Crosscreek Mall/Greenwood Mall: Greenwood, SC

The Carolinas can definitely be described as overmalled, and South Carolina is no exception even with a more sparse selection of malls than its northern neighbor. It seemed that every town of any size in both North and South Carolina had at least one mall by the mid-1980's. Greenwood is one of those towns "of any size" with a population of a little over 23,000 in a city with about 69,000 residents in the county grouped into a trade area of nearly a quarter million people. At the time that Crosscreek Mall, now Greenwood Mall, was built, Greenwood County was experiencing a population boom with a growth of 16%. The county has continued to grow since then, though at a far more modest pace.

Crosscreek Mall first opened in August of 1979. Built by Jim Wilson & Associates, the mall was your typical small city mall of that period with two major anchors and two ancillary anchors all on one level. The line-up included Gallant Belk and JCPenney as its two major anchors. Its two ancillary anchors included Meyers-Arnold and Wilson's Showroom rounding off the mall as a fairly solid, if not small, one-level mall. I do not use the term "junior" anchor because the other two anchors were close to the same size as Belk. Meyers-Arnold was between Belk and JCPenney fronting the mall while Wilson's was in the rear.

Normally I do not lead off photos with pics of mall entrances, but these are curiously the best design-wise that this mall has to offer. The JCPenney's reflective entrance casts a gold hue against the gaudy colors of the mall, but its steps, ramps and garden underneath are a sight to behold. Belk has this likewise. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.

Detail of the garden area next to Belk reveals that floor tiles in the ramp areas are original. I'm assuming the rest of the flooring was probably terrazzo or brown brick-patterened linoleum. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.


More detail of plants and ramps outside of JCPenney. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.


Even more with some of the steps. The planters form a circular area in the middle near the entrances to JCPenney and Belk. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.

For a mall that has never changed its shape at all, the mall has seen a ridiculous amount of anchor shuffling since it opened. The first anchor changes at least were related to corporate restructuring of the anchor tenants and not anything to do with the mall itself. This came initially with the buyout of Wilson's by Tennessee-based Service Merchandise (their first major acquisition) in 1985. A couple years later, major regional chain Meyers-Arnold became another location of the rapidly expanding Atlanta-based Upton's chain. Despite this, the mall would see very little change otherwise until the end of the 1990's.

Coal mines have canaries and malls have Chick-Fil-A. As long as the mall has a Chick-Fil-A, the mall is doing fine. When Chick-Fil-A closes, the mall closure is imminent. The city has one other Chick-Fil-A nearby, but it is drive-thru only suggesting that the quirky chain is committed to the mall. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.

With a big carpeted empty circle in center court, it is clear that something is really missing. Whatever it was, the mall's original name alludes to something quite impressive. Now, it just looks like a place to to do a dance number or yoga session. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.

Here is a slightly different angle of center court, which has been a bit more difficult to get to since Upton's remained vacant for so long and Sykes Enterprises is clearly not open to the public. Chick-Fil-A is bound to love them, though, from 12-2. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.

In the early 2000's, Crosscreek Mall became Greenwood Mall when it was purchased by Hull Storey Gibson. They have been creative in their attempts of keeping this mall viable, but I give them the most accolades for keeping this one of the very few malls in their portfolio to retain a few original design features such as the indoor gardens in front of JCPenney and Belk and the sunken area in center court (which I presume once had an impressive fountain). This is one feature that does make the mall stand out from others that have been renovated into total blandness within their portfolio. The mall is also laid out at a slope with ramps and steps in the Belk, JCPenney and center courts effectively placing JCPenney at the high end of the mall and Belk on the low end.

The Belk wing of the mall looks reasonably healthy from this angle. Rue 21 seems to have become the default small town teenage store offering lower priced clothing than stores like American Eagle and Hollister. In suburban metro areas, they are usually found in upscale strip malls. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.

Empty stores like this are proof that many tenants have been vacant for quite some time. Stores like this were probably closed in the early-to-mid 90's never having been updated a single time. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.

Another dated, empty storefront is found along the entrance wing adjacent to the store above. 1979 and diagonal slatted wood seem to go hand in hand. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.

