I'm pretty certain this is the Perimeter Mall location which was added with a new wing in 1982. It makes use of the new lower case logo that matches Macy's font, as Cumberland, Lennox, Northlake and Southlake all had the older script logo.
Of course you know Perimeter was the next to last Davison's to open, as Gwinnett Place would be the last in 1984 as the conversion to Davison's-Macy's and finally Macy's happened.
Town Center at Cobb remains the only store built in the Atlanta area as Macy's, as no new Macy's were built in the region following Macy's bankruptcy and later aquisition by Federated, who would open Rich's at North Point Mall, Arbor Place Mall(actually Rich's-Macy's), Mall of Georgia and Stonecrest Mall in the coming years.
The Davison's at Perimeter and Lenox Square were transformed to Bloomingdales with the the conversion of Rich's to Macy's. Davison's at Shannon Mall had closed a few years earlier, while Cumberland, Gwinnett, and Southlake would close with the change and Town Center would become a Macy's Furniture and Men's store. Only Northlake made the transition from Davison's to Macy's to Rich's-Macy's and back to Macy's in Atlanta. The Georgia Square store in Athens followed the same conversions as Northlake, as did Macon Mall.
I agree with Ken that it's probably Perimeter. Although the surround could conceivably pass for Cumberland, the first level is much too bright and cheery to be that store...and the men's department was on the first floor of Cumberland, not cosmetics. I never have made it to either of the "lake" malls.
Actually, can I qualify my answer? If we can push the date into 1984, I daresay that this might be Gwinnett Place. GP is a 80-90% carbon copy of Town Center, and the TC entrance to Macy's looked rather similar to this one, including the right angle in the second floor landing (center court of the mall), the fountain placement, and the sizes of the surrounds and logos. Even the railing rings a bell. Did/does Perimeter have that funky right angle thing in the landing? I don't recall...it's been too long since I've been there....but the more I look at this picture, the more I feel like I'm looking into the TC store, which would indicate GP.
Anyways...whichever location this is, a great find, Steven!
Thanks, Ken and Matt, for all the the information on this. I'm going to say Perimeter because the railing and decorations don't look like Gwinnett Place.
Definitely fits with the first picture. GP's roof treatment is a dead giveaway, as is the fact that the "right angle" on the second floor landing isn't a full right angle.
My hat is off to you, Ken!
(Hope I don't get in trouble for those links...)
By the way, how did you come across this picture and the Hutzler's one, Steven?
Beautiful! Where did you find that Steven? That was definitely indeed Perimeter...very 80's (opened in 82) and this was most definitely 100% for certain not Cumberland. I preferred the older logo by far...much classier and distinct.
I really miss old Perimeter Mall: it was a quintessential 70's mall with lots of fountains, lots of planters and very, very dark. Note the marble facade there that was typical on the last generation Davison's.
The Georgia Square Davison's (note: referring to original names) was very old-school when I last visited, but the Northlake Store was substantially renovated inside...suggesting a possible closure of North DeKalb Rich's in the very near future.
Do you have any more vintage Atlanta shots in that book? I always wonder why I can never run across any of these vintage retail guides. I remember being in a doctor's office in 1989 and seeing a pic of the back court in Lenox with Davison's from the early 80's. It was an Atlanta picture book and it showed the store having a blue sign with the old style logo. I wish I had that.
There are a few more Davison's pictures, but they're of individual departments at what I presume to be this same store. I'm slowly making my way through the book, so you may see more soon.
This was an odd find, to be sure. These "Stores Of The year" books were never produced in large quantities, and the only way to find them is from used booksellers or by chance at flea markets. This particular one had been stored for a while,. It has a really strong mothball smell despite being in nearly perfect condition.
Awesome find, Steven. I'd love it if one day I could find a pic somewhere of the pre-early 80s Davison's logo, myself!
Hard to believe this logo only lasted a few years. Didn't(and similar to Northlake, Georgia Square, and Macon) the Town Center Macy's take a similar route to renaming conversions over the years(and Town Center briefly took the Rich's-Macy's name)? Ken didn't address if the Town Center location was ever briefly renamed Rich's-Macy's, that's why I'm asking my question.
Town Center actually opened as Macy's, the only store in the market to do so. I don't think it ever changed its signage to Rich's-Macy's. The only store to have the dual signage was Arbor Place.
Davison's; Perimeter Mall, Atlanta, Georgia. Mall entrance, circa 1983.
I'm pretty certain this is the Perimeter Mall location which was added with a new wing in 1982. It makes use of the new lower case logo that matches Macy's font, as Cumberland, Lennox, Northlake and Southlake all had the older script logo.
ReplyDeleteOf course you know Perimeter was the next to last Davison's to open, as Gwinnett Place would be the last in 1984 as the conversion to Davison's-Macy's and finally Macy's happened.
