Richland Mall
A former enclosed shopping mall in Forest Acres, South Carolina, near Columbia.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Richland Mall was a shopping center in Forest Acres, South Carolina, serving the Columbia metropolitan area. It opened on November 2, 1961, as Columbia's first mall, initially operating as an open-air center with J.B. White as its principal department-store anchor. Its original tenant roster also included Winn-Dixie, Eckerd, Woolworth, a movie theater, and other retail and service businesses. By the 1980s, the center faced competition from newer enclosed malls, particularly Dutch Square and Columbia Mall. Developer L. J. Hooker acquired the property and undertook a substantial redevelopment. Existing leases were terminated in 1987 except for J.B. White, which was incorporated into the new project. The rebuilt property opened in phases in 1988 and 1989 under the name Richland Fashion Mall. The redevelopment created a large enclosed, two-level center with new anchor stores including Bonwit Teller and Parisian, an expanded J.B. White, a rooftop parking arrangement, a multilevel parking garage, a food court with an aviation theme, restaurants, and a relocated multiplex cinema. The repositioning did not produce sustained commercial success. L. J. Hooker entered bankruptcy in 1989, and Bonwit Teller closed in 1990 after the collapse and liquidation of much of its American business. Dillard's occupied the former Bonwit Teller space in 1993, but the mall continued to experience weak traffic and substantial vacancy. The cinema became part of Regal Cinemas in 1995. In 1996 the mall reverted to the shorter Richland Mall name, and Barnes & Noble opened near a redesigned main entrance in 1997. J.B. White became Belk in 1998 following corporate changes and a department-store exchange involving Dillard's and Belk. The original food court was closed and replaced by a smaller lower-level food court in 1999. During the 2000s, the property continued to lose tenants and changed ownership. Dillard's left in 2003, while the former anchor space was subsequently used by several short-lived occupants. Peerless Development Group purchased the mall in 2005 and proposed a major renovation and a new identity, Midtown at Forest Acres, but the redevelopment did not materialize and the owner defaulted on its loan. Parisian closed in 2007. Century Capitol Group acquired the property in 2010 and worked with Kahn Development Company, restoring the Richland Mall name. Food-service tenants changed repeatedly, and Columbia Children's Theatre operated in former inline retail space from 2009 until early 2023. The mall's decline accelerated in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Gymboree closed its location in 2018, while other spaces remained vacant or were used for nontraditional purposes, including a fulfillment center. Regal's cinema closed in February 2022, and the interior mall was subsequently closed to the public. Belk, the last traditional department-store anchor, ended operations in September 2023 after a continuous presence at the property dating back to J.B. White's opening in 1961. Barnes & Noble, which had operated with exterior access as a junior anchor, closed on December 31, 2023, becoming the final retail tenant to leave. Demolition began on March 20, 2024. During the work, construction crews found a time capsule placed during the mall's redevelopment; it was reburied in a nearby park with a planned reopening date of January 20, 2033. Redevelopment concepts for the site have included a grocery store, apartments, a park, restaurants or a brewery, and additional mixed-use retail. Plans changed after Belk and Barnes & Noble announced that they would not remain part of the project. As of the latest referenced information, the former mall site was undergoing demolition and transition to a proposed mixed-use development.
History
Richland Mall opened on November 2, 1961, near Forest Drive and Beltline Boulevard in Forest Acres, within the Columbia metropolitan area. It was the first mall in Columbia and originally used an open-air layout. J.B. White, a department-store chain based in Augusta, Georgia, served as the principal anchor. The original center had twenty-seven stores, including Winn-Dixie, Eckerd, and Woolworth, as well as a movie theater on an outlot. By the 1980s, the open-air format was increasingly dated, and competition from newer enclosed malls weakened the property's position. L. J. Hooker acquired the complex and began a major redevelopment. Most existing leases were ended in 1987, while J.B. White remained and became the structural basis for the new mall. The rebuilt property was branded Richland Fashion Mall and opened in two major phases: one in October 1988 and another in November 1989. The new enclosed center included two-level retail wings, Bonwit Teller and Parisian as new department-store anchors, an expanded J.B. White, a large parking garage, rooftop parking, an aviation-themed food court, restaurants, and a relocated seven-screen movie theater that opened in 1990. The project faced difficulties almost immediately. L. J. Hooker filed for bankruptcy in 1989, and Bonwit Teller closed in August 1990. Dillard's took over the former Bonwit Teller location in 1993 and substantially expanded it, while the movie theater became a Regal Cinemas operation in 1995. Despite these changes, the center continued to suffer from weak customer traffic and high vacancy. The property adopted the name Richland Mall again in 1996, Barnes & Noble opened near a redesigned entrance in 1997, and J.B. White became Belk in September 1998 after the acquisition of Mercantile Stores and a related department-store exchange. The original food court was replaced by a lower-level facility in 1999. The mall's performance deteriorated further in the 2000s. Dillard's closed in 2003, and the former anchor space passed through several temporary uses. Peerless Development Group bought the center in 2005, announced ambitious renovations, and renamed it Midtown at Forest Acres, but its plans failed to proceed. After the owner defaulted on the mall loan, the property returned to the market. Parisian closed in February 2007. Century Capitol Group purchased the mall in April 2010 and brought in Kahn Development Company, restoring the Richland Mall name in an effort to revive the property. Tenant turnover continued. S&S Cafeteria left in 2011 and was replaced by a succession of locally operated cafeteria and buffet concepts. TGI Fridays departed in 2013, followed by another restaurant use that later closed. Columbia Children's Theatre moved into former retail space in 2009 and later relocated within the center. Gymboree closed in 2018, and a military-inspired apparel business used part of the property as a fulfillment center in 2019. Regal closed its cinema in February 2022, and the interior mall ceased public operations soon afterward. A redevelopment proposal associated with Southeastern Development envisioned demolition and a mixed-use replacement with retail, apartments, a grocery store, a park, and possible brewery or tap-room uses. Belk closed in September 2023 after sixty-two years of continuous operation at the property when its J.B. White history is included. Barnes & Noble closed on December 31, 2023, later reopening nearby in a different location. Demolition began in March 2024. Workers found a time capsule during the process and placed it in a nearby park for reopening on January 20, 2033. The former mall therefore ended its life as a retail center after more than six decades, with the site being repositioned for a proposed mixed-use development.
