The Shoppes at Bel Air

The Shoppes at Bel Air, commonly known as Bel Air Mall, is a super-regional enclosed shopping mall in Mobile, Alabama. Located near the intersection of Airport Boulevard and Interstate 65, the property is one of the principal retail destinations in west Mobile and forms part of a broader commercial district that includes restaurants, offices, apartments, cinemas, and other shopping centers. The mall has approximately 1.345 million square feet of gross leasable area and includes more than 130 stores and restaurants when occupied spaces and operating retail areas are counted. Its current anchor lineup includes Belk, Dillard's, Target, and Surge Entertainment Center by Drew Brees, while the former JCPenney location is vacant following that store's 2024 closure. The mall opened in August 1967 after more than a decade of research and planning. It was developed by Kenneth R. Giddens, William Lyon, and Jay Altmayer as the commercial centerpiece of the automobile-oriented Bel Air development. The original property consisted of a roughly 900-foot enclosed retail corridor with fifty inline tenants and two department-store anchors, Sears and locally based Hammel's. Its opening established Bel Air as an important regional shopping destination and made the property the oldest continuously operating enclosed super-regional mall in Alabama. The property expanded repeatedly as department-store retail evolved. Hammel's became D. H. Holmes in 1973, and the store added a second floor to create a large Gulf Coast regional hub. A two-level JCPenney opened in 1974 as part of a new north-south mall corridor, making Bel Air Mall Alabama's largest regional mall at the time. Parisian joined the property in 1984 with a substantial expansion that added specialty retail, a food court, landscaping, water features, and dining. Dillard's entered the market through its 1989 acquisition of D. H. Holmes, changing the identity of one of the mall's principal anchors. The 1990s brought major modernization. A $14 million renovation refreshed signage, façades, parking areas, landscaping, entrances, and interior finishes. In 1996, Target's decision to open its first South Alabama store triggered a larger redevelopment valued at approximately $40 million. The project added a 116,000-square-foot Target, expanded Sears, enlarged Parisian, and renovated Dillard's and JCPenney. The mall was renamed Colonial Mall Bel Air after Colonial Properties acquired it in 1998, but the Bel Air Mall name returned in 2007. Ownership and tenant changes continued through the 2000s and 2010s. Belk replaced Parisian in 2007 after Belk acquired a group of Parisian stores. Forever 21 opened a large XXI Forever location in 2008, and JCPenney completed a substantial store renovation in 2010. A new redevelopment program announced in 2015 created an exterior streetscape and main entrance plaza with landscaping, seating, water features, specialty retail, and restaurants. The property adopted the name The Shoppes at Bel Air in July 2015. Sears closed later that year, making room for a new flagship Belk store that opened in 2016. H&M also opened in 2016, while P. F. Chang's, Grimaldi's Pizzeria, and Texas de Brazil subsequently added prominent restaurant uses along the entrance streetscape. The mall changed hands again in the early 2020s. Kohan Retail Investment Group acquired the property in late 2020, after which P. F. Chang's and Texas de Brazil closed. Surge Entertainment Center opened in June 2023 in the former Parisian and Belk anchor space, with associated changes to the corridor connecting Target and JCPenney. In the same year, tax arrears reportedly led to Kohan losing the property, after which 4th Dimension Properties assumed management and later acquired the mall. JCPenney announced its closure in June 2024 and shut its store in September. The owner announced additional prospective tenants and redevelopment activity in August 2024, reporting improved occupancy and traffic. Target a…