Hull Storey Gibson last renovated the mall in 2002, but their purchase of the mall likely came on the heels of the previous owners failing to re-tenant two dead anchors. This came as a result of the bankruptcy of Service Merchandise in 2002 and closure of the Upton's chain in 1999, neither related to the state of the mall itself. Service Merchandise in particular was never filled by another retail store. It instead became Sykes Enterprises, a call center. Upton's, however, finally got retooled after a long vacancy as a new TJ Maxx. The Meyers-Arnold/Upton's space was better positioned for re-tenanting with street frontage along the front of the mall facing SC 72. The Service Merchandise/Wilson's anchor does not have street frontage, which contributed to the difficulties finding a retail tenant. I wonder, though, if the owners tried to lure a theater to fill the void.

Shoe Department Encore forms the east end of the big-box trio fronting the mall. If this is the encore, then I guess the first showing was a smaller inline store? Photo by Dustin Ransdell.

Here is a view inside of the store from the mall. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.

Hey, dude, you wanna go and check out what's in Service Merchandise? SYKE!
Photo by Dustin Ransdell

It seems today that Greenwood Mall, as it is called, has lost much of its luster. While not a dead mall, the mall still has about a 20-30% vacancy rate for its inline tenants. If not for the pull from Columbia (Columbiana Mall) and from Greenville (Haywood Mall), this mall might be doing better and received a true expansion. In the past year, the front of the mall has been turned into a partial small strip with TJ Maxx opening in the Meyers-Arnold space with Michael's added to the left of it and Shoe Department Encore on the right. All three tenants also maintain mall entrances as well. Two other tenant spaces have been designated as well: neither with direct access to the mall. This means passersby would tend to mistake the enclosed mall as a strip mall. While the mall itself holds its own (it still has Chick-Fil-A, for instance), a shopper should not expect much variety in the stores. I guess I can say at least they found a way to keep the anchors filled, and it is indeed a stronger mall for Hull Storey Gibson.

If the mall leaves you with an empty feeling, you're not alone. But judging by this empty storefront, you almost are. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.

Exit right this way if you're bored with this mall. I take it you probably are unless you're reading this post for the history. If that's the case, you'll keep looking to see what this place looks like on the outside. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.

This appears to be the front mall entrance closest to JCPenney. It received a cheap remodel that makes it hard to tell how to even get inside. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.

In my opinion, the future for this mall is an eventual de-mallling. The mall seems successful enough anchor-wise, but it really fails to be the draw necessary to keep a roof on it for another decade. In a sense, the mall is curiously being "big boxed" without removing the mall itself. While this design may increase sales per square foot, it is hiding the fact that there is still a mall behind it. Another issue with the mall is that the mall is landlocked, so an efficient use of space is paramout. In my view, the mall layout is the biggest problem. Because of that, I am going to offer some suggestions in how to make the mall stand out better and still keep the big box modifications.

This vintage beauty on the back side of the mall, however, leaves no doubt on how to get inside. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.

These shots so construction along the front to convert the Meyers-Arnold and adjacent space into a big box-mall combo. I guess the owners decided a "stripped-down" approach was best. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.

Another view of construction with TJ Maxx in the center and Michael's on the left. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.

Shoe Department Encore was already open at the time this photo was taken. Photo by Dustin Ransdell.

Shoe Department Encore with adjacent mall entrance. Photo by Dustin Ransdell

First, the new TJ Maxx store should be closed (yes, despite just opening) and moved to the back of the mall where Sykes is now, but using somewhat less of the Sykes location's footprint meaning the mall can extend further back into the anchor to add more inline stores. The current TJ Maxx store should then be reconfigured as a new main mall entrance with at least one junior anchor type store on one side (Old Navy, Books-A-Million, Forever 21) and a popular sit-down restaurant on the other (perhaps Lizard's Thicket of Columbia might want to branch out here, but even IHOP might work). The front entryway should also not be built on the cheap. Make it elegant and showy with glass, a two-level atrium, bright color trim and a building material besides stucco: preferably a mixture of brick and stone. Put some funky colored lights hanging down in the atrium to show up strongly at night. The center court should also be reconfigured to have a central focal point to attract returning customers (yes, this means put a nice, terraced fountain, artwork and more elaborate decoration in the sunken area). The existing front mall entrances next to Belk and JCPenney would then be closed off and given to each department store to expand their stores, making the stores more of a draw on their own. Also, replace the carpet with floor tiles in different patterns to make the mall seem more vibrant. Carpet makes malls seem quiet and sleepy. The result would be more interest in the mall itself, a better layout and TJ Maxx would not mind as much moving to the back of the mall with more direct access to the front. Make sure, of course, to place the TJ Maxx sign next to the mall entry, and rename the mall back to Crosscreek Mall since the name is more appealing.

