Blue Ridge Mall
An enclosed shopping mall in Hendersonville, North Carolina, opened in 1983.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Blue Ridge Mall is a shopping center in Hendersonville, North Carolina. The property opened in July 1983 after a development process that began with an announcement of the groundbreaking in October 1981. It was planned as an approximately 350,000-square-foot retail center serving Hendersonville and the surrounding western North Carolina market. At opening, its principal department-store anchors were Kmart, J. C. Penney, and Belk-Simpson. The mall began operations with 21 stores, with additional openings expected shortly afterward, leaving the center at roughly 40 percent occupancy during its initial phase. The center's earliest operating history included several different types of retail and service tenants. Kmart was the first store to open, beginning operations on May 26, 1983, ahead of the formal mall opening. The Peanut Shack followed, and Eckerd Drug opened on July 25, 1983. Blue Ridge Mall formally opened two days later, on July 27, with Kmart, J. C. Penney, and Belk-Simpson serving as the principal anchors. The property experienced financial difficulty in the early 1990s. Blue Ridge Mall Limited Partnership was foreclosed on in September 1991 after missing payments for two consecutive months. The property's sale was delayed several times, and the mall temporarily came under the ownership of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. In July 1997, it was sold to the highest bidder. The ownership history changed again in 2007, when the mall was sold by Hull Storey Retail Group to Hendon Properties, which expressed an intention to redevelop the property. Tenant changes in the 2010s reshaped the mall's anchor lineup. TJ Maxx opened on May 20, 2012, adding a major off-price apparel and home-goods retailer. Jo-Ann Fabrics opened on May 17, 2013. Kmart closed in 2013, and its former building was demolished in 2014 to make way for Dunham's Sports. J. C. Penney later closed on October 1, 2017. The mall is identified with Belk and Dunham's Sports as its principal anchors, with TJ Maxx and Jo-Ann Fabrics serving as junior anchors. Hull Property Group is the current owner identified in available reference material. The mall's role is primarily regional and community-oriented rather than national as a standalone consumer brand: it provides a concentrated location for department-store, sporting-goods, off-price, craft, apparel, and general retail shopping in the Hendersonville area.
History
Blue Ridge Mall was developed in Hendersonville, North Carolina, as a large enclosed retail center intended to serve the city and nearby communities. Plans for the project were publicly announced in October 1981, with groundbreaking scheduled for November 4 of that year. The proposed center was designed to contain approximately 350,000 square feet and was initially planned around three major anchors: Belk, J. C. Penney, and Kmart. The development was scheduled for completion in July 1983. Kmart became the first operating tenant, opening on May 26, 1983, before the rest of the shopping center was completed. The Peanut Shack subsequently opened, and Eckerd Drug began operating on July 25. The mall's formal opening followed on July 27, 1983. At that point, Kmart, J. C. Penney, and Belk-Simpson were the anchor stores, while the center had 21 stores open. Two additional stores were expected soon, and the mall's opening occupancy was reported at approximately 40 percent when measured against the planned space. The mall encountered financial problems less than a decade after opening. In September 1991, Blue Ridge Mall Limited Partnership was foreclosed on after missing two consecutive monthly payments. The property's sale did not occur immediately because it was delayed several times. During this interim period, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation held the property temporarily. The mall was eventually sold to the highest bidder in July 1997. Ownership changed again in 2007. Hull Storey Retail Group sold the center to Hendon Properties, which stated that it planned to redevelop the property. Later tenant changes reflected the broader evolution of the mall. TJ Maxx opened on May 20, 2012, giving the center an off-price department-store-style tenant. Jo-Ann Fabrics opened on May 17, 2013, adding a large arts-and-crafts retailer. Kmart closed in 2013, and the former Kmart structure was demolished in 2014. Dunham's Sports was developed in its place, converting the former discount-department-store site into a sporting-goods anchor. J. C. Penney remained part of the mall's traditional anchor history until closing on October 1, 2017. The center's identified principal anchors are now Belk and Dunham's Sports, with TJ Maxx and Jo-Ann Fabrics functioning as junior anchors. Hull Property Group is identified as the owner in the available reference material. Blue Ridge Mall therefore represents a locally important retail property whose identity has changed through ownership transitions, foreclosure and resale, anchor departures, replacement construction, and the introduction of newer specialty and off-price tenants.