Planning for the mall lasted more than ten years before construction culminated in an August 1967 opening. Designed by Herbert H. Johnson Associates of Washington, D.C., the enclosed center was developed by Kenneth R. Giddens, William Lyon, and Jay Altmayer as the retail centerpiece of the Bel Air automobile-oriented edge-city development. The original building featured a single-level, approximately 900-foot retail corridor with fifty inline tenants and Sears and Hammel's as department-store anchors. Decorative elements reportedly included nine Grecian statues associated with Versailles and cast during the nineteenth century. The center expanded during the 1970s. Hammel's was converted to D. H. Holmes in 1973, and the department store added a second floor to create a roughly 200,000-square-foot regional operation. In 1974, a two-level JCPenney of approximately 191,000 square feet became an anchor for a new north-south enclosed corridor. Following that expansion, Bel Air Mall became Alabama's largest regional mall, a position it held until the opening of Riverchase Galleria in 1986. A further expansion completed in February 1984 added Parisian as a roughly 90,000-square-foot anchor. The approximately 122,000-square-foot project also introduced a food court with sunken seating, landscaping, water features, casual dining, and additional inline stores. Dillard's entered the South Alabama market in 1989 through its acquisition of D. H. Holmes, changing the department-store composition of the property. In the early 1990s, the mall underwent a renovation reported to cost $14 million. The work replaced or updated signage, softened the exterior color scheme, improved landscaping across the large surface parking areas, and replaced prominent two-tier entrance structures with simpler canopies. A more extensive redevelopment followed in 1996 after Target announced plans for its first South Alabama store. The roughly $40 million project added a 116,000-square-foot Target, enlarged Sears by about 90,000 square feet, expanded Parisian to approximately 122,000 square feet, and renovated Dillard's and JCPenney. Parts of the food court and several inline retail areas were removed to accommodate the work. Colonial Properties acquired the mall in 1998, and the property was renamed Colonial Mall Bel Air in 2000. The Bel Air Mall name was restored in 2007. That year, Belk replaced Parisian after acquiring a group of Parisian stores. Forever 21 opened a 26,000-square-foot XXI Forever store in the former Woolworth's space in November 2008. JCPenney completed a substantial renovation in 2010 that introduced brighter finishes, updated fixtures, a racetrack-style sales floor, and a Sephora shop-in-shop. In 2015, the property announced a major exterior-focused renovation. The program added a landscaped boulevard from Airport Boulevard, a redesigned and more visible main entrance, new landscaping, seating, water features, and an exterior restaurant and specialty-retail streetscape. Space formerly occupied by Books-A-Million was incorporated into the new configuration, while a vacant cinema outparcel near Dillard's was removed for parking. The property was renamed The Shoppes at Bel Air in July 2015. Sears closed in September of that year, allowing Belk to construct a new approximately 237,000-square-foot flagship store, which opened in late September 2016. H&M also opened a roughly 19,000-square-foot store in July 2016. Restaurant development continued with P. F. Chang's and Grimaldi's Pizzeria opening in February 2017. Texas de Brazil opened near the main entrance in August 2018. Both P. F. Chang's and Texas de Brazil later closed after the mall was acquired by Kohan Retail Investment Group in late 2020. In February 2023, Surge Entertainment Center by Drew Brees was announced for the former Parisian and Belk anchor location. The venue opened on June 15, 2023, and the connecting corridor between Target and JCPenney was altered as part of the project, leaving Target physically separated from much of the enclosed mall. During 2023, tax arrears associated with Kohan were reported to be close to $700,000. 4th Dimension Properties took over management and later acquired the property, becoming its owner and manager. JCPenney announced its closure on June 7, 2024, and completed the shutdown on September 22. In August 2024, 4th Dimension announced six prospective new businesses for vacant restaurant and retail spaces and reported a recovery in occupancy and visitor traffic. Target announced another renovation of its Bel Air store in March 2026, with work expected to require approximately four to five months.

1. 2026Target renovation announced

   Target announced plans to renovate its store, with an estimated four-to-five-month construction period.

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2. 2024JCPenney closed

   JCPenney ended operations at the property on September 22, leaving a vacant anchor location.

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3. 2023Surge Entertainment Center opened

   The entertainment venue opened in the former Parisian and Belk space, accompanied by corridor redevelopment.

