Century Plaza
Century Plaza was an enclosed shopping mall in Birmingham, Alabama, that operated from 1975 until its closure in 2009 and was demolished in 2020.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Century Plaza was an enclosed shopping mall on Birmingham, Alabama's eastern side, located on U.S. Route 78, also known as Crestwood Boulevard, near Interstate 20 and across from Eastwood Mall. Opened in 1975, it became one of the area's established suburban retail destinations, combining several department-store anchors with more than one hundred smaller tenants. Sears opened its store in 1974 in connection with the development, and the mall's initial anchor lineup also included Rich's, Loveman's of Alabama, and JCPenney. The mall's department-store profile changed repeatedly over its operating life. Loveman's was replaced by Pizitz, which later became McRae's in 1987. Rich's was temporarily dual-branded as Rich's-Macy's in 2003 as Federated Department Stores implemented Project Star, its national Macy's rebranding program. The Century Plaza location closed after approximately one year under the dual brand and was not converted into a conventional Macy's store. A Piccadilly Cafeteria at the mall also closed in 2003. Century Plaza faced increasing competitive and structural pressure in the 2000s. Announcements concerning the planned demolition of the nearby Eastwood Mall prompted preliminary proposals by Books-A-Million and Parisian to relocate to Century Plaza, with Parisian expected to occupy the former McRae's space. The space instead became a Belk store in 2006 after Belk acquired McRae's, but Belk closed later that year. JCPenney also departed in 2006, while many smaller inline tenants gradually left. These closures reduced the mall's anchor strength and weakened its tenant base. Sears became the final remaining anchor. In February 2009, it was announced that the store would close by the end of May. Century Plaza ceased normal operations at the end of business on May 31, 2009. Fewer than forty stores remained near the end, including Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Finish Line, and RadioShack. General Growth Properties, the mall's manager at the time, announced that Sears would remain open temporarily to complete its liquidation, with the store scheduled to operate through June 14. The property remained unused for several years after the mall's closure. In December 2017, the Howard Hughes Corporation sold the former mall for $3 million to Lumpkin Development, a Pelham, Alabama-based real-estate company. Lumpkin stated that the former Sears building could be converted into a self-storage facility and that the remainder of the site was available for lease. In 2020, the property was considered for redevelopment as an Amazon last-mile logistics facility. Demolition began by November 12, 2020, clearing the former mall site for a roughly 200,000-square-foot Amazon logistics operation. Century Plaza therefore shifted from a regional retail property into a redeveloped logistics site rather than continuing as a shopping center.
History
Century Plaza developed during the expansion of enclosed suburban shopping centers in the United States. It was built on the eastern side of Birmingham, Alabama, along U.S. Route 78 near Interstate 20 and opposite the existing Eastwood Mall. Sears opened at the site in 1974, ahead of the mall's formal 1975 opening. When Century Plaza began operating, it had four major anchors: Sears, Rich's, Loveman's of Alabama, and JCPenney. The center also contained more than one hundred smaller tenants, creating a full-service retail destination for shoppers in eastern Birmingham. The mall's anchor history reflected the consolidation and reorganization of Alabama and national department-store chains. Loveman's was eventually replaced by Pizitz, and the Pizitz location later became a McRae's store in 1987. Rich's underwent a short-lived transitional identity in 2003, when it was dual-branded Rich's-Macy's as Federated Department Stores advanced Project Star, a program intended to move its department-store portfolio toward the Macy's name. The Century Plaza store closed after roughly a year under the dual branding and never reopened as a Macy's location. The mall also lost its Piccadilly Cafeteria in 2003. A major challenge emerged in the mid-2000s as plans were announced to demolish Eastwood Mall across the street. Books-A-Million and Parisian publicly discussed preliminary relocation plans involving Century Plaza, with Parisian expected to take over the McRae's space. Those plans did not restore the mall's anchor base. After Belk acquired McRae's, the former McRae's location was converted to Belk in 2006, but Belk closed later that year. JCPenney also shut its store in 2006, and the loss of anchors was accompanied by the departure of numerous smaller tenants. By the end of the decade, Century Plaza had become substantially less occupied. Sears was the final anchor, but its closure was announced in February 2009. The mall closed at the end of business on May 31, 2009. Fewer than forty stores, including Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Finish Line, and RadioShack, were still operating near the end. General Growth Properties managed the property at the time of closure and indicated that Sears would stay open temporarily, through June 14, to finish its liquidation. The vacant property remained associated with redevelopment efforts after the retail center ceased operation. In December 2017, the Howard Hughes Corporation sold the former mall to Lumpkin Development for $3 million. Lumpkin stated that the Sears building might be converted into a self-storage facility, while the rest of the property could be offered for lease. In May 2020, the site was reported as a possible location for an Amazon last-mile delivery center. Demolition was underway by November 12, 2020. The mall was ultimately replaced by a logistics facility reported as approximately 200,000 square feet, ending Century Plaza's identity as an enclosed shopping center.
