Columbiana Centre

Columbiana Centre is an enclosed super-regional shopping mall on Harbison Boulevard near Interstate 26 and U.S. Route 76 in the Columbia metropolitan area of South Carolina. The property opened in 1990 and became the principal regional shopping destination for the surrounding market. Although it is commonly associated with Columbia, most of the mall lies in Lexington County, with portions extending into Richland County. The mall contains approximately 788,103 square feet of retail space and combines department-store anchors, specialty retailers, restaurants, entertainment, and service businesses. Its principal anchors have included two Belk stores, Dillard's, and JCPenney. The anchor lineup has changed repeatedly as department-store operators consolidated or repositioned their locations. Sears was one of the original anchors, but its store closed in 2014. Belk subsequently expanded into the former Sears premises, opening a men's store in early 2015 and adding approximately 50,000 square feet. The expanded location was described as one of Belk's flagship stores. Other significant changes included the addition of Dillard's and a northward-extending wing in 1993, the arrival of J. B. White in 1995, and the later transformation of that space following J. B. White's acquisition by Dillard's in 1998. Belk took over the former J. B. White location, while Parisian occupied the former Belk space. After Parisian closed in 2005, JCPenney moved into the former Parisian premises. Entertainment uses were also added: Dave & Buster's opened in February 2017 in exterior space associated with the former Sears area, and Forever 21's Riley Rose cosmetics concept opened in 2018. Columbiana Centre functions as both a retail destination and a regional gathering place. Its scale, interstate access, department-store anchors, and broad tenant mix give it a catchment area extending beyond the immediate Harbison neighborhood. The mall's public history has also included a serious security incident: a shooting on April 16, 2022 injured fifteen people, including nine who suffered gunshot wounds. The incident led to criminal prosecutions and a civil lawsuit brought by two victims against the mall alleging inadequate security and negligence. The three defendants were later convicted, with prison sentences reported in 2025. Ownership, current management, and the complete present-day tenant roster are not established by the supplied reference material.

Columbiana Centre was developed by Homart Development Company and opened in 1990 in the Harbison area of the Columbia metropolitan market. The original anchor lineup included Belk and Sears. Its location beside major roads, including Interstate 26 and U.S. Route 76, helped it operate as a regional rather than merely neighborhood shopping center. The mall's approximately 788,103 square feet of retail space made it one of the area's largest enclosed commercial properties. The first major expansion of the property took place in 1993, when Dillard's was added as a third anchor and a new wing was extended diagonally toward the north. In 1995, J. B. White joined the anchor lineup. The department-store structure changed again in 1998, when Dillard's acquired J. B. White. The J. B. White store at Columbiana Centre closed, Belk assumed that space, and Parisian entered the former Belk location. Parisian's presence was temporary. The retailer closed its Columbiana Centre store in 2005, after which JCPenney occupied the former Parisian premises. Sears remained an anchor until its store closed in March 2014. Belk then expanded its men's business into the former Sears space. The new Belk men's store opened in early 2015, adding about 50,000 square feet and creating a substantially larger Belk operation that was characterized as one of the chain's flagship stores. The mall also broadened its use beyond conventional department-store retail. Dave & Buster's opened in February 2017 on the mall's front exterior, using space associated with the area left vacant by Sears after the Belk expansion. In March 2018, Forever 21's Riley Rose cosmetics concept opened at the property, adding a specialized beauty retailer to the tenant mix. On April 16, 2022, Columbiana Centre was the site of a mass shooting. Fifteen people, ranging in age from fifteen to seventy-three, were injured, including nine people with gunshot wounds. Three suspects were arrested and charged with multiple offenses. In July 2022, two sisters who were injured filed a lawsuit against the mall, alleging that it had failed to provide adequate safety and protection and seeking $20 million. The criminal cases later resulted in convictions. In 2025, reported sentences included 35 years for Jewayne Price and 30 years each for Amari Smith and Marquise Robinson. The supplied reference material does not identify the current owner, operating company, general manager, or a complete current tenant directory. Accordingly, Columbiana Centre is best documented as an active regional mall brand and property whose identity is built around its location, scale, department-store anchors, entertainment uses, and role in the Columbia-area retail network.

