McFarland Mall

McFarland Mall was a regional enclosed shopping mall on Skyland Boulevard in the southern part of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Positioned near the Interstate 20/59 interchange and McFarland Boulevard, the mall served as one of the principal retail centers in the Tuscaloosa area for more than five decades. It opened on February 19, 1969, replacing Woods Square Shopping Center and Leland Shopping Center as the area's main commercial retail destination. The approximately 497,000-square-foot, L-shaped complex was developed by Ward Wharton McFarland and James Hinton at an estimated cost of $4.5 million. Brandon Crawford and Associates of Birmingham designed the mall, N.C. Morgan Construction Company served as general contractor, and McGiffert and Associates provided engineering services. At opening, the center contained about 30 stores and two principal anchors, Gayfers and Woolco. Winn-Dixie operated in an out-parcel, while the initial tenant mix included apparel, shoes, furniture, appliances, gifts, banking, food, personal services, entertainment, and a post office. McFarland Mall expanded and changed substantially over time. Gayfers added a second story in 1975. Woolco closed in 1983 and was replaced by Zayre, whose space was later divided among smaller occupants after Zayre's 1989 demise. Renovations in 1980 and 1993 modernized the property. The 1993 work added a 320-seat food court beneath a large atrium and created an anchor space occupied by Goody's Family Clothing. Other notable occupants over the years included Pizitz, T.J. Maxx, Heilig-Meyers, Michaels, Shoe Station, Books-A-Million, and a Fox 12 movie theater. The opening of the larger University Mall in 1980 increased competitive pressure, but McFarland Mall continued operating for roughly three more decades. Its later decline accelerated during the 2000s after anchor closures. Dillard's, which had acquired Gayfers in 1998, closed its McFarland Mall location in 2008, and Goody's closed the following year. T.J. Maxx became the final major interior anchor. The former Dillard's wing was closed to the public in 2010. The McFarland family retained ownership through 2009, when Tuscaloosa developer Stan Pate purchased the property from Ward McFarland, Inc. Subsequent plans shifted between renovation, partial redevelopment, demolition, and replacement construction. A 2012 proposal envisioned a substantially redeveloped property called Encore Tuscaloosa, with restaurants and additional retail. Some associated projects moved forward, including a Cheddar's Casual Café, but the broader mall redevelopment did not materialize as originally proposed. Interior occupancy continued to contract. Books-A-Million closed in 2013, and retailers including T.J. Maxx and Shoe Station later relocated to nearby McFarland Plaza. Demolition began with the former Dillard's building in 2014, resumed with additional sections in 2020 and 2021, and concluded with the former Goody's building in 2022. The former mall site subsequently hosted limited reuse, including seasonal and independent commercial activity. In 2024, Pate announced that earlier sportsplex plans had been abandoned in favor of a new shopping-center concept involving retail, hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, and ice-cream shops. The last operating business identified at the mall, Dollar Tree, closed in July 2025, and the remaining building was demolished the following month. McFarland Mall is therefore best understood as a defunct shopping-center brand and demolished property whose site is intended for redevelopment.

