Perimeter Mall, Atlanta Georgia. (Bob Andres/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Perimeter Mall, Atlanta, Georgia. Outdoor 'lifestyle' addition. (Bob Andres/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Perimeter Mall, Atlanta, Georgia. Food Court. (Bob Andres/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Perimeter Mall is a major shopping mall in Atlanta that opened in 1971. Located in the upscale Dunwoody community in Dekalb County, it is a two level mall that originally opened with anchors Rich's and JCPenney, connected by an I-shaped corridor. The mall opened two years after I-285, the Perimeter Highway for which the mall is named, was completed.

Considered upscale, but not as upscale as Lenox Square, the mall has remained successful for over 30 years. Currently, the mall is anchored by Bloomingdale's (formerly Macy's), Dillard's, Macy's (formerly Rich's), and Nordstrom.

The mall was first expanded in 1982 when a western wing of the mall was added, greatly increasing the size of the mall. The wing included a new food court and a Davison's department store, which was changed to Macy's only a couple years later.

With competition from North Point Mall, a new and larger mall to the north, and pressure from Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza, Perimeter Mall was completely renovated and expanded again in 1998. This renovation saw the addition of another wing off the 1982 wing. The new wing was the location of Georgia's first Nordstrom which opened in 1998.

The renovation also included another wing that included a collection of moderate to upscale restaurants including the Cheesecake Factory in what had previously been a dark open corridor and the main entrance to the mall.

The mall saw its first anchor closure in 2000 when JCPenney vacated its location at the mall. This location remained vacant for several years. This was worsened in the spring of 2003 when Macy's also closed its former location to merge with Rich's. However, the former Davison's/Macy's building was renovated extensively and reopened in October 2003 as a Bloomingdale's in that company's entrance into the Atlanta market along with its new Lenox Square location in another former Davison's/Macy's.

2005 was also very significant as the JCPenney had finally been demolished to make way for a new Dillard's that opened that year along with the renaming of Rich's-Macy's to Macy's. While the mall is now better than ever and continues to thrive, the center has little in common with its original self with all of the original anchors gone and much changed in the center since it originally opened in 1971.

Information from Wikipedia

Slug's Choice and Pet-A-Rama, SouthPark

A mid-1970s ad for Slug's Choice, SouthPark mall, Charlotte, North Carolina. Before The Cheesecake Factory arrived, Slug's Choice was THE restaurant of its era at SouthPark. (Pat Richardson)

A mid-1970s ad for Pet-A-Rama, SouthPark mall, Charlotte, North Carolina. (Pat Richardson)

Find more SouthPark memories from the mid-'70s in SouthPark 1975

former Lord & Taylor, Christiana Mall, Newark, Delaware. Mall entrance, 2006. (The News Journal, Wilmington, Del.)

former Lord & Taylor, Christiana Mall, Newark, Delaware. Escalator well, 2006. (The News Journal, Wilmington, Del.)

The former Lord & Taylor at the Christiana Mall, Newark, Delaware, started its life as a branch of the great Philadelphia-based department store John Wanamaker in 1978. In 1995, Hecht's department stores in Washington, D.C., a division of the May Department Stores Co. of St. Louis, acquired the John Wanamaker chain and renamed the stores Hecht's.

A year later, Hecht's also acquired the Strawbridge & Clothier chain, which was historically Wanamaker's main rival (and co-anchor at Christiana Mall). Because the renamed Wanamaker's did not do as well as projected with the Hecht's name, the decision was made to keep the Strawbridge's name, although the Clothier was dropped. The 190,000 square foot former Wanamaker store was then converted to a Lord & Taylor in 1997.

Things calmed down for a decade until Federated Department Stores, which owns Macy's, bought the May department store chain in 2005. That left Federated with three department stores at Christiana Mall: Macy's, Strawbridge's and Lord & Taylor.

Federated closed both the Strawbridge's and the underperforming Lord & Taylor in 2006. Mal owner General Growth Properties quickly snapped up the Strawbridge's building for an undisclosed price, but no definite plans have been announced for the Lord & Taylor space.

Belk, SouthPark mall, Charlotte, North Carolina. Mall entrance, circa 1995. (SouthPark mall)

Previously on LiveMalls
Belk, SouthPark

Fill 'er up at Belk!

How about a gas station at Belk? This is a photo from the "Belko" service station at Belk, Parkhill Mall, Tarboro, North Carolina, circa 1975. You could even use your Belk/Leggett charge to fill your gas tank. (Pat Richardson)

Find more Belk memories in The Belk Archive

The Ivey's Archive

Exclusively on LiveMalls

J. B. Ivey & Company, Charlotte, North Carolina. Better Sportswear department at Ivey's (now Dillard's) SouthPark, 1970. (Pat Richardson)

LiveMalls is pleased to present The Ivey's Archive, a tribute to the legendary former Charlotte, North Carolina-based department store chain, J. B. Ivey & Company.