- 2024
Demolition begins
[1]Demolition began on March 20 as the property entered redevelopment.
- 2023
Final major tenants leave
[1]Belk closed in September and Barnes & Noble closed on December 31.
- 2022
Interior mall closes
[1]Following the closure of Regal's cinema, the interior mall was closed to public access.
- 2010
Century Capitol Group acquires mall
[1]Century Capitol Group purchased the property and engaged Kahn Development Company in a revival effort.
- 2005
Peerless Development Group acquires property
[1]The new owner proposed renovations and the Midtown at Forest Acres identity, but the plans did not materialize.
- 2003
Dillard's closes
[1]Dillard's ended operations at the mall, leaving its former space available for later temporary uses.
- 1998
J.B. White becomes Belk
[1]The long-standing J.B. White anchor was converted to Belk in September.
- 1997
Barnes & Noble opens
[1]Barnes & Noble opened near the redesigned main entrance.
- 1996
Name returns to Richland Mall
[1]The Richland Fashion Mall branding was removed and the property again used the Richland Mall name.
- 1993
Dillard's occupies former Bonwit Teller space
[1]Dillard's opened in and expanded the former Bonwit Teller anchor location.
Products and positioning
Originally a pioneering local open-air shopping center, Richland Mall was later repositioned as an upscale enclosed regional mall before becoming a declining, redevelopment-oriented mixed-use property.
Shopping center · 1961
Retail mall services
Richland Mall provided enclosed shopping-center space for department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, services, and entertainment. Its tenant mix changed substantially over time, moving from traditional department-store and food-service uses toward temporary, cultural, and nontraditional occupancy as vacancy increased.
Department stores · 1961
Department-store anchors
The property was anchored at different times by J.B. White, Bonwit Teller, Parisian, Dillard's, and Belk. J.B. White was present from the mall's opening until its conversion to Belk in 1998. Belk remained the final anchor and closed in September 2023.
Entertainment · 1990
Cinema and entertainment
The mall site included a movie theater from its early years. A relocated seven-screen theater opened in 1990 and later operated under the Regal Cinemas brand until closing in February 2022.
Food service · 1989
Food court and dining
Dining was an important part of the enclosed mall redevelopment, including an aviation-themed upper-level food court, TGI Fridays, S&S Cafeteria, and later locally operated cafeteria and buffet concepts. The original food court was relocated in 1999.
Brand decisions
2022
Pursue demolition and mixed-use redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The mall had lost much of its tenant base, and the interior was no longer operating as a conventional shopping center.
Action taken
A redevelopment proposal associated with Southeastern Development outlined retail, apartments, a grocery store, a park, and possible brewery or tap-room uses.
Aftermath
Belk and Barnes & Noble subsequently left, and demolition began in March 2024.
2010
Attempt a further mall revivalStrategyBackground
After continued tenant losses, Century Capitol Group sought to reposition the property.
Action taken
Century Capitol Group acquired the mall, engaged Kahn Development Company, and restored the Richland Mall name.
Aftermath
Tenant turnover continued and the center ultimately closed its interior operations in 2022.
2005
Propose Midtown at Forest Acres redevelopmentStrategyBackground
Peerless Development Group acquired a mall with declining traffic and substantial vacant space.
Action taken
The owner announced an extensive renovation and renamed the property Midtown at Forest Acres.
Aftermath
The proposed transformation was not completed, the owner defaulted on the mall loan, and the property returned to the market by 2007.
1996
Restore the Richland Mall nameStrategyBackground
The Richland Fashion Mall identity had not resolved the property's commercial difficulties.
Action taken
Management removed the fashion-mall branding and returned to the shorter Richland Mall name.
Aftermath
The property continued operating but remained under pressure from vacancy and tenant turnover.
1987
Convert the open-air mall into an enclosed fashion mallStrategyBackground
The original open-air center faced increasing competition from newer enclosed malls in the Columbia market.
Action taken
L. J. Hooker cleared most existing retail leases and rebuilt the property in two phases around the continuing J.B. White anchor.
Aftermath
The enlarged center opened in 1988 and 1989, but it struggled with vacancy, weak traffic, and the developer's 1989 bankruptcy.
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