Mercer Mall
A regional shopping mall serving Bluefield and the surrounding Mercer County area of West Virginia.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Mercer Mall is a regional shopping center in Bluefield, West Virginia, serving communities in the southern West Virginia area and nearby parts of the surrounding region. The mall opened in 1980 with a conventional department-store-led format anchored by Sears, J. C. Penney, Montgomery Ward, Stone & Thomas, and Leggett, the predecessor to one of the mall's later Belk stores. Its tenant mix has changed repeatedly as department-store chains exited the market, were acquired, or were replaced by value-oriented and specialty retailers. The center's history reflects the broader evolution of American enclosed malls. Montgomery Ward left in 1987, after which its space was occupied by Hills and later Ames. Stone & Thomas was sold to Elder-Beerman in 1998, but Elder-Beerman did not continue operating the Bluefield location. Belk subsequently acquired the space and used it for men's apparel and home merchandise. The mall's former Ames location later housed Carolina Pottery, Steve & Barry's, and ultimately Roses, illustrating a shift from traditional department stores toward discount, off-price, and general-merchandise formats. Belk also operated another location at the property, but that store closed and its space became a Hobby Lobby in 2014. Sears announced the closure of its Mercer Mall store in 2014, and Rural King opened in the former Sears premises on February 18, 2017. This conversion added a large-format rural lifestyle and farm-supply retailer to the center's tenant base. Other reported tenants include J. C. Penney, Belk, Roses, Rural King, Hobby Lobby, and Five Below, alongside additional stores and service businesses. Entertainment has been another part of the property’s identity. A Carmike Cinemas theater operated in a separate building at the mall until AMC Theatres announced a takeover in 2016. AMC Classic later announced that the theater would close on February 27, 2023. In May 2023, Golden Ticket Cinema acquired the theater space, although an opening date had not been announced in the reference material. In October 2024, the mall announced that Five Below would occupy the former FYE location, with an opening planned for November 2024. The change continued the center's repositioning toward value retail and younger, trend-focused merchandise. The mall is described in reference material as having approximately 70 store areas, although only about 35 stores were reported as operating at the time of that account. The same material reported full occupancy and a lengthy waiting list, but these claims are not independently quantified here. Mercer Mall is managed by Ershig Properties. No reliable public information was provided about its ownership structure, financial performance, or corporate listing status.
History
Mercer Mall opened in 1980 in Bluefield, West Virginia, as a conventional enclosed regional shopping mall anchored by several major department stores. Its original anchor lineup included Sears, J. C. Penney, Montgomery Ward, Stone & Thomas, and Leggett. The opening format reflected the dominant American mall model of the period, in which large department stores generated regular visitation while smaller inline tenants supplied apparel, accessories, services, and specialty merchandise. The property began changing as its original anchors disappeared or changed ownership. Montgomery Ward closed its Mercer Mall store in 1987. The vacant space was subsequently occupied by Hills, and Hills was later sold to Ames in 1999. Ames closed in 2000, after which the space became Carolina Pottery. Carolina Pottery closed in 2006 and was replaced by Steve & Barry's. Following Steve & Barry's closure, Roses moved into the space in 2009, giving the mall a discount-oriented general-merchandise anchor. Stone & Thomas was sold to Elder-Beerman in 1998. Elder-Beerman chose not to continue the Bluefield operation, and Belk purchased the former store space. Belk used the premises for men's clothing and home goods. A second Belk location at the mall later closed, and that space became a Hobby Lobby in 2014. The sequence demonstrates how the property moved from a department-store-heavy tenant base toward a mixture of specialty, discount, craft, and home-related retail. Sears announced the closure of its Mercer Mall location in 2014. Rural King subsequently opened in the former Sears space on February 18, 2017. Rural King's arrival broadened the center's draw beyond conventional mall shopping by adding farm supplies, rural-lifestyle merchandise, outdoor products, and related general goods. Other continuing or reported major tenants include J. C. Penney, Belk, Roses, Hobby Lobby, Five Below, and additional stores. The mall also included a separate cinema building. Carmike Cinemas operated the theater until AMC Theatres announced that it would take over the facility in 2016. AMC Classic later announced the theater's closure on February 27, 2023. Golden Ticket Cinema acquired the space in May 2023, although the reference material did not state a confirmed reopening date. In October 2024, Five Below was announced as a replacement for the former FYE location, with an opening planned for November 2024. This addition fits the mall's ongoing movement toward value retail and younger consumer segments. Reference material describes the property as having approximately 70 store areas, while also reporting that only about 35 stores were operating at the time of the account. It additionally characterized the mall as fully occupied with a long waiting list, though those occupancy claims are not independently documented in the supplied sources. Mercer Mall is managed by Ershig Properties. Ownership, founding personnel, financial results, and any formal corporate parent were not identified in the available material.