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4. 20234th Dimension Properties took over ownership

   After reported tax arrears associated with Kohan, 4th Dimension Properties assumed management and later acquired the mall.

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5. 2020Kohan Retail Investment Group acquired the property

   Kohan Retail Investment Group became the mall's owner amid subsequent restaurant closures.

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6. 2018Texas de Brazil opened

   The Brazilian steakhouse opened near the principal mall entrance.

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7. 2017P. F. Chang's and Grimaldi's opened

   Two restaurant tenants opened along the redesigned main entrance streetscape.

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8. 2016New Belk and H&M stores opened

   A new flagship Belk replaced the former Sears site, and H&M opened as a junior anchor.

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9. 2015The Shoppes at Bel Air rebranding

   A major streetscape and entrance redevelopment accompanied the adoption of the current name.

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10. 2008XXI Forever opened

    Forever 21 opened a large XXI Forever store in the former Woolworth's location.

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11. 2007Bel Air Mall name restored

    The property reverted from Colonial Mall Bel Air to the Bel Air Mall name, while Belk replaced Parisian.

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12. 1998Colonial Properties acquired the mall

    Colonial Properties purchased the property; it was subsequently branded Colonial Mall Bel Air.

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13. 1996Target-led redevelopment completed

    Target's arrival catalyzed a major redevelopment that expanded or renovated several anchor stores and mall areas.

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14. 1989Dillard's entered the property

    Dillard's acquired D. H. Holmes and became the operator of the former anchor store.

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15. 1984Parisian expansion completed

    Parisian became an anchor of a major east-side expansion that added a food court and new specialty retail.

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16. 1974JCPenney expansion opened

    A two-level JCPenney opened as the anchor of a new north-south enclosed mall corridor.

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17. 1973Hammel's became D. H. Holmes

    The local department-store anchor was converted to D. H. Holmes, which subsequently expanded the building vertically.

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18. 1967Mall opened

    Bel Air Mall opened in August with Sears and Hammel's as its principal department-store anchors.

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A long-established regional shopping and entertainment destination serving Mobile and surrounding communities, combining department stores, general merchandise, specialty retail, restaurants, and family-oriented entertainment.

• BelkDepartment store2007

  Belk is one of the mall's principal department-store anchors. The current store occupies the site developed after Sears closed and opened as a substantially larger flagship-format location in 2016. Its typical assortment includes apparel, footwear, accessories, cosmetics, and home merchandise.

• Dillard'sDepartment store1989

  Dillard's operates one of the mall's long-standing department-store anchors. It entered the property through the 1989 acquisition of D. H. Holmes and later participated in the 1990s renovation and expansion program. The store serves as a broad apparel, accessories, beauty, and home-goods destination.

• TargetGeneral merchandise1996

  Target opened its first South Alabama location at the mall as part of the 1996 redevelopment. The approximately 116,000-square-foot store broadened the property beyond traditional department-store and specialty retail and remains one of its principal anchors. A further renovation was announced in 2026.

• Surge Entertainment Center by Drew BreesEntertainment venue2023

  Surge Entertainment Center is an entertainment anchor occupying the former Parisian and Belk space. The venue opened in June 2023 and represents a shift toward experiential uses within the mall, with entertainment and family recreation supplementing conventional retail and dining.

• H&MFast fashion2016

  H&M opened a roughly 19,000-square-foot store at the property in July 2016. It was positioned as a junior anchor and added an international fast-fashion tenant to the mall's mix of department stores, specialty retailers, and restaurants.

• JCPenneyDepartment store1974

  JCPenney was a major anchor from 1974 until its closure in September 2024. Its two-level store helped establish the mall's expanded north-south corridor, and the location received a major renovation in 2010 before eventually becoming vacant.

• 2026Target store renovationOther

  Target announced plans to refresh its established location at the property.

  What changed. The store is expected to undergo a renovation lasting approximately four to five months.

