CoolSprings Galleria
An enclosed super-regional shopping mall serving the Cool Springs corridor between Franklin and Brentwood, Tennessee.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
CoolSprings Galleria is an enclosed super-regional shopping mall in the Cool Springs commercial and residential corridor between Franklin and Brentwood, Tennessee, approximately 15 miles south of Nashville. The property stands at the Interstate 65 and Moores Lane interchange, placing it within one of the region's principal retail and development areas. Its trade area includes Franklin, Brentwood, and surrounding communities in the greater Nashville market. The mall was developed by Chattanooga-based CBL & Associates Properties, now known as CBL Properties, in a joint venture with the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation. Planning was announced in 1989, when the developers proposed a large enclosed center with nearly 200 stores and more than 1 million square feet of retail space. The project was developed alongside CoolSprings Crossing, an adjacent power center also associated with CBL, and formed part of a broader commercial build-out around the Interstate 65 interchange. Target and Service Merchandise were identified for the power center, while The Home Depot was planned across the interstate. CoolSprings Galleria opened on August 7, 1991. Its original anchor lineup consisted of Castner Knott, Dillard's, and Sears. Opening-day attendance was estimated at approximately 70,000 to 80,000 visitors, reflecting the scale of the project and the pent-up demand for a major enclosed shopping destination south of Nashville. The mall ultimately expanded to more than 1.3 million square feet and approximately 150 stores. JCPenney joined the anchor lineup in the years after opening, and Parisian opened on October 24, 1994, becoming the property's fifth anchor. Castner Knott's successor occupancy later passed through Proffitt's and Hecht's before becoming Macy's. The center's tenant mix combines traditional department-store anchors with fashion, specialty retail, beauty, food, and entertainment-oriented offerings. Major tenants identified with the property include Belk, Dillard's, JCPenney, Macy's, American Girl, The Cheesecake Factory, H&M, Primark, and Ulta Beauty. This combination allows the mall to function both as a destination for department-store shopping and as a frequently visited lifestyle and dining venue. Its enclosed format and broad tenant range distinguish it from the nearby open-air power-center component. Ownership and capital structure changed in 2011, when TIAA-CREF was announced as receiving a 50% interest in the mall and several other CBL properties as part of an effort to reduce CBL's debt. CBL has nevertheless remained the property's operating and ownership-associated real-estate company. Sears closed its CoolSprings Galleria location in 2013, after which the former department-store space was sold to CBL for possible redevelopment. The former Sears site became an important redevelopment opportunity as the mall adapted to changing department-store economics. The mall remains an active regional retail property. A later announced plan called for JCPenney to close when its lease expired in fall 2026 and for the space to be replaced by a Dick's House of Sport location targeted for early 2028. If completed, that change would represent another shift from conventional department-store anchoring toward experience-led sporting-goods retail. CoolSprings Galleria's history therefore reflects the development of suburban Nashville, the growth of large-format enclosed malls in the early 1990s, and the continuing repositioning of regional shopping centers as anchor tenants and consumer habits change.
History
CoolSprings Galleria was conceived as a major enclosed shopping destination for the rapidly developing corridor south of Nashville. CBL & Associates Properties announced plans in 1989 for a mall near the Interstate 65 and Moores Lane interchange in Franklin, Tennessee. The development was undertaken through a joint venture between CBL and the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation. Initial plans described a center with nearly 200 stores, more than 1 million square feet of retail space, and three principal anchors: Castner Knott, Dillard's, and Sears. The surrounding commercial plan included CoolSprings Crossing, an adjacent power center developed at the same time, as well as other nearby projects such as Target, Service Merchandise, and The Home Depot. The mall opened on August 7, 1991. Castner Knott, Dillard's, and Sears were present at opening, and an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 people visited on the first day. The completed property was larger than the initial description, reaching more than 1.3 million square feet. JCPenney joined the center in the following years. On October 24, 1994, Parisian opened as a fifth anchor, further strengthening the mall's department-store profile. Castner Knott's later retail succession included Proffitt's and Hecht's before the location became associated with Macy's. Through the following decades, CoolSprings Galleria operated as a large regional destination for the communities south of Nashville. Its tenant base broadened beyond department stores to include fashion, specialty retail, beauty, gifts, dining, and lifestyle concepts. The property has been associated with tenants such as American Girl, The Cheesecake Factory, H&M, Primark, and Ulta Beauty, in addition to anchor stores including Belk, Dillard's, JCPenney, and Macy's. This mix gave the mall both conventional regional-shopping functions and a more experiential role centered on food, branded specialty stores, and family-oriented visits. The property's ownership structure changed in May 2011. TIAA-CREF was announced as receiving a 50% ownership interest in CoolSprings Galleria and several other CBL malls. The transaction was intended to help CBL reduce debt, while CBL remained the principal mall company associated with the property. A significant physical and leasing transition occurred in 2013 when Sears closed its store. CBL acquired the vacated space and identified it for possible redevelopment, consistent with the broader effort by enclosed malls to adapt large former department-store boxes for new uses. The mall's later repositioning plans also include a transition involving JCPenney. An announcement dated July 1, 2026, described plans for JCPenney to leave when its lease expires in fall 2026 and for Dick's House of Sport to open in the space in early 2028. The proposed replacement would add a large experiential sporting-goods format to the center and continue the movement away from reliance on traditional department-store anchors. CoolSprings Galleria's development and subsequent changes illustrate the evolution of suburban retail in the Nashville region: an early-1990s enclosed mall built around department stores, followed by tenant diversification, ownership restructuring, vacant-anchor redevelopment, and efforts to attract experience-oriented concepts.
