Charles Towne Square

Charles Towne Square was an enclosed shopping mall in North Charleston, South Carolina, that opened in 1976 under developer Melvin Simon & Associates. It was conceived as a large regional shopping destination and opened with a Charlestonian bicentennial theme, reflecting the region’s historical identity and the United States Bicentennial period. The opening festivities were staged as a major public event, with television personality Ed McMahon serving as a leading guest and appearances by World War II general Mark Clark, football player Rosey Grier, and actor Claude Akins. Revolutionary War-era costumes were part of the presentation. The mall’s original anchor lineup included Montgomery Ward, JCPenney, and Edward’s, a local department-store business. Edward’s was subsequently sold to Kuhn’s-Big K and became known as Big K-Edwards. After that operation closed, Wilson’s Catalog Showrooms occupied the space; Wilson’s was later acquired by Service Merchandise. Alongside its department-store anchors, Charles Towne Square contained approximately 75 specialty shops and a General Cinemas theater. Piccadilly Cafeterias was another original tenant and remained associated with the property for decades. The complex was particularly recognizable for a large clock designed in a town-square style. Seasonal programming also included a children’s train ride during the Christmas period, giving the mall a family-oriented identity beyond its retail function. Its location benefited from the commercial activity of North Charleston, but changing economic conditions eventually weakened the center. The closure of the nearby Charleston Naval Base affected the local economy and contributed to the departure of key tenants. JCPenney moved to the larger Northwoods Mall in the early 1990s, and Service Merchandise later left as well. The loss of major anchors accelerated the departure of specialty retailers. Plans announced in 1997 called for most of the mall to be demolished while retaining the still-operating Montgomery Ward store. The proposed replacement was a big-box-oriented development linked to the existing Ward’s building, with additional smaller shops. The enclosed mall was demolished, and an 18-screen Regal Cinemas and a Courtyard by Marriott hotel were added to the broader redevelopment area. The planned retail component did not fully materialize. Montgomery Ward’s bankruptcy in 2000 further undermined the project, and its store closed in 2001. The former Montgomery Ward building was later adapted for office use, while the store’s freestanding automotive center experienced several subsequent uses, including an art gallery, restaurant, and daycare-related use. Piccadilly Cafeterias moved from the mall to a newly built outparcel building after demolition. That restaurant closed suddenly on July 22, 2012, and the building was later sold to Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse. The former mall property was ultimately redeveloped as an office complex. A Verizon Wireless call center operated in the former Ward’s building, while a nearby multistory office tower became the new City Hall for North Charleston. The site’s principal road remains known as Mall Drive, preserving a reference to the former shopping center even though the road had previously been called Goodrich Road. The signature town-square clock was donated to the City of North Charleston when the mall closed. After being stored and refurbished, it was placed in the food court of the nearby Tanger Outlet Center. The former Regal Cinemas site was proposed for demolition in April 2019 to make way for a 300-unit residential development; by February 2020, demolition had been completed and the site was being prepared for redevelopment. Charles Towne Square therefore survives primarily as a local commercial landmark and place name rather than as an operating retail brand.

Charles Towne Square opened in 1976 in North Charleston, South Carolina, as an enclosed regional shopping mall developed by Melvin Simon & Associates. Its launch was designed as a major civic and commercial event tied to a Charlestonian bicentennial theme. Ed McMahon led the opening program, which also featured Mark Clark, Rosey Grier, and Claude Akins, with historical costumes reinforcing the Revolutionary War-era theme. The mall opened with Montgomery Ward, JCPenney, and Edward’s as its principal anchors. Edward’s was later sold to Kuhn’s-Big K and renamed Big K-Edwards. After Big K-Edwards closed, Wilson’s Catalog Showrooms occupied the location, and Wilson’s was subsequently acquired by Service Merchandise. The shopping center also contained about 75 specialty stores and a General Cinemas theater. Piccadilly Cafeterias opened with the mall and became its longest-lasting original tenant. Its identity was supported by distinctive amenities rather than retail alone. A large clock modeled on a traditional town square became a visual landmark, while a children’s train ride operated during the Christmas season. These features helped position the property as a family-oriented destination in the Charleston-area retail market. The mall’s fortunes changed after the nearby Charleston Naval Base closed. The resulting economic disruption, combined with competition from larger shopping centers, weakened Charles Towne Square. JCPenney moved to Northwoods Mall in the early 1990s, and Service Merchandise also departed. The loss of major anchors caused many specialty retailers to leave, and the property entered a prolonged decline. In 1997, a redevelopment concept was announced that would demolish the mall while retaining the Montgomery Ward building. The proposed successor would have emphasized big-box stores connected to the existing Ward’s structure, along with a limited number of smaller shops. The mall was demolished, and an 18-screen Regal Cinemas and a Courtyard by Marriott were added to the surrounding development. The broader retail plan was not completed, however, and Montgomery Ward’s bankruptcy in 2000 removed the remaining major retail anchor. The Ward’s store closed in 2001. The former Ward’s building was later converted to office use, including use by a Verizon Wireless call center. Its separate automotive center passed through additional uses, including an art gallery, restaurant, and daycare-related operation. Piccadilly moved to a newly constructed outparcel building after the mall was removed, but closed on July 22, 2012; the property was later sold to Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse. A new office complex was developed on the former mall site, including a multistory office tower used as North Charleston City Hall. The physical and cultural legacy of the mall remained visible in the name Mall Drive, which continued to identify the main road despite its earlier name, Goodrich Road. The signature clock was donated to the City of North Charleston, stored, refurbished, and eventually installed in the food court of the nearby Tanger Outlet Center. The former Regal site was later targeted for residential redevelopment. A 300-unit proposal was reported in 2019, and demolition was complete by February 2020. Charles Towne Square is now a defunct mall whose legacy is preserved through local landmarks, road naming, surviving buildings, and recollections of its original retail and entertainment attractions.

