Savannah Mall

Savannah Mall was a two-level enclosed regional shopping mall on the south side of Savannah, Georgia. It opened on August 29, 1990, during a period of substantial suburban expansion along Abercorn Expressway and near Interstate 95. The project was intended to serve the growing residential areas south of central Savannah and to compete with the established Oglethorpe Mall. At opening, Savannah Mall was positioned as a relatively upscale regional shopping destination, combining major department-store anchors with nationally recognized specialty retailers. The property was developed by David Hocker Associates and R.F. Coffin Enterprises. Construction began in early 1989 after the approximately 80-acre Forest River Farms tract was rezoned for commercial use. The original development plan included Belk, J.B. White, Miller & Rhoads, and Jordan Marsh as anchors. Corporate financial problems altered that plan before completion: Miller & Rhoads entered bankruptcy and never opened at the mall, while Jordan Marsh's planned location was abandoned after its parent, Allied Stores, filed for bankruptcy. Parisian and Montgomery Ward ultimately filled those spaces and opened in 1991. Belk and J.B. White opened with the mall in 1990. The mall's early tenant mix included brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, United Colors of Benetton, Blockbuster Music, The Disney Store, The Gap, The Limited, Lerner Shops, Waldenbooks, and Spencer's Gifts. Several of these retailers were viewed as distinctive or comparatively upscale for the Savannah market at the time. The surrounding retail district also expanded rapidly, with Publix, Kroger, and Wal-Mart developments appearing nearby during the early 1990s. The anchor lineup changed repeatedly. Montgomery Ward left in 1998. Dillard's took over the former J.B. White location after acquiring Mercantile Stores Company in the same year. Belk and Parisian departed in early 2003, reflecting broader tenant and department-store pressures. Bass Pro Shops opened in the former Parisian space in August 2003, while Target opened its first store in the Savannah area at the mall in October 2004. Target occupied a newly constructed upper-level building on the site of the former Belk store, and Burlington Coat Factory later occupied the lower level. Other large-format tenants included Steve & Barry's, which operated from the former Montgomery Ward space from 2004 to 2009, and A.C. Moore, which operated as a junior anchor from 2007 until 2019. By the middle of the 2000s, Savannah Mall had experienced significant vacancy and tenant migration. More than 20 spaces were reportedly vacant by 2005, with some retailers moving to Oglethorpe Mall and others leaving the Savannah market. A multimillion-dollar renovation in 2008 sought to improve the property's competitiveness through energy-conservation work, upgraded lighting, expanded accessibility, Wi-Fi, modernized common areas, and a new logo. Kohan Retail Investment Group acquired the mall in September 2016. The property was later sold at auction to BCHM Investment Group for $8 million in October 2022. At the time of the sale, reported maintenance problems included air-conditioning and escalator issues. In December 2022, reports said the new ownership intended to require remaining in-line tenants to leave and planned to close the enclosed mall on January 12, 2023, while keeping the anchor stores open. On that date, a Savannah alderman stated that the mall would not close as previously announced. By March 2023, however, the mall's common-area doors were locked and the in-line retail component appeared to be closed, while the surviving anchor and separately operated spaces continued to function. The former mall complex has also included a call center, a hemp and electronic-cigarette products distributor, and the Savannah Bananas in portions of former anchor buildings. The enclosed shopping-mall operation is therefore treated as defunct, although some…

