The Mall at Shelter Cove

The Mall at Shelter Cove was a shopping center on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, that was substantially redeveloped into Shelter Cove Towne Centre, an open-air mixed-use lifestyle destination. The original enclosed mall opened in April 1988 under the development of Jim Wilson & Associates. Its initial anchor tenants were Jordan Marsh and Belk, and the center also included more than 60 inline stores and several restaurants. Early tenants represented a conventional regional mall mix, including Banana Republic, Victoria’s Secret, Express, The Limited, and other national apparel and specialty retailers. The property experienced several changes in its anchor lineup and tenant base during the 1990s and 2000s. Jordan Marsh closed in 1991 and was replaced by JCPenney. JCPenney subsequently departed in 1996, and Saks Fifth Avenue opened in the former space on March 21, 1997. In 2004, the Saks store was converted to a Saks Off Fifth outlet. Belk expanded its store in 2007, but the mall lost a number of established specialty retailers during the decade, including Crabtree & Evelyn, Brooks Brothers, PacSun, Waldenbooks, Ann Taylor, and Williams Sonoma. A proposed movie theater was announced in 2008 but was not built after the owner was unable to secure financing. Saks Off Fifth left the property in February 2011 and later relocated to Tanger Outlets in nearby Bluffton. Around the same period, Kroger acquired the mall. Plans announced in early 2012 called for most of the existing mall to be demolished, while retaining the Belk buildings, and for the site to be transformed into a community-oriented outdoor development anchored by a Kroger supermarket. The enclosed mall closed in January 2013, and demolition began on January 13 of that year. The redevelopment created approximately 290,000 square feet of retail space and a five-acre park. Rather than reproducing a traditional enclosed mall, the project adopted a lifestyle-center format with outdoor circulation, retail and restaurant space, public open space, and residential development. Kroger opened its new store in December 2013, becoming the redeveloped center’s second anchor alongside Belk. Other tenants added after the redevelopment included JoS. A. Bank, Orange Leaf, and AT&T. Residential development followed the retail transformation. Construction on WaterWalk at Shelter Cove began in March 2015 along Broad Creek. The project comprised two luxury apartment buildings and a five-story parking garage. The first building contains 136 apartments and opened in May 2017. The second building was planned to contain 104 units, with completion expected around late 2018 or early 2019. The resulting Shelter Cove Towne Centre combines shopping, grocery retail, restaurants and services, public park space, and apartment living in a waterfront-oriented community setting. The property is therefore best understood as a redeveloped mixed-use lifestyle center rather than as the enclosed mall that operated under its original name.

Shelter Cove Towne Centre originated as The Mall at Shelter Cove, an enclosed shopping mall that opened in April 1988 on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Jim Wilson & Associates developed the original property. Jordan Marsh and Belk served as the initial anchors, while more than 60 inline tenants occupied the mall’s specialty retail space. The tenant mix included national apparel, accessories, beauty, and lifestyle brands such as Banana Republic, Victoria’s Secret, Express, The Limited, and several restaurants. The center’s anchor lineup changed repeatedly. Jordan Marsh closed in 1991, after which JCPenney occupied its space. JCPenney left in 1996, and Saks Fifth Avenue opened there on March 21, 1997. In 2004, Saks converted the location to a Saks Off Fifth outlet. Belk expanded its store in 2007, but the mall’s broader tenant roster weakened during the decade. Several recognizable specialty stores, including Crabtree & Evelyn, Brooks Brothers, PacSun, Waldenbooks, Ann Taylor, and Williams Sonoma, had departed by the end of the 2000s. A movie-theater addition was proposed in 2008 but was abandoned because financing could not be obtained. Saks Off Fifth left the property in February 2011 and subsequently relocated to a Tanger Factory Outlet Centers property in nearby Bluffton. Kroger acquired the mall around this period. In early 2012, redevelopment plans were reported that would remove most of the enclosed mall, preserve the Belk buildings, and create a new community-oriented development with a Kroger supermarket and public park space. The enclosed mall closed in January 2013, and demolition began on January 13. Redevelopment transformed the site into an open-air lifestyle center with approximately 290,000 square feet of retail space and a five-acre park. Kroger opened in December 2013, joining Belk as an anchor. The new format also accommodated smaller retailers, restaurants, and service businesses, including JoS. A. Bank, Orange Leaf, and AT&T. The site’s mixed-use character expanded through WaterWalk at Shelter Cove, a residential project along Broad Creek. Construction began in March 2015 and involved two luxury apartment buildings plus a five-story parking garage. The first building, containing 136 apartments, opened in May 2017. The second was planned with 104 apartments and was expected to open between late 2018 and early 2019. Through this redevelopment, the property shifted from a conventional enclosed mall into a lifestyle-oriented town center integrating retail, grocery shopping, dining, outdoor public space, and residential units. The historic mall name remains relevant because it identifies the original property, while Shelter Cove Towne Centre describes the redeveloped destination.

