The Shoppes at River Crossing

The Shoppes at River Crossing is a super-regional lifestyle shopping center in Macon, Georgia. Developed by General Growth Properties, the center was conceived partly as a response to the weakening position of the older Macon Mall and opened its first phase on March 19, 2008. A second phase followed soon afterward, creating a large open-air retail and dining destination serving Macon and the surrounding Middle Georgia area. The center's principal department-store anchors are Belk and Dillard's, both of which opened with the development and remain associated with the property. Its broader tenant mix has included national apparel, home-furnishings, beauty, sporting-goods, books, discount, specialty retail, restaurants, and entertainment-oriented businesses. Barnes & Noble and Dick's Sporting Goods became important junior-anchor tenants, while PetSmart and, later, pOpshelf added further large-format uses. The property has also hosted brands such as H&M, Jo-Ann Fabrics, Pier 1 Imports, Charming Charlie, Justice, Coach, Coldwater Creek, Buca di Beppo, Olive Garden, Sephora, Windsor, Zumiez, Torrid, and Rue21 at various times. The center's development history reflects the normal turnover of a multi-tenant retail property. A planned Circuit City store was constructed but never opened after Circuit City's bankruptcy; the space was subsequently occupied by Jo-Ann Fabrics from 2010 until its reported closure in May 2025. Several retailers entered and exited during the center's early years, including Charming Charlie, PeachMac, Carlyle & Co., Build-A-Bear, As Seen On TV, Strasburg Children, Merle Norman, Wolf Camera, Christopher & Banks, and CJ Banks. New stores and restaurants continued to arrive through the 2010s, including White House Black Market, Buckle, Texas Roadhouse, The Children's Place, Soma Intimates, Things Remembered, Kirkland's, PetSmart, Pier 1 Imports, Justice, Pandora, H&M, and Torrid. The property also adapted former restaurant and retail spaces. After Buca di Beppo closed in 2017, part of its premises was used by Zoes Kitchen and another portion by T-Mobile. The former Sticky Fingers site was demolished and replaced by an Olive Garden that opened in January 2018. Pier 1 Imports closed in 2020, with temporary Spirit Halloween use followed by pOpshelf in the former store. In the early 2020s, the tenant roster experienced additional departures, including Portrait Innovations, Justice, Yankee Candle, New York & Company, Lids, and Jos. A. Bank, while newer additions included Sephora, Windsor, and Zumiez. Later reported changes include the departure of Torrid and Jo-Ann Fabrics in 2025, the planned opening of Spencer's in a former Justice location, Super Chix in the former Buca di Beppo/Zoes Kitchen area, and GiggleTown, a children's play venue, in the former Charming Charlie space. Francesca's was also reported to have entered bankruptcy proceedings in 2026, resulting in the closure of its location at the center. These changes indicate an active repositioning of the property through replacement tenants, restaurants, services, and experiential uses. The Shoppes at River Crossing remains an active retail destination anchored by department stores and supported by a changing mix of junior anchors and specialty tenants.

