Asheville to the mall in 1974. Ivey's was added during the mid-1970s, together with a smaller mall expansion. The property subsequently developed a broader department-store mix: JCPenney joined in 1989, Montgomery Ward opened in 1994 in space previously associated with The Bon Marche and later regional operators, and Dillard's acquired and converted the former Ivey's location during the early 1990s. A wing connecting JCPenney and Belk was later expanded to add about 30 stores. The mall's tenant and physical configuration continued to change in the 1990s and 2000s. The Coleman family sold the property in 1997. Belk expanded and added a second level in 2000, the same year that a food court was introduced. Following Montgomery Ward's closure in 2000, its space was repurposed for Dillard's men's, children's, and home merchandise, while the original Dillard's location became a women's store. Chick-fil-A also opened what was described as the first location in the region at the mall during the mid-1980s. Because of mall operating rules, it was reportedly the only Chick-fil-A location in the company's history to operate on Sundays until its lease was renegotiated in 1997. Anchor changes have shaped the mall in recent years. Sears Holdings transferred the Sears property, among other real-estate assets, to Seritage Growth Properties in 2015. The Sears store closed in July 2018, leaving the former anchor vacant. In May 2025, JCPenney also closed. By late 2025, the former JCPenney building was under consideration for conversion into an emergency operations center. Buncombe County officials considered acquiring the approximately six-acre site for a standalone facility serving emergency-services administration, training, preparedness, and disaster-response activities. Ownership and management have also changed. An SEC filing by CBL Properties dated June 30, 2020, identified Asheville Mall among properties that could be subject to foreclosure. In September 2024, Summit Properties USA acquired ownership of the mall and assumed management responsibilities. The center remains active, with Belk and two Dillard's stores serving as its principal current anchors. The former Sears space remained vacant according to the referenced material, while the former JCPenney property was being evaluated for a non-retail civic use.
History
Asheville Mall was developed by R. L. Coleman and Company on the eastern side of Asheville, near Interstate 240. The project encountered resistance from some municipal officials and neighboring property owners before construction began. During site grading, a neighbor reportedly threatened a bulldozer operator with a shotgun. A second unusual incident occurred near completion, when a helicopter being used to place air-conditioning equipment on the roof crashed onto the structure and had to be removed by crane. The center opened in stages. Sears began trading on February 3, 1972, and the remainder of the mall opened on November 23, 1973. Its initial anchor tenants were The Bon Marche, Belk, and Sears. In 1974, the S & W Cafeteria moved from downtown Asheville into the mall. Ivey's joined during the mid-1970s, accompanied by a modest expansion. The mall also became an early regional location for Chick-fil-A during the 1980s. Because of mall rules, the restaurant reportedly operated on Sundays at this location, an arrangement that continued until the lease was renegotiated in 1997. The property expanded and gained additional department-store capacity over the following decades. JCPenney joined in 1989 through an addition to an existing wing. Montgomery Ward opened in 1994 in space that had previously housed The Bon Marche and later regional chains including Meyers-Arnold and Uptons. After Dillard's acquired Ivey's in the early 1990s, the Ivey's store was converted to a Dillard's location. A further expansion between the JCPenney and Belk wings added approximately 30 stores. The Coleman family sold Asheville Mall in 1997. Belk expanded its store and added a second floor in 2000, when the mall also introduced a food court. Montgomery Ward closed that year. Its former space was subsequently used by Dillard's for men's, children's, and home departments, while the original Dillard's location was repositioned as a women's store. This arrangement helped preserve a large department-store presence despite the departure of Montgomery Ward. The mall's ownership structure became more complex in the 2010s. In 2015, Sears Holdings spun off 235 properties, including the Sears location at Asheville Mall, to Seritage Growth Properties. Sears closed its Asheville store in July 2018. The former Sears space remained vacant in the referenced material, although redevelopment into apartments had been planned. The property faced financial uncertainty during the period when CBL Properties was involved. A June 30, 2020 SEC filing by CBL listed Asheville Mall among properties that could potentially be subject to foreclosure. The mall subsequently changed hands. In September 2024, Summit Properties USA acquired ownership and assumed management responsibilities. JCPenney closed its Asheville Mall location on May 25, 2025. Later in 2025, the former anchor building entered discussions for conversion into an emergency operations center. Buncombe County considered purchasing the roughly six-acre site because of its central location and ability to accommodate several public agencies. The proposed facility would provide year-round space for emergency-services administration, training, preparedness work, and disaster-response operations. The referenced material reported an expected acquisition cost of approximately $5 million, but no completed purchase was established there. Today, Asheville Mall remains an active regional shopping center with roughly 132 stores. Belk and two Dillard's locations are identified as its principal anchors. The mall continues to occupy a prominent position in Western North Carolina retail, although the closure of Sears and JCPenney has created substantial vacant or potentially repurposed anchor space.