The Ivey's Archive would not be possible without the generous contributions of Patrick Richardson, who gave LiveMalls exclusive access to his collection of Ivey's photos and memorabilia. I thank Pat for his help to provide the internet with a collection of all things Ivey’s. Please check the archive page regularly, as I will be adding more memorabilia as I receive it.

A final note: this archive is neither sponsored nor endorsed by J.B. Ivey Co., Dillard Department Stores, or its subsidiaries. I do hope that they are honored and not offended, because it's all done out of love for their company.

Visit The Ivey's Archive

The Belk Archive (updated and relocated)

Exclusively on LiveMalls

Early 1970s Belk advertisement, Charlotte, North Carolina. FabricFair was Belk's chain of specialty fabric stores. (Pat Richardson)

LiveMalls is pleased to present The Belk Archive, a tribute to America's largest family-owned department store company, Belk, Inc.

The first LiveMalls post was a Belk department store, and pictures of the company's stores have helped form the backbone of LiveMalls.

The Belk Archive would not be possible without the generous contributions of Patrick Richardson, who gave LiveMalls exclusive access to his extensive collection of Belk photos and memorabilia. I thank Pat for his help to provide the internet with a unsurpassed collection of all things Belk. Please check the archive page regularly, as I will be adding more memorabilia as I receive it.

A final note: this archive is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Belk, Inc. or its subsidiaries. I do hope that they are honored and not offended, because it's all done out of love for their company.

Update (and Relocation)

I originally posted all of the pictures I had on the entry you're reeading, but I realized that this is such a massive project that it won't all fit here comfortably. Please click on the link below to access the archive:

Visit The Belk Archive

JCPenney, Hanes Mall, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Exterior canopy sign on lower level. Photographed with camera phone 8/5/06.

Previously on LiveMalls
JCPenney, Hanes Mall

Macy's, Hanes Mall, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Upper level mall entrance with temporary Hecht's signage. New Macy's sign is placed undreneath. Photographed with camera phone 8/5/06.

Macy's, Hanes Mall, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Lower level mall entrance with temporary Hecht's signage. New Macy's sign is placed undreneath. Photographed with camera phone 8/5/06.

Macy's, Hanes Mall, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Temporary signage with new Macy's sign placed undreneath. Photographed with camera phone 8/5/06.

Previously on LiveMalls
Macy's (Hecht's), Hanes Mall

Dick's Sporting Goods, Hanes Mall, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Photographed with camera phone 8/5/06.

JCPenney, Tanglewood Mall, Roanoke, Virginia. Overview of men's department. Photographed with camera phone 5/04/06.

Previously on LiveMalls
JCPenney, Tanglewood Mall

JCPenney, Piedmont Mall, Danville, Virginia. Lower level mall entrance. Photographed with camera phone 4/15/06.

Previously on LiveMalls
JCPenney, Piedmont Mall

Piedmont Mall, Danville, Virginia. Lower level mall entrance near JCPenney. Photographed with camera phone 6/1/05.


Piedmont Mall, Danville, Virginia. Center court. Photographed with camera phone 6/1/05.


Piedmont Mall, Danville, Virginia. Geodesic dome skylight over center court. Photographed with camera phone 6/1/05.

Piedmont Mall, Danville, Virginia. Mirror and oak paneled wall on the upper level near the food court. Photographed with camera phone 4/4/06.

Previously on LiveMalls
Belk, Piedmont Mall
Boscov's, Piedmont Mall
JCPenney, Piedmont Mall
Sears, Piedmont Mall

Macy's, Valley View Mall, Roanoke, Virginia. Lower level entrance with temporary Hecht's signage. New Macy's signage placed undreneath. Photographed with camera phone 7/30/06.

Macy's Home & Children's Store, Valley View Mall, Roanoke, Virginia. Entrance with temporary Hecht's signage. New Macy's signage placed undreneath. Photographed with camera phone 7/30/06.

Macy's, Valley View Mall, Roanoke, Virginia. Upper level mall entrance with temporary Hecht's signage. New Macy's signage placed undreneath. Photographed with camera phone 7/30/06.

Macy's, Valley View Mall, Roanoke, Virginia. Lower level mall entrance with temporary Hecht's signage. New Macy's signage placed undreneath. Photographed with camera phone 7/30/06.

Macy's Home & Children's Store, Valley View Mall, Roanoke, Virginia. Mall entrance with temporary Hecht's signage. New Macy's signage placed undreneath. Photographed with camera phone 7/30/06.

The conversion of Hecht's stores to Macy's has begun.

In 2005, The May Department Stores Company merged with Federated Department Stores. The Hecht's division was eliminated and the former Hecht's stores will soon be operated by Federated's Macy's division.

Permanent Macy's signs have gone up at Hecht's, and advertisements now bear the names of both stores.

The Macy's signs are still covered with translucent Hecht's signs, though. The signs will stay covered until the official conversion date, scheduled for Sept. 9, 2006.

Previously on LiveMalls
Macy's (Hecht's), Valley View Mall