Gadsden Mall

History

The site of the mall was historically known as the flats near Barrel Springs.

Site preparation for the mall, the first mall in Etowah County, began in September 1972, and construction started in March 1973. Developed by Colonial Properties, the mall opened on July 31, 1974. Sears and Belk Hudson opened as anchors at the mall, leaving their downtown locations, as did some other downtown merchants.

In the early 2000's, its name was changed to The Colonial Mall.

JCPenney had a store in the mall from 1991-2001, and returned in 2008 in a new anchor location created as part of a remodeling of the mall. On March 17, 2017, it was announced that JCPenney would be closing as part of a plan to close 138 stores nationwide. The store closed on July 31, 2017.

On October 15, 2018, it was announced that Sears would also be closing as part of a plan to close 142 stores nationwide which left Belk as the only anchor left.

On January 24, 2024, supermarket chain Food City opened in the mall’s former Sears location.

Roy Moore

In November 2017, the mall became the subject of many news reports regarding U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore who used to frequent the mall in the early 1980s and would approach teenage females for dates, leading to locals claiming that Moore had been "banned" from the mall. However, no formal ban has been proven.

References

References

1. Utler, George. (July 31, 1974). "Mall's reception enthusiastic". [[The Gadsden Times]].
2. "Gadsden Mall - Plans". Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust.
3. "The Vagabond - Ringling Brothers Circus first came to Gadsden in 1899 {{!}} The Messenger".
4. (12 July 2009). [http://www.gadsdentimes.com/opinion/20090712/shopping-trends-change-with-times Shopping trends change with times], ''Gadsden Times''
5. Savage, Lisa (8 November 2015). [http://www.gadsdentimes.com/news/20151108/one-stop-shop-more-than-40-years-later-gadsden-mall-still-sees-success-in-business One-Stop Shop: More than 40 years later, Gadsden Mall still sees success in business], ''Gadsden Times''
6. Bailey, Greg (17 March 2017). [http://www.gadsdentimes.com/news/20170317/gadsdens-jcpenney-store-among-138-set-to-close Gadsden’s JCPenney store among 138 set to close], ''Gadsden Times''
7. "Sears store at Gadsden Mall to close".
8. "Food City Gadsden opens January 24, 2024!".
9. Bethea, Charles (13 November 2017). [https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/locals-were-troubled-by-roy-moores-interactions-with-teen-girls-at-the-gadsden-mall Locals were troubled by Roy Moore's interactions with teen girls at the Gadsden Mall], ''The New Yorker''
10. Vollers, Anna Claire (13 November 2017). [http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/11/gadsden_residents_say_moores_b.html Gadsden locals say Moore's predatory behavior at mall, restaurants not a secret], ''[[The Birmingham News]]''