Lexington Mall
A former enclosed shopping mall in Lexington, Kentucky, that was demolished after losing shoppers and tenants to newer retail developments.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Lexington Mall was a former shopping mall in Lexington, Kentucky, located along U.S. Route 25/U.S. Route 421, also known as Richmond Road. It was developed as a local competitor to Fayette Mall, which served the larger retail corridor along Nicholasville Road. The project began operating in 1971 with a two-story McAlpin's department store, Shoppers Choice supermarket, and CSC discount store, although the enclosed mall section was not completed at that time because the principal developers went bankrupt. The remainder of the enclosed mall was completed and opened in 1975 with 48 stores. During its strongest period, Lexington Mall was a fully occupied neighborhood and community shopping center. Its tenant mix combined department-store retail, grocery shopping, discount merchandise, specialty stores, food service, and entertainment. The center developed a notable sales reputation among individual tenants. In December 1988, for example, its Karmelkorn Shoppe reportedly sold 16,250 pounds of popcorn, making it the chain's leading store nationally for that month. McAlpin's remained an important anchor and renovated its store in 1993, updating finishes, flooring, lighting, and interior presentation. The former supermarket space also supported later retail uses, including an auxiliary McAlpin's location after a short-lived occupancy by Heleringer's Furniture. The mall's competitive position weakened during the 1990s. Fayette Mall expanded in 1993 with a new wing and department-store space, giving shoppers a larger and more modern alternative. Lexington Mall management discussed a renovation by 1995, but the proposed modernization did not occur. County Market, which had replaced Shoppers Choice and later expanded into the former CSC premises, closed its Lexington Mall operation in late 1995. A 1996 proposal to add another floor to the main concourse also failed to materialize. The Sony Theatre's two-screen operation closed in June 1997, and the opening of Hamburg Pavilion later that year added another newer retail destination in Fayette County. By the end of the decade, stores were moving to newer shopping centers, while deferred maintenance and limited reinvestment further reduced the property's appeal. Dillard's, the mall's last remaining tenant, closed its location in September 2005 and concentrated its Lexington operations at Fayette Mall. The largely vacant property subsequently became the subject of local discussion, including an unimplemented idea that the government might acquire it through eminent domain for use as a small park. Saul Centers Inc., a Bethesda, Maryland-based real-estate holding company, owned the property before its sale in 2010 to Southland Christian Church. The church planned to convert the site into a third Lexington-area location. Demolition began in summer 2011, with project participants indicating that materials such as plywood and stone would be recycled for the new facility. The former Dillard's building was retained for church nurseries and classrooms rather than being completely demolished. Southland Christian's new facility opened in 2013, marking the end of Lexington Mall as a retail center. The property is also historically notable because it occupied the former grounds of Ellerslie, an estate dating to 1787 and associated with Levi Todd, the grandfather of Mary Todd Lincoln.
History
Lexington Mall was built on Richmond Road in Lexington, Kentucky, as a smaller competitor to Fayette Mall. Its site had earlier historical significance: it was formerly part of Ellerslie, an estate dating from 1787 and associated with Levi Todd, the grandfather of Mary Todd Lincoln. The estate house was demolished in 1946 after the property had been acquired by the local water company several years earlier. The retail development initially opened in 1971 with a two-story McAlpin's department store, Shoppers Choice Supermarket, and CSC discount store. The enclosed mall portion was delayed because the project's main developers entered bankruptcy. Construction resumed, and the remaining mall area opened in 1975 with 48 stores. In the 1980s, County Market replaced Shoppers Choice and subsequently expanded into the space formerly occupied by CSC in 1984. For a period, the mall operated at full capacity and several tenants recorded strong sales. Karmelkorn Shoppe was reported to have been the chain's national sales leader in December 1988 after selling approximately 16,250 pounds of popcorn. McAlpin's renovated its original department store in 1993, installing updated flooring, lighting, and interior finishes. The company also operated an auxiliary store in the former supermarket space after Heleringer's Furniture occupied that building briefly. Lexington Mall entered a sustained decline during the 1990s. Fayette Mall's 1993 expansion added a complete wing and department-store space, weakening Lexington Mall's competitive position. A promised renovation by 1995 was not delivered, and a 1996 proposal to add a second story to the main concourse also failed. County Market closed in late 1995, removing the center's supermarket anchor. The Sony Theatre closed its two-screen operation in June 1997, while the opening of Hamburg Pavilion later that year provided shoppers with another modern alternative. By 1999, tenants were leaving for newer developments and the property was affected by deferred maintenance and neglect. Dillard's eventually became the only remaining tenant, but it closed its Lexington Mall store in September 2005 and concentrated on its Fayette Mall location. The vacant property was associated with several unrealized redevelopment ideas, including a local-government concept involving eminent-domain acquisition and conversion to a small park. Saul Centers Inc. owned the property before selling it in 2010 to Southland Christian Church. The church intended to redevelop the site as a third location. Demolition began in summer 2011. Materials from the old mall, including plywood and stone, were reported as candidates for recycling into the new building, while the former Dillard's building was retained for nurseries and classrooms. The new church facility opened in 2013, ending Lexington Mall's existence as a shopping center.
