Raleigh Springs Mall
A former enclosed shopping mall in northeastern Memphis, Tennessee, that opened in 1971 and was later replaced by a civic redevelopment.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Raleigh Springs Mall was an enclosed shopping mall in the Raleigh area of northeastern Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The property stood along Austin Peay Highway just north of Interstate 40, between Austin Peay Highway and Yale Road. Construction began in 1969, and the mall opened on August 11, 1971. It was developed and managed by the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation, a major American shopping-center developer whose later corporate successor became associated with Simon Property Group. At opening, Raleigh Springs Mall was among the first two major enclosed malls serving the Memphis area, alongside Southland Mall. It initially contained approximately seventy stores and combined national department-store anchors with locally important Memphis retail names. Its original anchors were Sears, JCPenney, Goldsmith's, and Lowenstein's. Lowenstein's was acquired by Dillard's in 1982, after which the Dillard's name became associated with that anchor location. A Woolworth store also operated as a junior anchor near JCPenney. For a period, Raleigh Springs Mall was a leading retail destination in the Memphis market. Its position weakened as newer shopping centers opened, including Hickory Ridge Mall and the Mall of Memphis. The later opening of Wolfchase Galleria in 1997 further shifted regional shopping traffic. Raleigh Springs gradually lost national tenants and anchor support during the 2000s. Dillard's announced the closure of its location in early 2003, Goldsmith's closed during the same year amid the reorganization of its parent company, and JCPenney subsequently closed a location that had been repositioned as an outlet center. These departures left Sears as the mall's only remaining traditional anchor. The mall also contained a twelve-screen multiplex. The theater had replaced the former Woolworth space and ultimately closed on December 5, 2011. Sears confirmed the closure of its Raleigh Springs location in January 2011, with the store shutting on April 3 of that year. The mall therefore lost its last anchor before the property itself was closed and redeveloped. By the final operating period, only three businesses were reported to remain: Citi Trends, World Diamond Center, and a church. The City of Memphis acquired the property in November 2016 after litigation concerning the site's future. The acquisition enabled the city to pursue a complete demolition and civic redevelopment rather than continued operation as a conventional mall. The replacement Raleigh Springs Civic Center was planned as a town-center-style public complex containing a library, Memphis Police Department precinct, skatepark, detention pond, lake, green space, and walking trail. Construction began in 2017. Some site components opened in early 2020, while the COVID-19 pandemic slowed work on the library. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on November 19, 2020. Raleigh Springs Mall therefore survives primarily as a former retail landmark and the predecessor site of a municipal civic center.
History
Raleigh Springs Mall developed during the expansion of enclosed suburban shopping centers in the United States. The Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation began construction in 1969 on a site along Austin Peay Highway in the Raleigh community of northeastern Shelby County. When the mall opened on August 11, 1971, the area was outside the incorporated city of Memphis. Together with Southland Mall, it represented one of the Memphis area's earliest major enclosed shopping destinations. The original complex contained approximately seventy stores. Its four principal anchors were Sears, JCPenney, Goldsmith's, and Lowenstein's. These tenants gave the center a mixture of national and local-market department-store identities. Lowenstein's was sold to Dillard's in 1982, resulting in a later Dillard's presence at the mall. Woolworth operated as a junior anchor beside JCPenney, adding a discount-variety component to the tenant mix. Raleigh Springs initially held a strong position in the local retail hierarchy. Its fortunes changed as Memphis developed additional enclosed malls and larger regional shopping destinations. Hickory Ridge Mall and the Mall of Memphis drew some retail activity away, while Wolfchase Galleria, which opened in 1997, became a newer regional destination. The Mall of Memphis was eventually demolished, and Hickory Ridge also experienced substantial tenant losses, but Raleigh Springs nevertheless continued to decline as national retailers consolidated and shoppers shifted toward newer centers. The deterioration became particularly visible in the early 2000s. Dillard's announced that its Raleigh Springs store would close in 2003. Goldsmith's parent company, Federated Department Stores, was undergoing major corporate reorganization, and the Goldsmith's location also closed that year. JCPenney, whose store had been converted to an outlet-center format along with the Dillard's location, subsequently departed. The departures removed three of the mall's major anchors and left Sears as the sole remaining anchor. The center included a twelve-screen movie theater. The theater occupied space that had previously been used by Woolworth and became one of the mall's later entertainment attractions. It closed on December 5, 2011. Sears announced in January 2011 that its own location would close on April 3, leaving the mall without any anchor store. By the time the property closed, only Citi Trends, World Diamond Center, and a church were reported to be operating. Beginning in 2005, Walmart discussed the possibility of opening a Supercenter at the site with Simon Property Group. The proposal would have required demolition of the former JCPenney area and movie theater. It did not proceed, and Walmart instead indicated that it would remain at its existing location after beginning renovations there in 2010. The property's final transformation followed legal and civic action. After multiple court challenges concerning the site, the City of Memphis purchased the mall property in November 2016. The city planned to replace the deteriorated retail complex with a civic center and public-space development. The proposed project included a library, a Memphis Police Department precinct, a skatepark, an approximately eleven-acre lake or detention-pond area, green space, and a one-mile walking trail. The city described the project as a way to consolidate public services previously located at different sites. Construction began in 2017. Parts of the redevelopment opened in early 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic slowed progress on the library. O.T. Marshall Architects designed the library and police precinct buildings. The completed project received its official ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 19, 2020. Raleigh Springs Mall is therefore a defunct retail property whose physical and civic legacy continues through the Raleigh Springs Civic Center.
