Regency Mall (Part 3): Augusta, GA

One thing I never expected was that 10 years after my first visit to the boarded up Regency Mall that I would have somehow obtained photos of the inside of that mall.  Also, I never expected that I would not only still be discussing it, but discussing it with quite a few people that are even more passionate about it than me.  Considering that, I was not originally planning to write a third post for Regency Mall, but interest has definitely soared since the first two posts about the mall.  Since then I have been sent additional information about the mall as well as tons of images that I will be sharing here largely from happier times.  Best of all, the mall and this blog has been featured in a "Metro Spirit" article detailing how the photos that grace the first two posts made it to this site where one of the four photographers of the mall has chosen to come forward to detail his experience.  As someone who deliberately avoids the spotlight, the attention that this has gotten is a bit awkward for me, but that's why I write.  I explain things a lot better when I am hidden behind a faceless screen.  That was the case for Regency as well: a mystery hidden behind a white brick monstrosity that those photos brought to light.  The best way to discover those mysteries, though, is through clues from the beginning when Regency was a brand new mall full of possibilities instead of a depressing reminder of the blind optimism of the 70's and 80's.

Since the first two posts, I have been given additional information and images submitted to me by Alaska Jill originating from The Augusta Chronicle that was important but left out due to lack of previous knowledge.  Most of that information is about the anchor stores.  First, the first anchor to open was Montgomery Ward with 136,000 square feet of retail space (1).  Montgomery Ward was the second of only three modern mall stores to open in the state.  The chain originally had a larger presence in the state but had closed its original stores located in downtown areas across the state years before.  Next, Cullum's opened in late 1978 with 28,000 square feet apparently originally planned as an inline tenant but expanded late in the process.  It costed $1.5 million and was originally supposed to supplement, not replace the downtown store that ultimately closed for the store.  Signature features of the Cullum's were a winding staircase and greenhouse with plants with floor to ceiling, both meant to highlight its elegance.  It followed the opening of a store at Washington and Davis Roads called "Cullum's West Town" in Martinez and a store that opened at National Hills Shopping Center prior to that (2).  Last, Belk Howard relocated to the mall from two stores that subsequently closed.  These stores were in downtown and at Southgate Plaza.  Southgate is located here: http://goo.gl/maps/4Idjn   The Belk store at the mall was particularly large at over 167,000 square feet.  The downtown store actually closed prior to the completion of the location at the mall suggesting that closing the downtown store was very high priority for reasons unknown.  Daniel Village and North Augusta also had stores at the time.  Daniel Village would close later, converting to a JB White furniture store, but North Augusta remains open today as the only remaining Belk in the Augusta market.  A fourth store was also planned in Augusta, but it was never built probably due to the lack of profitability of the Regency store (3).

The first image is a rendering of the mall, which showed a far more detailed center architecturally.  Only the Cullum's remained as planned.  The image shows additional skylights, a more elaborate Wards, greenhouse entrance canopies at JB White, a rotunda at Belk and the never-built JCPenney.  I guess either the size of the mall or the decisions of the department store anchors dumbed down this design.  The second two images are of the theater.  When the General Cinema theater opened, the movies shown at the premier were "The Driver" starring Ryan O'Neal, "Foul Play" starring Goldie Haun and Chevy Chase and Disney's "The Jungle Book".  The first image was submitted by C. Lewis with the second two submitted by Alaska Jill.

Regency Mall's original logo was never updated.  It was still present in the mall long after it had closed.  Image by C. Lewis.

The DeBartolo corporation was on a mall building boom at the time that Regency opened, and Regency was unfortunately like many others they built: an ill-conceived mall that came out of arrogance more than need opening in saturated markets or sub-par locations a few years prior to a huge wave of department store closures and consolidation.  At the time it was built, Regency should have been built on the opposite side of Augusta closer to Martinez or North Augusta, but instead DeBartolo wanted to go head-to-head in an area already showing signs of decline thinking apparently that a different anchor line-up would be enough to sustain two very large malls in a relatively small city.  Most malls built in smaller cities in that time span tended to be on one level and about half the amount of square footage that Regency had.  DeBartolo malls that opened around the same time included Cutler Ridge Mall in Miami and the now-dying Century III Mall in Pittsburgh.  Even their signature Randall Park Mall closed a few years ago.

