Centre of Tallahassee

The Centre of Tallahassee is a mixed-use commercial complex at the intersection of North Monroe Street and John Knox Road in Tallahassee, Florida. It began in 1971 as Tallahassee Mall, a fully enclosed regional shopping mall anchored by Woolco, Gayfers, and Montgomery Ward. Over time, the property experienced the same structural pressures affecting many traditional enclosed malls: anchor-chain failures and acquisitions, declining occupancy, changing consumer habits, and competition from other retail locations in the Tallahassee area. Its history includes a succession of major tenants such as Zayre, Ames, Parisian, Service Merchandise, Dillard's, Belk, and Burlington Coat Factory, as well as entertainment, books, music, apparel, and specialty retail uses. The property expanded in the early 1990s when a new wing was added behind Montgomery Ward and terminated at a Parisian department store. A twenty-screen AMC Theatres complex opened in 1996, adding a substantial entertainment component. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, anchor closures and corporate changes led to substantial reconfiguration. Gayfers became part of Dillard's, Service Merchandise closed, Montgomery Ward departed, and former department-store space was divided among retailers including Ross Dress for Less, Shoe Carnival, Burlington Coat Factory, and other large-format tenants. Barnes & Noble, Guitar Center, and other big-box businesses were also added during the property's renovation period. Feldman Mall Properties acquired the mall in 2005. Following further deterioration in occupancy and a foreclosure in January 2011, a Miami-based real-estate company acquired the ground lease later that month. The property was not immediately closed, despite its reputation as a declining or “dead” mall. A major repositioning began in September 2014, when the name was changed to Centre of Tallahassee. The redevelopment concept sought to move beyond the conventional enclosed-mall model by creating a more open, town-square-inspired environment. Former interior corridors were redesigned with pedestrian-oriented paths and cobbled surfaces intended to evoke a European village setting. Proposed and introduced uses included restaurants, food and beverage businesses, an organic grocery and deli concept, a school campus, public events, and an outdoor amphitheater. The Centre hosted concerts and other entertainment programming during the 2016–2018 period, with appearances attributed to performers including Steve Miller Band, Dashboard Confessional, Coolio, Willie Nelson, Blink-182, and Alice Cooper. Although the entertainment strategy attracted audiences, the redevelopment was criticized locally as an ambitious project whose commercial results did not match its scale. Plans for an upscale hotel-style apartment complex were not completed in the documented material. The death of developer Alex Baker in 2017 was described as adversely affecting the revival effort, and by 2018 the redevelopment direction was changing. The property increasingly shifted toward office and institutional use. Businesses occupying space in earlier versions of the mall were asked to relocate to make room for prospective government tenants. The Florida Department of Children and Families leased space during 2018–2019, while the Florida Department of State and Florida Department of Health were also associated with office plans or occupancy. By 2019, substantial portions of the former mall had been internally partitioned for government and other non-retail uses, although some retail proposals remained, including possible locations for Tom Thumb and Culver's. The property was slated for a foreclosure auction in 2023, and Dreamland BBQ closed its Centre location in June 2024. The Centre therefore represents a long-running transition from regional enclosed mall to a hybrid complex combining residual retail, entertainment, education, and office functions.

