Mall at Johnson City

The Mall at Johnson City is an enclosed shopping mall serving Johnson City and the wider Tri-Cities area of northeastern Tennessee. The property opened on March 17, 1971, under the original name Miracle Mall Shopping Center. At its opening, it was described as the second mall in the Tri-Cities region and operated as a one-story center with a combination of department-store, grocery, drugstore, variety-store, local retail, and entertainment uses. Original or early tenants included Sears, Britt's Department Stores, Kroger, SupeRx Drugs, McCrory, and a movie theater. The property expanded substantially during the early 1980s. A new upper-level addition was built at the Sears end of the mall, and JCPenney relocated from downtown Johnson City into the center in 1983. Miller's Department Store also joined the expanded complex. The construction introduced additional circulation between levels, including escalators and an elevator, and changed the mall from its initial single-level configuration into a larger, multi-level retail destination. Kroger eventually left the mall for a freestanding location across the street, while Piccadilly later occupied part of the former grocery space. During the 1990s, the mall underwent further growth and renovation. Miller's was converted to Hess's, which later closed after the department-store chain entered bankruptcy. A food court was added on the lower level, and the former theater area was redeveloped for a new department-store anchor. Proffitt's opened in that space in 1992. Local department-store relationships also reshaped the tenant mix: Parks-Belk was acquired by Proffitt's in 1994, leading to changes among the mall's Belk and Proffitt's locations. The former Proffitt's home-store space was subsequently leased to Goody's Family Clothing. Glimcher Realty acquired the mall in 1996 for a reported $44 million, according to the referenced historical account. The 2000s brought another major redevelopment program. Space formerly associated with Kroger and Piccadilly was demolished or reconfigured to accommodate Dick's Sporting Goods. Several inline tenants, including American Eagle Outfitters and GameStop, were relocated during the work. JCPenney was expanded to roughly twice its prior size, and the interior underwent a broad renovation. Goody's closed in January 2008 after announcing that it would not renew its lease; its former premises were converted into a corridor leading to a new wing. Forever 21 opened a large store in fall 2009, while other specialty retailers were moved or resized as the mall adjusted its layout. Roadway entrances and traffic circulation were also improved. The former Ruby Tuesday restaurant space was later combined with adjacent vacant space for a Charming Charlie store, which opened in early 2011. The mall's anchor portfolio continued to evolve as department-store consolidation affected the American retail sector. Proffitt's stores were converted to Belk locations after Belk acquired Proffitt's in 2006, leaving Belk as a principal department-store presence at the property. Sears, one of the mall's original major anchors, announced in September 2019 that it would close its store. The Sears location shut on January 5, 2020. In January 2020, HomeGoods was announced as the planned replacement for the former Sears space, with an expected opening in fall 2021. The mall is managed by Spinoso Real Estate Group and is described as having more than 90 stores, a food court, and anchors or major tenants including Dick's Sporting Goods, HomeGoods, Belk, and JCPenney. Its positioning is that of a conventional enclosed regional mall combining department stores, national specialty retailers, food service, and community-oriented shopping in the Tri-Cities market.

The Mall at Johnson City opened on March 17, 1971, as Miracle Mall Shopping Center. It was developed as an enclosed retail center for Johnson City and the surrounding Tri-Cities market, and was regarded at the time as the area's second mall. The original one-story complex included Sears, Britt's Department Stores, Kroger, SupeRx Drugs, McCrory, a movie theater, and several retailers associated with the local area. Its tenant mix reflected the broad shopping-center model of the period, combining department-store shopping with grocery, pharmacy, variety retail, entertainment, and food service. The first major physical transformation came in the early 1980s. An upper-level addition was constructed at the Sears end, creating space for JCPenney and Miller's Department Store. JCPenney moved from downtown Johnson City into the mall in 1983. The expansion also improved movement between the mall's levels through escalators and an elevator. Kroger departed its mall location for a freestanding store across the street, and Piccadilly later occupied part of the former grocery space. The property expanded again in the 1990s as Johnson City and the surrounding region grew. Miller's became Hess's, although the Hess's location later closed following the chain's bankruptcy. A substantial renovation added a lower-level food court and reused the former theater area for a new department-store anchor. Proffitt's opened there in 1992. Changes in regional department-store ownership also altered the anchor lineup: Parks-Belk was acquired by Proffitt's in 1994, and the resulting locations were reorganized under Proffitt's and related formats. The former Proffitt's home-store space later became a Goody's Family Clothing store. In 1996, Glimcher Realty purchased the mall for a reported $44 million. A new redevelopment cycle began in the 2000s. The former Kroger and Piccadilly area was removed or substantially reconfigured to make room for Dick's Sporting Goods. Inline stores such as American Eagle Outfitters and GameStop were moved during the project. JCPenney was enlarged, and the mall's interior received extensive cosmetic and functional improvements. Goody's announced in late 2007 that it would not renew its lease and closed in January 2008. Its former store area became a new access corridor and wing. In 2008, several specialty tenants, including Bath & Body Works, White Barn Candle Co., Victoria's Secret, and Fanatics 101, were relocated or consolidated to support a larger Victoria's Secret and PINK store. Nisas Collections opened in May 2008, while JCPenney's addition opened in June and the wider renovation was completed later that fall. Forever 21 opened a large store in fall 2009. Other changes included the closure of Ritz Camera, temporary relocation of GNC, road-entry improvements, and the closure of Ruby Tuesday in January 2009. The former Ruby Tuesday space was later combined with adjacent vacant space for Charming Charlie, which opened in early 2011. The mall's department-store identity continued to be shaped by acquisitions. Belk acquired Proffitt's in 2006, converting the relevant Proffitt's locations into Belk stores and restoring Belk to a prominent position in the local retail lineup. By the late 2010s, the principal anchor group included JCPenney, Sears, Belk, and Dick's Sporting Goods. Sears announced on September 20, 2019, that its Mall at Johnson City store would close. The closure occurred on January 5, 2020, ending a nearly five-decade run for an original anchor. On January 29, 2020, HomeGoods was announced as the planned replacement for the Sears space, with an expected fall 2021 opening. The mall is managed by Spinoso Real Estate Group and is described as an active enclosed center with more than 90 stores, a food court, and a mix of department, specialty, sporting-goods, and home-furnishing tenants.

