Western Hills Mall

Western Hills Mall is a shopping center in Fairfield, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham. It opened in 1969 as the second major shopping mall in the Birmingham area and was developed by Aronov Realty. The property originally combined department-store anchors with a range of other large tenants, reflecting the traditional enclosed-mall model that dominated American retail development during the period. Loveman's of Alabama was one of the mall's original anchor stores. That department-store space passed through several retail identities as the business changed hands or rebranded: Loveman's became Pizitz in 1980, and the location later operated under the McRae's and Parisian names. JCPenney was another principal anchor. Other important tenants included Yeilding's and F. W. Woolworth Company. The Yeilding's location was subsequently occupied by Goody's Family Clothing. The mall underwent a major physical and commercial restructuring in 2006. JCPenney's building was demolished, and the mall was shortened at the former Penney entrance. A Walmart Supercenter was constructed on the former department-store site, representing a shift from the original enclosed-mall anchor strategy toward large-format discount retail. The former Parisian location was later replaced by Burlington Coat Factory after Parisian closed in the late 2000s. The property subsequently experienced significant anchor loss. Walmart closed its Western Hills Mall location in January 2016, and Burlington Coat Factory left in February 2017. Those departures left the mall without an anchor tenant. The mall also became the site of a fatal shooting on February 16, 2018, in which Anthony Alberigi, identified as the mall's manager, was killed in gunfire. In January 2022, the Peleg Group of Miami acquired Western Hills Mall from Aronov Realty for $2.94 million. Following the acquisition, the new ownership announced and pursued a $4 million renovation program. The reported work included new air-conditioning equipment, exterior and interior painting, parking-lot improvements, and repairs to roof problems. Western Hills Mall is therefore best understood as a long-running local retail property whose history reflects the evolution of American shopping centers: early department-store anchoring, replacement by big-box retail, anchor vacancies, and later efforts to reposition and physically rehabilitate the site.

Western Hills Mall opened in 1969 in Fairfield, Alabama, during a period of rapid expansion in enclosed suburban retail. Developed by Aronov Realty, it became the second mall serving the Birmingham area. Its original tenant mix followed the conventional department-store-centered format of the era. Loveman's of Alabama was one of the principal anchors, while JCPenney served as another major department-store tenant. Yeilding's and F. W. Woolworth Company were also among the mall's significant early occupants. The identity of the mall's principal department-store space changed over time. Loveman's became Pizitz in 1980, and the location later operated as McRae's before becoming Parisian. The Yeilding's premises were eventually occupied by Goody's Family Clothing. These changes reflected broader consolidation and restructuring in the American department-store and apparel sectors, although the mall continued to function as a local retail center. A major redevelopment took place in 2006. JCPenney's building was demolished, and the mall structure was truncated at the former Penney entrance. A Walmart Supercenter was then built on the former anchor site. This change materially altered the property's format, replacing a traditional department-store anchor with a large-format discount retailer. Parisian later closed in the late 2000s, and Burlington Coat Factory took over that space. The mall's anchor position weakened during the following decade. Walmart closed its store in January 2016. Burlington Coat Factory left in February 2017, leaving Western Hills Mall without an anchor. The loss of both stores marked a significant transition from the mall's original department-store model and contributed to its identity as a property requiring repositioning and reinvestment. On February 16, 2018, a shootout took place at the mall. Anthony Alberigi, the mall manager, was killed in the incident. The event is a significant part of the property's documented history and represents a serious safety-related episode associated with the mall. Ownership changed in January 2022, when the Peleg Group, based in Miami, Florida, acquired Western Hills Mall from Aronov Realty for $2.94 million. After the purchase, the new owner moved forward with a $4 million renovation project. The reported improvements included replacement or installation of air-conditioning equipment, new paint, parking-lot work, and repairs to roof problems. The acquisition and renovation program represented an effort to rehabilitate the physical property and support its continued operation as a retail destination despite the loss of its former anchor stores.