McFarland Mall opened at 9:30 a.m. on February 19, 1969, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The opening ceremony included Mayor George Van Tassel and Tuscaloosa County Probate Judge John Puryear, while Mary Katherine Hinton and Elizabeth Russell Hinton, daughters of co-developer James Hinton, cut the ribbon. The mall was developed by Ward Wharton McFarland and James Hinton and was intended to replace Woods Square Shopping Center and Leland Shopping Center as Tuscaloosa's principal retail destination. The one-story, L-shaped mall covered approximately 497,000 square feet. Brandon Crawford and Associates designed the project, N.C. Morgan Construction Company built it, and McGiffert and Associates handled engineering. Its opening roster included roughly 30 stores, among them Gayfers, Woolco, Pizitz, the Alabama Beverage Control store, City National Bank, Orange Julius, a post office, clothing and shoe stores, furniture and appliance retailers, and various personal-service businesses. Winn-Dixie operated in an out-parcel, and additional restaurants, entertainment, and service tenants were scheduled to open after the initial launch. Ward Morrow McFarland was appointed mall manager. The property changed as the American shopping-center industry evolved. Gayfers added a second floor in 1975, making it the mall's only two-story tenant. Woolco closed in 1983 and its anchor space was taken by Zayre. After Zayre ceased operations in 1989, the space was subdivided among several smaller businesses, including Jefferson Home Furniture, later Heilig-Meyers, T.J. Maxx, and Drug Mart. Renovations in 1980 and 1993 refreshed the complex and expanded its entertainment and food-service offer. The 1993 renovation introduced a 320-seat food court beneath a large atrium and added a new anchor space occupied by Goody's Family Clothing. Drug Mart later became Shoe Station, and a crafts store that subsequently became Michaels was added. The opening of University Mall in 1980 created a larger and newer competitor in the Tuscaloosa market. McFarland Mall nonetheless remained viable for many years, reaching a peak configuration of four anchors, approximately 40 stores, a food court, and a 12-screen theater. Its performance weakened during the 2000s. The Fox 12 movie theater closed in 2004. Dillard's, following its acquisition of Gayfers in 1998, closed the mall location in 2008, and Goody's followed in 2009. The former Dillard's wing was closed in 2010, leaving T.J. Maxx as the principal remaining interior anchor. Ownership also changed in 2009, when Stan Pate purchased the property from Ward McFarland, Inc. The new ownership considered alternatives ranging from renovation to complete demolition and replacement. In December 2012, plans were announced for a project called Encore Tuscaloosa. The proposal contemplated removal of most of the existing mall, including the former Dillard's building, and the addition of restaurants and new retail. Cheddar's Casual Café opened in April 2013, but Books-A-Million closed that May and the full redevelopment vision did not proceed as initially described. Demolition of the former Dillard's anchor began in March 2014. By 2015, only a small number of interior and exterior tenants remained. T.J. Maxx moved to McFarland Plaza in March 2016, and Shoe Station also relocated to the nearby center. Other portions of the former mall were used intermittently by independent businesses and seasonal operators. Spirit Halloween occupied the former Sticks 'N' Stuff space for several years before moving to University Mall in 2020. A further demolition phase began in December 2020 with the former Chili's area. Demolition of the old Woolco wing followed in February 2021, and the former Goody's building was removed in April 2022. In 2024, Stan Pate said that a previously discussed sportsplex would not be built and that a new shopping-center concept was being considered instead. The stated concept included retail, hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, and ice-cream shops. Dollar Tree, described as the last operating business at the mall, closed in July 2025; the remaining mall building was demolished the next month. The original McFarland Mall consequently ceased to exist as a retail facility, although its site remains associated with proposed redevelopment.

• 2025

  Final building demolished

  [1]McFarland Mallen.wikipedia.org

  After Dollar Tree closed, the remaining building was demolished and the former mall site was cleared.

• 2024

  Replacement shopping-center concept announced

  [1]McFarland Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The owner said a proposed sportsplex had been scrapped in favor of a new shopping-center concept.

• 2022

  Former Goody's building demolished

  [1]McFarland Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The demolition phase concluded with removal of the former Goody's building.

• 2020

  Demolition resumes

  [1]McFarland Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Demolition restarted with the former Chili's area; the former Woolco wing was removed in the following year.

• 2016

  T.J. Maxx relocates

  [1]McFarland Mallen.wikipedia.org

  T.J. Maxx left the mall for a location at McFarland Plaza, substantially reducing the remaining interior tenancy.

• 2014

  Former Dillard's wing demolished

  [1]McFarland Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Demolition began on the former Dillard's anchor building.

• 2013

  Encore Tuscaloosa redevelopment begins unevenly

  [1]McFarland Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Cheddar's opened as part of the redevelopment effort, while Books-A-Million closed soon afterward.

• 2009

  Ownership changes

  [1]McFarland Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Stan Pate purchased the property from Ward McFarland, Inc., ending the McFarland family's ownership.

• 2008

  Dillard's closes

  [1]McFarland Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Dillard's location closed, removing one of the mall's major anchors.

• 1998

  Gayfers becomes part of Dillard's

  [1]McFarland Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Dillard's acquired Gayfers, bringing the mall's long-standing department-store anchor under the Dillard's name.

