Dalton Mall
Dalton Mall, formerly Walnut Square Mall, is an indoor shopping center in Dalton, Georgia.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Dalton Mall is an enclosed shopping center in Dalton, Georgia, United States. The property originally operated under the name Walnut Square Mall and was developed by CBL Properties as Dalton's first enclosed shopping center. It occupies land formerly associated with the Patterson Horse Racing Arena and was conceived as a regional retail destination for Dalton and the surrounding communities of northwest Georgia. Construction began after a CBL and Associates groundbreaking ceremony in 1979. The center opened in 1980 with Sears and Belk as its principal department-store anchors. Loveman's, a Chattanooga-based department store, joined the property on August 20, 1980. Other early major tenants included Revco and Martin Triple Theater, while JCPenney eventually opened a large store in spring 1982 after an existing lease delayed its arrival. CBL also considered Miller's Department Store as a possible fifth anchor, but that plan did not materialize. The mall marked its opening with a five-day celebration from July 23 through July 27, 1980, including appearances by Steve Gipson and the robot character Fubar. During its early years, the center combined department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, and an indoor cinema. A vacant area between Chick-fil-A and Peanut Shack remained undeveloped for roughly a decade before Goody's Family Clothing opened a freestanding location there in 1992. A major renovation took place in 1990. Improvements included a new exterior facade, updated tile flooring in the courts, a revised color scheme, and remodeling for a number of inline stores. The work was promoted through a tenth-anniversary grand reopening in November of that year. The mall's cinema also expanded substantially. In 1993, Carmike Cinemas converted the former Martin Triple Theater into a nine-screen complex with updated technology. At the time, Carmike Cinemas 9 was described as Georgia's largest inline cinema. The center later experienced the pressures affecting many traditional enclosed malls, including department-store bankruptcies, anchor closures, competition from newer retail properties, and the relocation of cinema operations. Carmike Cinemas 9 closed after a new Carmike 12 complex opened behind the mall. The former theater space was subsequently used for storage and deteriorated. Goody's departed after its parent company entered bankruptcy in 2009. The former Goody's pad later became a fitness facility, first operated by The Rush Fitness Complex, then Gold's Gym, and ultimately Fitness 1440. Ownership changed in 2016, when CBL and Associates sold the property to Georgia-based Hull Property Group. Hull renamed the center Dalton Mall and undertook a major repositioning and physical renovation. The work included updated facades, a new paint scheme, carpet flooring, and murals covering vacant storefronts with images connected to local heritage. In 2018, more than 240,000 square feet of mall space was demolished, including the JCPenney building, Carmike Cinemas 9, and the Sears wing. The resulting property is a smaller and more selectively occupied shopping center. Belk, Fitness 1440, Gimme-A-Five, and Shoe Dept. Encore have been identified as principal remaining anchors or junior anchors, while outparcels have included AMC 12, Logan's Roadhouse, and the former Ryan's Buffet building. The Juicy Seafood was announced as a prospective tenant for the former Ryan's location in 2020. The mall's identity therefore reflects both its original Walnut Square history and its later adaptation as Dalton Mall under new ownership.
History
Dalton Mall began as Walnut Square Mall, an enclosed shopping center developed by CBL Properties in Dalton, Georgia. The site had previously been associated with the Patterson Horse Racing Arena. CBL and Associates held a groundbreaking ceremony in 1979, beginning the development of what was intended to become Dalton's first enclosed shopping center. The mall opened in 1980 with Sears and Belk as its initial department-store anchors. Loveman's, a Chattanooga department-store chain, opened at the property on August 20 of that year. The grand-opening program ran for five days, from July 23 through July 27, and included entertainment appearances by Steve Gipson and Fubar the Robot. Early leasing also brought Revco and Martin Triple Theater to the center. JCPenney was planned as another major anchor, but its opening was postponed until spring 1982 because the retailer remained bound by an existing lease at Bryman's Plaza. When JCPenney moved to Walnut Square, its store occupied approximately 68,000 square feet. The mall's early tenant plan included the possibility of Miller's Department Store as a fifth anchor, but that proposal did not come to fruition. For approximately ten years, a blank wall remained between Chick-fil-A and Peanut Shack. Goody's Family Clothing eventually filled the area in 1992, creating another significant retail presence at the property. In 1990, the mall underwent a renovation focused on its visual presentation and common areas. The project included a new facade, tile flooring in the courts, a new color palette, and upgrades to several inline stores. The improvements were introduced to the public during a tenth-anniversary grand reopening in November 1990. The property also developed a