Macon Mall
Macon Mall is a large enclosed shopping center in Macon, Georgia, undergoing conversion from a severely underoccupied retail mall into a mixed civic, educational, entertainment, and commercial complex.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Macon Mall is a two-level enclosed shopping center on Eisenhower Parkway in Macon, Georgia. It opened in 1975 with approximately 1.08 million square feet of space and became one of the most important retail properties in Central Georgia. Its original anchor lineup included Davison's, Belk, JCPenney, and Sears, with Woolworth later joining the center. The mall's opening helped accelerate the decline of Westgate Mall, an earlier enclosed shopping center located nearby. The property initially competed through scale, novelty, and a distinctive disco-inspired interior filled with light bulbs. That design quickly became expensive to maintain and was substantially updated in 1983. A food court was added in 1986. Davison's was subsequently converted to Macy's as the department-store operator consolidated its regional naming structure. Macon Mall reached a major turning point in 1997, when a large expansion and renovation increased the center to roughly 1.45 million square feet. The project added a new wing, Dillard's and Parisian as anchor tenants, more than 40 stores, parking garages, and an enlarged food-court area. For a period, the expanded center was the largest mall in Georgia. It benefited from a broad regional trade area and operated as a dominant shopping destination before newer lifestyle and power-center developments began drawing tenants and customers away. The mall's decline became pronounced in the 2000s. Eisenhower Crossing opened nearby in 2001, while The Shoppes at River Crossing opened in 2008 and attracted several major retailers, including Dillard's. Parisian closed after its acquisition by Belk, and Dillard's also departed. The property entered foreclosure in 2008 and was operated by Jones Lang LaSalle. A large number of in-line tenants subsequently left, moved to competing centers, or disappeared through corporate bankruptcies. The weakened economy, increasing competition, anchor vacancies, property debt, and the mall's location compounded one another. Hull Storey Gibson acquired the mall in 2010 and pursued a major physical reset. In 2011, the largely vacant east wing was demolished, while the remaining portion received new carpeting, skylights, ceilings, restrooms, and circulation changes. Sears closed in 2012, followed by Belk later that year. Burlington moved into the upper level of the former Sears building in 2015, but JCPenney closed in 2017 and Macy's announced its closure in 2020. By then, Burlington was the only remaining traditional anchor, and the property was widely characterized as a dead or severely underoccupied mall. A new civic redevelopment phase began in 2021. Hull Property Group donated the mall to Macon-Bibb County, which announced a proposed investment of approximately $100 million to reposition the site. The plan included an amphitheater, county offices, educational facilities, film-industry space, new businesses, and a major pickleball venue. The Atrium Health Amphitheater opened in 2024, and Rhythm & Rally opened in the former Belk space as a large pickleball facility. Other portions of the former mall have been adapted for government offices, a courthouse, a board of elections facility, and a library. The redevelopment is intended to make the property a mixed-use civic and entertainment district rather than restore it solely as a conventional enclosed shopping mall.