Alaska Jill kindly sent me this detailed map of the lower and upper levels of the mall when the mall opened in 1978.  The information was from an ad that included a directory of stores, but she polished it up by putting the names of the stores on the actual stores.  Thanks for your hard work!

It was noted when the photos were taken for Sky City that the mall directories were missing.  I suspect that the teenagers that got into the mall prior to this set of photos took more than pictures and left more than footprints.  This directory showed up in a flea market for sale.  The directory dates the late 90's during the final days of the mall after Belk and Upton's had left.  This dates the directory to around 1997 or 1998.  The images of it were sent to me by Jacob B.

One reason that Regency Mall fell so hard was that the mall never seemed to attract many Mom and Pop tenants.  It seems that when the chain stores got out of their leases that nobody came along to replace them.  The mall never truly became an urban mall, and much of this is that the amount of crime and the low income levels in the area were just too much for a mall this big.  If the mall had been a single story or much smaller mall it might have survived, but the rents were probably just too high. 

When the mall closed, four tenants remained.  These were most likely Foot Locker, Piccadilly Cafeteria, GNC and the Richmond County Substation (which left a couple years ago).

The woes of owning an abandoned mall is that it's very big, very plain, very creepy and really drags down the neighborhood around it.  Add decay to concrete-heavy brutalist architecture and it looks beyond apocalyptic.  That's the issue Cardinale Entities has faced as it has been threatened repeatedly by the city for keeping a giant abandoned eyesore and fire hazard standing in South Augusta.  Cardinale Entities, fronted by Mark Axler, purchased the mall in an auction in July 2002 and has owned the mall ever since (4).  Despite much of the mall being completely locked up, it was proven after these photos were taken by a local TV station that entering the mall was still possible.  This also meant that someone entering the mall could become trapped if a fire broke out.  This led to the city forcing the owners to either fix the fire code violations or strip the mall down to the point where nothing was flammable in the mall.  The owners took the latter option.  In 2013, work commenced to gut the mall.

Here is an artist rendering of the interior of the Belk with the terraced ceiling.  This was quite elegant for 1979.  Likely the delay of the store opening is why the design got changed.  This was part of a piece called "The Belk Story" that mentioned that the stores were indeed Belk-Howard.  This image was submitted by C. Lewis.

From a trade publication at the time was this rendering of the Belk store.  This image was submitted by C. Lewis.

While previously published, this is the full ad and drawing of the Cullum's featuring the two levels of plants and greenhouse.  The first image showed that this sloped greenhouse entrance was also originally planned for the JB White.  This image was submitted by C. Lewis.

Here is a rendering of the JB White showing the rather basic prototype design that Mercantile stores decided on.  This was an unfortunate design for the flagship store and replacement of the historical downtown store.  Fortunately, the store that replaced this at Augusta Mall was far more elegant and worthy of flagship status.  At least with this store closing in 1998, it kept the JB White logo on the mall entrance.  The Augusta Mall store was only JB White a short time before becoming Dillard's.  This image was submitted by C. Lewis.

Rendering of the Wards prior to opening.  Despite the troubles with the mall and the company, this store seemed to be profitable for the company nearly outlasting the mall itself.  It was more appropriate for the immediate area than JB White and Belk and it drew from a much larger trade area than the other two stores since only three Wards stores ever opened in the state.   This image was submitted by C. Lewis.

The time has indeed come...and gone.  Alaska Jill sent me this scan showing the poignant clock that went from a cheery 9:45 AM to the cynical 4:20 PM in later images.