- 2025
JCPenney closes
[1]JCPenney closed its Asheville Mall store on May 25, 2025.
- 2024
Summit Properties USA becomes owner and manager
[1]Summit Properties USA acquired Asheville Mall in September 2024 and assumed management responsibilities.
- 2018
Sears closes
[1]The Sears store closed in July 2018, leaving its former anchor space vacant.
- 2015
Sears real estate transferred to Seritage
[1]Sears Holdings transferred the Asheville Sears property to Seritage Growth Properties as part of a broader real-estate separation.
- 2000
Belk expands and food court opens
[1]Belk expanded its store by adding a second level, and Asheville Mall introduced a food court.
- 1997
Coleman family sells the mall
[1]The Coleman family sold Asheville Mall after developing and operating the center during its formative period.
- 1994
Montgomery Ward opens
[1]Montgomery Ward opened in the former Bon Marche space, which had also been occupied by regional chains.
- 1989
JCPenney joins the anchor lineup
[1]JCPenney opened at Asheville Mall in a wing addition.
- 1974
S & W Cafeteria relocates to the mall
[1]The S & W Cafeteria moved from downtown Asheville into Asheville Mall.
- 1973
Main shopping center opens
[1]The rest of Asheville Mall opened to the public on November 23, 1973, with The Bon Marche, Belk, and Sears as the original anchors.
Products and positioning
A dominant regional enclosed mall serving Asheville and Western North Carolina through department-store anchors, specialty retailers, dining, and convenience-oriented shopping.
Department store
Belk
Belk is one of Asheville Mall's original anchor tenants. The store later expanded and added a second level in 2000, reinforcing its role as a major apparel, beauty, accessories, and home-goods destination within the center.
Department store
Dillard's
Asheville Mall has two Dillard's locations. One resulted from the conversion of the former Ivey's store after Dillard's acquired Ivey's, while another occupies the former Montgomery Ward space and focuses on men's, children's, and home merchandise.
Dining facility · 2000
Food court
The mall's food court opened in 2000 and provides quick-service dining as a supporting amenity for shoppers and visitors.
Retail tenancy · 1973
Specialty retail stores
The center contains approximately 132 stores spanning apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty, home goods, services, specialty merchandise, and food. Its tenant mix is organized around the department-store anchors and the needs of the Western North Carolina trade area.
Brand decisions
2025
Former JCPenney space considered for civic reuseStrategyBackground
JCPenney closed its approximately six-acre anchor property on May 25, 2025, creating a substantial vacant space at the mall.
Action taken
Buncombe County considered purchasing and converting the former JCPenney building into a standalone emergency operations center serving multiple agencies.
Aftermath
The proposal was under consideration in late 2025. The referenced material did not establish that the purchase or conversion had been completed.
Proposed acquisition cost. $5 million (Late 2025 proposal)
2024
Summit Properties USA acquires the mallM&ABackground
Following a period of ownership and financial uncertainty, Asheville Mall changed ownership in September 2024.
Action taken
Summit Properties USA acquired the mall and assumed management responsibilities.
Aftermath
The center continued operating under Summit Properties USA ownership, with Belk and two Dillard's stores as its principal anchors.
2015
Separation of the Sears real-estate assetM&ABackground
Sears Holdings transferred 235 properties, including the Sears property at Asheville Mall, to Seritage Growth Properties.
Action taken
The Sears-associated real-estate interest was separated from Sears Holdings and placed with Seritage Growth Properties.
Aftermath
The Sears store continued temporarily but closed in July 2018, leaving the former anchor space vacant.
Recent events
- 2025
JCPenney closed its Asheville Mall store[1]
Other
The JCPenney anchor location closed on May 25, 2025, ending the department store's tenancy at the mall.
- 2025
Former JCPenney site considered for emergency operations center[1]
Other
Buncombe County officials considered purchasing the former JCPenney building and converting it into a standalone emergency operations center serving multiple agencies.
- 2024
Summit Properties USA acquired Asheville Mall[1]
M&A
Summit Properties USA acquired ownership of Asheville Mall in September 2024 and took on management responsibilities.
- 2020
CBL filing identified Asheville Mall as potentially subject to foreclosure[1]
Other
A June 30, 2020 SEC filing by CBL Properties listed Asheville Mall among properties that could likely be foreclosed upon.
Sources2 sources
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