- 2020
Raleigh Springs Civic Center receives ribbon cutting
[1]The redevelopment's official ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on November 19.
- 2017
Civic redevelopment construction begins
[1]Construction began on the Raleigh Springs Civic Center replacement project.
- 2016
City of Memphis acquires the property
[1]The city purchased the mall property in November to enable complete demolition and civic redevelopment.
- 2011
Sears and the multiplex close
[1]The multiplex closed in December, while Sears closed on April 3, eliminating the mall's final anchor.
- 2005
Walmart redevelopment proposal is explored
[1]Walmart and Simon Property Group discussed a Supercenter plan that would have removed portions of the mall, but the proposal was abandoned.
- 2003
Three major anchors depart
[1]Dillard's and Goldsmith's closed, followed by the departure of JCPenney, leaving Sears as the remaining anchor.
- 1997
Wolfchase Galleria opens
[1]The opening of Wolfchase Galleria intensified competition for regional shopping traffic in the Memphis market.
- 1982
Lowenstein's becomes associated with Dillard's
[1]Lowenstein's was sold to Dillard's, changing the identity of one of the mall's original anchor spaces.
- 1971
Mall opens
[1]Raleigh Springs Mall opened on August 11 with approximately seventy stores and four major anchors.
- 1969
Construction begins
[1]Construction started on the enclosed shopping mall site along Austin Peay Highway in northeastern Shelby County.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping mall that initially served as one of Memphis's principal suburban retail destinations before declining amid competition from newer malls and ultimately being converted into a city-owned civic center.
Shopping center · 1971
Enclosed retail mall
The mall's core offering was an enclosed retail environment with roughly seventy stores at opening. It brought together department stores, specialty retailers, discount-oriented businesses, food and service tenants, and later entertainment uses. The center served shoppers in northeastern Memphis and nearby Shelby County communities.
Department stores · 1971
Department-store anchors
Raleigh Springs opened with Sears, JCPenney, Goldsmith's, and Lowenstein's as its principal anchors. Lowenstein's was later replaced in the anchor history by Dillard's after its 1982 sale. These stores supplied apparel, home goods, appliances, cosmetics, and other general merchandise typical of the period's regional malls.
Entertainment
Twelve-screen multiplex
A twelve-screen cinema operated in space that had previously been occupied by Woolworth. The multiplex extended the mall's role beyond shopping and provided a significant entertainment use during the property's later years. It closed on December 5, 2011.
Brand decisions
2016
Transfer the property to the City of Memphis for civic redevelopmentStrategyBackground
After years of tenant losses and the disappearance of all anchor stores, the mall property became the subject of court challenges and municipal redevelopment planning.
Action taken
The City of Memphis purchased the property in November and pursued demolition and replacement with a civic center incorporating public services and open space.
Aftermath
The retail property ceased to operate, and the site was redeveloped into the Raleigh Springs Civic Center. The planned capital expenditure was reported as approximately $32 million.
Planned civic redevelopment capital. approximately $32 million (2016 redevelopment plan)
2005
Explore Walmart Supercenter conversionStrategyBackground
The mall was losing tenants and anchor strength as newer Memphis-area shopping centers competed for customers. Walmart entered discussions with Simon Property Group about establishing a Supercenter at the property.
Action taken
The proposed plan would have demolished the former JCPenney space and the movie theater. The project did not move forward after Walmart chose to renovate and remain at its existing location.
Aftermath
The failed proposal left the mall without a major replacement anchor and did not reverse its long-term decline.
Sources1 sources
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