The unfortunate aspect of gutting the mall is that the relic-filled 1978 time piece is now just be a big empty building in the shape of mall with cinder blocks horrifyingly blockading all the entrances.  At this point, there is no reason to keep the building standing since there is little potential reuse of the structure.  The problem is, the owners jacked up the price when the city offered to buy the structure in order to demolish it.  Apparently, Cardinale Entities still has some idea of what they want to do with the property, but it's unclear what that is.  The view taken by the city and most people, though, is that they want to do nothing.  Still, why would they hold onto a huge chunk of real estate like that costing them a big tax bill every year that produces exactly zero profits?  As it stands, the mall is worth considerably less than what it would cost to tear it down.  Nobody really knows, but we at Sky City are elated to have captured so much of the mall before what remained was lost.

The newspaper scans do not do justice for early interior photos, but they show a mall when it was open for business.  The first image shows a lost design element on the column in center court, the third is an architectural rendering and the fifth image shows the interior of the JB White housewares department.  The images otherwise already have captions.  All images submitted by Alaska Jill.

In all, there is absolutely no future in Regency as a retail mall.  It is not a beautiful building nor is there a need for a building this size in that area anymore with the decline of the neighborhood, poor location and overall crash of commercial real estate all over the country.  Being far from a historical area, the area is not likely to be gentrified either although some of the site may eventually be of interest to retailers (such as Wal-Mart) meaning that some of the structures may be demolished.  The structure is even too large for a mega-church, too ugly for housing, too impractical for government offices, but it could possibly function as a factory given that the U.S. was actually producing much of anything anymore.  Even if the neighborhood gentrified, this would not be enough to make stores want to repopulate to an out-of-the-way locale in a city that hasn't grown very much in years.  At this point, the best use of the property is to demolish the structure and vast parking lots and either turn it into a park or turn it back to nature.  Once this building is demolished, this will help Augusta focus on the rest of the corridor around it that has also deteriorated since the mall closed.  If Augusta needs another mall, it is definitely not here.

Cruel irony knows no bounds.  Submitted by Alaska Jill.

A collection of grand opening ads for various stores in the mall.  Most of these stores listed here are long gone.  Hardy Shoes is very appropriate considering the visible remains of one of those stores in the infamous Dixie Square Mall.  All submitted by Alaska Jill.

Yes, children, O.J. Simpson was once known for something besides a car chase in a Bronco, an ill-fitting glove and a murdered blond wife.  He was quite the sports hero in the 70's and 80's.  Submitted by Alaska Jill.

And speaking of O.J., you could find Orange Julius at Regency Mall every day in the 70's.  Submitted by Alaska Jill.

Typical of 70's malls, the downtown department stores and specialty shops moved into the mall in a desperate attempt to survive.  Most failed in this move.  Ruben's, however, did not open a full anchor-sized department store like Cullum's did instead becoming an inline tenant near Belk.  While they have long since closed their store at the mall, they survive downtown as a specialty department store emphasizing customer service as well as stocking hard-to-find sizes and styles. 

Coles books morphed into what we know today as Barnes & Noble in the late 1990's.  Along with B. Dalton, both had a location at the mall in the prosperous years.  Once again, the owners are lying about just how safe this mall is.  Apparently they already realized they had put the mall in the wrong spot and were attempting to reassure people that it would not be an issue.

Disco fever was still pumping out funky beats when the mall opened.  Silverman's was there to outfit you for the club.  However, "Stayin' Alive" was what mall patrons ended up doing instead of 20 somethings in the disco.

Since writing the first two posts, the interest in this mall has led to a generous helping of submissions to me of various photos and artifacts from the mall's history.  Unlike the last two posts, this post focuses more on the historical aspects of the mall.  Items submitted are old newspaper scans, directories, architectural photos and a few photos of the mall.  For me personally, I would rather see pictures and information about the mall when it looks clean and new, is full of stores and full of happy shoppers, so this is one of the more enjoyable posts of the series presenting the mall when it was part of a big dream instead of a depressing reality.  While this post was never originally planned, it is being added because of the huge interest, efforts and requests of so many of you.  I would appreciate any further images that show this mall when it was open and still viable, and if submitted I will add them to this post.  Popular demand is why I am adding this addendum to my two part series about one of the most infamous dead malls in the United States.

