Charleston Town Center
An enclosed shopping mall in downtown Charleston, West Virginia, whose retail footprint has contracted substantially while portions of the complex have been adapted for office use.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Charleston Town Center is an enclosed shopping mall in downtown Charleston, West Virginia. It opened in 1983 and was developed by Forest City Enterprises and Cafaro Company as a major downtown-oriented retail project. At its peak, the two-level complex contained more than 130 tenants, supported by a food court on part of a third level and a group of department-store anchors. Its urban location made it distinctive: the mall was described as the largest enclosed shopping center located in a downtown shopping district east of the Mississippi River when it opened. The original anchor lineup included JCPenney, Sears, Kaufmann's, and Montgomery Ward. Changes in the national department-store and specialty-retail sectors progressively weakened the center's tenant base. Montgomery Ward left during the chain's bankruptcy and liquidation in 2001. Proposed replacements, including Dillard's and Books-A-Million, did not materialize. A portion of the former Montgomery Ward space was temporarily occupied by Steve & Barry's before that retailer's bankruptcy and liquidation in 2008. Other changes included the closure of several restaurants and the conversion of part of the former anchor and food-court areas to office uses. The Kaufmann's store became Macy's in 2007 after Kaufmann's parent company was acquired by May Department Stores. Office tenants also became increasingly important to the property. BrickStreet Insurance occupied a substantial portion of the former Montgomery Ward area, while state government offices took over part of the food-court space. In 2011, television station WOWK subleased space associated with the BrickStreet area for a studio relocation. These adaptations reflected the mall's shift from a conventional department-store-centered retail model toward a mixed retail and office complex. The center's financial difficulties became more visible in the late 2010s. Sears announced in December 2016 that it would close its Charleston Town Center store, and the location shut in April 2017. Disputes and uncertainty concerning Macy's rent and the mall's financial condition preceded the appointment of CBRE Group as court receiver in January 2018. A scheduled 2019 auction ultimately drew only the largest-note holder, U.S. Bancorp, as bidder. Macy's closed in April 2019, leaving JCPenney as the only remaining department-store anchor. The former Sears building was subsequently slated for demolition and replacement by a freestanding Hilton-branded hotel, while the former Macy's building was demolished in April 2024. JCPenney announced in January 2025 that it would close its store, and the location shut on May 25, 2025. This left Charleston Town Center without a traditional anchor department store. As of October 2025, 27 stores were reported to remain, alongside food-and-beverage businesses and office occupants. The property is owned by Hull Property Group. Its current identity is therefore less that of a dominant regional mall than of a shrinking downtown commercial complex undergoing tenant consolidation, redevelopment, and adaptive reuse.
History
Charleston Town Center was developed in downtown Charleston, West Virginia, by Forest City Enterprises and Cafaro Company. It opened in 1983 as a large enclosed shopping center integrated into the city's downtown retail district. At opening, its anchor tenants were JCPenney, Sears, Kaufmann's, and Montgomery Ward. The project was notable for bringing a substantial suburban-style enclosed mall format into a central business district and was identified at the time as the largest downtown-based enclosed mall east of the Mississippi River. The center reached its strongest scale in the years when department stores supplied much of its traffic and identity. At its peak it contained more than 130 tenants on two levels, together with a food court on part of a third level. Its tenant mix included national apparel and specialty retailers, restaurants, and family-oriented food outlets. Over time, however, changes in department-store retail and the failure or retrenchment of individual chains produced repeated vacancies. Montgomery Ward closed during the chain's bankruptcy and liquidation in 2001. A proposed redevelopment plan announced in 2002 would have brought Dillard's into the vacant space, supported by a proposed low-rent arrangement and public financing incentives, but the proposal was canceled. Books-A-Million also considered the space without ultimately opening there. Some smaller retail and restaurant changes followed. McDonald's and Long John Silver's closed in 2004, and Olive Garden closed in 2005. Steve & Barry's occupied part of the former Montgomery Ward area beginning in 2002, but the retailer closed in 2008 during bankruptcy-related liquidation. Its space was later divided between Rue21 and Rack Room Shoes. The Disney Store also closed in 2009. The mall increasingly incorporated non-retail uses. By 2006, BrickStreet Insurance was preparing to locate offices in the former Montgomery Ward area, and half of the food court was converted to state government offices. Kaufmann's became Macy's in 2007 after the acquisition of Kaufmann's parent company. In 2011, television station WOWK subleased unused space in the BrickStreet area for a television studio. These moves demonstrated an adaptive-reuse strategy, but they also reflected the difficulty of replacing the customer traffic once generated by large retail anchors. The deterioration of the anchor lineup accelerated in the late 2010s. Sears announced in December 2016 that it would close the store as part of a national reduction program, and the location closed in April 2017. Questions about the mall's financial position and the terms of Macy's occupancy became public later in 2017. On January 12, 2018, the Circuit Court of Kanawha County placed the property in receivership and appointed CBRE Group to manage the receivership. A courthouse auction planned for January 2019 ultimately attracted only U.S. Bancorp, the holder of the largest note, as bidder. Macy's closed on April 2, 2019, leaving JCPenney as the last department-store anchor. The former Sears structure was slated for demolition to make way for a freestanding Hilton-branded hotel. BrickStreet Insurance merged with Motorists Insurance Group in 2019; the combined organization adopted the Encova Mutual Insurance Group name and retained its Charleston offices. The former Macy's building was demolished in April 2024. In January 2025, JCPenney announced that it would leave the mall, and it closed on May 25. By October 2025, 27 stores were reported to remain. The center continued to have restaurant tenants, including Chili's Bar & Grill and Outback Steakhouse, as well as office and other nontraditional commercial uses. Hull Property Group is identified as the owner. Charleston Town Center therefore remains an operating property, but its role has changed from a large regional shopping destination anchored by department stores to a smaller, mixed-use downtown complex facing continuing vacancy and redevelopment pressures.