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• 2024JCPenney closureOther

  JCPenney announced that its long-running anchor store would leave the property.

  What changed. The store closed on September 22, 2024.

  Aftermath. The closure left a vacant anchor space and increased the importance of re-tenanting and experiential redevelopment.

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• 2023Conversion of a former department-store anchor to entertainmentStrategy

  The property had a large former Parisian and Belk anchor space and sought a new use capable of attracting visitors through experiences rather than conventional retail.

  What changed. Surge Entertainment Center by Drew Brees was developed in the former anchor space, with renovations to the corridor toward Target and JCPenney.

  Aftermath. The venue opened in June 2023 and physically separated Target from much of the remaining enclosed mall circulation.

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• 2015Exterior streetscape redevelopment and rebrandingStrategy

  The mall sought to improve visibility, arrival experience, dining, and specialty-retail appeal in a competitive regional shopping environment.

  What changed. A landscaped boulevard, redesigned main entrance, restaurant plaza, seating, water features, and additional retail areas were developed, and the property was renamed The Shoppes at Bel Air.

  Aftermath. The project shifted part of the property toward an open-air lifestyle and dining presentation while retaining the enclosed mall.

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• 1996Target-led expansion and modernizationStrategy

  Target's announcement of its first South Alabama store created an opportunity to reposition the mall and refresh several aging anchor and common areas.

  What changed. The property undertook an approximately $40 million redevelopment that added Target, expanded Sears and Parisian, and renovated Dillard's and JCPenney.

  Aftermath. The project reinforced the mall's regional role and diversified its tenant mix beyond traditional department stores.

  Reported redevelopment cost. (1996)

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• 2026Target announced a store renovation

  Target announced plans to renovate its Bel Air location, with construction expected to last approximately four to five months.

  Product generation
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• 2024JCPenney announced and completed its closure

  JCPenney announced on June 7, 2024, that its store would close. The location ceased operations on September 22, 2024, leaving a vacant former anchor space.

  Other
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• 2024New businesses were announced for vacant spaces

  4th Dimension announced six prospective businesses for restaurant-row locations, former restaurant sites, interior mall spaces, and the former Forever 21 location.

  Product launch
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• 2023Surge Entertainment Center opened

  Surge Entertainment Center by Drew Brees opened on June 15, 2023, in the former Parisian and Belk anchor space. The associated redevelopment separated Target from much of the rest of the enclosed mall.

  Product launch
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• 2023Property ownership changed after tax delinquency

  Reports cited nearly $700,000 in unpaid property taxes associated with Kohan Retail Investment Group. 4th Dimension Properties subsequently assumed management and later acquired the property.

  RegulationM&A
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• 2020Kohan Retail Investment Group acquired the mall

  Kohan Retail Investment Group acquired the property. P. F. Chang's and Texas de Brazil later closed during or after the ownership transition.

  M&AOther
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• 2018Texas de Brazil opened at The Shoppes at Bel Air

  The Brazilian steakhouse opened in August 2018 near the property's principal entrance.

  Product launch
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• 2017Restaurant streetscape expanded

  P. F. Chang's opened at the main entrance in February 2017, followed shortly afterward by Grimaldi's Pizzeria.

  Product launch
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• 2016Sears closed and a new Belk flagship store opened

  Sears closed its mall location in September 2015, enabling construction of a substantially larger Belk store. The new approximately 237,000-square-foot store held its soft opening in late September 2016.

  Leadership changeProduct generation
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• 2016H&M opened at the mall

  H&M announced a roughly 19,000-square-foot store at the property and opened it in July 2016 as a junior anchor.

  Product launch
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• 2015The property adopted the name The Shoppes at Bel Air

  A redevelopment program involving a redesigned main entrance, landscaped streetscape, restaurant sites, and additional retail space accompanied the property's rebranding as The Shoppes at Bel Air.

  Other
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1. The Shoppes at Bel Air