Oglethorpe Mall
A super-regional enclosed shopping mall in Savannah, Georgia, serving the coastal Georgia retail market.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Oglethorpe Mall is a super-regional shopping mall on Abercorn Street in the south side of Savannah, Georgia. Named for General James Oglethorpe, the founder of Savannah, it opened in April 1969 as Savannah's first enclosed, air-conditioned shopping mall. The center was developed on the Chippewa Tract, a former farmland subdivision created in 1960, with Atlanta developer Scott Hugdins associated with its initial development. Sears and Belk developed their stores in coordination with the original mall project. At opening, the mall's principal anchors included Belk-Beery, McCrory, Adler's, and Sears. Its tenant mix also included Morrison's Cafeteria, Piggly Wiggly, and what was then Savannah's only Chick-fil-A location. A 25,000-square-foot expansion followed in 1974. In 1982, the mall added a roughly 230,000-square-foot expansion anchored by JCPenney and Levy's, a local department-store chain. Levy's was later absorbed into Allied Department Stores' Maas Brothers operation, which subsequently became part of Jordan Marsh. Adler's closed in the mid-1980s, and its former space was reconfigured as The Promenade, an upscale-oriented mall entrance area. The arrival of competing regional malls prompted a major repositioning. Savannah Mall opened nearby in 1990 after earlier proposals for another competing center had met local opposition. Oglethorpe Mall responded with a substantial renovation begun in 1989. The redesign introduced coastal visual elements such as whitewashed wood, tabby-textured walls, lighter finishes, skylights, and new tile flooring. A two-level parking garage was also completed as part of the project. The former Maas Brothers/Jordan Marsh location was converted to general mall space in 1992, allowing a new 135,000-square-foot Rich's department store to open. Rich's became Macy's in 2005. The property continued adapting its tenant and amenity mix through the 1990s and 2000s. McCrory departed in 1994 and was replaced by Stein Mart. Morrison's became Piccadilly Cafeteria in 1998. The Promenade was converted into a Barnes & Noble in 2000, and a new food court opened in 2002 in space formerly associated with Piggly Wiggly and a rear mall entrance. The mall also added national retailers including Forever 21, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Hollister, Nine West, and Aldo during the 2000s. Oglethorpe Mall underwent another notable renovation in 2018, including a refreshed logo, updated highway-entry signage, and new flooring in portions of the interior. Department-store and specialty-retail changes continued as long-standing tenants exited. Piccadilly closed in 2016 and its former space was ultimately occupied by DSW in 2018. Sears announced its closure in 2018, and Stein Mart closed in 2020 as its parent company liquidated the chain. The former Stein Mart space was temporarily occupied by Overstock Furniture & Mattress during 2021 before being converted into a Crunch Fitness location in fall 2022. The former Sears tract entered a further redevelopment phase after Madison Capital received rezoning approval in February 2022 for multifamily use. The Sears building was planned for demolition and replacement by a residential project known as Madison Oaks, also referred to in some descriptions as Madison Oak. The project was planned to contain more than 200 apartments and was reported as completed by 2026. Despite the loss of a traditional anchor, the mall remains an active retail and dining destination with approximately one million square feet, around 118 stores, restaurants, a food court, and anchors including Belk, JCPenney, and Macy's. Junior anchors and major tenants include Barnes & Noble, Old Navy, H&M, DSW, and Crunch Fitness. Brookfield Properties owns and operates the center.