• 2022

  Peleg Group acquisition and renovation

  [1]Western Hills Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Peleg Group acquires the mall from Aronov Realty and proceeds with a reported $4 million renovation program.

• 2018

  Fatal shooting at the mall

  [1]Western Hills Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A shootout occurs on February 16, and mall manager Anthony Alberigi is killed.

• 2017

  Burlington Coat Factory departs

  [1]Western Hills Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Burlington Coat Factory leaves the mall in February, leaving the property without anchor tenants.

• 2016

  Walmart closes

  [1]Western Hills Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Walmart Supercenter at Western Hills Mall closes in January.

• 2006

  Major mall transformation

  [1]Western Hills Mallen.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney's location is demolished, the mall is truncated at the former Penney entrance, and a Walmart Supercenter is built on the site.

• 1980

  Loveman's becomes Pizitz

  [1]Western Hills Mallen.wikipedia.org

  One of the original anchor stores, Loveman's of Alabama, changes identity to Pizitz.

• 1969

  Mall opens in Fairfield

  [1]Western Hills Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Western Hills Mall opens as the second mall in the Birmingham area, developed by Aronov Realty.

A local shopping-center and retail destination serving Fairfield and the western Birmingham metropolitan area.

• Retail real estate · 1969

  Enclosed shopping mall

  Western Hills Mall provides enclosed retail premises for stores, services, and other commercial tenants. Its historical tenant base included department stores, apparel retailers, discount retail, and general merchandise businesses. The property has also included large anchor spaces that were later demolished, repurposed, or vacated.

• Retail real estate · 1969

  Anchor retail spaces

  The mall's major anchor spaces have included Loveman's of Alabama, Pizitz, McRae's, Parisian, JCPenney, Walmart Supercenter, and Burlington Coat Factory at different points in the property's history. These spaces illustrate the mall's shift from department-store anchoring toward big-box retail and later anchor vacancies.

• 2018

  Fatal shooting at Western Hills Mall

  A shootout occurred at the mall on February 16, 2018. Anthony Alberigi, identified as the mall's manager, was killed in the gunfire.

  Source

Read more

• 2022

  Peleg Group purchases the mallM&A

  Background

  The property had lost Walmart and Burlington Coat Factory and no longer had anchor tenants.

  Action taken

  Peleg Group acquired Western Hills Mall from Aronov Realty in January 2022.

  Aftermath

  The new owner proceeded with a reported renovation program covering air-conditioning, painting, parking, and roof repairs.

  Acquisition price. $2.94 million (January 2022)

  Source

• 2022

  Renovation and property rehabilitationStrategy

  Background

  Following its acquisition, Peleg Group pursued improvements to a mall that had experienced anchor departures and building-maintenance issues.

  Action taken

  The owner proceeded with a reported $4 million renovation involving new air conditioning, new paint, parking-lot work, and roof repairs.

  Aftermath

  The work was intended to improve the property's physical condition and support its continued use as a local shopping center.

  Renovation investment. $4 million (Announced or undertaken after January 2022 acquisition)

  Source

• 2006

  Replace JCPenney site with Walmart SupercenterStrategy

  Background

  The mall underwent a major transformation as its traditional JCPenney anchor was removed.

  Action taken

  JCPenney's location was demolished, the mall was shortened at the former entrance, and a Walmart Supercenter was built on the site.

  Aftermath

  The redevelopment shifted the property toward large-format discount retail. Walmart later closed in January 2016.

  Source

• 2022

  Peleg Group acquires Western Hills Mall[1]Western Hills Mallen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The Peleg Group of Miami purchased Western Hills Mall from Aronov Realty in January 2022 for $2.94 million.

• 2022

  New owner begins Western Hills Mall renovation program[1]Western Hills Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  After acquiring the mall, the Peleg Group proceeded with a reported $4 million renovation involving air-conditioning, painting, parking, and roof repairs.

1. 1Western Hills Mallen.wikipedia.org