These are some of the photos taken by Virginia K Cailleteau showing a much more grim scene as the owners were in the process of gutting the entire mall in order to bring it to fire code.  The first shows the Belk center court, which looks far less glamorous than the prior image.

Two photos of the main mall being gutted leaving nothing recognizable except for the stage and skylights.

Time stood still for over a decade, but it seems that the clock was again changed by some demolition worker.

A dry fountain sits free of garbage and debris.

Images of the theater, which no longer give an indication of its past as a three-screen movie house other than the oddly-placed steps.

Montgomery Ward escalators, lower level.

Montgomery Ward escalators, lower level.  

JB White lower level and escalators

JB White lower level escalators.

Wards has been stripped of its signature burnt orange tiles leaving nothing but a vague impression.  Since the completing of the interior demolition, the exterior entrances to the department stores and mall have been walled off with cinder blocks making entry and escape impossible.  Time will tell if this steel and concrete tomb gets demolished for good or turned into something useful.  With the movie studio idea obviously killed, I guess the only hope now is mixed use or industrial.

SOURCES:

(1) Sorrells, John. "Montgomery Ward to lead mall opening".  Augusta Chronicle.  July 20, 1978
(2) Stanfield, Frank.  "Cullum's will locate store in Regency Mall".  Augusta Chronicle.  March 3, 1978.
(3) Sorrells, John. "Belk to close 2 stores, build new one in mall".  Augusta Chronicle.  January 14, 1978.
(4) Eckenrode, Vicky. "Mall purchase stirs hope".  Augusta Chronicle.  July 31, 2002.

LINKS:

Links to the first two Regency Mall posts: Part 1 Part 2
If you would like to submit additional images for these posts, please contact me at skycityretail@gmail.com
Fans of Regency Mall can join the discussion in the Facebook group.

Regency Mall (Part 2): Augusta, GA

In the normal world of retail, vacant malls do not usually stay vacant long.  Either the property is too valuable, the public screams loud enough about the blight, a non-conventional retail use is tried (such as a flea market) or non-commercial interests resurrect the structure into something they can use similar to Eastgate Mall in Chattanooga, TN.  Because of that, the "Dixie Square" scenario is a rare and generally unfortunate event where a mall stays abandoned for more than about 5-7 years before any action is taken.  By then, the property is beginning to deteriorate.  This means that the forces of change must come together to make things happen before the forces of nature come together to make things moldy and decrepit.

In the Southeast, I know of only one other mall that has been abandoned longer than Regency Mall and that is the open-air Normandale Mall in Montgomery.  After languishing for 15 years, the mall was closed completely in 1995.  It is also hidden deep in a very depressed area mostly invisible to the wealthier side of the city.  Regency is not so hidden.  It sits at the intersection of two major U.S. highways, and it is even visible in the distance along the newly-opened I-520 in South Carolina.  While the neighborhood has declined, it is not exactly a row of abandoned buildings around it either.  Decay has noticeably set in on the structure since its closure a decade ago, but overall it is still in very good shape.  Most of the mall looks more trashed than it does crumbling.

Montgomery Wards in all its burnt orange tiled glory in the first two photos.  This is not only one of the best Wards entrances ever, but also one of the best mall entrances ever.  The cream-colored brick next to the shiny tiles and great looking logo make the store seem very inviting.  It is also such a relic of a mall entrance that honestly it looks contemporary again.  If this mall ever reopened a new store anchored there, I would hope they would keep this all intact.  Photos by KJ.

Same view from lower level.  Photo by KJ.

The next three photos above are from a different photographer.  As one of only three modern-era Wards in Georgia, and the last one open, the store is indeed extra special.  All photos by BT.