- 2024
Five Below location announced
[1]Five Below is announced as the planned replacement for the former FYE location, with an expected November opening.
- 2023
Cinema ownership changes
[1]AMC Classic announces closure of the theater, and Golden Ticket Cinema acquires the space in May.
- 2017
Rural King opens
[1]Rural King opens in the former Sears location on February 18.
- 2016
AMC announces cinema takeover
[1]AMC Theatres announces plans to take over the separate cinema facility previously operated by Carmike Cinemas.
- 2014
Hobby Lobby and Sears changes announced
[1]A former Belk location becomes a Hobby Lobby, while Sears announces that it will close its Mercer Mall store.
- 2009
Roses occupies former anchor space
[1]Roses moves into the former Steve & Barry's location after Carolina Pottery and Steve & Barry's have departed.
- 2000
Ames closes
[1]Ames leaves the mall, and the former anchor space later passes to Carolina Pottery, Steve & Barry's, and Roses.
- 1999
Hills space transfers to Ames
[1]Hills is sold to Ames, which takes over the former Montgomery Ward space.
- 1998
Stone & Thomas is sold to Elder-Beerman
[1]Stone & Thomas is sold to Elder-Beerman, which does not continue the Bluefield store; Belk later takes the space.
- 1987
Montgomery Ward closes
[1]Montgomery Ward exits the mall, beginning a series of anchor-space changes.
Products and positioning
A community-serving regional mall combining department stores, value-oriented retailers, specialty tenants, and entertainment facilities for Bluefield and the surrounding southern West Virginia market.
Department store
J. C. Penney
J. C. Penney is one of the longstanding department-store anchors associated with Mercer Mall. Its typical assortment spans apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty products, home furnishings, and other household merchandise.
Department store
Belk
Belk occupies the former Stone & Thomas and Elder-Beerman-related retail space and is associated with men's apparel and home goods at the mall. The property has also had a second Belk location that later closed.
Discount department store · 2009
Roses
Roses took over the former Ames, Carolina Pottery, and Steve & Barry's location in 2009. Its general-merchandise format supports the mall's value-oriented tenant mix.
Farm and rural-lifestyle retailer · 2017
Rural King
Rural King opened in the former Sears space in 2017. The large-format retailer adds farm supplies, outdoor goods, rural-lifestyle merchandise, and general merchandise to the mall's offer.
Arts, crafts, and home decor · 2014
Hobby Lobby
Hobby Lobby took over a former Belk store location in 2014, adding arts and crafts supplies, seasonal merchandise, home decor, and related products to the center.
Value specialty retail · 2024
Five Below
Five Below was announced as the planned occupant of the former FYE location. Its typical assortment targets children, teenagers, and young adults with low-priced accessories, toys, games, room decor, and seasonal merchandise.
Cinema and entertainment
Mercer Mall cinema facility
A separate cinema building operated first under Carmike Cinemas and later under AMC Classic. AMC Classic announced closure in 2023, after which Golden Ticket Cinema acquired the premises.
Brand decisions
2024
Add Five Below to the former FYE locationProduct launchBackground
The former FYE retail location became available for a new tenant.
Action taken
Five Below was announced as the incoming tenant, with an opening planned for November 2024.
Aftermath
The planned addition reinforced Mercer Mall's value-retail and youth-oriented positioning.
2023
Transfer of the former AMC cinema spaceM&ABackground
AMC Classic announced the closure of the mall's cinema facility in February 2023.
Action taken
Golden Ticket Cinema acquired the theater space in May 2023.
Aftermath
The property retained the prospect of cinema use, although no confirmed reopening date was available in the supplied reference material.
2017
Convert the former Sears space for Rural KingStrategyBackground
Sears announced the closure of its Mercer Mall store in 2014, creating a large vacant anchor location.
Action taken
Rural King opened in the former Sears premises on February 18, 2017.
Aftermath
The mall added a large rural-lifestyle and farm-supply retailer, broadening its appeal beyond traditional department-store shopping.
2014
Replace a former Belk location with Hobby LobbyStrategyBackground
A second Belk store at Mercer Mall had closed, leaving a large retail space available for reuse.
Action taken
Hobby Lobby moved into the former Belk location, changing the space toward crafts, home decor, and seasonal merchandise.
Aftermath
The tenant mix gained a specialty home-and-crafts anchor in place of the former department-store operation.
Sources2 sources
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