The Streets at Southpoint

The Streets at Southpoint is a regional shopping mall and mixed-use retail destination in Durham, North Carolina. It is located near Interstate 40 on Fayetteville Road and serves the Research Triangle area, including Durham, Chapel Hill, and the broader Raleigh-Durham market. The property combines a conventional enclosed shopping center with an outdoor pedestrian-oriented retail street, giving it a format that differs from a fully enclosed suburban mall. The project was developed by Urban Retail Properties after several years of planning. Design work was led by RTKL Associates, which handled both architectural and environmental graphic design elements. Groundbreaking began in June 2000, and construction continued for more than two years. In January 2002, The Rouse Company announced that it would acquire and complete the project through a joint venture involving Simon Property Group and Westfield Group as part of a transaction involving selected Urban Retail assets. The mall opened on March 8, 2002, and attracted approximately 300,000 visitors during its first three days. At opening, the property included Hecht's, Sears, JCPenney, Belk, and Nordstrom as anchor tenants. Its arrival was notable because it was the first new mall in the Durham area in almost 30 years. The project also introduced several retailers and concepts to the Research Triangle market, including the area's first Nordstrom and Apple Store, along with stores such as Aveda, California Pizza Kitchen, Hollister, and Pottery Barn Kids. The opening was recognized as the most important item in Durham's 2002 list of leading business stories. Southpoint's identity is strongly tied to its architectural concept. The outdoor section was conceived as an old-fashioned Main Street, with brick façades, mature landscaping, restaurants, and larger-format retailers. More than two million red bricks were used across the interior and exterior, drawing visual references from downtown Durham and historic buildings associated with the University of North Carolina. A 70-foot glass wall separates the outdoor portion from the enclosed mall. The development also incorporates Durham-themed details, including map fragments in handrails, a food court called Fork in the Road inspired by tobacco warehouses, and a smokestack designed to evoke the city's industrial heritage. A prominent public-art feature is a series of 23 child statues placed around the property. Developer Jim Farrell envisioned children as a recurring element of the center's Main Street atmosphere, and A.R.T. Design Group created the statues using children connected to local leaders as subjects. The combination of architecture, landscaping, public art, and retail programming positioned Southpoint as more than a conventional mall: it became a destination designed to resemble an established urban district. The tenant mix has changed over time as the U.S. department-store sector contracted. Sears announced the closure of its Southpoint location in December 2018, and the former anchor space was subsequently considered for redevelopment. Following the COVID-19 lockdown period, the center announced new or expanded stores and concepts including Peloton, Warby Parker, Offline by Aerie, Evereve, LoveSac, and Lovisa, as well as a larger Apple store format. These additions reflect a shift toward specialty retail, lifestyle, wellness, and experiential uses alongside traditional anchors such as Nordstrom, Macy's, Belk, and JCPenney. In June 2023, Brookfield received approval for an enhanced development program outside the existing mall. The proposal includes approximately 100,000 square feet of additional retail space, 300,000 square feet of offices, as many as 200 hotel rooms, and more than 1,382 apartments. The plan indicates an effort to reinforce Southpoint as a larger mixed-use destination amid new competitive developments in the Triangle. As of 2023, the property was reported to receive more than one million visitors per month on average since its opening.

The Streets at Southpoint was planned as a major regional retail destination for Durham and the Research Triangle. Urban Retail Properties developed the project, with RTKL Associates responsible for its architectural and environmental graphic design. Planning took approximately four years, followed by more than two years of construction. Groundbreaking began in June 2000. In January 2002, The Rouse Company announced an arrangement to acquire and complete the center through a joint venture with Simon Property Group and Westfield Group. The project opened on March 8, 2002, with Hecht's, Sears, JCPenney, Belk, and Nordstrom as its original anchors. Approximately 300,000 people visited during the first three days. Southpoint was Durham's first new mall in nearly three decades and brought several retailers to the local market for the first time, including North Carolina's first Nordstrom and Apple Store. Its opening was subsequently recognized as Durham's leading business story of 2002. The center was designed as a hybrid mall rather than a fully enclosed complex. Its indoor retail area connects to an outdoor Main Street lined with shops, restaurants, landscaping, and brick architecture. More than two million red bricks were used throughout the development, with design references drawn from downtown Durham and buildings at the University of North Carolina. A 70-foot glass wall marks the transition between the enclosed and open-air sections. Other design features include map fragments incorporated into handrails, the Fork in the Road food court, a smokestack recalling Durham's tobacco-era industrial character, and mature trees transplanted to create an established streetscape. Public art is central to the property. Developer Jim Farrell wanted playing children to be a recurring part of the center's character and commissioned A.R.T. Design Group to create 23 child statues. The subjects were connected to local leaders, and producing the collection took approximately three years. Together with the architectural details, the statues helped distinguish Southpoint from standard suburban shopping centers. The retail mix later evolved as department stores faced industry-wide pressure. Sears announced the closure of its Southpoint store in December 2018, and the former anchor site was considered for redevelopment in 2019. The property continued to refresh its specialty and lifestyle offering after the COVID-19 lockdown period, adding or announcing brands such as Peloton, Warby Parker, Offline by Aerie, Evereve, LoveSac, and Lovisa, while Apple moved toward a larger store format. Brookfield's ownership and management interests have supported a broader mixed-use strategy. In June 2023, approval was obtained for an enhanced development program outside the mall, including approximately 100,000 square feet of new retail, 300,000 square feet of offices, up to 200 hotel rooms, and more than 1,382 apartments. The proposal reflects an attempt to deepen the property's role as a walkable, multi-purpose destination while responding to competition from newer Triangle developments. By 2023, the center was reported to average more than one million visitors per month since its opening.