• 2020

  Sears closes and HomeGoods is announced

  [1]The Mall at Johnson Cityen.wikipedia.org

  Sears closed on January 5, and HomeGoods was announced later that month as the planned replacement tenant.

• 2019

  Sears closure announced

  [1]The Mall at Johnson Cityen.wikipedia.org

  Sears announced that its Mall at Johnson City location would close in early 2020.

• 2009

  Forever 21 opens

  [1]The Mall at Johnson Cityen.wikipedia.org

  Forever 21 opened a large store in the mall's expanded wing.

• 2008

  JCPenney expansion and interior redevelopment completed

  [1]The Mall at Johnson Cityen.wikipedia.org

  A major renovation enlarged JCPenney, reorganized specialty retail space, and created a corridor leading to a new wing.

• 2006

  Proffitt's locations convert to Belk

  [1]The Mall at Johnson Cityen.wikipedia.org

  Belk's acquisition of Proffitt's led to the conversion of the mall's Proffitt's-related department-store locations.

• 1996

  Glimcher Realty acquires the mall

  [1]The Mall at Johnson Cityen.wikipedia.org

  Glimcher Realty purchased the property in a transaction reported at $44 million.

• 1992

  Proffitt's opens in former theater area

  [1]The Mall at Johnson Cityen.wikipedia.org

  A renovated portion of the property, including the former theater area, was used for a new Proffitt's anchor.

• 1983

  JCPenney relocates from downtown

  [1]The Mall at Johnson Cityen.wikipedia.org

  An early-1980s expansion added an upper level and brought JCPenney from downtown Johnson City into the mall.

• 1971

  Mall opens as Miracle Mall Shopping Center

  [1]The Mall at Johnson Cityen.wikipedia.org

  The enclosed shopping center opened on March 17 with Sears, Britt's, Kroger, SupeRx Drugs, McCrory, a movie theater, and other retailers.

A traditional enclosed regional shopping mall serving Johnson City and the broader Tri-Cities market, combining department-store anchors, national specialty retailers, food service, and convenience-oriented shopping in a centrally located retail property.

• Department store · 2006

  Belk

  Belk represents the mall's principal department-store offering following the conversion of Proffitt's locations after Belk acquired Proffitt's in 2006. The mall historically maintained separate or differentiated Belk-related spaces for women's merchandise and for men's, children's, and home goods.

• Department store · 1983

  JCPenney

  JCPenney relocated from downtown Johnson City to the mall in 1983 as part of an early expansion. Its premises were substantially enlarged during the 2000s redevelopment, making it one of the center's major anchors.

• Sporting-goods retailer

  Dick's Sporting Goods

  Dick's Sporting Goods was introduced during the mall's 2000s redevelopment. It occupies space associated with the former Kroger, SupeRx, and Piccadilly uses and provides sporting equipment, apparel, footwear, and related outdoor merchandise.

• Home furnishings retailer · 2021

  HomeGoods

  HomeGoods was announced as the intended replacement for the former Sears anchor space after Sears closed in January 2020. The retailer's planned role was to add a major home-furnishings and décor destination to the mall's anchor lineup.

• Food service

  Food court

  The lower-level food court was added during the mall's 1990s renovation. It complements the center's retail anchors by providing a shared dining area for shoppers and visitors.

• 2020

  HomeGoods selected for former Sears spaceProduct launch

  Background

  Following Sears's departure, the mall needed a replacement anchor capable of occupying a large department-store-format space.

  Action taken

  HomeGoods was announced on January 29, 2020, as the planned tenant for the former Sears location, with an expected fall 2021 opening.

  Aftermath

  The announcement preserved a major anchor use for the former Sears premises and broadened the center's home-furnishings offer.

  Source

• 2019

  Sears anchor closureOther

  Background

  Sears announced the closure of its Mall at Johnson City store amid the retailer's broader store-reduction program.

  Action taken

  The Sears location was scheduled to close on January 5, 2020, and subsequently shut on that date.

  Aftermath

  The closure ended the mall's original Sears anchor presence and created a large vacant anchor box for redevelopment.

  Source

• 2000

  Redevelopment adds Dick's Sporting Goods and reorganizes the mallStrategy

  Background

  The mall sought to update its physical plant and tenant mix during a period of changing consumer patterns and anchor-retail consolidation.

  Action taken

  Former Kroger and Piccadilly areas were redeveloped for Dick's Sporting Goods, inline tenants were relocated, JCPenney was expanded, and interior and roadway improvements were undertaken.

  Aftermath

  The work created a larger sporting-goods anchor, a new access corridor and wing, and a substantially refreshed shopping environment.

  Source

1. 1The Mall at Johnson Cityen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Mall at Johnson City official websitemallatjohnsoncity.com