The Shoppes at River Crossing was developed by General Growth Properties in Macon, Georgia, as a major lifestyle-center response to the decline of the area's older Macon Mall. Its first phase opened on March 19, 2008, and a second phase opened soon afterward. Belk and Dillard's served as the principal department-store anchors from the beginning, while Barnes & Noble and other large-format tenants helped establish the center as a regional shopping destination. The early tenant cycle was active. A Circuit City store was planned and built, but it never opened because the retailer entered bankruptcy. Jo-Ann Fabrics later occupied that space, beginning in 2010. Charming Charlie and PeachMac, later known as SimplyMac, opened in 2009, while the Carlyle & Co. jewelry store closed that year. In 2011, White House Black Market, Buckle, and Texas Roadhouse joined the center. The following year brought The Children's Place, Soma Intimates, Things Remembered, Buca di Beppo, and Kirkland's, although Christopher & Banks and its CJ Banks concept closed in January 2012. Other early departures included Build-A-Bear, As Seen On TV, Strasburg Children, Merle Norman, and Wolf Camera. The center expanded its large-format retail presence during 2014 and 2015. PetSmart and Pier 1 Imports were announced as junior anchors, with Pier 1 opening in 2015. Justice and Pandora also arrived during this period. At the same time, Coach and Coldwater Creek departed; Coldwater Creek's closure was associated with its corporate bankruptcy. Sticky Fingers also closed. Body Central left in early 2015 after its own corporate bankruptcy, and Rue21 quickly replaced it. From 2016 through 2018, the property continued to refresh its tenant mix. H&M opened a reported 19,000-square-foot store in 2016, while Aeropostale departed and was replaced by Torrid. Buca di Beppo closed in 2017. Zoes Kitchen occupied part of the former restaurant space, while T-Mobile used another portion. The former Sticky Fingers building was demolished, and Olive Garden opened on the site in January 2018. The 2020s brought further restructuring. Pier 1 Imports closed in 2020, and Spirit Halloween used the vacant premises temporarily. pOpshelf later opened in the space. Other reported departures included Portrait Innovations, Justice, Yankee Candle, New York & Company, Lids, and Jos. A. Bank. Newer additions included Sephora, Windsor, and Zumiez. In 2025, Jo-Ann Fabrics reportedly closed after fifteen years at the center, and Torrid also departed. Reported plans and openings for 2025 included Spencer's in the former Justice location, Super Chix in the former Buca di Beppo/Zoes Kitchen area, and GiggleTown, a children's play area, in the former Charming Charlie space. Francesca's reportedly closed its location after bankruptcy-related developments in 2026. Through these successive openings, closures, replacements, and adaptive reuses, the center has remained an active regional retail and dining property.

• 2025

  Jo-Ann Fabrics closes

  [1]The Shoppes at River Crossingen.wikipedia.org

  Jo-Ann Fabrics reportedly closed its location in May 2025.

• 2020

  Pier 1 Imports closes

  [1]The Shoppes at River Crossingen.wikipedia.org

  Pier 1 Imports closed its center location; the space later hosted Spirit Halloween temporarily and pOpshelf on a longer-term basis.

• 2018

  Olive Garden opens

  [1]The Shoppes at River Crossingen.wikipedia.org

  Olive Garden opened in January 2018 on the redeveloped former Sticky Fingers site.

• 2016

  H&M opens

  [1]The Shoppes at River Crossingen.wikipedia.org

  H&M added a reported 19,000-square-foot apparel store to the center.

• 2015

  Pier 1 Imports opens

  [1]The Shoppes at River Crossingen.wikipedia.org

  Pier 1 Imports opened as a junior anchor after being announced alongside PetSmart.

• 2010

  Jo-Ann Fabrics occupies former Circuit City space

  [1]The Shoppes at River Crossingen.wikipedia.org

  Jo-Ann Fabrics opened in the space originally planned for a Circuit City store that never began operations.

• 2009

  Early specialty tenants arrive

  [1]The Shoppes at River Crossingen.wikipedia.org

  Charming Charlie and PeachMac opened, while PeachMac was later rebranded as SimplyMac.

• 2008

  First phase opens

  [1]The Shoppes at River Crossingen.wikipedia.org

  The first phase of The Shoppes at River Crossing opened in Macon on March 19, 2008.

• 2008

  Second phase follows

  [1]The Shoppes at River Crossingen.wikipedia.org

  A second development phase opened shortly after the first, expanding the center's retail capacity.

A large, open-air lifestyle and shopping center serving Macon and the wider Middle Georgia region, combining department-store anchors with national specialty retailers, restaurants, services, and family-oriented uses.

• Department store · 2008

  Belk

  Belk is one of the center's original principal anchors, offering broad department-store merchandise across apparel, accessories, beauty, home goods, and related categories.

• Department store · 2008

  Dillard's

  Dillard's is an original department-store anchor at The Shoppes at River Crossing. Its broad assortment supports the center's regional positioning and complements the specialty retail tenant mix.

• Books and media · 2008

  Barnes & Noble

  Barnes & Noble serves as a major junior anchor, offering books, gifts, media-related merchandise, and related customer services. Its large format contributes to the center's destination-shopping role.