• 2023

  Mixed-use expansion approved

  [1]The Streets at Southpointen.wikipedia.org

  Brookfield won approval for a large expansion program involving retail, offices, hospitality, and residential units outside the mall.

• 2019

  Former Sears site considered for redevelopment

  [1]The Streets at Southpointen.wikipedia.org

  The former Sears anchor location was evaluated as a redevelopment opportunity.

• 2018

  Sears closure announced

  [1]The Streets at Southpointen.wikipedia.org

  The Sears anchor store was announced for closure.

• 2002

  Rouse acquisition and completion arrangement

  [1]The Streets at Southpointen.wikipedia.org

  The Rouse Company announced an arrangement with Simon Property Group and Westfield Group to acquire and complete the project.

• 2002

  Mall opens

  [1]The Streets at Southpointen.wikipedia.org

  The center opened on March 8 with five major anchor stores and an outdoor Main Street retail section.

• 2000

  Groundbreaking begins

  [1]The Streets at Southpointen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of The Streets at Southpoint began in June after several years of planning.

A destination regional mall positioned as a hybrid of an enclosed shopping center and a walkable, architecturally themed outdoor Main Street. Its identity emphasizes Durham-inspired design, dining, public art, lifestyle retail, and mixed-use expansion.

• Retail property · 2002

  Enclosed shopping mall

  The enclosed portion houses a broad tenant mix spanning department stores, fashion, beauty, home goods, technology, and specialty retail. It provides the conventional climate-controlled mall experience and connects directly to the center's open-air pedestrian district.

• Open-air retail and dining district · 2002

  Outdoor Main Street

  The outdoor section is designed as an old-fashioned Main Street with brick façades, mature landscaping, restaurants, larger-format retailers, and pedestrian circulation. Its Durham-inspired appearance is a defining part of the property's identity.

• Food court · 2002

  Fork in the Road

  Fork in the Road is the center's food-court concept. Its design draws on Durham's former tobacco-warehouse architecture and supports the mall's broader emphasis on local visual references and themed public spaces.

• Entertainment · 2002

  AMC Theatres and IMAX

  The property includes a 17-screen AMC Theatres complex with IMAX, adding a cinema and entertainment component to the shopping and dining offer.

• Real-estate development · 2023

  Mixed-use expansion program

  The approved expansion outside the existing mall is planned to add approximately 100,000 square feet of retail, 300,000 square feet of offices, as many as 200 hotel rooms, and more than 1,382 apartments. The program is intended to broaden Southpoint into a more integrated mixed-use destination.

• 2023

  Approve a broader mixed-use expansionStrategy

  Background

  Brookfield identified an opportunity to invest in the property as competing mixed-use developments entered the Raleigh-Durham market.

  Action taken

  The development firm obtained approval for additional retail, office, hotel, and residential construction outside the mall.

  Aftermath

  The approval positioned Southpoint for expansion beyond its traditional shopping-mall format, although the cited material does not establish a completion date or final operating results.

  Source

• 2019

  Consider redevelopment of the former Sears anchorStrategy

  Background

  Sears announced the closure of its Southpoint store in December 2018, leaving a major anchor space available.

  Action taken

  The former Sears location was considered for redevelopment.

  Aftermath

  The cited material does not specify the final redevelopment outcome for the former anchor space.

  Source

1. 1The Streets at Southpointen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Streets at Southpoint official sitestreetsatsouthpoint.com