A couple views inside Wards.  This is the only department store anchor with any natural light since one of the entrances was not boarded up.  Unfortunately, this store does not include any of the infamous burnt orange or lime green shag carpet that the chain was infamously known to have as late as the 90's.  Photos by KJ.

Escalator well in the middle of Wards.  Seeing these photos make me long so much for when this was open and it was possible to buy quality hardlines at some place besides Sears.  Photos by KJ.

King's Jewelry on the lower level.  Photo by KJ.

Another trashed mall directory.  Photo by KJ.

Because of the lack of a decent mall directory, I decided to create my own.  I am not exactly certain of Ruben's location, but I do know it was close to Belk.

Inside, the mall is like a Steven King book where you got to go back into the past, but all the people were gone with only the buildings remaining.  Christmas decorations still hang from the ceilings dirty and tarnished with age from the last Christmas the mall was open in 2001.  Dated storefronts abound throughout the mall.  Both Montgomery Ward and JB White still have their signs up over the store entrances greeting ghost shoppers.  While dark in places, skylights that look somewhat like those in an Air Force hangar still provide abundant cheery light against the white sheetrock during the daytime.  Most of the mall seems to be in surprisingly good condition, though locations are found in the mall where holes have opened in the ceiling, flooding the mall.  However, a recent inspection by the city did not find any mold problems in the mall: surprising considering how it has been vacant all this time aside from the marshal's substation that left this past year.

Upon closer observation, one of the escalators has unfortunately been significantly deconstructed by vandals.  Photo by KJ.

The blind can see again as light is cast along a wall showcasing what was once your choice of blinds.  Photo by KJ.

Was this Chick-Fil-A?  Regency never had a food court, so it could have been anywhere in the mall.  Had the mall been renovated, the theaters would have likely become the food court.  Photo by KJ.

It seems that Lens Crafters or Pearle Vision is found in every mall.  This one is situated next to Wards on the upper level.  Photo by KJ.

Lens Crafters takes up about three tenant spaces.  I'm sure it did a thriving business in the day.  Photo by KJ.

Major water damage is an unfortunate feature just in front of the main entrance to the store, which is protected by a screen door unlike the busted out glass along the rest of it.  Photo by KJ.

EEEEEEEEEYE EXAM 2000.  Iiiiiii remember when 2000 was considered an exciting year way off in the future where we would live like the Jetsons driving flying cars on sky highways.  I also remember how Y2K was hyped as the end of modern civilization.  It pretty much was for this mall.  Photo by KJ.

You can get your glasses adjusted for free if you can just find anyone working.  You might be waiting awhile, because the staff took a very long lunch.  Photo by KJ.

One last look at Lens Crafters.  Photo by KJ.

Lady Foot Locker was one of the last stores to close at the mall along with Foot Locker.  Photo by KJ.

Quite a few observations can be made otherwise about a 70's mall never renovated.  For one, if this mall had stayed alive such a scene would likely not exist.  Storefronts in the mall are a mix of eras, but for the most part they are pretty much set in the first decade the mall was open.  In all, maybe 12-15 signs still exist on store fronts with label scars elsewhere.  One should not expect to find much sheetrock over closed stores either.  They sit right out in the open for you to walk into at will.  While the mall itself has managed to maintain its charm the presence of heavy vandalism, trash and grime are everywhere.  Glass is broken out of most storefronts and most stunning are the escalators where the rubber handrails have been mostly yanked off and left in a large pile at the top.  Most planters are just bare dirt now and fountains are of course dry.  Eerily enough, though, are all the banners posted announcing stores moving and such as if the mall was still open.  Three of the four outside mall entrance corridors lack skylights, so they sit in total darkness since the entries are boarded up allowing no natural light to filter in.

Abandoned post office branch in the mall.  Photo by KJ.

These two photos above were inside a shop near JB White.  Photos by KJ.

Not everything in the mall is truly vintage.  Since the mall held its own into the mid-90's, some stores did move in the mall and some did get remodeled.  This storefront definitely isn't.  Photo by KJ.

