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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Oak Hollow Mall

Oak Hollow Mall, once a thriving regional shopping destination with more than 80 operational stores, experienced a significant decline, culminating in its closure in 2017 when only 11 stores remained. High Point University now owns the majority of the former mall building. Situated at the intersection of Eastchester Drive and East Hartley Drive in High Point, North Carolina, it had an important retail presence in its heyday.

History

Oak Hollow Mall, inaugurated on August 9, 1995, boasted original anchors including Belk-Beck, Dillard's, JCPenney, Sears, and Goody's. Spanning almost 1,300,000 square feet (120,000 m2), Oak Hollow stood as the second-largest mall in Guilford County, trailing only Greensboro's Four Seasons Town Centre. Furthermore, it ranked as the third-largest mall in the Piedmont Triad, following Winston-Salem's Hanes Mall. The mall's debut marked the beginning of the end for Westchester Mall, which had commenced operations in 1970 on High Point's west side, near Westchester Drive, just south of Phillips Avenue. Post-closure, Westchester Mall underwent a transformation into Providence Place, incorporating First Wesleyan Church and various businesses.

Entering the 2000s, Oak Hollow Mall faced a decline, witnessing the closure of both interior stores and anchor tenants. The mall struggled against competition from retail centers in Greensboro and Winston-Salem and contended with economic challenges. Dillard's, one of the anchors, closed one of its two levels, repurposing the remaining space into an outlet. JCPenney shut its doors on June 1, 2011, citing its inability to meet the company's new profitability standards. Steve & Barry's, originally Goody's Family Clothing, went out of business, making way for a Sears call center.

On February 24, 2011, CBL & Associates announced the sale of Oak Hollow Mall to High Point University for $9 million, with CBL retaining management responsibilities. High Point University expressed its intention to keep the mall operational as a retail complex.

Sears Holdings Corporation declared on December 27, 2011, that the Sears in Oak Hollow Mall would close in 2012. Liquidation sales commenced in February 2012, culminating in the final closure in late April.

Belk exited Oak Hollow in 2014, relocating to a newer store at the Palladium shopping complex, situated 5 miles (8 km) away.

In January 2017, High Point University announced the impending closure of the mall on March 10, 2017, citing the unsustainability of operation. 1924 Holdings, the limited liability company overseeing the mall for the university, attributed the decision to the closure of the Sears call center in February. Post-closure, a community center continued to operate in the former JCPenney space, alongside the Dillard's Clearance Center, as the last remaining anchor retained ownership of its space. Outer parcels, including Target and Barnes & Noble, also continued operations.

Major stores

Outparcels

Former stores

  • Barnes & Noble - (closed January 2020)
  • Belk - 142,000 square feet (13,200 m) (closed April 2014) Relocated to Palladium shopping center
  • Circuit City - 30,000 square feet (2,800 m) (closed November 2008) - Now High Point University Department of Physicians Assistant Studies
  • Golden Corral - 9,700 square feet (900 m) (closed April 2012) building later demolished
  • Goody's / Steve & Barry's University Sportswear - 35,000 square feet (3,300 m) (Goody's closed August 2005| Steve & Barry's closed December 2008) - later Sears Operations Center (Call Center) departed early 2017.
  • JCPenney - 86,240 square feet (8,012 m) (closed July 2011)
  • Sears - 126,000 square feet (11,700 m) (closed April 2012)
  • Pier 1 Imports - 8,397 square feet (780.1 m) (closed June 2015)
  • Regal Cinemas - 22,680 square feet (2,107 m) (closed October 2012)

See also

References

  1. ^ CBL & Associates Loopnet. Accessed October 5, 2011
  2. ^ CBL Properties - Oak Hollow Mall. Accessed May 5, 2010
  3. ^ JCPenney Closing Oak Hollow Store Location, WFMY News 2. Accessed January 25, 2011.
  4. ^ Sears moves customer service center, High Point Enterprise Accessed May 1, 2010.
  5. ^ High Point University Buys Oak Hollow Mall for $9 Million. Accessed February 24, 2010
  6. ^ Belk to open new store by Palladium, expand store at Friendly Center. Accessed March 27, 2013
  7. ^ Davis, Jonnelle (March 6, 2017). "Oak Hollow Mall in its last days". News & Record. Retrieved March 6, 2017.