South Dekalb Mall
History
The mall opened in 1968 with anchors Rich's and JCPenney. This mall also faced competition from the beginning with several other malls in DeKalb County, mainly Northlake Mall. The Rich's also had an automotive center similar to most Sears of the time. During the early 1970s, the mall sported signage and a logo with the words South DeKalb Mall rendered in bas-relief SFIntellivised font, similar to the lettering used in the opening credits of the then-famous Mary Tyler Moore television series, only in the mall's version, accompanied by a bas-relief asterisk placed tightly among the letters of the mall's name. As of 2014, the mall's signage still pays homage to the original font. The modern signage is lighted. The former signage was dark brown and made of metal, and was not.
JCPenney left the mall in 2001 as it relocated to Stonecrest. The space left behind by the anchor has been occupied by a furniture store called Amazing Rooms. The Chick-Fil-A closed at the end of January 2012.
South DeKalb Mall became known recently as "The Gallery at South DeKalb" partly reflecting its new owners ideas to change the image of the mall. Currently the mall's anchor stores are Macy's (formerly Rich's), Amazing Rooms, and American Screen Works has built a 14-screen movie theater with stadium seating and an entertaining jazz lounge. The Mall is also home to a Piccadilly Cafeteria and a small office center behind the mall.
The competition is still fierce for The Gallery at South DeKalb with the recent addition in 2001 of the long-awaited Mall at Stonecrest eight miles southeast in nearby Lithonia.
On January 7, 2020, it was announced that Macy's would close, as part of a plan to close 125 stores nationwide. The store closed on March 17, 2020, leaving the mall with no anchor stores.
References
- ^ Turknett, Jenny (January 24, 2012). "Chick-fil-A closes one of its oldest mall stores". Food and More. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on January 27, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ^ "SouthDekalb1_ThorEquities.jpg (image)". 3.bp.blogspot.com.
- ^ Schenke, Jarred (December 17, 2001). "Burlington Coat heads to South DeKalb Mall". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 1, 2007. Retrieved January 5, 2007.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Capelouto, J. D. "Macy's at South DeKalb mall closing this spring". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