The property now called the Centre of Tallahassee opened in 1971 as Tallahassee Mall. It was established as a fully enclosed shopping mall serving the Tallahassee market and initially featured Woolco, Gayfers, and Montgomery Ward as its three principal anchors. McCrory Stores and Walgreens were among the other early tenants. The center was one of the area's two surviving enclosed malls after Northwood Mall officially closed in 1986 and was subsequently repurposed as an office-oriented strip-mall complex. The first major anchor change occurred in 1983, when Woolco closed and its space was taken by Zayre. Following Zayre's acquisition by Ames, the store was operated as Ames seven years later. In 1992, the mall added a new wing behind Montgomery Ward. The expansion ended at a new Parisian anchor and required the existing Montgomery Ward store to be divided by a connecting mall concourse. Additional development proposals included a Kmart in the former Ames location and a Mervyn's store, although the redevelopment did not produce the expected long-term occupancy improvement. After a management change involving Westinghouse and the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation, a local group assumed control in 1995. Occupancy had fallen to approximately 45 percent by June 1995, despite the arrival of Service Merchandise and the first Goody's Family Clothing store in the Tallahassee area. AMC Theatres opened a twenty-screen cinema in the Parisian wing in 1996. Gayfers was acquired by Dillard's in 1998. Service Merchandise closed in 1999, followed by Montgomery Ward in 2000. Jones Lang LaSalle subsequently acquired the mall and initiated renovation work. Former anchor space was divided among Ross Dress for Less, Shoe Carnival, Burlington Coat Factory, and other users. Barnes & Noble, Guitar Center, Oshman's, and additional big-box tenants were introduced as part of the effort to stabilize the property. Feldman Mall Properties acquired the mall in 2005. In 2007, Belk acquired the Parisian chain and converted the local Parisian store to a Belk location. Dillard's announced the closure of its store in early 2008. The mall entered foreclosure in January 2011. Later that month, a Miami-based real-estate company purchased the ground lease for $100. Despite the financial problems and its growing reputation as a dead mall, the property was not immediately closed. A new redevelopment effort began in September 2014 and included a name change to Centre of Tallahassee. The scheme sought to transform the traditional enclosed mall into a more open mixed-use destination. Some interior corridors were redesigned with cobbled pedestrian routes and a town-square aesthetic inspired by European village environments. Proposed and operating uses included an organic grocery, wine bar and deli concept, restaurants, an educational campus operated by the School of Arts and Sciences, an outdoor amphitheater, and other community-oriented activities. The project also contemplated an upscale hotel-style apartment complex, although the supplied sources do not establish that this element was completed. The Centre's event strategy included outdoor concerts from 2016 through 2018, with performances attributed to Steve Miller Band, Dashboard Confessional, Coolio, Willie Nelson, Blink-182, and Alice Cooper. The property retained or attracted commercial tenants such as Ross Dress For Less, Barnes & Noble, Guitar Center, Burlington Coat Factory, Belk, Tara's, Stone Age, and GameScape. Nevertheless, local criticism characterized the redevelopment as a costly or underperforming white-elephant project. Alex Baker, identified in the source material as one of the main redevelopment developers, died in 2017, and the project subsequently moved away from its original commercial-revival vision. By 2018 and 2019, the complex was increasingly being repositioned for non-retail tenants. The Florida Department of Children and Families leased space, and the Florida Department of State and Florida Department of Health were associated with bids or plans for offices. Existing commercial tenants were asked in some cases to relocate to accommodate possible government use. Large sections of the former mall were internally partitioned for offices and institutional functions, although retail concepts including Tom Thumb and Culver's were still contemplated. The property was slated for a foreclosure auction in 2023. In June 2024, Dreamland BBQ closed its location. The available record therefore describes the Centre as an evolving and financially challenged mixed-use property rather than a conventional operating regional mall.

1. 2024Dreamland BBQ closes

   Dreamland BBQ closes its location at the Centre in June.

   Source
2. 2023Foreclosure auction is planned

   The property is reported as slated for sale through a foreclosure auction.

   Source
3. 2018Office and institutional conversion accelerates

   Government agencies and other institutional users become central to the property's changing occupancy plan.

   Source
4. 2017Developer Alex Baker dies

   The death of a principal redevelopment developer is described as negatively affecting the revival project.

   Source
5. 2014Centre of Tallahassee redevelopment begins

   Renovation starts and the property is renamed as part of a mixed-use repositioning.

   Source
6. 2011Foreclosure and ground-lease transfer

   The mall enters foreclosure and its ground lease is later acquired by a Miami-based real-estate company.

   Source
7. 2005Feldman Mall Properties acquires the mall

   Ownership changes hands as the property continues its effort to attract new large-format tenants.

   Source
8. 2000Montgomery Ward closes

   The Montgomery Ward anchor departs and its space is later subdivided for other uses.

   Source
9. 1996AMC opens a twenty-screen theater

   A large AMC cinema is added to the Parisian wing.

   Source
10. 1995Occupancy falls sharply

    Reported occupancy declines to about 45 percent despite new tenants and management changes.

    Source
11. 1992New wing and Parisian anchor open

    An expanded wing is built behind Montgomery Ward and ends at a Parisian department store.

    Source
12. 1990Zayre location becomes Ames

    Following Zayre's acquisition, the store operates under the Ames name.

    Source
13. 1983Woolco is replaced by Zayre

    Woolco closes and its anchor location is taken over by Zayre.

    Source
14. 1971Tallahassee Mall opens

    The enclosed mall opens with Woolco, Gayfers, and Montgomery Ward as anchor stores.

    Source

A locally oriented mixed-use redevelopment of a former enclosed shopping mall, combining residual retail and entertainment with office, educational, institutional, and community-event uses.

• Retail spaceShopping-center retail1971

  The Centre has historically provided enclosed and large-format retail space for department stores, apparel retailers, specialty stores, books, music equipment, games, hobby products, and other consumer goods. Named occupants across its history have included Ross Dress For Less, Belk, Barnes & Noble, Guitar Center, Burlington Coat Factory, Tara's, Stone Age, and GameScape.