Along the wing of the unbuilt fifth anchor is this awesome extremely retro Master Cuts.  To me it looks like it should be called Master Funky with a functioning disco inside.  The photographer also captured the inside as well.  Photo by KJ.

Inside the Master Cuts, mirrors and green pattered wallpaper abound.  The mirrors were useful to catch  your stylist before they hacked your hair up.  Photo by KJ.

Kidsmart?  Sounds like a less than subtle cover for child trafficking.   I guess if they'd succeeded they would have branched out to ParentStupid.  Photo by KJ.

In this image Cullum's, later Upton's, is on the right.  This junior anchor was far more visible outside than in the mall.  I am curious as to whether Upton's used both levels.  Photo by BT.

The upper level entrance to Cullum's features a folded entryway that is unmistakably similar to Rich's mall entrances in the 70's. Photo by BT.

One of the features of greatest interest in the mall is not as obvious from the outside: the anchor pad for a fifth anchor.  This was the anchor that would have been filled by JCPenney had they not left for Augusta Mall.  This was also what is shown outside as Mall Entrance 3.  It is a sad reminder of the grand aspirations for Augusta's first mall to be the powerhouse of the region.  It almost makes the mall feel alive and even new to see a location for a planned anchor.  The brown linoleum tiles, though, found on the edges of fountains, center island areas and the staircases are there to remind you that this was a dream long in the past, highlighting the unfortunate importance of renovations.  The flooring consists mostly, though, of square terrazzo tiles giving a tan/peach color.  Twin escalators are also located on both the Montgomery Ward and Belk wing pointing upwards towards each respective anchor.  A clock also sits on a flat wall in center court with its time stuck at 4:20.  Is this when the clock stopped or did the vandals move the dials deliberately? 

Both levels of Cullum's are visible in this shot.  The lower level looks similar to the outside entrance.  If only mall entrances had this much attention to detail today.  Photo by RM.

I traced the Cullum's logo found in my earlier posts and photoshopped the logo in the same photo above to demonstrate what it might have looked like.  Below is a picture of just the lower level with the same logo including an outline.

Cullum's lower level mall entrance with logo added by me.  Photo by KJ.

Now moving onto JB White sitting at the end of a very spacious center court.  JB White is fronted with simple brick matching the exterior but the awesome logo remains never being removed after the store closed.  This is definitely the only JB White mall entrance sign left intact with all other JB White stores converted to Belk, Dillard's or demolished.  In my older JB White post, I have a picture by C Lewis of the logo on the outside.  Photo by BT.

More detail of the mall entrance.  The logo is smaller on the upper level than on the lower level.  Photo by BT.

Close-up of the JB White mall entrance.  Photo by KJ.

White's inside was extremely dark, so very little detail is visible.  This was one of the best photos.  Photo by KJ.

Looking back from center court (JB White is on the left) toward Wards.  Photo by BT.

Small, locally-operated mystery meat Chinese restaurants and malls have a long relationship.  So long that you still know about the specials 10 years after they close.  Photo by KJ

It's hot and boring in Augusta meaning people aren't getting outside as much, so this store likely did a brisk business back in the day.  Photo by KJ.

What is really most amazing in the mall, though, are the mall entrances.  A Belk label scar is still visible with the right light on the stunning copper toned mall entrance.  JB White in its older classy cursive logo still retains its white sign on the brick entering the store that has sat in complete darkness since 1998.  Best of all is Montgomery Ward, though.  Burnt orange tiles back the sign with cream colored brick placed on each side.  Neither the sign, the tiles nor the brick look any worse for wear.  In fact, with so much time passed by the sign almost looks hip.  Cullum's is the most mysterious of anchor tenants blending in with store fronts between Ward's and White's.  All that is noticeable is the distinctive window features placed on both levels that were nicely not removed by later tenants Meyers-Arnold and Upton's.  However, any evidence of a logo has long since been painted over since the store was the first anchor to close in the mall.

Approaching Belk from the lower level.  Photo by KJ.