• Sporting goods · 2009

  Dick's Sporting Goods

  Dick's Sporting Goods is a large-format sporting-goods retailer listed among the center's junior anchors. It broadens the property beyond fashion and department-store shopping into sporting equipment, apparel, and accessories.

• Pet supplies · 2015

  PetSmart

  PetSmart joined the center's large-format tenant group as a junior anchor, supplying pet food, accessories, services, and related products to customers from Macon and surrounding communities.

• Discount and general merchandise · 2022

  pOpshelf

  pOpshelf occupies the former Pier 1 Imports space and represents the center's adaptation to changing retail demand. Its assortment generally spans value-oriented household goods, seasonal merchandise, consumables, and general products.

• Crafts and fabrics · 2010

  Jo-Ann Fabrics

  Jo-Ann Fabrics occupied the space originally intended for Circuit City from 2010 until its reported closure in May 2025. The store supplied fabric, sewing materials, craft products, seasonal goods, and related creative supplies.

• 2020

  Conversion of the former Pier 1 spaceStrategy

  Background

  Pier 1 Imports closed its location in 2020.

  Action taken

  The vacant unit first accommodated Spirit Halloween temporarily and later became a pOpshelf store.

  Aftermath

  The replacement brought a value-oriented general-merchandise tenant into a space previously used by a home-furnishings retailer.

  Source

• 2017

  Redevelopment of former restaurant spacesStrategy

  Background

  Buca di Beppo closed in 2017, while the former Sticky Fingers restaurant site was also no longer in use.

  Action taken

  Part of the Buca di Beppo premises was allocated to Zoes Kitchen and another portion to T-Mobile; the former Sticky Fingers building was demolished for a new Olive Garden.

  Aftermath

  Olive Garden opened in January 2018, while the other former restaurant space was divided among replacement retail and restaurant uses.

  Source

• 2010

  Reuse of the planned Circuit City spaceStrategy

  Background

  A Circuit City store had been planned and constructed but did not open after the retailer entered bankruptcy.

  Action taken

  The space was repurposed for Jo-Ann Fabrics, which opened there in 2010.

  Aftermath

  The vacant large-format unit was converted into a productive retail use and remained associated with Jo-Ann Fabrics until its reported closure in 2025.

  Source

• 2026

  Francesca's location closes following bankruptcy[1]The Shoppes at River Crossingen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy

  Francesca's reported bankruptcy was followed by the closure of its store at The Shoppes at River Crossing.

• 2025

  Jo-Ann Fabrics closes its store[1]The Shoppes at River Crossingen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Jo-Ann Fabrics reportedly closed its location at the center in May 2025 after occupying the former planned Circuit City space since 2010.

• 2025

  New tenants announced for former retail and restaurant spaces[1]The Shoppes at River Crossingen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Reported 2025 additions included Spencer's in a former Justice store, Super Chix in the former Buca di Beppo/Zoes Kitchen area, and GiggleTown in the former Charming Charlie space.

• 2020

  Pier 1 Imports closes its location[1]The Shoppes at River Crossingen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy · Other

  Pier 1 Imports left the center in 2020. The vacant space was used temporarily by Spirit Halloween before later being occupied by pOpshelf.

• 2018

  Olive Garden replaces the former Sticky Fingers site[1]The Shoppes at River Crossingen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  After the former Sticky Fingers restaurant site was demolished, a new Olive Garden restaurant opened there in January 2018.

• 2016

  H&M opens a store at The Shoppes at River Crossing[1]The Shoppes at River Crossingen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  H&M opened a reported 19,000-square-foot store at the center, adding an international apparel retailer to the tenant mix.

• 2008

  The Shoppes at River Crossing opens its first phase[1]The Shoppes at River Crossingen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The first phase of the Macon lifestyle center opened on March 19, 2008, followed by a second phase shortly afterward.

1. 1The Shoppes at River Crossingen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Shoppes at River Crossing official websitetheshoppesatrivercrossing.com