The mall map shows a large "exterior unit available" on the back of the mall between Sykes and JCPenney. I'm assuming this new Sears Dealer Store must be it. Photo by Dustin Ransdell

Belk had a definite model they were using for stores in 1979 for smaller stores with this copper awning. This is one of the least inspired ones. The entrance on the back side of the store is sealed off but still has the awning. Photo by Dustin Ransdell

I am not too Syke-d about anchors being taken over by call centers, but I am psyched about creating bad puns based on the name. Photo by Dustin Ransdell

Here is another prototype: JCPenney's plain white "greenhouse" look. This design endured into the early 1980's. This mall reminds me of when builders sell a set list of models of houses they can build on your property. Does the Cape Cod look not do it for you? Well try the Westbrook! It's only $10,000 more! Photo by Dustin Ransdell

I don't like the sign, nor the name, but clearly I have no authority on such matters so all I can do is complain. Oh well... Photo by Dustin Ransdell

To sum things up, Crosscreek Mall is a mall that is simply outmoded and outdated, not dead. Maybe it will never be full again, but a little planning could go a long way into making it more of a shopping destination. A better design and better layout could attract a better tenant mix keeping customers in the market happy enough not to drive to Greenville and Columbia as often for shopping. While the mall has done a decent job staying viable, and it is more attractive than most Hull Storey Gibson malls, at 33 years some additional creative efforts could give Greenwood residents a mall they could be a source of pride for the area.

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Lakeshore Mall: Gainesville, GA

One of the updated mall entrances (Kevin Hicks: photo).

North Georgia's small town malls tend to be overlooked, especially those located within 30 miles of insurmountable competition down a 70-mile/hour freeway. Thus is the case with Lakeshore Mall in Gainesville. Gainesville itself has had a stormy history (pardon the pun) considering its downtown was flattened in 1936 by what was obviously an F4 or F5 tornado that caused much death and misery and left the downtown area nowhere like it once was. While the city has long since recovered, it sits in a rather odd position. First, it is located near, but not on, a major interstate. Travelers can get to and from I-85 to the south, but to get to I-85 to the east requires travel along surface roads, all which were two lanes until very recently. I-85 was once planned to go through the city but politics of the era directed it southward, resulting in compromise GA 365, which eventually became I-985. Second, the city is a city to itself, but has become a fringe suburb of metro Atlanta with countless new subdivisions constructed to the south and west since the 1990's. These problems have created a dubious position where the city went from a small North Georgia city far removed from Atlanta to a city blending in with the metro...not a good shift for its local mall.

Photos of classic 1968 Penney's. This one undoubtably had the old logo with the blue "P" when it opened (Kevin Hicks: first photo).

Lakeshore Mall was constructed in 1968 and named for nearby Lake Lanier completed 11 years earlier. It was also relatively close to when GA 365 was completed to Gainesville located along GA 53 Connector. As one of the older malls in the state, it faced no immediate competition considering the nearest mall at that point was in Dekalb County over 50 miles away...a situation that remained for 15 years. A town built around agriculture, namely poultry, the mall catered to a more rural demographic from the start meaning more value-priced stores.

Close-up photos of the carousel on the Sears wing (Kevin Hicks: photos).