ReplyDeleteTown Center at Cobb remains the only store built in the Atlanta area as Macy's, as no new Macy's were built in the region following Macy's bankruptcy and later aquisition by Federated, who would open Rich's at North Point Mall, Arbor Place Mall(actually Rich's-Macy's), Mall of Georgia and Stonecrest Mall in the coming years.
The Davison's at Perimeter and Lenox Square were transformed to Bloomingdales with the the conversion of Rich's to Macy's. Davison's at Shannon Mall had closed a few years earlier, while Cumberland, Gwinnett, and Southlake would close with the change and Town Center would become a Macy's Furniture and Men's store. Only Northlake made the transition from Davison's to Macy's to Rich's-Macy's and back to Macy's in Atlanta. The Georgia Square store in Athens followed the same conversions as Northlake, as did Macon Mall.
Now this is the Davison's logo I remember!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ken that it's probably Perimeter. Although the surround could conceivably pass for Cumberland, the first level is much too bright and cheery to be that store...and the men's department was on the first floor of Cumberland, not cosmetics. I never have made it to either of the "lake" malls.
Actually, can I qualify my answer? If we can push the date into 1984, I daresay that this might be Gwinnett Place. GP is a 80-90% carbon copy of Town Center, and the TC entrance to Macy's looked rather similar to this one, including the right angle in the second floor landing (center court of the mall), the fountain placement, and the sizes of the surrounds and logos. Even the railing rings a bell. Did/does Perimeter have that funky right angle thing in the landing? I don't recall...it's been too long since I've been there....but the more I look at this picture, the more I feel like I'm looking into the TC store, which would indicate GP.
Anyways...whichever location this is, a great find, Steven!
Thanks, Ken and Matt, for all the the information on this. I'm going to say Perimeter because the railing and decorations don't look like Gwinnett Place.
ReplyDeleteThis pic made my day. Had never seen a Davisons sign before. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteWe aim to please! Glad you liked the picture.
ReplyDeleteI did a little more digging around, and I think that we can safely say that is indeed Perimeter.
ReplyDeleteCompare:
http://www.labelscar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/perimeter-mall-10.jpg
with:
http://www.labelscar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/gwinnett-place-mall-17.jpg
Definitely fits with the first picture. GP's roof treatment is a dead giveaway, as is the fact that the "right angle" on the second floor landing isn't a full right angle.
My hat is off to you, Ken!
(Hope I don't get in trouble for those links...)
By the way, how did you come across this picture and the Hutzler's one, Steven?
That's definitely the same store on my photograph and the first link. Thanks for the research, Matt.
ReplyDeleteI got the pictures from an old "Stores Of The Tear" book I found at the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market in New York. It was a fascinating find.
Beautiful! Where did you find that Steven? That was definitely indeed Perimeter...very 80's (opened in 82) and this was most definitely 100% for certain not Cumberland. I preferred the older logo by far...much classier and distinct.
ReplyDeleteI really miss old Perimeter Mall: it was a quintessential 70's mall with lots of fountains, lots of planters and very, very dark. Note the marble facade there that was typical on the last generation Davison's.
The Georgia Square Davison's (note: referring to original names) was very old-school when I last visited, but the Northlake Store was substantially renovated inside...suggesting a possible closure of North DeKalb Rich's in the very near future.
I scanned the pictures from an old "Stores Of The Tear" book I found at the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market in New York.
ReplyDeleteI hope they don't close the North DeKalb store. From your pictures, it's a great vintage Rich's.
Do you have any more vintage Atlanta shots in that book? I always wonder why I can never run across any of these vintage retail guides. I remember being in a doctor's office in 1989 and seeing a pic of the back court in Lenox with Davison's from the early 80's. It was an Atlanta picture book and it showed the store having a blue sign with the old style logo. I wish I had that.
ReplyDeleteThere are a few more Davison's pictures, but they're of individual departments at what I presume to be this same store. I'm slowly making my way through the book, so you may see more soon.
ReplyDeleteThis was an odd find, to be sure. These "Stores Of The year" books were never produced in large quantities, and the only way to find them is from used booksellers or by chance at flea markets. This particular one had been stored for a while,. It has a really strong mothball smell despite being in nearly perfect condition.
Awesome find, Steven. I'd love it if one day I could find a pic somewhere of the pre-early 80s Davison's logo, myself!
ReplyDeleteHard to believe this logo only lasted a few years. Didn't(and similar to Northlake, Georgia Square, and Macon) the Town Center Macy's take a similar route to renaming conversions over the years(and Town Center briefly took the Rich's-Macy's name)? Ken didn't address if the Town Center location was ever briefly renamed Rich's-Macy's, that's why I'm asking my question.
Town Center actually opened as Macy's, the only store in the market to do so. I don't think it ever changed its signage to Rich's-Macy's. The only store to have the dual signage was Arbor Place.
ReplyDelete