History
Oglethorpe Mall occupies the Chippewa Tract on Abercorn Street in southern Savannah. The tract originated as a 1960 subdivision of former farmland. Atlanta developer Scott Hugdins was involved in the initial project, and construction began with ground broken in 1968. Belk and Sears developed their respective department stores alongside the mall construction. When Oglethorpe Mall opened in April 1969, it became Savannah's first enclosed, air-conditioned shopping mall. The original center included Belk-Beery, McCrory, Adler's, and Sears as principal anchors. Morrison's Cafeteria, Piggly Wiggly, and a Chick-fil-A location were among its other early tenants. The mall expanded by approximately 25,000 square feet in 1974. A much larger expansion was completed in 1982, adding approximately 230,000 square feet and bringing JCPenney and Levy's into the center. Levy's was absorbed into Maas Brothers in 1986, while Adler's closed in 1985. The former Adler's area was redesigned as The Promenade, an entrance corridor intended to support more upscale specialty retail. Competitive pressure intensified in the late 1980s. The Rouse Company considered developing Southlake Mall on a site two miles south, but opposition from nearby residents contributed to the proposal being abandoned. A separate development, Savannah Mall, opened four miles farther south on August 29, 1990. Oglethorpe Mall began a major renovation in 1989 to modernize the property and distinguish it from emerging competition. The work used coastal design motifs, including whitewashed wood, tabby-style walls, lighter paint, skylights, and new tile floors. The tile design received recognition in 1990, and a two-level parking garage was completed in summer 1990. Anchor succession shaped the mall during the early 1990s. Jordan Marsh closed in September 1991 as Allied's southern operations were reorganized, and the former Maas Brothers/Jordan Marsh building was converted into general mall space. A new 135,000-square-foot Rich's store opened there in 1992. McCrory left in 1994 and was replaced by Stein Mart. Morrison's Cafeteria became Piccadilly Cafeteria in 1998 after Piccadilly acquired Morrison's operations. In 2000, The Promenade became a Barnes & Noble. A new food court opened in 2002 in former Piggly Wiggly and rear-entrance space, with Chick-fil-A and Sbarro relocated into the new dining area. The mall also upgraded its Abercorn Street frontage and added several national specialty retailers during the 2000s. Rich's was converted to Macy's in 2005. The property continued to evolve in the 2010s. Piccadilly closed in March 2016 after decades at the center, and DSW later occupied the space in 2018. Sears announced in August 2018 that its store would close in November as part of a broader corporate reduction. That year, Oglethorpe Mall completed a substantial renovation with a new logo, refreshed entrance signage, and flooring upgrades. Stein Mart closed in 2020 during the chain's liquidation. Overstock Furniture & Mattress used the former space temporarily in 2021, followed by Crunch Fitness in fall 2022. The former Sears tract became the focus of a mixed-use transition. In February 2022, Madison Capital received approval to rezone the site for multifamily development. Plans called for demolition of the former anchor building and construction of more than 200 apartments. The residential complex is identified as Madison Oaks, with some descriptions using the singular form Madison Oak, and was reported as completed by 2026. This redevelopment reflects the broader shift in enclosed malls toward combining retail with residential and service uses. Oglethorpe Mall remains active under Brookfield Properties, with approximately one million square feet, about 118 stores, restaurants, a food court, and a tenant mix led by Belk, JCPenney, Macy's, Barnes & Noble, Old Navy, H&M, DSW, and Crunch Fitness.
- 2025
Shooting reported inside the mall
[1]Three people, including a juvenile, were shot inside the mall on July 2; three others reportedly sustained non-gunshot injuries.
- 2022
Former Sears tract rezoned
[1]The former Sears site was rezoned for multifamily development, enabling plans for the Madison Oaks apartment project.
- 2018
Mall renovation and Sears closure
[1]Oglethorpe Mall completed a significant renovation, while Sears announced the closure of its store.
- 2005
Rich's becomes Macy's
[1]The Rich's department store was converted to Macy's.
- 2002
New food court opens
[1]A food court opened in former Piggly Wiggly and rear-entrance space, consolidating and relocating food tenants.
- 2000
Barnes & Noble opens
[1]The former Promenade area was converted into a Barnes & Noble store.
- 1992
Rich's opens
[1]A 135,000-square-foot Rich's department store opened in space created after the former Maas Brothers/Jordan Marsh operation was removed.
- 1990
Renovation and parking-garage work completed
[1]The renovation and a two-level parking garage were completed around summer 1990.
