Springdale Mall

Springdale Mall is a retail property on Airport Boulevard in Mobile, Alabama, located directly across from The Shoppes at Bel Air. It opened in November 1959 as an open-air regional shopping center during a period when suburban retail development was expanding around Mobile. Its original tenant mix included W.T. Grant, JCPenney, Delchamps, National, and, after its completion in 1960, the Mobile-based Gayfers department store. Gayfers became the center's principal landmark and later expanded into a large three-level department store. The property changed substantially as competition intensified. Bel Air Mall, an enclosed shopping center, opened nearby in 1967 and attracted major retailers, including JCPenney, which moved there in 1974. Springdale responded by adding enclosed space while retaining elements of its original open-air layout. An enclosed east wing was completed in 1974 with Montgomery Ward and the Springdale Six multiplex, operated by AMC. During the 1980s, the center added large-format tenants such as Lionel Playworld, Solo Stores, and Toys "R" Us. A second enclosed wing opened in 1989 between Gayfers and the McRae's store that had opened in 1984. This west wing brought in-line fashion retailers including The Limited, Express, and Victoria's Secret. Springdale also served as a platform for notable retail introductions in southern Alabama. Barnes & Noble opened its first South Alabama location there in 1994, while Old Navy opened its first Alabama store at the property in 1996. The mall appeared as a setting for a motorcycle chase in the 1994 film Raw Justice, providing an unusual piece of popular-culture visibility. CBL & Associates Properties acquired the center in 1997 and planned additional development. The late 1990s and early 2000s nevertheless brought structural change rather than a straightforward expansion. Mercantile Stores, owner of Gayfers, was acquired by Dillard's in 1998, and the Gayfers store was temporarily operated under the Dillard's name even though Dillard's already had a large location across the street. Montgomery Ward closed in 1998, and its space became a Burlington Coat Factory in 1999. Other additions included Goody's Family Clothing, Staples, and Linens 'n Things. The former west mall was gutted in 2001 for Best Buy, and the former Dillard's building was demolished by 2004. A Sam's Club wholesale warehouse was subsequently developed on part of that site. The property continued to lose enclosed-mall functions as retailers relocated, closed, or entered bankruptcy. McRae's became Belk after McRae's was acquired in 2005, but the Springdale Belk location later closed and was redeveloped into smaller stores. Goody's and Linens 'n Things left in 2008 after their parent chains failed. Barnes & Noble and FYE departed in 2010, while Michaels and Ulta occupied former bookstore and entertainment spaces in 2011. Best Buy and Old Navy later moved to McGowin Park, and the former interior mall areas became increasingly vacant or inaccessible. A more recent redevelopment program has emphasized open-air and big-box uses. Bed Bath & Beyond and Cost Plus World Market opened in the former McRae's/Belk area in 2018, while Burke's Outlet, later Bealls Outlet, took over a former Old Navy space. Burlington relocated to the former Best Buy building in 2019, and its former location was divided among Conn's, Crunch Fitness, and a DaVita dialysis center. Much of the former interior mall, including the former cinema area, was demolished in 2021, leaving primarily the Airport Boulevard-facing portions and selected entrances. Michaels subsequently relocated to Pinebrook Shopping Center, and a Five Below store took part of its former space. Bed Bath & Beyond closed in 2023 during the chain's bankruptcy, with the space later used for Overstock Furniture; Big Lots also left in 2023. The current center is therefore best understood as a redeveloped, largely open-air shopping center rather than a conventional enclosed m…