• 2025

  Sentences issued in shooting case

  [1]Columbiana Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The three convicted defendants receive prison sentences ranging from 30 to 35 years.

• 2022

  Mall shooting

  [1]Columbiana Centreen.wikipedia.org

  A shooting on April 16 injures fifteen people, including nine with gunshot wounds.

• 2018

  Riley Rose opens

  [1]Columbiana Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Forever 21's Riley Rose cosmetics concept opens at the mall in March.

• 2017

  Dave & Buster's opens

  [1]Columbiana Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Dave & Buster's opens in February in exterior space at the front of the mall.

• 2015

  Belk opens an expanded men's store

  [1]Columbiana Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Belk opens a men's store in the former Sears premises, adding approximately 50,000 square feet.

• 2014

  Sears closes

  [1]Columbiana Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The Sears anchor closes in March, creating space for a subsequent Belk expansion.

• 2005

  JCPenney replaces Parisian

  [1]Columbiana Centreen.wikipedia.org

  After Parisian closes its store, JCPenney occupies the former Parisian space.

• 1998

  Anchor spaces are reorganized after J. B. White acquisition

  [1]Columbiana Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Following Dillard's acquisition of J. B. White, Belk takes over the former J. B. White space and Parisian moves into the former Belk location.

• 1995

  J. B. White joins the anchor lineup

  [1]Columbiana Centreen.wikipedia.org

  J. B. White opens as an additional department-store anchor.

• 1993

  Dillard's and a new wing are added

  [1]Columbiana Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Dillard's becomes the third anchor, accompanied by a new wing extending diagonally north.

• 1990

  Mall opens

  [1]Columbiana Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Homart Development Company opens Columbiana Centre with Belk and Sears as the original anchor stores.

A large enclosed regional shopping and entertainment destination anchored by national department stores and serving the wider Columbia metropolitan market.

• Retail · 1990

  Department-store retail

  Columbiana Centre's core commercial offer is department-store shopping. The documented anchor lineup includes two Belk stores, Dillard's, and JCPenney. These stores provide broad merchandise categories such as apparel, accessories, footwear, beauty products, home goods, and seasonal merchandise. The anchor mix has changed over time as Sears, J. B. White, Parisian, and other operators left or were replaced.

• Apparel retail · 2015

  Belk men's store

  The Belk men's store occupies the former Sears space and opened in early 2015 after an expansion of approximately 50,000 square feet. It was presented as one of Belk's flagship stores, giving the mall a substantially larger men's apparel and accessories presence while reusing a major anchor footprint after Sears's departure.

• Department store · 1993

  Dillard's

  Dillard's became Columbiana Centre's third anchor in 1993. Its arrival accompanied a northward wing extension and established a major department-store presence alongside Belk and Sears. The supplied material does not specify the current departments, store format, or operating status beyond its identification as an anchor.

• Department store · 2005

  JCPenney

  JCPenney took over the former Parisian space in 2005 after Parisian closed. It forms part of the mall's documented department-store anchor history and contributes general merchandise, apparel, home, beauty, and related retail categories.

• Entertainment and dining · 2017

  Dave & Buster's

  Dave & Buster's opened at the front exterior of the mall in February 2017. The venue expanded Columbiana Centre's offer beyond shopping by combining arcade games, entertainment, food, and beverages in space associated with the former Sears area.

• 2017

  Entertainment use added through Dave & Buster'sStrategy

  Background

  The mall had space associated with the former Sears anchor that was not occupied by the Belk expansion.

  Action taken

  Dave & Buster's opened in exterior space at the front of the mall in February.

  Aftermath

  The property added a major entertainment and dining use to its retail-focused tenant mix.

  Source

• 2015

  Belk expands into the former Sears anchorStrategy

  Background

  Sears closed its Columbiana Centre store in March 2014, leaving a major anchor footprint available for repositioning.

  Action taken

  Belk expanded its presence into the former Sears premises and opened a men's store with approximately 50,000 square feet of additional space.

  Aftermath

  The enlarged Belk operation became one of the chain's flagship stores and reduced the amount of vacant former-Sears space.

  Source

1. 1Columbiana Centreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Columbiana Centre official websitecolumbianacentre.com