More detail of Belk from the lower level.  Note the copper toned awnings.  While this store may have closed in 1996, it was definitely not covered up. Photo by KJ.

View of the Belk entrance from the upper level.  Photo by BT.

Close-up of the Belk mall entrance on the upper level.  Photo by BT.

The Belk labelscar is visible due to the place where the sign covered being less tarnished.  While the store was a partnership store (Belk Howard), Mr. Howard chose not to place his name on this store.  Photo by KJ.

The glass on the exterior of the store was very similar to this.  Photo by KJ.

Detail of what was once an impressive terraced skylight.  Photo by KJ.

While very dark and dusky, it was plain that the interior of the store was elegantly designed.  Belk had extremely attractive stores in the 70's and 80's especially at major shopping malls.  Photos by KJ.

The best photo available of the escalators and elevator inside Belk.  Photo by KJ.

Not only is Regency Mall a living time capsule, but it is also is a perfect specimen of wasted potential.  A victim of its location, management and unstable anchors it has become a tough to impossible sell with all the anchor consolidation and stigma attached to one of its major anchors simply closing due to poor sales.  If it was possible to revive the mall, it would take millions just to renovate and repair the damage from decay and vandalism.  Cardinale Entities has emerged as the latest owner with a plan, but their expertise tends to be malls catering to an ethnic market.  Augusta is far less diverse than Atlanta or Charlotte making that a pretty tough sell.  Regency's closing, though, left Augusta undermalled.  Augusta Mall is completely overwhelmed with shoppers.  The problem is, what anchors would choose to move in to this mall if they wanted to?

70's malls always had a cafeteria and it just so happens that this gem of a mall also included a gothic Piccadilly Cafeteria.  Unfortunately, none of the photographers really explored the interior.  Photo by KJ.

Piccadilly Cafeteria's labelscar is visible in this image.  The restaurant sits right next to Montgomery Ward.  Photo by KJ.

Apparently the cafeteria was operated independently for a period of time after Piccadilly closed at the mall.  It is unknown when the restaurant closed this location.  Photo by KJ.

Next to JB White is this store.  I thought it was a former B. Dalton but upon closer inspection was some sort of clothing store.  Maybe somebody knows.  Photo by BT.

Former Rainbow at the mall.  Note the much older logo style.  Photo by KJ.

A couple more pics of Rainbow.  Photos by KJ.

This note was inside a former store that appears to have been Upton's.  Note the Super Wal-Mart in quotations back when the stores were still a novelty.  Photo by KJ.

Detail of a wall around a mall entrance.  It is unknown what store this was.  Photo by KJ.

View of JB White fro lower level.  Photo by KJ.

With Regency, its retail days are most likely over, though an outlet mall could possibly work there.  Imagine a center like Discover Mills anchored by Bass Pro Shops and outlet stores filling up the anchors.  It could work, but it would take a huge investment, heavy promotion and even heavier security to make sure that Regency Outlets did not become Shoplifting 101 and Decrepit Mall 2.0.  My personal idea is that Hollywood should honestly consider turning the entire mall into a set.  It would a perfect mall to feature TV shows and movies based in the 70's and 80's or movies featuring the South.  Perhaps the anchors could even be turned into studios and talent recruiting agencies.  Also important to note is how having the department store anchor signs from the era would make it even easier.  Filming movies in the mall would help pay for the center's upkeep while still maintaining its historical aspects.  Dixie Square Mall became famous because of a movie filmed in it after it closed.  Why can't Regency do the same?

Few things are a blast from the past more than these mall lists.  They list tenants that haven't existed at least since the late 1980's such as Jeans West, Hardy Shoes and Kinney Shoes.  Petland was also a mall tenant.  One near where I live is now very much off-mall.  Photos by KJ.

Here are a couple shots inside Wards Auto Center.  The noise of power tools, engines and mechanics hard at work is long gone but the ad banners advertising what they can do for you still linger.  Photos by KJ.

This one last photo of White's from center court concludes the two-part series on Regency Mall.  Photo by BT.