- 2013
Replacement church facility opens
[1]Southland Christian Church opened its new facility on the former mall site.
- 2011
Demolition begins
[1]Demolition began as the property was prepared for conversion to a Southland Christian Church facility.
- 2010
Property sold for church redevelopment
[1]Southland Christian Church purchased the former mall property from Saul Centers Inc.
- 2005
Final retail anchor departs
[1]Dillard's closed its Lexington Mall store, leaving the property without its last tenant.
- 1997
Cinema closes and Hamburg Pavilion opens
[1]The Sony Theatre closed, while Hamburg Pavilion became another competing retail destination in Fayette County.
- 1995
County Market closes
[1]The supermarket ended operations at Lexington Mall.
- 1993
McAlpin's renovation and Fayette Mall expansion
[1]McAlpin's refreshed its Lexington Mall store while the expansion of Fayette Mall increased competitive pressure.
- 1988
Karmelkorn reaches reported national sales leadership
[1]The mall's Karmelkorn Shoppe sold approximately 16,250 pounds of popcorn in December and was reported as the chain's leading store nationally for that month.
- 1984
County Market expands
[1]County Market expanded into the former CSC space after replacing Shoppers Choice.
- 1975
Enclosed mall completed
[1]The enclosed mall section was completed and opened with 48 stores.
Products and positioning
A local enclosed shopping center serving Lexington-area residents through a combination of department-store, grocery, discount, specialty, food, and entertainment tenants. It was initially positioned as a competitor to Fayette Mall but later declined as larger and newer retail developments expanded.
Department store · 1971
McAlpin's
The two-story McAlpin's department store was one of the original retail anchors when the site opened in 1971. It remained a significant tenant through the mall's operating period, received a major interior renovation in 1993, and later operated an auxiliary store in former supermarket space. McAlpin's ultimately left the property before the mall's final closure.
Supermarket
County Market
County Market replaced Shoppers Choice Supermarket during the 1980s and expanded into the former CSC discount-store area in 1984. Its presence gave Lexington Mall a grocery component and helped generate regular customer traffic, but the supermarket closed in late 1995 as the property began losing tenants.
Food and confectionery
Karmelkorn Shoppe
The Karmelkorn Shoppe was a specialty food tenant associated with the mall's strongest trading years. In December 1988, it reportedly sold about 16,250 pounds of popcorn, making it the chain's national monthly sales leader according to the cited account.
Cinema
Sony Theatre
The Sony Theatre operated a two-screen cinema at Lexington Mall and formed part of the center's entertainment offer. Its closure in June 1997 removed a notable non-retail attraction during the mall's decline.
Brand decisions
2011
Retail site converted to institutional useStrategyBackground
The property had become substantially vacant after the departure of Dillard's, its last remaining tenant, in 2005.
Action taken
Demolition and redevelopment began for a Southland Christian Church facility, with some materials intended for reuse or recycling.
Aftermath
The new church opened in 2013 and the site ceased functioning as Lexington Mall.
2010
Sale of the mall property to Southland Christian ChurchM&ABackground
After years of declining occupancy, tenant departures, and deferred maintenance, Saul Centers Inc. no longer operated the property as a viable shopping center.
Action taken
Southland Christian Church acquired the property and announced plans to redevelop it as another church location.
Aftermath
The mall was demolished beginning in 2011, with portions of the former Dillard's structure retained for church-related uses. The replacement facility opened in 2013.
Sources1 sources
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