- 2017
J. C. Penney closes
[1]J. C. Penney closed its Blue Ridge Mall store on October 1.
- 2014
Dunham's Sports replaces former Kmart site
[1]The former Kmart building was demolished for a Dunham's Sports location.
- 2013
Jo-Ann Fabrics opens and Kmart closes
[1]Jo-Ann Fabrics opened on May 17, while Kmart closed later in the year.
- 2012
TJ Maxx opens
[1]TJ Maxx opened at the mall on May 20.
- 2007
Ownership changes to Hendon Properties
[1]Hendon Properties acquired the mall from Hull Storey Retail Group and expressed redevelopment intentions.
- 1997
Sale following temporary FDIC ownership
[1]After several sale delays and a period of temporary FDIC ownership, the mall was sold to the highest bidder.
- 1991
Foreclosure
[1]The Blue Ridge Mall Limited Partnership was foreclosed on after missing two consecutive payments.
- 1983
Kmart becomes the first operating store
[1]Kmart opened on May 26, ahead of the mall's formal launch.
- 1983
Formal mall opening
[1]Blue Ridge Mall opened on July 27 with Kmart, J. C. Penney, and Belk-Simpson as anchors.
- 1981
Development and groundbreaking announced
[1]Plans for Blue Ridge Mall were announced in October, with groundbreaking scheduled for November 4 and completion targeted for July 1983.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping mall serving Hendersonville and nearby communities through a mix of department-store, off-price, sporting-goods, craft, apparel, and general-merchandise tenants.
Department store
Belk
Belk is one of Blue Ridge Mall's principal current anchors. Its department-store format provides a broad assortment of apparel, accessories, beauty products, home merchandise, and related general retail categories. The available reference identifies Belk as an anchor but does not provide a detailed store-level product mix for this location.
Sporting-goods retailer · 2014
Dunham's Sports
Dunham's Sports occupies the former Kmart site after the original building was demolished in 2014. Its presence shifted a major portion of the mall's anchor capacity toward sporting goods and outdoor-oriented retail. Specific departments or services at the Hendersonville location are not detailed in the available source.
Off-price retailer · 2012
TJ Maxx
TJ Maxx opened at Blue Ridge Mall in May 2012. The off-price retailer adds apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and other branded merchandise to the center's tenant mix and is identified as a junior anchor.
Arts-and-crafts retailer · 2013
Jo-Ann Fabrics
Jo-Ann Fabrics opened at the mall in May 2013. The store contributes arts-and-crafts materials, fabric, sewing supplies, and related creative merchandise to the center's retail offering and is identified as a junior anchor.
Discount department store · 1983
Kmart
Kmart was the first store to open at Blue Ridge Mall, beginning operations on May 26, 1983, and serving as one of the original opening anchors. It closed in 2013, and the building was demolished in 2014.
Department store · 1983
J. C. Penney
J. C. Penney was one of the mall's original anchors when the center opened in 1983. The store remained part of the property's traditional department-store lineup until closing on October 1, 2017.
Brand decisions
2014
Replacement of Kmart building with Dunham's SportsStrategyBackground
Kmart had closed in 2013, leaving its former anchor building available for a new use.
Action taken
The former Kmart building was demolished and replaced by a Dunham's Sports location.
Aftermath
The change converted the former discount-department-store anchor site into a sporting-goods retail destination.
2007
Sale to Hendon PropertiesM&ABackground
The mall changed ownership when Hull Storey Retail Group sold the property to Hendon Properties.
Action taken
Hendon Properties acquired the shopping center and indicated that it intended to redevelop the property.
Aftermath
The available source does not specify the full redevelopment program or its eventual completion.
Sources2 sources
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