Ashley Landing

Ashley Landing is a retail shopping center at 1401 Sam Rittenberg Boulevard in the West Ashley area of Charleston, South Carolina. The property began as Ashley Plaza, a suburban shopping plaza developed by Gate City Realty Company of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Construction began in 1962, and the first phase opened on April 16, 1964. Its original principal occupants were a J.M. Fields department store and a Pantry Pride supermarket, in a development reported to have cost $1.75 million. A freestanding Condon's Department Store was added in 1970. The property became a substantially different retail destination in April 1972, when an enclosed mall was built between the existing Pantry Pride and Condon's buildings. The expanded center added local merchants, national specialty retailers, a General Cinemas theater, and Edward's, another locally operated department store. With the completion of the enclosed portion, the property adopted the name Ashley Plaza Mall. During the 1970s, it functioned as a conventional community shopping mall serving West Ashley, but its anchor base weakened toward the end of the decade. The bankruptcies and closures of J.M. Fields and Pantry Pride created major vacancies, while Edward's was acquired and rebranded first as Big K-Edwards and later affected by the ownership transition to Wal-Mart Stores. Several replacement tenants were tried. Woolco occupied the former J.M. Fields space, Jameson's Red & White Supermarket replaced Pantry Pride, and the former Edward's premises were eventually subdivided for smaller retailers. The competitive environment deteriorated after Citadel Mall, a much larger shopping center less than three miles away, opened in 1981. Woolco's nationwide U.S. closure in 1983 removed another major anchor, and national retailers increasingly relocated to Citadel Mall. By the late 1980s, much of Ashley Plaza Mall had been closed or reconfigured for discount and big-box uses. Hurricane Hugo struck the Charleston region on September 22, 1989, causing extensive roof, water, and facade damage. After repairs and exterior remodeling, the property was renamed Ashley Landing, referencing its proximity to Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site. The remaining enclosed mall area was subsequently eliminated, returning the property to a primarily open-air strip-center format. Later occupants included Brendle's Catalog Showroom, United Clothing Company, Big Lots, Carolina Pottery, Dollar Tree, Pivotal Fitness, and NAPA Auto Parts, although individual leases and property configurations changed over time. The center was involved in several business and redevelopment disputes. Carolina Pottery left in 2001 after breaking its lease, prompting a lawsuit by Ashley Plaza Mall Associates. A separate conflict involving Condon's concerned access and construction activity associated with a planned Publix Super Market addition; Condon's later closed after its lease was not renewed. In 2000, the City of Charleston and neighboring communities conducted a design charrette that envisioned a more mixed-use and pedestrian-oriented property with retail, offices, residences, landscaping, and public gathering areas. Faison Enterprises acquired Ashley Landing in 2014 and began a long-term renovation, tenant-repositioning, and expansion program. Faison later transferred a majority of its retail holdings, including Ashley Landing, to sister company Wintergreen Capital in 2017. In 2024, developer Edens announced a broader redevelopment concept for the Ashley Landing area. The proposal combines the shopping center with city-owned land and calls for more than six acres of green space, 325 apartments, 100 townhomes, and approximately 230,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Phased construction was projected to begin in 2025, with completion targeted for 2028. The property's identity has therefore evolved from an early suburban plaza to an enclosed neighborhood mall and, ultimately, an open-air retail center within a larger mixed-use redevelopment plan.

Ashley Landing originated as Ashley Plaza, a shopping plaza developed by Gate City Realty Company in West Ashley, Charleston. Groundbreaking took place in 1962, and the initial center opened on April 16, 1964. The first phase paired a J.M. Fields department store with a Pantry Pride supermarket. Condon's Department Store opened as an adjacent freestanding tenant in 1970. In April 1972, the property expanded into an enclosed mall by connecting the existing retail buildings. The enlarged center included local and national merchants, specialty shops, a General Cinemas theater, and Edward's department store. It was renamed Ashley Plaza Mall and became an important neighborhood retail destination during the 1970s. The center's fortunes declined as its anchor tenants changed or disappeared. J.M. Fields and Pantry Pride entered bankruptcy and closed, creating a large vacant wing. Edward's was sold and became Big K-Edwards, but the store was later closed after its ownership passed through the Wal-Mart organization. Woolco took over the former J.M. Fields space, while Jameson's Red & White Supermarket occupied the former Pantry Pride location. These replacements did not restore the property's earlier position. Competition intensified when Citadel Mall opened nearby in 1981. Its larger scale and broader tenant mix attracted many of Ashley Plaza Mall's national retailers. Woolco's U.S. withdrawal in 1983 created another major vacancy. The supermarket space subsequently passed through additional local operators, and parts of the former mall were closed, consolidated, or adapted for discount retail. Hurricane Hugo struck on September 22, 1989, damaging roofs, interiors, and exterior facades. Repairs brought new finishes and redesigned storefronts. The property was renamed Ashley Landing, reflecting its location near Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site. The remaining enclosed mall section was later converted into larger individual retail spaces, ending the center's operation as a traditional indoor mall. During the 1990s and early 2000s, the property continued as an open-air shopping center. Brendle's Catalog Showroom, United Clothing Company, Big Lots, Carolina Pottery, Dollar Tree, Pivotal Fitness, and NAPA Auto Parts occupied portions of the former anchor and mall spaces at different times. Carolina Pottery's departure in 2001 led to litigation by Ashley Plaza Mall Associates and another subdivision of its former space. The property also faced a dispute with Condon's Department Stores over construction connected with a planned Publix addition. Condon's objected that construction materials and dirt obstructed access and created safety concerns; the store ultimately closed after its lease was not renewed. Separately, a 2000 city and neighborhood design charrette proposed a comprehensive revitalization with improved facades, landscaping, pedestrian connections, retail, offices, and residential uses. Faison Enterprises acquired Ashley Landing in 2014 for a reported $19.2 million and began a long-term redevelopment effort. In 2017, the property became part of the retail portfolio transferred to Faison's sister company Wintergreen Capital. In 2024, Edens announced a larger area redevelopment concept involving city-owned land and the existing center. The proposal includes more than six acres of open space, 325 apartments, 100 townhomes, and about 230,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Planned construction was expected to proceed in phases beginning in 2025, with completion projected for 2028.