- 1989
Comprehensive renovation begins
[1]The mall began a large renovation featuring coastal design elements, skylights, new flooring, and other modernization work.
- 1982
Major expansion adds JCPenney and Levy's
[1]A roughly 230,000-square-foot expansion introduced JCPenney and Levy's as major department-store tenants.
Products and positioning
A large, established enclosed regional shopping center serving Savannah and surrounding coastal Georgia communities, combining department-store anchors, national specialty retailers, dining, entertainment, and service-oriented tenants.
Retail category · 1969
Department-store retail
The mall's department-store offer is anchored by Belk, JCPenney, and Macy's. These stores provide broad assortments spanning apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty, home goods, and seasonal merchandise, giving the center a conventional full-service regional-mall foundation.
Retail category
Specialty fashion and footwear retail
Oglethorpe Mall includes national specialty retailers such as Old Navy, H&M, and DSW. Their presence supports the center's fashion, value-apparel, and footwear positioning and broadens the offer beyond department stores.
Retail and services · 2000
Books, dining, and services
Barnes & Noble, the food court, restaurants, and Crunch Fitness add non-department-store uses to the property. These tenants contribute browsing, dining, leisure, and recurring service visits, helping the mall function as a broader community destination.
Brand decisions
2022
Conversion of former Sears tract to residential useStrategyBackground
Sears had closed its Oglethorpe Mall store in 2018, leaving a large former anchor tract available for redevelopment.
Action taken
Madison Capital secured rezoning for multifamily development, with plans to remove the former Sears building and construct more than 200 apartments known as Madison Oaks.
Aftermath
The project represented a shift from single-purpose retail anchoring toward mixed-use, residential-oriented mall-site development and was reported as completed by 2026.
2018
Mall refresh and identity updateStrategyBackground
The center required modernization after years of tenant turnover and changing regional retail competition.
Action taken
Oglethorpe Mall introduced a refreshed logo, new highway-entry signs, and replacement flooring in selected interior areas.
Aftermath
The work updated the property's visual identity while the tenant mix continued to change.
2002
Food-court redevelopmentStrategyBackground
Underused space associated with the former Piggly Wiggly and a rear mall entrance was available for repositioning.
Action taken
The mall converted the area into a new food court and relocated Chick-fil-A and Sbarro into the dining wing.
Aftermath
The redevelopment strengthened the mall's dining and visitor-amenity offer while allowing former storefront areas to be reused.
1989
Renovation to respond to emerging competitionStrategyBackground
Plans for competing shopping centers and the later opening of Savannah Mall increased pressure on the established center.
Action taken
Oglethorpe Mall undertook a broad renovation using coastal design elements, skylights, new tile floors, updated finishes, and a two-level parking garage.
Aftermath
The work modernized the property and helped it maintain regional-mall relevance as new competition entered the Savannah market.
Recent events
- 2025
Three people shot inside Oglethorpe Mall[1]
Other
On July 2, 2025, three people, including a juvenile, were shot inside the mall. Authorities later reported that three additional people sustained injuries not caused by gunfire.
- 2022
Former Sears tract rezoned for multifamily redevelopment[1]
Other
Madison Capital received approval to rezone the former Sears property for multifamily use, supporting plans for a residential project of more than 200 apartments.
- 2022
Crunch Fitness opens in former Stein Mart space[1]
Product launch
Crunch Fitness replaced the former Stein Mart space at Oglethorpe Mall in fall 2022 after an interim period in which the area was occupied by Overstock Furniture & Mattress.
- 2018
Sears announces closure of its Oglethorpe Mall store[1]
Other
Sears announced that its Oglethorpe Mall location would close in November 2018 as part of a nationwide program affecting 46 stores.
- 2018
Oglethorpe Mall completes major renovation and rebranding work[1]
Other
The mall introduced an updated logo, new signage at highway entrances, and replacement tile flooring in selected areas as part of its largest renovation since 2002.
Sources2 sources
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