South County Center
South County Center is a regional shopping mall in Mehlville, Missouri, serving communities in the southern St. Louis area.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
South County Center is a regional shopping mall in Mehlville, Missouri, at the junction of Interstate 55, Interstate 255, and U.S. Route 50. The property opened on October 17, 1963, during the major expansion of enclosed suburban retail in the United States. Its original design was by architect Victor Gruen, whose work helped establish the enclosed shopping-center format. The mall initially combined department-store anchors with supermarket and specialty-retail uses, reflecting the broad range of shopping and services expected from a postwar suburban center. The original anchor lineup included Famous-Barr, National Supermarkets, and JCPenney. Famous-Barr operated in a distinctive dome-roofed building and later became part of Macy's through the consolidation of department-store brands. National Supermarkets occupied the basement level before closing in 1973. That same year, Stix, Baer & Fuller was added with a new retail wing, expanding the mall's tenant mix and replacing the former supermarket presence. Dillard's assumed the Stix, Baer & Fuller location in 1984 and remains one of the property's principal anchors. South County Center changed ownership several times during its history. The Westfield Group acquired the mall in 1990 and held it until 2007. CBL & Associates Properties subsequently purchased South County Center together with three other former Westfield properties as part of an expansion in the St. Louis market. Ownership and management details after that period are not established by the supplied reference material. The property underwent further physical and tenant changes in the 2000s. Sears opened in 2001, accompanied by a food court and additional mall stores. In 2004, a group of stores and restaurants with exterior access was added, including Qdoba, Applebee's, Noodles & Company, and Borders. Several of these tenants later departed or were replaced: Applebee's closed in 2015 and its space was subsequently occupied by Destination XL, while Borders closed in 2011 and was replaced by Vintage Stock in 2012. Noodles & Company closed in 2023. A Dick's Sporting Goods location opened near the mall in 2013, adding a major sporting-goods retailer to the surrounding retail area. The former Sears space became the subject of a proposed entertainment redevelopment. Round One Entertainment announced in 2019 that it intended to open a venue in the vacant store in 2020. The project would have been the chain's first location in the Greater St. Louis area and its first in Missouri, but the plans were canceled in January 2021 and construction did not proceed. The mall's department-store presence changed again in 2025 when Macy's announced that its South County Center store would close as part of a nationwide reduction of 66 stores. The location closed on March 23, 2025. The supplied reference material identifies Dillard's and JCPenney as the remaining anchor stores and states that the entire second floor had been blocked off as of 2025. South County Center therefore represents both the durability and the ongoing repositioning of a mature suburban shopping center: it retains a regional retail role while adapting to anchor closures, replacement tenants, open-air access, and proposed non-retail uses.
History
South County Center opened on October 17, 1963, in Mehlville, Missouri, at a major highway interchange serving southern St. Louis County. The mall was designed by Victor Gruen and opened with Famous-Barr, National Supermarkets, and JCPenney as its principal anchors. Famous-Barr's dome-roofed building became one of the center's recognizable architectural features. National Supermarkets operated on the basement level but closed in 1973. In 1973, Stix, Baer & Fuller was added along with a new wing of stores. The retailer later became Dillard's in 1984, giving the mall another long-term department-store anchor. The property also developed smaller anchor and restaurant spaces over time. Pope's Restaurant was among the earlier junior-anchor occupants and remained until 2001. Westfield acquired South County Center in 1990. During the Westfield ownership period, the mall continued operating as a conventional enclosed regional center. In 2007, CBL & Associates Properties purchased South County Center and three other former Westfield malls as part of its expansion in the St. Louis region. A major expansion and tenant-reconfiguration period occurred in 2001 and 2004. Sears opened in 2001, when a food court and additional mall stores were also added. In 2004, several retailers and restaurants with exterior entrances joined the property, including Qdoba, Applebee's, Noodles & Company, and Borders. Applebee's closed in 2015 and was replaced by Destination XL in 2016. Borders closed in 2011 and was replaced by Vintage Stock in 2012. Noodles & Company later closed in 2023. Sears closed in September 2018. A Dick's Sporting Goods store opened near the mall on November 8, 2013. In 2019, Round One Entertainment proposed converting the vacant Sears space into an entertainment venue. The planned 2020 opening would have represented the chain's first venue in the Greater St. Louis area and Missouri. The proposal was canceled in January 2021. The former Famous-Barr store became a Macy's location in 2006 as part of department-store brand consolidation. Macy's announced in January 2025 that the South County Center store would close among 66 nationwide closures. It shut on March 23, 2025. The supplied reference material identifies Dillard's and JCPenney as the mall's anchor stores and reports that the entire second floor was blocked off as of 2025.
- 2025
Macy's closes
[1]Macy's closed its South County Center store on March 23 as part of a nationwide store-closure plan.
- 2021
Round One redevelopment canceled
[1]The proposed entertainment venue for the former Sears space was canceled.
- 2018
Sears closes
[1]The Sears location closed in September.
- 2007
CBL acquires South County Center
[1]CBL & Associates Properties bought the mall and three other former Westfield properties in the St. Louis area.
- 2006
Famous-Barr becomes Macy's
[1]The former Famous-Barr anchor was rebranded as Macy's.
- 2001
Sears and new mall facilities open
[1]Sears opened, alongside a food court and additional stores.
- 1990
Westfield acquires the property
[1]The Westfield Group purchased South County Center.
- 1984
Dillard's replaces Stix, Baer & Fuller
[1]Dillard's took over the Stix, Baer & Fuller anchor location.
- 1973
Stix, Baer & Fuller joins the mall
[1]Stix, Baer & Fuller was added with a new wing after National Supermarkets closed.
- 1963
South County Center opens
[1]The mall opened on October 17 in Mehlville, Missouri, with Famous-Barr, National Supermarkets, and JCPenney as original anchors.
Products and positioning
A regional suburban shopping center serving southern St. Louis County through department stores, specialty retailers, dining, and adjacent retail uses.
Anchor retail · 1963
Department-store retail
South County Center has historically been organized around large department stores. Its anchor history includes Famous-Barr, Macy's, Stix, Baer & Fuller, Dillard's, JCPenney, and Sears. As of the supplied 2025 reference, Dillard's and JCPenney are identified as the remaining anchor stores.
Mall retail · 1963
Specialty retail and dining
The center has offered a changing mix of specialty stores, restaurants, and food-service tenants. Exterior-access additions included Qdoba, Applebee's, Noodles & Company, and Borders, while later replacement tenants included Destination XL and Vintage Stock.
Food service · 2001
Food court
A food court was added as part of the 2001 expansion and tenant-improvement program, complementing the mall's restaurants and specialty retail.
Brand decisions
2025
Macy's store closureOtherBackground
Macy's included the South County Center location in a nationwide plan to close 66 stores.
Action taken
The Macy's store closed on March 23, 2025.
Aftermath
The closure removed one of the mall's long-standing department-store anchors. The supplied reference states that the entire second floor was blocked off as of 2025.
2019
Proposed Round One entertainment conversionStrategyBackground
The Sears building had become vacant after the store closed in 2018, creating an opportunity for a nontraditional anchor use.
Action taken
Round One Entertainment announced plans to open an entertainment venue in the former Sears space in 2020.
Aftermath
The proposal was canceled in January 2021 and the building plans were scrapped.
Sources2 sources
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