Springdale Mall opened in November 1959 as an open-air regional shopping center in Mobile, Alabama. Its initial anchors and major tenants included W.T. Grant, JCPenney, Delchamps, and National. Gayfers, a department-store chain based in Mobile, became the property's principal department-store anchor when its building was completed in summer 1960. The competitive environment changed when Bel Air Mall opened nearby in late 1967 as an enclosed center anchored by Sears and Hammel's. JCPenney moved from Springdale to Bel Air in 1974, the same year Springdale added its first enclosed wing. The new wing extended from the east side of the Gayfers building and included Montgomery Ward and the six-screen Springdale Six theater, operated by AMC. During the 1980s, Springdale added several large-format retailers, including Lionel Playworld, Solo Stores, and Toys "R" Us. McRae's opened in 1984, and a second enclosed wing was completed in November 1989 between Gayfers and McRae's. The west wing included fashion retailers such as The Limited, Express, and Victoria's Secret. Gayfers expanded to more than 280,000 square feet across three levels, making it one of the largest department-store buildings in the Gulf Coast region. The center received additional cultural and retail attention in the 1990s. It appeared in a motorcycle-chase sequence in the 1994 film Raw Justice. Barnes & Noble opened its first South Alabama store at Springdale in spring 1994, and Old Navy opened its first Alabama store there in fall 1996. CBL & Associates Properties acquired Springdale in 1997. In 1998, Mercantile Stores, the owner of Gayfers, was acquired by Dillard's. Dillard's initially retained the former Gayfers store under its own name, despite operating another full-line store across Airport Boulevard at Bel Air Mall. Montgomery Ward closed in 1998, and Burlington occupied its approximately 104,000-square-foot space in spring 1999. Goody's Family Clothing, Staples, and Linens 'n Things were also added around this period. The property then began transitioning away from a conventional enclosed-mall model. The former west mall was gutted in 2001 for Best Buy. Dillard's closed in 2002, and by 2004 its building and part of the original enclosed wing had been demolished. Some smaller spaces, Staples, Linens 'n Things, the cinema, and the corridor leading to the theater entrance survived temporarily. In 2005, a Sam's Club was built on part of the former Dillard's site. McRae's was acquired by Belk, but the Springdale Belk eventually closed and its former space was divided for smaller retailers. The center experienced further tenant losses in the late 2000s and 2010s. Goody's and Linens 'n Things left in 2008 after their chains entered bankruptcy. Barnes & Noble closed in June 2010 after lease negotiations failed, and FYE also departed. Big Lots opened in the former Linens 'n Things location in November 2010. Marshalls moved from Mobile Festival Centre into the former Goody's space in fall 2010. Michaels and Ulta opened in former Barnes & Noble and FYE spaces in 2011. Regional competition continued to affect the property. Best Buy relocated to McGowin Park in January 2016, and Old Navy followed in March. Staples closed its Mobile store in January 2017. In 2018, the former McRae's/Belk building was renovated for Bed Bath & Beyond, Cost Plus World Market, and Shoe Station. Bed Bath & Beyond and World Market opened in November, while Shoe Station was planned to move from its original building near The Shoppes at Bel Air. Burke's Outlet, later Bealls Outlet, opened in the former Old Navy space in September 2018. Burlington moved to the former Best Buy building in spring 2019, allowing its former space to be divided among Conn's, Crunch Fitness, and a DaVita dialysis center. During 2021, much of the former interior mall space, including the former Springdale Theatres area, was demolished. The remaining property was increasingly organized as an open-air center, with retail frontage along Airport Boulevard and selected interior entrances retained. Michaels later moved to Pinebrook Shopping Center, and part of its former space became a Five Below store. Rock The Float occupied the former Staples location. Bed Bath & Beyond closed in 2023 as its parent company entered bankruptcy, and its space was subsequently used for Overstock Furniture. Big Lots also closed in 2023. The center is currently associated with Brixmor Property Group and operates primarily as a redeveloped open-air retail property with large-format and service-oriented tenants.

1. 2023Bed Bath & Beyond and Big Lots close

   Both tenants left the property; the former Bed Bath & Beyond space was later used for Overstock Furniture.

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2. 2021Remaining interior mall sections are largely demolished

   Demolition removed much of the former interior mall and theater area.

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3. 2018Major open-air redevelopment begins

   Renovations brought Bed Bath & Beyond, Cost Plus World Market, Shoe Station, and Bealls Outlet-related occupancy changes.

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4. 2005Sam's Club is built on former Dillard's land

   The redevelopment replaced part of the former department-store footprint with a wholesale club.

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5. 1997CBL acquires the property

   CBL & Associates Properties purchased Springdale and considered a major expansion.

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6. 1996Old Navy opens its first Alabama store

   Old Navy opened its first Alabama location at Springdale.

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7. 1994Barnes & Noble opens its first South Alabama store

   Barnes & Noble opened its first South Alabama location at Springdale, and the property appeared in Raw Justice.

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8. 1989Second enclosed wing is completed

   The second enclosed wing connected Gayfers to McRae's and added nationally recognized fashion tenants.

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9. 1980Lionel Playworld opens

   A 34,500-square-foot Lionel Playworld toy store opened at the west end of Springdale Plaza.

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10. 1974JCPenney relocates and an enclosed wing opens

    JCPenney moved to Bel Air Mall, while Springdale added an enclosed east wing anchored by Montgomery Ward and Springdale Six.

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11. 1967Bel Air Mall opens nearby

    The opening of nearby enclosed Bel Air Mall introduced a major new competitor to Springdale.

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12. 1960Gayfers becomes the principal department-store anchor

    The Mobile-based Gayfers department store was completed at the center during summer 1960.

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13. 1959Springdale opens as an open-air shopping center

    Springdale opened in November with W.T. Grant, JCPenney, Delchamps, and National among its initial major tenants.

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A neighborhood- and community-serving open-air retail center combining value-oriented national chains, large-format stores, wholesale retail, specialty merchants, and service tenants. Its current format reflects extensive redevelopment from a traditional enclosed regional mall into a more flexible power-center-style property.

• Open-air retail centerShopping center1959

  Springdale's current format is primarily an open-air shopping center rather than a fully enclosed regional mall. It provides storefronts, outparcels, parking, and large-format retail space for national chains and local operators serving everyday shopping, value retail, home goods, apparel, wholesale, fitness, and services.