When first opened, the mall contained three anchors: Belk, JCPenney and Rose's Discount Store. It was a typical late 60's mall with high windows in lieu of skylights, a one story simple design, lots of brick and earthtones and very small. A later expansion resulted in a new addition on the other side of JCPenney with a Sears. This new addition resulted in mall patrons being forced to walk through the JCPenney to get to the other side of the mall...similar to what happened to Macon Mall in Macon. This addition was likely done this way because of the extremely hilly terrain...meaning that no other direction of expansion was possible without enormous cost.

The mall's food court. I found it a bit of a disappointment in its lack of any major chain restaurants (Kevin Hicks: photo)

Anchor changes were slight over time. Aside from the Sears addition, the Rose's eventually closed and was replaced with a second Belk store that allowed an expanded footprint in the mall. It is interesting that the old Rose's Garden Center area is still intact, but basically is just a place for light storage today. Lakeshore Mall is not located in an impoverished area. Despite many typical urban issues facing the city today, the mall has one of the highest demographics near the mall which would seem to support a higher-end mall than what is there. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

Photos of the center court. This is one of the most attractive contemporary center courts I have run across. Note the Belk Home & Kids (Rose's) behind the first photo.

Lakeshore Mall since the 1980's has struggled due to much larger, far superior malls coming ever closer to the simple mall. This began in 1984 when population growth fueled by white flight from DeKalb resulted in the construction of Gwinnett Place Mall in 1984, only 35 miles south. Gwinnett Place today is facing creeping urban blight, but at the time of its construction was a showplace featuring two floors and four anchors including Rich's and Davison's. Lakeshore didn't have either of those stores, and those who had the money to shop at Gwinnett headed south for more stores and selection. This was even further complicated in 1999 when Mall of Georgia...the state's largest mall and tourist attraction, trumped Gwinnett Place and was built five miles closer! In most circumstances, this would have spelled doom, but the mall has had some help from the huge Hispanic immigrant population. They have done a nice job keeping the mall viable, though this has very obviously reduced traffic from the otherwise predominately non-Hispanic county.

JCPenney is not just a mall anchor: it is PART of the mall. To get to the Sears wing, patrons have to walk through the Penney's. Since the mall is on a hillside, this is likely the reason for this design.

In 2006, the mall saw its first major renovation in quite some time. Looking rather run down before, the mall got a huge facelift inside and out, and despite the rather grim outlook presented here, the mall has not lost a single anchor store. The problems with the mall or more of an in-line issue...an issue that has resulted in so many other malls being demalled. That issue is where the anchors do good business, but the stores in the mall are increasingly mom and pop and not commanding the rents and traffic that nationals chains offer. When I visited during the renovation, the food court lacked most national chains and I failed to see many of the trendy clothing stores present in other malls throughout the rest of the mall. Most chain stores were more of the non-clothing variety. The Books-a-Million, however, seemed to be doing well and the Ruby Tuesday continued to attract business. Unfortunately, the Ruby Tuesday there has since closed. The author is guessing the Ruby Tuesday originally started as a Morrison's Cafeteria...both once owned by Shoney's.

Looking back along the Sears wing with Sears behind me. It is very odd how a mall so little known by most of the people in this region is so viable, but the scene here proves it is. This was the middle of a weekday!

Today, I honestly could not predict the future of the mall. The mall is in a strange location pretty far from I-985. The retail corridor around it remains viable, however, and to me the unfortunate thing is that it has become more of an ethnic mall than a mainstream shopping destination. Nevertheless, if that is what it takes to keep the mall viable, then what works should be done. It is nice this day in age to see a few classic-era shopping centers still functioning when the average mall built prior to mid-1980's has either been radically modified, demolished or de-malled.

Mom n' pop perfume store. Photo by Kevin Hicks

Looking along the Belk wing towards Belk Women's

Sears mall entrance. The Sears was built later than the rest of the mall.

Belk (Women's) mall entrance.

Belk Men's, Home & Kid's (Rose's) mall entrance.

Belk Men's, Kid's and Home. This store opened as a Rose's, but this fact is only noticeable on the outside. The inside has been completely remodeled to a typical department store. Note the former garden center on the second photo.

Original Belk store. Stores built in the late 60's and early 70's by Belk had this arch design typically. This store was previously white and painted tan in the last renovation.