History
Macon Mall was announced in 1973 and designed by Architectonics, Inc. of Dallas. It opened in 1975 as a roughly 1.08-million-square-foot enclosed shopping center in Macon, Georgia. Davison's, Belk, JCPenney, and Sears served as the initial department-store anchors, and Woolworth was added later. The center's opening reshaped local retail competition and contributed to the decline of Westgate Mall, Georgia's first enclosed mall, which stood nearby. The original interior used a highly theatrical disco-themed design, including large numbers of light bulbs. The concept soon became dated and costly to operate, leading to an initial renovation in 1983. A food court was added in 1986. Around the same period, Davison's stores were converted to Macy's as the department-store chain standardized its branding. For many years Macon Mall was among Georgia's largest shopping centers. Its defining expansion arrived in 1997, when a major renovation and new wing brought the property to approximately 1.45 million square feet. The project added Dillard's and Parisian, more than 40 stores, two parking garages, and a larger food-court complex with restaurants and an arcade. The expansion briefly made Macon Mall the largest mall in Georgia, before the opening of Mall of Georgia in 1999. The expanded property initially enjoyed a strong regional position. That advantage weakened after Eisenhower Crossing opened nearby in 2001 and attracted tenants such as Old Navy. Department-store branding also changed repeatedly: Macy's became Rich's in 1998, the store became Rich's-Macy's in 2003, and the regional Rich's name was removed in favor of Macy's in 2005. Belk likewise simplified its store branding. The property also added large-format specialty tenants, including Steve & Barry's. The mall's decline accelerated after 2006. Belk acquired Parisian, and the Parisian location closed in 2007. Macon Mall entered foreclosure in 2008 and was operated by Jones Lang LaSalle. That same year, The Shoppes at River Crossing opened in North Bibb County. Dillard's moved there, saying that one location could serve the market more effectively, although observers also linked the departure to the mall's financial condition. The loss of Dillard's and Parisian left the 1997 expansion wing without its intended anchors. During 2009 and 2010, many national and regional retailers left. Some relocated to River Crossing or other nearby centers, while others closed because of broader corporate failures. The property experimented with Art Space in 2009, a mall-based arts concept intended to occupy some of the underused space. The experiment did not reverse the center's broader decline. In 2010, further departures included Express, Yankee Candle, Hot Topic, Chick-fil-A, and Subway. Hull Storey Gibson acquired the mall in September 2010. Its response was to reduce the physical footprint and concentrate activity in the original section. Demolition of the east wing began in August 2011, starting with the vacant Parisian building. The retained mall received carpeting, skylights, new ceilings and restrooms, and revised stairway arrangements. A planned Movie Tavern conversion in the former Parisian building did not proceed. The former Dillard's structure was not demolished at that stage. A large Smok'n Pig restaurant opened in space formerly occupied by multiple smaller stores. Anchor losses continued. Sears announced its closure in December 2011, with the store shutting in April 2012. Belk closed in September 2012 after opening a location at The Shoppes at River Crossing. Burlington moved into the upper level of the former Sears building in 2015. JCPenney announced its closure in 2017, and the store shut that July. The food court became increasingly vacant, and more specialty stores closed between 2012 and 2019. Macy's announced in January 2020 that its Macon Mall store would close as part of a national store-reduction program; the closure left Burlington as the mall's only conventional anchor. In September 2021, Hull Property Group donated the mall to Macon-Bibb County. County officials announced a proposed investment of approximately $100 million to redevelop the site and add an amphitheater with capacity for up to 10,000 people. The plan broadened the site's purpose to include county government offices, Central Georgia Technical College, Middle Georgia State University, film-industry facilities, commercial businesses, and a major pickleball complex. The Atrium Health Amphitheater opened in 2024, while Rhythm & Rally occupied the former Belk space. Other former retail areas were adapted for a courthouse, board of elections offices, a library, and additional government uses. The property's future is therefore tied to a mixed-use civic and entertainment model rather than a return to its former department-store-led retail format.
- 2024
Atrium Health Amphitheater opens
[1]The amphitheater opens as a central component of the site's civic and entertainment redevelopment.
- 2021
Property is donated to Macon-Bibb County
[1]Hull Property Group transfers the mall to the county, which announces a proposed $100 million redevelopment program.
- 2020
Macy's announces closure
[1]Macy's announces that its Macon Mall store will close, leaving Burlington as the only remaining traditional anchor.
- 2017
JCPenney closes
[1]JCPenney closes as part of the retailer's nationwide store-reduction program.
- 2015
Burlington opens in former Sears space
[1]Burlington occupies the upper level of the former Sears building.
- 2012
Sears and Belk close
[1]Sears closes in April and Belk closes in September, removing two of the mall's remaining traditional anchors.
- 2011
East wing is demolished
[1]Demolition begins on the vacant east wing, followed by renovations to the retained mall.
- 2010
Hull Storey Gibson acquires the property
[1]The Augusta-based property group purchases the mall and begins planning a smaller-footprint redevelopment.
