southpark

History

SouthPark Mall, located in Charlotte, opened on February 12, 1970 with three department stores and one million square feet. Located about five miles south of Uptown, in its namesake neighborhood at the corner of Sharon and Fairview Roads, the area was considered the outskirts of Charlotte at the time it opened; people were skeptical about a big shopping mall in the middle of pastureland. The mall was developed by the Belk and Ivey families, owners of the eponymous department stores, who jointly owned and operated the mall. The design of the shopping mall was starkly modernist, with an underground parking deck. The inspiration for the mall's original architecture reportedly was Dallas' NorthPark Center. After the flagship Belk and Ivey's stores, Sears was the third anchor store to join the mall. A strip mall opened behind Sears in June of 1970 with a Colonial Stores grocery store (later a Big Star food market, then acquired by Harris Teeter in the 1980s) and the SouthPark Cinemas I & II.

Eventually, the mall faced competition with the two-story Eastland Mall built about 6 miles northeast. Eastland contained Sears, Belk and Ivey's stores-- however it also included a 4th department store, JC Penney, and an ice skating rink. Over the years SouthPark became more upscale as the mall's interior and department stores were renovated, however they were more 'upgrades' than massive renovations.

In 1986, a major expansion was announced. The plans called for bringing department stores Thalhimer's and May Company's Lord & Taylor to the mall, in addition to a new food court. The food court and Thalhimers department store joined the mall in a new wing; however the addition of Lord & Taylor never materialized, although it was rumored for years that they'd take the Sears space. The new wing opened in 1988. In 1990, Dillard's bought out, and subsequently renamed, Ivey's department stores, and in 1992 Thalhimers was converted to Hecht's as a result of May Company's buyout. After this, Belk, Dillard's, Hecht's and Sears were the mall's 'anchor' stores.

In the 1990s, SouthPark standbys such as Woolworth's and Morrison's Cafeteria left, and many changes resulted from the new competition of Carolina Place Mall, located several miles to the south, in Pineville. The strip mall's Cinemas 3 closed after the new Phillips Place Cinemas opened, and the Harris Teeter moved to Morrocroft Shopping Center across Sharon Road. It was then announced that Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom would join the mall in its biggest expansion yet. Soon after, the Belk and Ivey families sold their interests in the property to Rodamco, who then sold the mall to Simon Property Group. Saks pulled out of the project, but Nordstrom opened their doors in 2004. In late 2005, Simon Property Group announced that Neiman Marcus would be the tenant in the final availible anchor tenant spot, along with another wing of boutiques. The ultra-luxury department store opened in late 2006. Two new parking decks have been added, and a third is slated for opening in 2006. The expansion began in 2000 and is scheduled to finish at the end of 2006.

SouthPark Mall today

Within the last couple years, SouthPark has undergone extensive renovation. Today, the mall has become the sole luxury shopping destination in the Carolinas. The mall has a new Dick's Sporting Goods at the former location of Sears, which closed in 2003 due to underperformance.^{citation needed]} On the grounds of the mall, where a former strip mall was located, an outdoor stage called Symphony Park has been built. Here, during the summer months, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra stages its annual "Pops in the Park" free concert series.

Anchors

• Belk
• Dillard's
• Macy's (formerly Hecht's)
• Neiman Marcus
• Nordstrom

Luxury Stores

• BCBG Max Azria
• Bob Ellis Shoes
• Burberry
• Hermès (Opening 11/2006)
• Louis Vuitton
• Ralph Lauren
• St. John's
• Tiffany & Co.
• Tumi
• Juicy Couture (Opening Early 2007)
• Billy Reid

Midscale Stores

• Ann Taylor
• Anthropologie
• Coach
• Cole Haan
• Frontgate
• J. Crew
• Kate Spade
• Kenneth Cole
• Lacoste
• The Limited
• Crate & Barrel
• Brooks Brothers

Restaurants

• Bronte Bistro
• California Pizza Kitchen
• The Cheesecake Factory
• Maggiano's Little Italy
• McCormick & Schmick's
• Morton's Steakhouse

External links

• SouthPark Mall
• Aerial image of SouthPark Mall in 1971
• The evolution of the SouthPark mall fountain court
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Story: SouthPark
• SouthPark History (PDF)
• Pops in the Park
• The Residence at SouthPark