Old Hickory Mall

Old Hickory Mall is a retail shopping center in Jackson, Tennessee. It began operations in 1967 as an open-air shopping center developed by Hewitt Pegues Tomlin, Jr. and his sister, Francess Tigrett. The project incorporated a branch of Kisber's, a department store that had been a downtown Jackson fixture since 1906, helping connect the new suburban center with an established local retail name. Around 1978, the property was converted into an enclosed mall. A new Kisber's department store was constructed behind the original store, and the mall developed into a multi-anchor retail destination serving Jackson and the surrounding area. During the 1980s, the property was acquired by the Richard E. Jacobs Group. By that time, its anchor lineup included Kisber's, Memphis-based Goldsmith's, J. C. Penney, and Sears, reflecting a mixture of regional and national department-store operators. Kisber's later became part of Belk, with the conversion completed by 1996. In 2000, CBL & Associates Properties acquired Old Hickory Mall as part of a 21-property transaction involving malls previously owned by the Jacobs group. CBL became the mall's managing company. Subsequent tenant changes reflected broader shifts in enclosed-mall retail. Abercrombie & Fitch opened at the property in 2003, taking space associated with the former food court, while Goldsmith's was converted to Macy's in 2005. Although the food court was removed, the mall continued to provide a seating area and several food-service options. The mall's department-store base contracted in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Sears announced in December 2018 that it would close the Old Hickory Mall location as part of a nationwide store-closure program; the store shut in March 2019. Macy's announced in January 2021 that its location would close under a national reduction plan. The closure occurred in March 2021, earlier than the initially expected April date. These departures left Belk and JCPenney as the mall's two remaining anchor stores, while two former anchor spaces became vacant. Old Hickory Mall remains an operating enclosed shopping center rather than a standalone consumer-goods brand. Its commercial role is based on hosting department stores, specialty retailers, services, dining options, and community-oriented retail activity for the Jackson market. Its history illustrates the evolution of a regional shopping center from an open-air 1960s development into an enclosed mall, followed by anchor turnover and space consolidation associated with changes in the U.S. department-store sector.

Old Hickory Mall opened in 1967 in Jackson, Tennessee, initially operating as an open-air shopping center. It was developed by Hewitt Pegues Tomlin, Jr. and his sister, Francess Tigrett. A branch of Kisber's was among the early tenants. Kisber's had been an established downtown Jackson department store since 1906, giving the new suburban retail project a connection to the city's existing commercial history. Around 1978, the center was enclosed and reorganized as an indoor mall. A new Kisber's department store was built behind the original store, expanding the department-store component of the property. The enclosed format allowed the mall to provide climate-controlled shopping and a more conventional regional-mall layout. The Richard E. Jacobs Group acquired Old Hickory Mall in 1985. During this period, the property's anchor lineup included Kisber's, Goldsmith's, J. C. Penney, and Sears. Goldsmith's was a Memphis-based department-store chain, while J. C. Penney and Sears provided national department-store coverage. By 1996, Kisber's had been converted to Belk, reflecting the consolidation and rebranding of department-store operators in the American retail market. In 2000, CBL & Associates Properties acquired 21 malls from the Jacobs group, including Old Hickory Mall. CBL became the property's managing company. The following years brought changes in the tenant mix. Abercrombie & Fitch opened at the mall in 2003, using space associated with the former food court. In 2005, the Goldsmith's anchor was converted to Macy's. The removal of the food court reduced one traditional mall amenity, although the property continued to have a seating area and several places where visitors could buy food. The mall subsequently experienced the loss of two department-store anchors. Sears was included in the company's December 2018 announcement covering 80 planned store closures, and the Old Hickory Mall store closed in March 2019. Macy's announced in January 2021 that it would close 46 stores nationally, including its Old Hickory Mall location. Macy's closed the store in March 2021, earlier than the originally expected April date. After the Macy's closure, Belk and JCPenney remained as the mall's two operating anchor stores, while two other anchor spaces were vacant. Old Hickory Mall therefore continued as an active enclosed shopping center, but with a reduced department-store anchor base compared with earlier periods. Its development history follows the broader pattern of American retail real estate: suburban expansion in the 1960s, enclosure and anchor growth in the 1970s and 1980s, ownership consolidation around 2000, and later adjustment to department-store closures and changing shopping habits.