- 2009
Art Space launches
[1]Macon Mall introduces an arts-focused occupancy concept designed to use vacant retail space.
- 2008
Foreclosure and anchor loss
[1]The mall enters foreclosure, while The Shoppes at River Crossing opens and Dillard's departs for the competing center.
Products and positioning
Historically positioned as Central Georgia's dominant regional enclosed shopping mall and, during its expansion era, one of Georgia's largest retail centers. In its current phase, Macon Mall is being repositioned as a mixed-use civic, entertainment, education, government, and recreation destination anchored less by department stores than by public uses and large-scale experiences.
Retail real estate · 1975
Enclosed shopping mall
Macon Mall's original and longstanding offering was a large, climate-controlled retail environment containing department stores, specialty shops, restaurants, services, and a food court. At its 1997 peak, the expanded center covered approximately 1.45 million square feet and served a broad Central Georgia trade area. The retail component has contracted substantially as department stores and in-line tenants departed.
Off-price department store · 2015
Burlington
Burlington became the mall's remaining conventional anchor after occupying the upper level of the former Sears building in 2015. Its presence represented the property's shift from a multi-anchor regional mall toward a smaller and more specialized tenant base.
Entertainment venue · 2024
Atrium Health Amphitheater
The amphitheater is a large outdoor performance venue developed as part of Macon-Bibb County's redevelopment of the former mall property. It was planned with capacity for up to 10,000 people and is intended to attract concerts, events, and visitors to the Eisenhower Parkway corridor.
Recreation facility · 2024
Rhythm & Rally
Rhythm & Rally is a large pickleball facility established in the former Belk space. Its inclusion reflects the redevelopment strategy of replacing underused department-store and retail space with sports, recreation, and experiential uses.
Public-sector and education space
Civic and educational facilities
Parts of the former mall have been converted into government and educational uses, including county offices, courthouse and board-of-elections space, a library, and planned facilities associated with Central Georgia Technical College and Middle Georgia State University.
Marketing campaigns
- 2009Art Space
Macon, Georgia
Macon Mall introduced Art Space, an arts-oriented mall occupancy concept intended to bring creative activity into underused retail space during the property's decline.
Outcome. The initiative did not halt the continuing loss of retailers and the mall's broader deterioration.
Brand decisions
2024
Open the Atrium Health Amphitheater and Rhythm & Rally facilityProduct launchBackground
The county's redevelopment strategy sought to replace declining retail traffic with entertainment, recreation, and civic uses.
Action taken
The Atrium Health Amphitheater opened, and Rhythm & Rally began operating in the former Belk space.
Aftermath
Macon Mall's redevelopment became more visibly oriented toward events, sports, public services, and mixed-use activity.
2021
Transfer ownership to Macon-Bibb CountyM&ABackground
The property had become severely underoccupied and was no longer functioning primarily as a conventional regional mall.
Action taken
Hull Property Group donated the mall to Macon-Bibb County, which announced a proposed redevelopment involving public, educational, entertainment, and recreational uses.
Aftermath
The property entered a civic-led redevelopment phase, including the opening of an amphitheater and a major pickleball facility.
Announced redevelopment investment. $100 million announced investment (2021 announcement)
2011
Reduce the physical footprint through demolition and renovationStrategyBackground
After foreclosure, anchor departures, and extensive tenant losses, the mall had more space than its remaining retail demand could support.
Action taken
Hull Storey Gibson demolished the east wing and renovated the retained section with new interior finishes, skylights, restrooms, and circulation changes.
Aftermath
The smaller mall continued to lose tenants, although new uses and restaurants were introduced.
1997
Expand the mall and add upscale anchorsStrategyBackground
Macon Mall had been one of Georgia's largest malls for years and sought to reinforce its regional dominance through a major expansion.
Action taken
The property nearly doubled in scale, added Dillard's and Parisian, built parking garages, and expanded its food-court facilities.
Aftermath
The expansion briefly made Macon Mall the largest mall in Georgia, but later competition and anchor departures left much of the new wing vacant.
Sources1 sources
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