1. 2020Regal site demolition completed

   By February, demolition of the cinema had concluded and the site was being prepared for redevelopment.

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2. 2019Residential redevelopment proposed for Regal site

   A proposal calls for the former 18-screen Regal Cinemas site to be replaced by a 300-unit residential complex.

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3. 2012Piccadilly Cafeterias closes

   The last original mall tenant associated with the property closes its post-demolition outparcel location on July 22.

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4. 2001Montgomery Ward location closes

   The former mall’s Montgomery Ward store closes and the building is later adapted for office use.

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5. 2000Montgomery Ward files for bankruptcy

   Montgomery Ward’s bankruptcy undermines the redevelopment effort and removes the principal remaining original anchor.

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6. 1997Mall demolition and replacement plans announced

   A redevelopment plan calls for most of the mall to be demolished and replaced by big-box retail linked to the remaining Montgomery Ward building.

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7. 1990JCPenney leaves for Northwoods Mall

   JCPenney relocates to the larger Northwoods Mall during the early 1990s, weakening Charles Towne Square’s anchor lineup.

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8. 1976Charles Towne Square opens

   Melvin Simon & Associates opens the enclosed shopping mall in North Charleston with Montgomery Ward, JCPenney, Edward’s, approximately 75 specialty stores, and a General Cinemas theater.

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A regional enclosed shopping mall serving North Charleston and the surrounding Charleston-area market, with a family-oriented atmosphere, department-store anchors, specialty retail, dining, and cinema entertainment.

• Enclosed shopping mallRetail property1976

  The core offering was a regional enclosed shopping environment combining department-store anchors, approximately 75 specialty retailers, dining, and cinema entertainment. The mall served North Charleston and nearby communities and was designed as a destination property rather than a single-store retail brand.

• General CinemasCinema1976

  General Cinemas operated a movie theater within the original shopping complex, adding entertainment traffic to the mall’s department stores and specialty shops.

• Piccadilly CafeteriasFood service1976

  Piccadilly Cafeterias was an original tenant that opened with Charles Towne Square in 1976. After the mall was demolished, it moved to a newly constructed outparcel building and remained associated with the site until closing in 2012.

• Town-square clock and Christmas trainCustomer amenities1976

  The mall’s large town-square-style clock became its signature visual feature, while a children’s train ride operated during the Christmas season. The clock was later donated to North Charleston, refurbished, and installed at the nearby Tanger Outlet Center.

• 1976Charlestonian Bicentennial Opening Celebration

  North Charleston · South Carolina · United States

  The mall opened with a highly publicized celebration built around a Charlestonian bicentennial theme. Ed McMahon led the program, and historical costumes and appearances by Mark Clark, Rosey Grier, and Claude Akins gave the opening a civic and entertainment character.

  Outcome. The event established Charles Towne Square as a prominent new regional shopping destination and tied the property’s identity to local history.

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• 2019Convert the former cinema site to housingStrategy

  The former Regal Cinemas property was identified for another phase of redevelopment after the mall and its retail replacement had declined.

  What changed. A 300-unit residential complex was proposed for the 18-screen cinema site.

  Aftermath. By February 2020, the cinema had been demolished and the site was being prepared for redevelopment.

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• 2000Montgomery Ward bankruptcy ends the remaining anchor strategyOther

  The redevelopment concept depended in part on continued use of the existing Montgomery Ward structure after the mall’s demolition.

  What changed. Montgomery Ward entered bankruptcy, and its store at the former mall site ultimately closed in 2001.

  Aftermath. The proposed retail redevelopment suffered a final setback. The former Ward’s building was later converted to office space.

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• 1997Replace the enclosed mall with big-box retailStrategy

  The mall had lost important anchors after JCPenney relocated and Service Merchandise departed, while the local economy was affected by the Charleston Naval Base closure.

  What changed. Plans were made to demolish most of Charles Towne Square, retain the operating Montgomery Ward building, and construct big-box stores with a smaller number of accompanying shops.

  Aftermath. The enclosed mall was demolished, but the planned retail replacement did not fully materialize. An 18-screen Regal Cinemas and a Courtyard by Marriott were added to the broader site.

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• 2020Regal Cinemas site prepared for residential redevelopment

  After a proposal in April 2019 to replace the 18-screen Regal Cinemas with a 300-unit residential project, demolition had been completed by February 2020 and the site was being prepared for redevelopment.

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• 2012Piccadilly Cafeterias closes its replacement location

  Piccadilly Cafeterias, an original 1976 tenant that had moved to an outparcel after the mall’s demolition, closed suddenly on July 22, 2012. The building was later sold to Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse.

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• 2000Montgomery Ward bankruptcy affects the redevelopment project

  The bankruptcy of Montgomery Ward weakened the redevelopment scheme, and the retailer’s North Charleston location closed the following year.

  Bankruptcy
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• 1997Redevelopment plans follow the mall’s decline

  Plans were announced to demolish most of Charles Towne Square while retaining Montgomery Ward and replacing the enclosed mall with big-box retail and smaller shops.

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• 1990JCPenney relocates to Northwoods Mall

  In the early 1990s, JCPenney left Charles Towne Square for the larger Northwoods Mall, contributing to the decline of the former center.

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• 1976Charles Towne Square opens with Charlestonian bicentennial celebrations

  The enclosed mall opened in North Charleston with a large public celebration themed around the Charlestonian bicentennial. Ed McMahon led the festivities, joined by Mark Clark, Rosey Grier, and Claude Akins.

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1. Charles Towne Square