Madison Square Mall
Former enclosed shopping mall in Huntsville, Alabama, which operated from 1984 until 2017.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Madison Square Mall was an enclosed shopping mall in Huntsville, Alabama, United States. It opened on August 1, 1984, at the intersection of University Drive and Research Park Boulevard and became the largest shopping center in the city, with more than 929,000 square feet of retail space and approximately 120 stores at its peak. The mall was developed as a major regional retail destination and originally included JCPenney, Parisian, Castner Knott, Pizitz, and Sears as anchor stores, along with junior anchors such as Yielding and Blach's. The mall reflected several important changes in American department-store retail. Blach's closed during the late 1980s and was replaced by The Limited and Victoria's Secret. Pizitz was acquired by McRae's in 1988, and the resulting store later became part of Belk after Belk acquired McRae's. Castner Knott was acquired by Dillard's in 1998. Other spaces were successively occupied by retailers and entertainment businesses, including Steve & Barry's, while the wider complex contained a hotel, restaurants, and a cinema. Belk moved from the former McRae's location into the larger former Parisian space in 2007, but later departed for Bridge Street Town Centre in 2014. Madison Square Mall underwent renovations in 1994 and 2006. In the years after the second renovation, however, the property faced declining traffic, competition from newer shopping and lifestyle developments, tenant departures, and concerns about crime. A 2012 disturbance connected with the release of Nike Air Jordan shoes attracted police attention, and later incidents in the parking area further affected the mall's public image. The Food Network pilot Food Court Wars was also filmed at the property; its winning vendor, Kettle N' Spouts, received a year of rent valued at $100,000 but closed several months after the episode aired. CBL & Associates Properties owned the mall until selling it to The Grove Huntsville LLC for $5 million in April 2015. The purchaser planned a major redevelopment, eventually known as MidCity District. Demolition plans generated opposition from some property stakeholders, particularly Touchstar Cinemas, whose petition sought to preserve the theater. The redevelopment plan was revised to accommodate the cinema temporarily, although the theater later closed in 2021. Mall liquidation began in 2016. JCPenney announced a January 28, 2017 closing, while Sears announced that it would close the following day and potentially return to the future development in a smaller format. Madison Square Mall permanently closed on January 29, 2017, and demolition began on February 6. Demolition concluded around June of that year. The site was subsequently transformed into MidCity District, a mixed-use entertainment, dining, retail, residential, and hospitality development whose early attractions included Topgolf and The Camp at MidCity. The former mall therefore survives primarily as the geographic and commercial predecessor of a broader redevelopment rather than as an operating retail brand.
History
Madison Square Mall opened in Huntsville, Alabama, on August 1, 1984. Built at the junction of University Drive and Research Park Boulevard, it was designed as a large regional enclosed mall and became the largest shopping center in the city. Its initial anchor lineup included JCPenney, Parisian, Castner Knott, Pizitz, and Sears, with Sears relocating from the former Heart of Huntsville Mall. Yielding and Blach's served as junior anchors. The property covered more than 929,000 square feet and remained Huntsville's oldest surviving enclosed mall after the Heart of Huntsville Mall closed. The tenant mix changed substantially over the following decades. Blach's closed by 1987 and its space was later occupied by The Limited and Victoria's Secret. Pizitz was acquired by McRae's in 1988, and the store subsequently became part of Belk after Belk acquired McRae's. Castner Knott was acquired by Dillard's in 1998. Yielding left the mall around 1993. The former Castner Knott/Dillard's space was used for menswear and later by Steve & Barry's until 2008. In 2007, Belk relocated from the former McRae's premises to the larger former Parisian store and remodeled it. The former McRae's building then remained vacant. Belk eventually moved to Bridge Street Town Centre in late 2014. The mall was renovated in 1994 and again in 2006. Its wider complex included a Holiday Inn, Steak 'n Shake, and Touchstar Cinemas, as well as former restaurants such as Romano's Macaroni Grill and Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon. The property reached approximately 120 stores in 2011, but its competitive position weakened after the second renovation. Reduced foot traffic, tenant relocations, newer retail developments, and concerns about crime contributed to a long decline. In December 2012, police used pepper spray during a disturbance associated with a Nike Air Jordan release. A 2014 video showed a Belk employee confronting a suspected shoplifter in the parking lot, and a woman was robbed at gunpoint there in 2015. Ownership and redevelopment became central to the mall's final years. CBL & Associates Properties sold the property to The Grove Huntsville LLC for $5 million in April 2015. The new ownership proposed replacing the mall with a mixed-use development. The redevelopment encountered negotiations with Sears, JCPenney, and Touchstar Cinemas. Touchstar began a petition in June 2016 seeking to prevent demolition of its theater property; the petition reportedly exceeded 1,000 signatures within a day. City officials indicated that the theater would initially be accommodated in revised plans. Liquidation began during the summer of 2016. JCPenney announced that it would close on January 28, 2017, and Sears announced a January 29 closing date while indicating that it might return to the replacement development in a smaller store. After these closures, Madison Square Mall permanently closed on January 29, 2017. Demolition commenced on February 6 and was substantially complete by June. The successor project, first presented as MidCity Huntsville and later renamed MidCity District, introduced a different model centered on entertainment, restaurants, retail, housing, and public gathering spaces. Early elements included The Camp at MidCity and Topgolf, which opened in 2017. High Point Climbing and Fitness, Dave & Buster's, REI, Trader Joe's, and other businesses followed. Touchstar's Madison Square 12 eventually closed on May 2, 2021, and was demolished later. Madison Square Mall is therefore a defunct retail property whose former site became one of Huntsville's major mixed-use redevelopment districts.