The site of Savannah Mall was originally part of Forest River Farms, a subdivision laid out in the 1940s on swampy lowland near the Forest River. The proposed residential development did not materialize, and the roughly 80-acre tract remained undeveloped for decades. The extension of Abercorn Expressway to Interstate 95 in the 1970s changed the area's commercial prospects. New subdivisions appeared nearby during the 1980s, and by 1988 the tract had been rezoned for commercial use after approval by the Metropolitan Planning Commission. David Hocker Associates and R.F. Coffin Enterprises began construction in early 1989. The architectural work was handled by Crawford, McWilliams, Hatcher Associates of Birmingham, Alabama, while EMC Engineering provided local civil engineering and land-surveying services. Savannah Mall opened on August 29, 1990, as a two-level enclosed regional mall intended to challenge Oglethorpe Mall's established position in the Savannah market. Its launch strategy emphasized an upscale atmosphere and a broad collection of national specialty chains, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, United Colors of Benetton, Blockbuster Music, and The Disney Store. The original anchor plan was disrupted by department-store industry consolidation and bankruptcy. Belk and J.B. White opened at the mall's debut. Miller & Rhoads filed for bankruptcy during construction and ceased operations before its planned store could open. Jordan Marsh, which already had a store at Oglethorpe Mall, abandoned its Savannah Mall plan after Allied Stores entered bankruptcy proceedings in 1990. Parisian and Montgomery Ward replaced the two cancelled anchors and opened in 1991. The retail district around the property developed quickly. In 1990, construction began on a Publix across the street, reportedly the company's first location outside Florida. Kroger and Wal-Mart projects followed across Abercorn Expressway and opened in 1991, strengthening the corridor as a major suburban shopping area. Anchor changes began in the late 1990s. Montgomery Ward exited in 1998. Later that year, Dillard's acquired Mercantile Stores Company, the parent of J.B. White, and converted the store to the Dillard's nameplate. Parisian and Belk both left in early 2003. The departures coincided with weakening in-line occupancy and increasing competition from other retail locations. Bass Pro Shops opened in the former Parisian space in August 2003, providing an experience-oriented outdoor anchor. Target opened in October 2004 in a newly built 213,735-square-foot structure on the former Belk site. Target occupied the upper level, while Burlington Coat Factory occupied the lower level beginning in 2006. Burlington remained there until relocating elsewhere in Savannah in 2020. The former Montgomery Ward building was used by Steve & Barry's from 2004 to 2009. A.C. Moore operated as a junior anchor from 2007 until 2019. Despite these replacements, the mall faced substantial vacancy by 2005, when more than 20 spaces were reportedly empty. Some retailers relocated to Oglethorpe Mall, while others left the Savannah market. The owners responded with a major renovation in 2008, adding energy-efficiency measures, improved lighting, enhanced ADA access, Wi-Fi, refreshed common areas, and a new visual identity. Kohan Retail Investment Group bought Savannah Mall in September 2016. The property later changed hands through an auction in October 2022, when BCHM Investment Group acquired it for $8 million. Contemporary reports described operational and maintenance concerns, particularly air-conditioning and escalator problems. In December 2022, the new owners reportedly asked remaining in-line tenants to vacate and announced a planned January 12, 2023 closure of the enclosed mall, while the anchor stores were expected to remain open. A Savannah alderman publicly stated on January 12 that the mall would not close. Nevertheless, by March 2023 the common-area doors were locked and the in-line mall appeared inactive. Anchor and separately operated spaces continued to operate in portions of the complex. The former Montgomery Ward upper level has been used by the Savannah Bananas, while its lower level has served as a call center. The lower level associated with Target's building, formerly occupied by Burlington Coat Factory, has also been used by an electronic-cigarette and hemp-products distributor. These later uses illustrate the transition from a conventional enclosed mall to a fragmented property with surviving anchors and nontraditional occupants.

1. 2023In-line mall operation appears to end

   Although a publicly announced closure was disputed, the common-area doors were locked by March and the in-line retail section appeared closed, with anchor operations continuing.

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2. 2022BCHM Investment Group acquires the mall at auction

   BCHM Investment Group purchased the property for $8 million in October amid reported air-conditioning and escalator problems.

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3. 2020Burlington Coat Factory leaves

   Burlington Coat Factory relocated from the lower level of the Target-associated building to another location in Savannah.

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4. 2016Kohan Retail Investment Group acquires the property

   Kohan Retail Investment Group purchased Savannah Mall in September.

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5. 2008Major renovation completed

   The property underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation focused on energy efficiency, lighting, accessibility, Wi-Fi, and updated branding.

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6. 2004Target opens

   Target opened its first Savannah-area store at the mall in a new building constructed on the former Belk site.

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7. 2003Bass Pro Shops replaces Parisian

   Bass Pro Shops opened in the former Parisian location after Parisian and Belk departed earlier in the year.

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8. 1998Montgomery Ward exits and J.B. White becomes Dillard's

   Montgomery Ward left the mall, while Dillard's acquired Mercantile Stores Company and rebranded the J.B. White store.

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9. 1991Parisian and Montgomery Ward open

   Parisian and Montgomery Ward filled anchor spaces left vacant by the collapse of the original Miller & Rhoads and Jordan Marsh plans.

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10. 1990Savannah Mall opens

    The two-level mall opened on August 29 with Belk and J.B. White as original anchors.

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11. 1989Construction begins

    David Hocker Associates and R.F. Coffin Enterprises began construction of the enclosed regional mall.