notable entertainment component through its cinema. Martin Triple Theater was operated by the Leon Hurst family. In 1993, Carmike Cinemas closed the nearby Plaza Five Theater and expanded the mall's former three-screen operation into Carmike Cinemas 9, a nine-screen complex with then-current projection and theater technology. The theater was described as the largest inline cinema in Georgia at the time, and the Hurst family organized promotional events around film releases. The property later entered a period of decline. In 2007, Dale Hurst moved into a corporate role, and Carmike Cinemas 9 ultimately closed after a new Carmike 12 complex opened behind the mall. The former cinema area was converted to storage and eventually became physically deteriorated. Other tenants also departed as their corporate parents encountered financial difficulties or as retail patterns changed. Goody's left after its company filed for bankruptcy in 2009. The former Goody's pad was subsequently leased by The Rush Fitness Complex in 2010. Gold's Gym acquired the Rush operation in 2014, but Gold's later closed the location in 2019. Fitness 1440 took over the space in early 2020. Loveman's changed corporate hands when Proffitt's acquired it in 1986. Belk later acquired Proffitt's in 2008 and used the former Loveman's building for its Home and Children departments. Belk closed that location in 2015. JCPenney also closed its mall store in 2015, followed by departures associated with RadioShack and Deb. Sears announced in 2017 that the Walnut Square location would close. Its auto center remained temporarily, but shut in November of that year, with equipment transferred to the retailer's Hamilton Place Mall location in Chattanooga. Jo-Ann Crafts, another junior anchor, also closed, leaving the Sears end of the property largely vacant. A major ownership and identity change occurred in 2016, when CBL and Associates sold the center to Hull Property Group, a Georgia-based real-estate company. Hull renamed the property Dalton Mall and began an extensive renovation and repositioning program. The work modernized facades, changed the paint scheme, installed carpet flooring, and covered empty storefronts with murals depicting elements of local heritage. In 2018, more than 240,000 square feet of the mall was demolished. The demolition included the JCPenney building, Carmike Cinemas 9, and the Sears wing, substantially reducing the property's physical footprint. Following the redevelopment, Dalton Mall was anchored by Belk, Fitness 1440, and Gimme-A-Five, with Shoe Dept. Encore serving as a junior anchor. Outparcel uses included AMC 12, Logan's Roadhouse, and the shuttered Ryan's Buffet building. In 2020, The Juicy Seafood was announced as a prospective tenant for the former Ryan's location, though the available reference does not provide a confirmed opening date. Retailers reported as having remained from the 1980 opening period included Belk, Zales, Time Out by Pac-Man, Great American Cookies, GNC, Claire's, and Chick-fil-A. The property's evolution illustrates the transition of a conventional department-store mall into a smaller regional center supported by value retail, services, restaurants, and entertainment.
- 2020
Fitness 1440 takes over former Goody's space
[1]Fitness 1440 became the subsequent fitness tenant, while The Juicy Seafood was announced for a former restaurant outparcel.
- 2019
Gold's Gym closes
[1]Gold's Gym departed the former Goody's pad.
- 2018
Large-scale demolition
[1]More than 240,000 square feet, including the JCPenney, cinema, and Sears wing, was demolished.
- 2017
Sears closes
[1]Sears announced the closure of its store and later shut the associated auto center.
- 2016
Hull Property Group acquires and renames the property
[1]The mall was sold by CBL and Associates, renamed Dalton Mall, and targeted for redevelopment.
- 2015
JCPenney and Belk's former Loveman's location close
[1]JCPenney left the mall, and Belk shuttered the former Loveman's building.
- 2014
Gold's Gym acquires Rush Fitness operation
[1]Gold's Gym took over the fitness use at the former Goody's location.
- 2010
Rush Fitness leases former Goody's pad
[1]The former Goody's building was repurposed as a fitness facility.
- 2009
Goody's exits after bankruptcy
[1]Goody's closed the location as part of the retailer's bankruptcy-related store reductions.
- 1993
Carmike Cinemas 9 launches
[1]The former Martin Triple Theater was expanded into a nine-screen Carmike complex.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping center serving Dalton and northwest Georgia, repositioned from a traditional department-store-anchored mall into a smaller, value-oriented and service-focused retail property.
Department store · 1980
Belk
Belk is a department-store anchor associated with the property from its 1980 opening period. The retailer later acquired Proffitt's, which had acquired Loveman's, and used the former Loveman's space for Home and Children departments before closing that particular location in 2015. Belk is also identified among the principal anchors after the Dalton Mall reconfiguration.
Department store · 1980
Sears
Sears was one of Walnut Square Mall's original senior anchors. Its department-store operation was later selected for closure during Sears' broader store reductions. The associated auto center remained temporarily but closed in November 2017, after which equipment was moved to a Hamilton Place Mall location in Chattanooga.