• Former enclosed mall wingsFormer retail format1974

  Springdale developed enclosed east and west wings in 1974 and 1989. These areas once housed department stores, fashion retailers, a multiplex cinema, and specialty shops, but most interior mall space was later gutted, closed, or demolished as the property shifted toward big-box and open-air uses.

• Big-box and anchor retailAnchor retail

  The center's anchor-oriented offer has included Bealls, Burlington, Conn's HomePlus, Cost Plus World Market, Marshalls, Sam's Club, Shoe Station, Five Below, and other large-format operators. These tenants represent the property's modern emphasis on value, home, apparel, wholesale, specialty, and practical shopping.

• 2021Remove much of the remaining interior mallStrategy

  Vacancies and the long-term decline of the enclosed-mall format had made the interior sections difficult to sustain.

  What changed. Much of the former interior mall, including the former theater area, was demolished while Airport Boulevard-facing portions were retained.

  Aftermath. Springdale became predominantly an open-air, big-box-oriented retail center.

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• 2018Redevelop the former McRae's/Belk buildingStrategy

  The former department-store building had become underused after Belk's departure.

  What changed. The two-level building was renovated for Bed Bath & Beyond, Cost Plus World Market, and Shoe Station, with Bed Bath & Beyond and World Market opening in November.

  Aftermath. The redevelopment restored major retail occupancy while leaving the upper floor partly vacant.

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• 2005Replace department-store space with Sam's ClubStrategy

  Dillard's had closed and the former department-store footprint was available for redevelopment.

  What changed. A Sam's Club wholesale warehouse was constructed on part of the former Dillard's site.

  Aftermath. The property gained a major warehouse-club anchor while continuing its move away from traditional department stores.

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• 2001Convert the west mall for big-box useStrategy

  The traditional enclosed-mall configuration faced growing competition and declining department-store strength.

  What changed. The former west mall was gutted to create space for a Best Buy store.

  Aftermath. This marked a major shift from enclosed in-line retail toward large-format occupancy.

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• 1989Complete a second enclosed wingGeneration change

  Springdale sought to strengthen its tenant mix and connect the Gayfers and McRae's department-store areas.

  What changed. A west enclosed wing was completed with nationally known fashion and specialty retailers.

  Aftermath. The property reached its most extensive enclosed-mall configuration, with two enclosed wings alongside the original open-air section.

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• 1974Add an enclosed east wingGeneration change

  The nearby opening of Bel Air Mall and JCPenney's later relocation increased pressure on Springdale to update its open-air format.

  What changed. Springdale added an enclosed wing adjacent to the Gayfers building, anchored by Montgomery Ward and a multiplex theater.

  Aftermath. The center temporarily operated as a hybrid property combining open-air and enclosed retail.

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• 2023Bed Bath & Beyond and Big Lots leave Springdale

  Bed Bath & Beyond closed during its bankruptcy proceedings, and Big Lots also closed its Springdale location. The former Bed Bath & Beyond space was subsequently used for Overstock Furniture.

  BankruptcyOther
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• 2021Interior mall sections are demolished

  Much of the remaining interior mall space, including the former cinema area, was demolished, leaving the Airport Boulevard-facing portions and selected corridor entrances.

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• 2019Burlington relocates within the center

  Burlington moved into the former Best Buy space, while its original location was divided among Conn's, Crunch Fitness, and a dialysis center.

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• 2018Redevelopment adds Bed Bath & Beyond, World Market, and Shoe Station

  A renovation plan for the former McRae's/Belk building created space for Bed Bath & Beyond, Cost Plus World Market, and Shoe Station; Bed Bath & Beyond and World Market opened in November.

  Product launch
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• 2016Best Buy and Old Navy relocate to McGowin Park

  Best Buy moved from Springdale in January and Old Navy moved in March to the newer McGowin Park shopping center.

  Other
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• 2011New Marshalls, Michaels, and Ulta stores reshape vacant space

  Marshalls, Michaels, and Ulta occupied or replaced spaces formerly used by Goody's, Barnes & Noble, and FYE, reinforcing the center's shift toward open-air big-box retail.

  Product launch
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• 2010Barnes & Noble closes its Springdale location

  Barnes & Noble left the center after failing to agree on lease terms, ending the tenure of a store that had been the chain's first in South Alabama.

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• 2005Sam's Club is developed on former department-store land

  A Sam's Club wholesale warehouse was constructed on part of the site formerly occupied by Dillard's, while McRae's transitioned to Belk.

  Product launch
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• 2001Former west mall is converted for Best Buy

  The enclosed west mall between McRae's and Dillard's was gutted and repurposed for a Best Buy store.

  Other
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• 1999Montgomery Ward closes and Burlington takes over its space

  After Montgomery Ward's 1998 closure, a Burlington Coat Factory store opened in the former department-store space in spring 1999.

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• 1997CBL acquires Springdale Mall and outlines expansion plans

  CBL & Associates Properties purchased Springdale Mall and considered a substantial expansion near the Montgomery Ward building.

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1. Springdale Mall
2. Springdale Mall property profile