- 2020
Demolition begins for logistics redevelopment
[1]Demolition began as the site moved toward redevelopment as an Amazon last-mile delivery facility.
- 2017
Property changes ownership
[1]Lumpkin Development acquired the former mall property from the Howard Hughes Corporation for $3 million.
- 2009
Mall closes
[1]Century Plaza closed on May 31 after the loss of most anchors and many inline tenants.
- 2006
Major anchor departures
[1]JCPenney closed, and the former McRae's space became Belk before Belk also departed later in the year.
- 2003
Rich's adopts temporary Rich's-Macy's branding
[1]The Rich's anchor was dual-branded Rich's-Macy's during Federated Department Stores' Project Star rebranding process.
- 1987
Pizitz becomes McRae's
[1]The department-store space that had followed Loveman's and Pizitz became a McRae's location.
- 1975
Century Plaza opens
[1]The Birmingham enclosed mall opened with four anchor stores and more than one hundred tenants.
- 1974
Sears opens before the mall
[1]The Sears anchor at the Century Plaza development opened one year before the enclosed mall's formal opening.
Products and positioning
A suburban enclosed shopping mall serving Birmingham's eastern communities through department-store anchors and a broad specialty-retail tenant base. Its positioning weakened as nearby retail competition, anchor departures, and broader changes in shopping patterns reduced its occupancy.
Retail property · 1975
Enclosed shopping mall
Century Plaza's principal offering was an enclosed retail environment containing department-store anchors, specialty shops, food service, and consumer-oriented services. At opening, the center had more than one hundred tenants and served as a broad shopping destination for Birmingham's eastern side. Its tenant mix contracted substantially before closure as anchor stores and inline retailers departed.
Department stores · 1974
Department-store anchors
The mall's anchor offering changed over time and included Sears, Rich's, Loveman's of Alabama, JCPenney, Pizitz, McRae's, Belk, and a short-lived Rich's-Macy's format. These stores supplied major categories such as apparel, home goods, and general merchandise and were central to the mall's ability to attract shoppers.
Brand decisions
2020
Redevelop the site for last-mile logisticsStrategyBackground
The former mall site was vacant and being evaluated for a new commercial use.
Action taken
The property was considered for an Amazon last-mile delivery center, and demolition began in 2020.
Aftermath
The former mall was replaced by an approximately 200,000-square-foot Amazon logistics facility.
2017
Sell the former mall property to Lumpkin DevelopmentM&ABackground
The closed mall had remained available for redevelopment after its 2009 shutdown.
Action taken
The Howard Hughes Corporation sold the former Century Plaza property to Lumpkin Development.
Aftermath
Lumpkin discussed converting the former Sears building to self-storage and leasing or redeveloping the remainder of the site.
Sale price. $3 million (December 2017)
2009
Close the shopping mall after anchor erosionStrategyBackground
The center had lost JCPenney, Belk, and the former Rich's operation, while many smaller tenants had also closed. Sears remained the last anchor but was scheduled to leave.
Action taken
Century Plaza ended regular operations on May 31, 2009, with Sears remaining temporarily to complete liquidation.
Aftermath
The property became a redevelopment site rather than continuing as an enclosed shopping mall.
Recent events
- 2020
Century Plaza site considered for Amazon logistics facility[1]
Other
The former mall site was considered for an Amazon last-mile delivery center, and demolition began later that year.
- 2017
Former mall sold to Lumpkin Development[1]
M&A
The Howard Hughes Corporation sold the former Century Plaza property to Lumpkin Development for $3 million. Lumpkin discussed possible self-storage use for the former Sears building.
- 2009
Sears closure announced[1]
Other
Sears, the mall's last remaining anchor, was scheduled to close by May 31, leaving Century Plaza without an operating department store.
- 2009
Century Plaza closes[1]
Other
The mall ended regular operations on May 31, 2009. Fewer than forty stores remained near the closure, while Sears continued temporarily for liquidation.
- 2006
JCPenney and Belk depart Century Plaza[1]
Other
JCPenney closed its Century Plaza location, while the former McRae's space became a Belk store that also closed later in the year.
- 2004
Rich's-Macy's store closes after brief dual-brand period[1]
Product generation · Other
The Century Plaza Rich's location, temporarily branded Rich's-Macy's during Federated's Project Star rollout, closed after about one year and was not converted into a Macy's store.
- 1975
Century Plaza opens in Birmingham[1]
Other
The enclosed shopping mall began operating on Birmingham's eastern side with four principal department-store anchors and more than one hundred tenants.
Sources1 sources
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