- 2021
Final cinema remnant closes
[1]Touchstar's Madison Square 12 closed permanently on May 2 and was later demolished.
- 2017
Mall closes and demolition begins
[1]The mall closed on January 29, demolition began on February 6, and the replacement development proceeded on the site.
- 2015
Ownership changes
[1]The property was sold by CBL & Associates Properties to The Grove Huntsville LLC for $5 million.
- 2014
Belk departs
[1]Belk left Madison Square Mall for Bridge Street Town Centre in late 2014.
- 2011
Peak store count
[1]The mall reached approximately 120 stores at its reported peak.
- 2006
Second major renovation
[1]A second major renovation was completed as the mall sought to maintain its regional retail position.
- 1994
First major renovation
[1]The mall underwent its first reported major renovation.
- 1984
Mall opens
[1]Madison Square Mall opened on August 1 with five principal anchors and several junior anchors.
Products and positioning
A large regional enclosed shopping mall serving Huntsville and surrounding communities, positioned around department-store anchors, specialty retail, dining, and entertainment. In its later years, it struggled against newer lifestyle centers, changing shopping habits, declining traffic, and security concerns.
Shopping center · 1984
Enclosed regional shopping mall
Madison Square Mall's core offering was a large enclosed retail environment serving Huntsville and nearby communities. It combined department-store anchors, specialty shops, apparel retailers, restaurants, and entertainment facilities in a single regional destination.
Department stores · 1984
Department-store anchor portfolio
The mall's principal anchors over its operating life included Sears, JCPenney, Parisian, Pizitz, McRae's, Belk, Castner Knott, and Dillard's. These stores supplied broad ranges of apparel, home goods, beauty products, accessories, and general merchandise.
Entertainment
Touchstar Cinemas Madison Square 12
The cinema was an entertainment component of the Madison Square complex and became the last significant remnant associated with the former mall after the main building was demolished. It closed in 2021.
Marketing campaigns
- Food Court Wars filming and tenant promotion
United States
The pilot episode of the Food Network program Food Court Wars was filmed at Madison Square Mall. The winning food vendor, Kettle N' Spouts, received one year of rent-free occupancy.
Outcome. The prize was reported as having a value of $100,000, but Kettle N' Spouts closed approximately six months after the episode aired.
Brand decisions
2016
Liquidation and redevelopment transitionStrategyBackground
The property owner planned to replace the enclosed mall with a mixed-use development, while anchor stores and the cinema had separate property interests.
Action taken
Mall stores began liquidation, and redevelopment plans were revised in response to concerns surrounding Sears, JCPenney, and Touchstar Cinemas.
Aftermath
The mall closed in January 2017 and was demolished over the following months.
- Touchstar Cinemas — Touchstar sought to prevent demolition of its cinema property and circulated a petition opposing the initial plans.
2015
Sale to The Grove Huntsville LLCM&ABackground
The aging mall faced declining traffic, tenant departures, and competition from newer retail developments.
Action taken
CBL & Associates Properties sold the property to The Grove Huntsville LLC for $5 million.
Aftermath
The buyer pursued redevelopment of the site, ultimately creating the MidCity District mixed-use project.
Sale price. $5 million (April 2015)
Recent events
- 2017
Madison Square Mall permanently closes[1]
Other
The mall closed on January 29 after the final anchor stores departed. Demolition began the following month.
- 2016
Mall begins liquidation[1]
Other
Retail liquidation began as the property moved toward permanent closure and redevelopment.
- 2016
Sears and JCPenney announce final closures[1]
Leadership change · Other
JCPenney and Sears announced January 2017 closing dates, leaving Sears as the final operating anchor before the mall shut.
- 2015
Madison Square Mall sold to The Grove Huntsville LLC[1]
M&A
CBL & Associates Properties sold the mall for $5 million to a buyer planning to redevelop the property.
- 2012
Nike Air Jordan release triggers disturbance[1]
Other
A disturbance connected with demand for a new Nike Air Jordan release required police intervention involving pepper spray; no arrests were reported.
- 1984
Madison Square Mall opens in Huntsville[1]
Other
The enclosed mall opened on August 1 with five major anchor stores and several junior anchors, becoming Huntsville's principal regional shopping destination.
Food Court Wars pilot filmed at the mall[1]
Campaign · Other
The Food Network pilot was filmed at Madison Square Mall. Kettle N' Spouts won a year of free rent but closed several months after the episode aired.
Sources2 sources
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