• 1993

  Food court and Goody's anchor added

  [1]McFarland Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A major renovation added a 320-seat food court beneath an atrium and created an anchor space for Goody's Family Clothing.

• 1983

  Woolco closes

  [1]McFarland Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Woolco closed and its anchor space was replaced by Zayre.

• 1980

  Major renovation and new competition

  [1]McFarland Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The mall underwent significant renovation, while the larger University Mall opened in Tuscaloosa and increased competitive pressure.

• 1975

  Gayfers expands

  [1]McFarland Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Gayfers added a second floor and became the mall's only two-story tenant.

• 1969

  Mall opens

  [1]McFarland Mallen.wikipedia.org

  McFarland Mall opened in Tuscaloosa on February 19 with Gayfers and Woolco as its principal anchors and approximately 30 stores.

A regional enclosed shopping mall serving Tuscaloosa and surrounding communities, positioned as a broad-based retail and services destination before competition from newer shopping centers and changing retail patterns led to decline.

• Retail property · 1969

  Enclosed shopping mall

  McFarland Mall's core offering was a regional enclosed retail environment serving Tuscaloosa and nearby communities. At its height, the property accommodated approximately 40 stores, multiple anchor spaces, a food court, and a 12-screen movie theater. Its tenant mix combined department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, entertainment, and services rather than representing a single merchandise category.

• Department-store retail · 1969

  Anchor department stores

  Anchor tenants provided the mall's principal traffic drivers over successive periods. Gayfers and Woolco opened with the mall, while later anchor or major-space occupants included Zayre, Goody's Family Clothing, and Dillard's. Changes in this group reflected wider shifts in department-store ownership, discount retail, and enclosed-mall economics.

• Food service · 1993

  Food court

  The 1993 renovation added a 320-seat food court beneath a large atrium. It expanded the mall's role beyond shopping by providing a shared dining and gathering area for visitors and employees.

• Entertainment

  Fox 12 movie theater

  A 12-screen movie theater operated as part of the mall's entertainment offer. The Fox 12 theater later closed in 2004 as the property entered a period of long-term decline.

• 2024

  New shopping-center replacement planStrategy

  Background

  The original mall was substantially demolished, and the earlier sportsplex proposal was no longer being pursued.

  Action taken

  The owner announced a replacement shopping-center concept featuring retail, hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, and ice-cream shops.

  Aftermath

  The announcement established a new intended use for the former mall site, but the supplied reference does not document completion of the project.

  Source

• 2020

  Sportsplex redevelopment conceptStrategy

  Background

  Most of the original mall had already been removed or was no longer functioning as a conventional enclosed shopping center.

  Action taken

  Stan Pate pursued a plan to build a sportsplex on the former mall site while demolition continued.

  Aftermath

  The sportsplex concept was later abandoned in favor of a proposed new shopping-center development.

  Source

• 2014

  Partial demolition and site transitionStrategy

  Background

  The former Dillard's wing had been closed after the anchor's departure, while only limited mall tenancy remained.

  Action taken

  Demolition began on the former Dillard's anchor building.

  Aftermath

  The property continued to lose interior tenants, with T.J. Maxx and Shoe Station later relocating to McFarland Plaza.

  Source

• 2012

  Encore Tuscaloosa redevelopment proposalStrategy

  Background

  The mall had lost major anchors and was experiencing a prolonged decline in occupancy and commercial relevance.

  Action taken

  The owner announced a plan to demolish most of the mall, including the former Dillard's building, and replace or supplement it with restaurants and new retail under the Encore Tuscaloosa name.

  Aftermath

  Cheddar's opened in 2013, but the broader redevelopment did not proceed as originally proposed; Books-A-Million closed that year.

  Source

• 2009

  Sale to Stan PateM&A

  Background

  The mall had remained under McFarland family ownership through a period of weakening occupancy and increasing competition from newer retail centers.

  Action taken

  Stan Pate purchased the property from Ward McFarland, Inc.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition ended the family's association with the property and led to consideration of renovation, demolition, and replacement-development alternatives.

  Source

1. 1McFarland Mallen.wikipedia.org