Department store · 1980
Loveman's
Loveman's was a Chattanooga-based department-store chain that became a senior anchor at Walnut Square Mall on August 20, 1980. Proffitt's acquired the chain in 1986, and Belk later acquired Proffitt's in 2008. The former Loveman's building was subsequently used by Belk for its Home and Children departments before closing in 2015.
Department store · 1982
JCPenney
JCPenney opened at the mall in spring 1982 after an existing lease delayed its relocation. Its store covered approximately 68,000 square feet. The location closed in 2015, and the building was demolished during the 2018 redevelopment.
Cinema · 1993
Carmike Cinemas 9
Carmike Cinemas 9 grew out of the property's Martin Triple Theater. In 1993, Carmike expanded the operation to nine screens and installed updated cinema technology. The complex later closed after a new Carmike 12 opened behind the mall. The former inline cinema area was eventually used for storage and was demolished in 2018.
Fitness center · 2020
Fitness 1440
Fitness 1440 occupies the former Goody's Family Clothing pad. The space had previously been used by The Rush Fitness Complex beginning in 2010 and by Gold's Gym after its acquisition of the Rush operation in 2014. Fitness 1440 took over the location in early 2020.
Discount retail · 2019
Gimme-A-Five
Gimme-A-Five is a discount store that leased the former Loveman's space after the department-store use ended. It was identified as one of Dalton Mall's principal anchors following the property's rebranding and physical reduction.
Restaurant · 2020
The Juicy Seafood
The Juicy Seafood was announced as a prospective tenant for the former Ryan's Buffet building in 2020. The available reference confirms the leasing announcement but does not provide a verified opening date.
Marketing campaigns
- 1990Tenth-anniversary grand reopening
Dalton, Georgia
The center used a November grand reopening to promote its renovation, including facade improvements, new flooring, a revised color scheme, and remodeled inline stores.
Outcome. The campaign marked the property's first major anniversary-led repositioning.
- 1980Walnut Square Mall grand opening
Dalton, Georgia
The mall promoted its opening with a five-day program featuring guest appearances by Steve Gipson and Fubar the Robot.
Outcome. The event introduced Dalton's first enclosed shopping center to local shoppers.
Brand decisions
2020
Announcement of The Juicy Seafood tenancyProduct launchBackground
The former Ryan's Buffet building was a long-vacant restaurant outparcel.
Action taken
The Juicy Seafood was announced as the prospective tenant for the building.
Aftermath
The available reference does not confirm the restaurant's opening date or final operating status.
2018
Reduction and redevelopment of mall spaceStrategyBackground
The property had lost major tenants including JCPenney, Sears, and Carmike Cinemas 9, leaving large portions of the original mall underused.
Action taken
More than 240,000 square feet was demolished, including the JCPenney building, the cinema, and the Sears wing.
Aftermath
Dalton Mall emerged as a smaller center focused on remaining retail, discount goods, fitness, dining, and outparcel uses.
2016
Sale to Hull Property GroupM&ABackground
The property had experienced anchor losses, vacant space, and declining use of its former cinema and department-store areas.
Action taken
CBL and Associates sold the mall to Hull Property Group, which assumed ownership and began repositioning the asset.
Aftermath
The center was renamed Dalton Mall and subsequently underwent facade improvements, interior updates, mural installations, and substantial demolition.
Recent events
- 2020
The Juicy Seafood announced for former Ryan's location[1]
Product launch
The Juicy Seafood was announced as a prospective tenant for the long-vacant former Ryan's Buffet building, although an opening date was not specified.
- 2018
Large portions of Dalton Mall are demolished[1]
Other
More than 240,000 square feet was removed, including the former JCPenney, Carmike Cinemas 9, and Sears wing, as part of the property's repositioning.
- 2017
Sears announces closure of its Dalton mall store[1]
Bankruptcy
Sears announced the closure of its Walnut Square location; the remaining auto center later closed in November, with equipment moved to a Chattanooga location.
- 2016
Hull Property Group acquires and renames the mall[1]
M&A · Leadership change
CBL and Associates sold the property to Hull Property Group, which changed its name from Walnut Square Mall to Dalton Mall.
- 1993
Former Martin Triple Theater expands to Carmike Cinemas 9[1]
Product generation
Carmike Cinemas expanded the mall's former three-screen theater into a nine-screen complex with updated cinema technology.
- 1990
Walnut Square Mall completes major renovation[1]
Other
The property received facade, flooring, color-scheme, and inline-store improvements, which were promoted through a tenth-anniversary reopening.
- 1982
JCPenney opens at Walnut Square Mall[1]
Other
JCPenney began operating a large department-store location at the mall after a delay caused by an existing lease at another shopping center.
- 1980
Walnut Square Mall opens in Dalton[1]
Other
The enclosed shopping center opened with Sears and Belk as anchors, while Loveman's joined the property later in the year.
Sources1 sources
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