- 2025
JCPenney closes
[1]JCPenney shuts its store on May 25, leaving the mall without a department-store anchor.
- 2024
Former Macy's building is demolished
[1]The former Macy's anchor structure is demolished as the property continues its redevelopment and footprint-consolidation process.
- 2019
Macy's closes
[1]Macy's leaves the center, making JCPenney the final department-store anchor.
- 2018
Property enters receivership
[1]A Kanawha County court places the mall in receivership and appoints CBRE Group as receiver.
- 2017
Sears departs
[1]Sears closes its Charleston Town Center store, leaving Macy's and JCPenney as the remaining department-store anchors.
- 2011
WOWK leases unused space
[1]Television station WOWK subleases part of the BrickStreet-related area for a studio relocation.
- 2007
Kaufmann's is rebranded as Macy's
[1]The Kaufmann's department store becomes Macy's following a corporate acquisition.
- 2006
Former retail areas begin conversion to offices
[1]BrickStreet Insurance takes space in the former Montgomery Ward area, while part of the food court becomes state government office space.
- 2002
Redevelopment proposals are considered
[1]Plans to attract Dillard's to the former Montgomery Ward space are announced but later canceled; Steve & Barry's occupies part of the area.
- 2001
Montgomery Ward closes
[1]Montgomery Ward leaves the property during the retailer's bankruptcy and liquidation.
Products and positioning
A centrally located urban shopping and commercial complex serving Charleston, West Virginia, with a historic emphasis on department-store retail and a more recent focus on reduced-scale retail, dining, office occupancy, and redevelopment.
Retail property · 1983
Enclosed shopping mall
The core offering is an enclosed, multi-level shopping environment in downtown Charleston. At its peak, the center hosted more than 130 tenants, combining national retailers, department stores, specialty shops, restaurants, and a food court. The retail operation has contracted considerably, but the property continues to function as a commercial complex rather than a fully closed mall.
Restaurants and food service · 1983
Food and dining venues
Food service has included a partial third-level food court and full-service restaurants. The mall's reported restaurant tenants include Chili's Bar & Grill and Outback Steakhouse. Food and beverage uses remain part of the center's customer offer despite the departure of its traditional department-store anchors.
Commercial real estate · 2006
Office and institutional space
Large portions of the property have been adapted for non-retail occupancy. BrickStreet Insurance established offices in the former Montgomery Ward area, state government offices occupied part of the former food court, and WOWK used additional space for a television studio. This mixed-use capacity has become increasingly important as retail vacancies have grown.
Brand decisions
2025
Transition beyond department-store anchoringStrategyBackground
Following the departures of Sears and Macy's, JCPenney was the last department-store anchor, while large areas had already been converted or targeted for other uses.
Action taken
JCPenney closed on May 25, 2025, leaving the center without a traditional anchor store.
Aftermath
The property remained active with a much smaller store count, restaurants, office occupants, and redevelopment-related uses.
2018
Court-supervised receivershipOtherBackground
The mall's financial problems became increasingly visible, including disputes concerning Macy's rent and the property's obligations.
Action taken
The Circuit Court of Kanawha County appointed CBRE Group as receiver and placed the property into receivership.
Aftermath
A later auction attracted only U.S. Bancorp, the holder of the largest note, as bidder. The property continued operating while its tenant base and physical footprint contracted.
2006
Conversion of vacant retail space to officesStrategyBackground
The center had difficulty replacing the former Montgomery Ward anchor and faced broader changes in the retail tenant mix.
Action taken
BrickStreet Insurance was positioned to occupy the former anchor area, and part of the food court was converted into state government offices.
Aftermath
The mall became a more mixed-use property, with office tenants supplementing a declining retail base.
2002
Attempted Dillard's anchor replacementStrategyBackground
After Montgomery Ward vacated its anchor space, mall planners sought a replacement department store and announced a proposal involving Dillard's.
Action taken
The proposal included a nominal annual lease and requested city loan support as an incentive package, but Dillard's ultimately did not open at the mall.
Aftermath
The former Montgomery Ward space remained largely vacant until portions were used by other retailers and later converted for office occupancy.
Proposed public loans and annual lease. (2002)
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