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12. 1988Commercial redevelopment approved

    The Forest River Farms tract was rezoned for commercial use and a Savannah Mall development plan received approval from the Metropolitan Planning Commission.

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A suburban regional shopping center that initially pursued an upscale, nationally branded tenant mix and later shifted toward a combination of department stores, value-oriented retail, specialty retail, and large-format destination anchors.

• Enclosed regional shopping mallRetail property1990

  Savannah Mall's principal offering was a two-level enclosed shopping environment serving the south side of Savannah and surrounding Chatham County communities. It combined department stores, specialty retailers, food and entertainment uses, and common-area amenities. The mall's early identity emphasized a comparatively upscale national tenant mix, while later operations relied more heavily on replacement anchors and large-format stores.

• TargetGeneral merchandise2004

  Target opened at Savannah Mall in October 2004 as the retailer's first store in the Savannah area. The store was built on the former Belk site in a 213,735-square-foot structure, with Target occupying the upper level. It became one of the major surviving anchor operations associated with the property.

• Bass Pro ShopsOutdoor retail2003

  Bass Pro Shops opened in August 2003 in the former Parisian anchor space. Its outdoor equipment, apparel, boating, hunting, fishing, and recreation-oriented assortment gave the property a destination anchor less dependent on conventional apparel shopping.

• Dillard'sDepartment store1998

  Dillard's occupies the former J.B. White anchor location. The conversion followed Dillard's 1998 acquisition of Mercantile Stores Company, J.B. White's parent company, and represents one of the mall's continuing department-store identities.

• Former specialty-retail tenant mixSpecialty retail1990

  At opening, Savannah Mall offered a broad collection of national specialty retailers, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, United Colors of Benetton, Blockbuster Music, The Disney Store, The Gap, The Limited, Lerner Shops, Waldenbooks, and Spencer's Gifts. This mix supported the mall's original upscale and regional-destination positioning, although many of these tenants later departed.

• 2023Transition from enclosed mall to anchor-led propertyStrategy

  The new owners reportedly asked remaining in-line tenants to leave and planned to close the enclosed mall on January 12, 2023, while anchors remained open.

  What changed. The property proceeded toward a fragmented operating model centered on surviving anchors and separately used portions of former anchor buildings.

  Aftermath. A local official disputed the announced closure on January 12, but by March the common-area doors were locked and the in-line mall appeared closed. Target, Bass Pro Shops, Dillard's, and other nontraditional occupants continued in parts of the complex.

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• 2022Sell the mall through an auctionM&A

  The property changed ownership amid reported maintenance problems involving air conditioning and escalators.

  What changed. BCHM Investment Group acquired Savannah Mall at auction for $8 million in October 2022.

  Aftermath. The new ownership reportedly sought to vacate remaining in-line tenants and announced a planned closure of the enclosed mall while retaining anchor operations.

  Auction purchase price. $8 million (October 2022)

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• 2008Invest in a property renovationStrategy

  The mall faced increasing vacancy and competition from Oglethorpe Mall and other retail developments in the Savannah area.

  What changed. Ownership undertook a multimillion-dollar renovation covering energy conservation, lighting, ADA access, Wi-Fi, common-area improvements, and a new logo.

  Aftermath. The work refreshed the property and its public-facing identity, but later years still brought tenant departures, anchor changes, and declining in-line occupancy.

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• 2023Enclosed mall closure plan is disputed

  After reports that remaining in-line tenants would be asked to leave and the enclosed mall would close on January 12, a Savannah alderman said on that date that the mall would not close. By March, the common-area doors were locked and the in-line retail section appeared closed, while anchors remained open.

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• 2022Savannah Mall sold at auction

  BCHM Investment Group acquired the property at auction for $8 million in October 2022. Reports at the time cited air-conditioning and escalator problems.

  M&AOther
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• 2016Kohan Retail Investment Group acquires Savannah Mall

  Kohan Retail Investment Group purchased the mall in September 2016.

  M&A
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• 2008Savannah Mall receives major renovation

  The owners completed a multimillion-dollar renovation involving energy conservation, lighting, accessibility improvements, Wi-Fi, updated common areas, and a refreshed logo.

  Other
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• 2004Target opens first Savannah-area store at the mall

  Target opened a new store at Savannah Mall, occupying the upper level of a newly constructed building on the former Belk site.

  Product launch
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• 2003Bass Pro Shops opens at Savannah Mall

  Bass Pro Shops opened in the former Parisian anchor space, adding a large-format outdoor-retail destination to the mall.

  Product launch
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1. Savannah Mall