• AMC TheatresCinema and entertainment1996

  A twenty-screen AMC movie theater was added in 1996 in the property's Parisian wing. The cinema became one of the Centre's principal entertainment anchors and was associated with additional food-and-beverage activity, including a bar concept described in the redevelopment material.

• Outdoor amphitheaterEvents and live entertainment

  The redevelopment introduced an outdoor amphitheater intended for concerts and community events. Performances attributed to the venue during 2016–2018 included appearances by Steve Miller Band, Dashboard Confessional, Coolio, Willie Nelson, Blink-182, and Alice Cooper.

• Office and institutional spaceCommercial and government offices2018

  Later redevelopment converted substantial portions of the former mall into partitioned office and institutional areas. The Florida Department of Children and Families leased space, while the Florida Department of State and Florida Department of Health were associated with office bids or plans.

• Educational spaceEducation

  The former Dillard's anchor wing was identified as a location for a branch campus of the School of Arts and Sciences, a Tallahassee charter middle school. This use formed part of the effort to diversify the property beyond conventional retail.

• 2016Outdoor concert programming

  Tallahassee · Surrounding North Florida communities

  The Centre used its amphitheater and event facilities for live music from 2016 through 2018, presenting a range of touring artists and seeking to draw local and regional audiences.

  Outcome. The performances attracted audiences, but the wider redevelopment continued to face criticism and later lost emphasis as office conversion became more important.

  Source
• 2014Centre of Tallahassee redevelopment

  Tallahassee · Leon County

  The property was renamed and redesigned as a mixed-use destination with pedestrian-oriented paths, a village or town-square aesthetic, food and beverage concepts, educational space, entertainment uses, and an outdoor performance venue.

  Outcome. The redevelopment produced new uses and concert programming but did not establish the documented commercial turnaround; the project later shifted toward office and institutional occupancy.

  Source

• 2023Prepare for a foreclosure auctionOther

  The property continued to face financial and occupancy challenges after its attempted transformation into a mixed-use complex.

  What changed. The Centre was reported as slated to be sold through a foreclosure auction.

  Aftermath. The supplied material does not establish the auction's final result or subsequent ownership.

  Source
• 2018Prioritize office and institutional occupancyStrategy

  The commercial redevelopment had not produced a durable occupancy recovery, and the death of developer Alex Baker affected the project.

  What changed. Space was partitioned and made available to government and institutional users, including Florida state agencies, while some existing businesses were asked to relocate.

  Aftermath. By 2019, office and public-sector uses occupied a substantial share of the former mall, although selected retail proposals remained.

  Source
• 2014Reposition the enclosed mall as a mixed-use centreStrategy

  The property had experienced low occupancy, anchor closures, foreclosure, and a reputation as a declining mall.

  What changed. Developers renamed the property Centre of Tallahassee and pursued retail, dining, entertainment, educational, and event-oriented uses in a more open town-square-style environment.

  Aftermath. The concept generated new programming and tenants but was subsequently revised as government, office, and institutional uses became more prominent.

  Source

• 2024Dreamland BBQ closes its Centre location

  Dreamland BBQ closed its location at the Centre of Tallahassee in June.

  Other
  Source
• 2023Centre of Tallahassee slated for foreclosure auction

  The property was reported as slated for sale through a foreclosure auction.

  Bankruptcy
  Source
• 2018Redevelopment shifts toward government and office occupancy

  Plans increasingly emphasized office and institutional tenants, including Florida state agencies, while some existing commercial occupants were asked to relocate.

  Other
  Source
• 2016Entertainment programming expands at the Centre

  The outdoor event venue hosted music performances during the 2016–2018 period, including shows attributed to several nationally known artists.

  Campaign
  Source
• 2014Tallahassee Mall is renamed Centre of Tallahassee

  A redevelopment program began and the property adopted the Centre of Tallahassee name while pursuing a mixed-use, town-square-inspired format.

  Other
  Source
• 2011Mall enters foreclosure and ground lease changes hands

  The mall entered foreclosure in January, and a Miami-based real-estate company subsequently acquired its ground lease.

  Bankruptcy
  Source
• 1996AMC adds a twenty-screen cinema complex

  AMC Theatres opened a twenty-screen movie theater in the mall's Parisian wing, strengthening the center's entertainment offer.

  Product launch
  Source
• 1971Tallahassee Mall opens as a regional shopping center

  The property opened as Tallahassee Mall with Woolco, Gayfers, and Montgomery Ward as its principal anchor stores.

  Other
  Source

1. Centre of Tallahassee
2. Centre of Tallahassee official website