- 2026
JCPenney replacement plan announced
[1]JCPenney was reported as scheduled to close after its fall lease expiration, with Dick's House of Sport targeted for the space in early 2028.
- 2013
Sears closes
[1]Sears vacated its location, and CBL acquired the former anchor space for potential redevelopment.
- 2011
TIAA-CREF receives a half interest
[1]TIAA-CREF received a 50% ownership interest in the mall in a transaction intended to help CBL reduce debt.
- 1994
Parisian opens as a fifth anchor
[1]Parisian opened at the mall on October 24, becoming the property's fifth anchor store.
- 1991
CoolSprings Galleria opens
[1]The mall opened on August 7 with Castner Knott, Dillard's, and Sears as its original anchor stores.
- 1989
Mall plans announced
[1]CBL & Associates Properties announced plans for a large enclosed shopping mall at the Interstate 65 and Moores Lane interchange in Franklin, Tennessee.
Products and positioning
Regional enclosed super-regional shopping mall serving the southern Nashville metropolitan area
Retail anchor · 1991
Department-store shopping
The mall's traditional core offering is department-store retail, represented by anchor tenants including Belk, Dillard's, JCPenney, and Macy's. These stores provide broad assortments of apparel, accessories, home goods, cosmetics, and other general merchandise and help draw shoppers from the wider southern Nashville region.
Apparel and specialty retail
Fashion and specialty retail
CoolSprings Galleria supports a mix of national fashion and specialty concepts, including H&M and Primark. These tenants complement the department stores with trend-oriented apparel, accessories, and seasonal merchandise aimed at a broad regional customer base.
Specialty retail
Beauty, gifts, and family retail
Specialty offerings associated with the mall include Ulta Beauty and American Girl. Together, these concepts extend the center's offer into cosmetics, personal care, gifts, toys, and family-oriented shopping rather than relying solely on department-store merchandise.
Food service
Dining and lifestyle destinations
Dining is an important part of the mall's destination role. The Cheesecake Factory is among the major tenants identified with the property, adding a full-service restaurant component that supports longer visits and complements the center's shopping offer.
Sporting goods
Dick's House of Sport
Dick's House of Sport is the planned replacement for the JCPenney space after the announced fall 2026 lease expiration. The concept is intended to provide a larger, more experience-led sporting-goods destination, with opening targeted for early 2028.
Brand decisions
2026
Planned conversion of JCPenney space to Dick's House of SportGeneration changeBackground
The mall announced a planned change involving the JCPenney location after the store's lease expiration in fall 2026.
Action taken
JCPenney is planned to close, with Dick's House of Sport targeted to occupy the space in early 2028.
Aftermath
If completed, the project would replace a conventional department-store anchor with an experiential sporting-goods format.
2013
Acquisition and potential redevelopment of former Sears spaceStrategyBackground
Sears closed its store at the mall, leaving a major department-store anchor box available for a new use.
Action taken
CBL acquired the former Sears location and planned to evaluate redevelopment of the space.
Aftermath
The former anchor became part of the mall's longer-term repositioning and tenant-replacement strategy.
2011
Partial ownership transaction with TIAA-CREFM&ABackground
CBL pursued an ownership transaction involving CoolSprings Galleria and other malls while seeking to reduce debt.
Action taken
TIAA-CREF received a 50% interest in the mall and the other participating properties.
Aftermath
CBL remained the principal company associated with the mall's ownership and operation.
Sources2 sources
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