• 2017

  First WaterWalk building opens

  [1]Shelter Cove Towne Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The first apartment building opens in May with 136 units.

• 2015

  WaterWalk residential construction starts

  [1]Shelter Cove Towne Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Construction begins on two luxury apartment buildings along Broad Creek.

• 2013

  Demolition and redevelopment begin

  [1]Shelter Cove Towne Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The original enclosed mall closes in January, demolition starts on January 13, and construction of the outdoor center follows.

• 2013

  Kroger opens at the new center

  [1]Shelter Cove Towne Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Kroger opens its store in December as the new development’s second anchor.

• 2011

  Saks Off Fifth leaves the property

  [1]Shelter Cove Towne Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The outlet relocates from Shelter Cove in February and later moves to Tanger Outlets in Bluffton.

• 2007

  Belk expands

  [1]Shelter Cove Towne Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Belk expands its store while the mall experiences losses among several other major tenants.

• 2004

  Saks becomes Saks Off Fifth

  [1]Shelter Cove Towne Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The Saks Fifth Avenue store is converted into an off-price Saks Off Fifth outlet.

• 1997

  Saks Fifth Avenue opens

  [1]Shelter Cove Towne Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Saks Fifth Avenue opens on March 21 in the former JCPenney space.

• 1996

  JCPenney departs

  [1]Shelter Cove Towne Centreen.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney closes its location, creating space for a subsequent Saks Fifth Avenue store.

• 1991

  Jordan Marsh is replaced by JCPenney

  [1]Shelter Cove Towne Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Jordan Marsh closes, and JCPenney takes over its anchor position.

• 1988

  Original enclosed mall opens

  [1]Shelter Cove Towne Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The Mall at Shelter Cove opens in April with Jordan Marsh and Belk as anchor stores and more than 60 inline tenants.

A community-oriented, open-air lifestyle center combining everyday grocery shopping, department-store retail, specialty stores, dining, public park space, and luxury apartments on Hilton Head Island.

• Department store · 1988

  Belk

  Belk was one of the original anchor tenants and remained at the property through the redevelopment. Its department-store format provides apparel, accessories, beauty products, home merchandise, and related general retail categories. The store expanded in 2007 and its buildings were retained when most of the original enclosed mall was demolished.

• Grocery store · 2013

  Kroger

  Kroger became associated with the property after acquiring the mall and leading the redevelopment strategy. Its supermarket opened in December 2013 and serves as an everyday-needs anchor within the open-air center, complementing Belk and the site’s specialty retail, dining, and residential uses.

• Luxury apartments · 2017

  WaterWalk at Shelter Cove

  WaterWalk at Shelter Cove is the residential component of the mixed-use redevelopment along Broad Creek. The plan called for two apartment buildings, with the first containing 136 apartments and the second planned with 104 units. The project also included a five-story parking garage and extended the property beyond a conventional retail destination.

• Public open space · 2013

  Five-acre park

  The redeveloped center includes a five-acre park intended as a community-oriented open space within the lifestyle-center layout. It forms part of the project’s shift away from an enclosed mall model toward an outdoor destination combining retail, dining, residential uses, and public space.

• 2015

  Addition of residential developmentStrategy

  Background

  The retail redevelopment was expanded to create a broader mixed-use destination along Broad Creek.

  Action taken

  Construction began on WaterWalk at Shelter Cove, comprising two luxury apartment buildings and a five-story parking garage.

  Aftermath

  The first building opened in 2017 with 136 apartments, while the second was planned with 104 units.

  Source

• 2013

  Launch of the redeveloped outdoor centerProduct launch

  Background

  The original mall was demolished after the property was repositioned for mixed-use, open-air retail.

  Action taken

  A new center with approximately 290,000 square feet of retail space and a five-acre park was developed, with Kroger opening in December.

  Aftermath

  The property gained a lifestyle-center format and added retail, restaurant, service, and later residential tenants.

  Source

• 2012

  Decision to replace the enclosed mall with a lifestyle centerStrategy

  Background

  After tenant losses and the departure of Saks Off Fifth, Kroger acquired the property and plans were reported for a substantial physical and commercial transformation.

  Action taken

  The redevelopment plan called for demolishing most of the enclosed mall, retaining the Belk buildings, adding a Kroger supermarket, and creating a community park and outdoor retail environment.

  Aftermath

  The enclosed mall closed in January 2013, demolition began, and the site was rebuilt as Shelter Cove Towne Centre.

  Source

• 2008

  Cancelation of proposed movie theaterOther

  Background

  Mall representatives announced plans to add a movie theater during a period when the property was seeking new destination-oriented attractions.

  Action taken

  The theater project was abandoned because the company could not secure financing for construction.

  Aftermath

  The mall continued without the proposed cinema and later pursued a much broader redevelopment strategy.

  Source

1. 1Shelter Cove Towne Centreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Shelter Cove Towne Centre official websitesheltercovetownecentre.com