• 2021

  Macy's closes

  [1]Old Hickory Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Macy's closes its Old Hickory Mall store in March, leaving Belk and JCPenney as the remaining anchors.

• 2019

  Sears closes

  [1]Old Hickory Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Sears anchor closes in March after being included in the retailer's nationwide store-closure plan.

• 2005

  Goldsmith's converts to Macy's

  [1]Old Hickory Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Goldsmith's department-store location is converted to Macy's.

• 2003

  Abercrombie & Fitch opens

  [1]Old Hickory Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Abercrombie & Fitch opens a store at the mall, occupying space associated with the former food court.

• 2000

  CBL acquires the property

  [1]Old Hickory Mallen.wikipedia.org

  CBL & Associates Properties purchases Old Hickory Mall in a 21-mall transaction involving properties formerly held by the Jacobs group.

• 1996

  Kisber's becomes Belk

  [1]Old Hickory Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Kisber's department-store location is converted to Belk.

• 1985

  Richard E. Jacobs Group acquires the mall

  [1]Old Hickory Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Richard E. Jacobs Group becomes the mall's owner, with Kisber's, Goldsmith's, J. C. Penney, and Sears serving as anchor retailers.

• 1978

  Property is enclosed

  [1]Old Hickory Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The open-air shopping center is converted into an enclosed mall, and a new Kisber's store is constructed behind the original location.

• 1967

  Mall opens as an open-air shopping center

  [1]Old Hickory Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Old Hickory Mall begins operations in Jackson, Tennessee, with a Kisber's department-store branch among its early retail components.

A regional enclosed shopping mall serving Jackson, Tennessee, through department-store anchors, specialty retailers, dining, and services.

• Department store · 1996

  Belk

  Belk is one of Old Hickory Mall's remaining department-store anchors. Its assortment traditionally spans clothing, shoes, accessories, beauty products, home merchandise, and related seasonal goods, giving the mall a broad general-retail component.

• Department store

  JCPenney

  JCPenney serves as the mall's other identified operating anchor. The department store provides apparel, footwear, beauty products, home goods, and consumer services within the regional shopping-center format.

• Shopping-center tenant mix

  Specialty retail and dining

  Beyond its anchor stores, Old Hickory Mall accommodates specialty retail, services, and food outlets. The property formerly had a food court; after its removal, the mall retained a seating area and several establishments offering food.

• 2003

  Repurpose former food-court spaceStrategy

  Background

  The mall's tenant mix was being adjusted after the ownership change.

  Action taken

  Abercrombie & Fitch opened at Old Hickory Mall in space associated with the former food court.

  Aftermath

  The change replaced a traditional mall dining amenity with specialty-apparel retail space, while other food options and seating remained.

  Source

• 2000

  CBL acquires Old Hickory MallM&A

  Background

  The Richard E. Jacobs Group owned Old Hickory Mall before selling a portfolio of malls.

  Action taken

  CBL & Associates Properties acquired Old Hickory Mall as one of 21 properties purchased from the Jacobs group and assumed management of the mall.

  Aftermath

  The mall became part of CBL's managed regional-shopping-center portfolio.

  Source

• 1978

  Convert the open-air center into an enclosed mallStrategy

  Background

  The property had operated as an open-air shopping center since 1967 and was being developed into a larger conventional regional-mall format.

  Action taken

  The center was enclosed, and a new Kisber's department store was built behind the original store.

  Aftermath

  The project established Old Hickory Mall as an enclosed shopping destination and strengthened its department-store presence.

  Source

1. 1Old Hickory Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Old Hickory Mall official websiteshopoldhickorymall.com