• 2024

  Mixed-use redevelopment announced

  [1]Ashley Landingen.wikipedia.org

  Edens announced a proposed large-scale redevelopment with housing, open space, retail, and restaurants.

• 2017

  Wintergreen Capital portfolio transfer

  [1]Ashley Landingen.wikipedia.org

  Ashley Landing moved into the retail portfolio of Faison's sister company Wintergreen Capital.

• 2014

  Faison acquisition

  [1]Ashley Landingen.wikipedia.org

  Faison Enterprises acquired the property and initiated a long-term redevelopment program.

• 2001

  Carolina Pottery departure and lawsuit

  [1]Ashley Landingen.wikipedia.org

  Carolina Pottery left its premises and the center owner filed a lease-related lawsuit.

• 2000

  City design charrette

  [1]Ashley Landingen.wikipedia.org

  Charleston and adjoining neighborhoods developed proposals for a more integrated, mixed-use revitalization.

• 1989

  Hurricane Hugo and rebranding

  [1]Ashley Landingen.wikipedia.org

  Hurricane damage was followed by repairs, exterior changes, and adoption of the Ashley Landing name.

• 1983

  Woolco closes

  [1]Ashley Landingen.wikipedia.org

  The U.S. closure of Woolco left a major anchor vacancy.

• 1981

  Citadel Mall opens nearby

  [1]Ashley Landingen.wikipedia.org

  A larger nearby mall increased competitive pressure and accelerated tenant departures.

• 1972

  Enclosed mall completed

  [1]Ashley Landingen.wikipedia.org

  The enclosed addition opened, and the property became Ashley Plaza Mall.

• 1970

  Condon's joins the center

  [1]Ashley Landingen.wikipedia.org

  Condon's Department Store opened in an adjacent freestanding building.

• 1964

  Ashley Plaza opens

  [1]Ashley Landingen.wikipedia.org

  The first phase opened with J.M. Fields and Pantry Pride as its principal tenants.

• 1962

  Groundbreaking

  [1]Ashley Landingen.wikipedia.org

  Construction began on the shopping plaza that would become Ashley Plaza.

A neighborhood-oriented shopping center serving West Ashley, Charleston, with a history of adaptation from an enclosed mall to an open-air retail property and a planned mixed-use district.

• Shopping center · 1964

  Ashley Landing shopping center

  The property's principal offering is leased retail and service space serving the West Ashley community. Its tenant mix has changed repeatedly over time, covering department stores, supermarkets, discount retailers, home goods, apparel, fitness, automotive parts, and other neighborhood services.

• Shopping mall · 1972

  Enclosed mall phase

  Opened in 1972, the enclosed phase connected the earlier plaza buildings and added specialty retailers, local merchants, a department store, and a General Cinemas theater. This format was later removed as the property shifted back to open-air retail.

• Mixed-use redevelopment · 2024

  Planned Ashley Landing mixed-use district

  The 2024 redevelopment concept would combine the existing center with city-owned land and add retail and restaurant space, apartments, townhomes, and more than six acres of green space. The announced schedule contemplated phased construction beginning in 2025.

• 2024

  Pursue a mixed-use redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The existing shopping center and surrounding publicly owned land were considered for broader West Ashley revitalization.

  Action taken

  Edens announced a plan combining the shopping center with city-owned land, new green space, housing, retail, and restaurants.

  Aftermath

  The project was projected to proceed in phases beginning in 2025 and to reach completion around 2028, subject to implementation.

  Proposed redevelopment value. $345 million (2024 announcement)

  Source

• 2014

  Faison acquires Ashley LandingM&A

  Background

  The aging retail center required repositioning after decades of anchor turnover and format changes.

  Action taken

  Faison Enterprises acquired Ashley Landing and began a long-term renovation, expansion, and tenant-repositioning program.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition placed the property under a redevelopment-oriented owner and preceded its later transfer to Wintergreen Capital.

  Acquisition price. $19.2 million (2014 acquisition)

  Source

• 2001

  Reconfigure the former Carolina Pottery spaceOther

  Background

  Carolina Pottery left the center after breaking its lease, and the owner initiated litigation.

  Action taken

  The large space was divided into three buildings for Dollar Tree, Pivotal Fitness, and NAPA Auto Parts.

  Aftermath

  The property continued replacing former anchor-sized uses with smaller, specialized tenants.

  Source

• 1989

  Convert the damaged mall toward an open-air centerStrategy

  Background

  Hurricane Hugo damaged the property, while declining occupancy and competition from Citadel Mall weakened the enclosed-mall format.

  Action taken

  The property was repaired, visually updated, renamed Ashley Landing, and progressively reconfigured into larger open-air retail spaces.

  Aftermath

  The center ceased operating as a conventional indoor mall and continued primarily as a strip shopping center.

  Source

1. 1Ashley Landingen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Faison Enterprisesfaison.com