Augusta Mall Opens Its Doors
Augusta Mall opened on August 3, 1978, one week after Regency Mall. Its debut brought ninety stores, two anchors, and a design that echoed other Rouse Company projects.
The original anchors were Rich's and Davison's, both department stores with wide draws. Their placement gave the new mall steady crowds and established it as a rival to Regency.
Architects borrowed ideas from other malls, notably a space-frame ceiling that matched the Columbia and Tampa Bay Center. At the same time, a fountain and elevator design mirrored Beachwood Place.
Shoppers first walked into a property with about 90 stores, filling a floor plan meant to serve a metropolitan area that lacked a central shopping hub.
At launch, Augusta Mall offered 5,400 parking spaces and was laid out across two levels.
Atriums with natural light and open walkways shaped the space. Davison's and Rich's anchored opposite ends, spreading traffic across both levels.
The mall soon shifted business from downtown and formed the new commercial hub.
For those seeking clothes, shoes, or a department store credit line, Augusta Mall gave options Regency could not yet match.
This shift marked the start of decades of expansion, with each new store or anchor making the site more dominant in the city.
The scale of its opening still ranks it among the early regional malls in Georgia and the largest in the Augusta area.
For visitors looking for things to do in Augusta, Georgia, the mall quickly became a default stop, a place for shopping, gathering, and watching the rise of suburban retail culture.
First Growth and Expansions in the 1980s
On May 6, 1987, Augusta Mall opened a two-level JCPenney that stretched across 132,000 square feet.
This was the mall's first expansion and its third anchor. The store carried apparel, furniture, and appliances, adding variety to the mall's retail mix.
The addition was more than one store. Besides JCPenney, smaller retailers set up with specialty merchandise and food outlets.
Adding space increased the total tenants beyond 1978 levels.
Sales days packed the parking lots, proving the wing's fast integration into daily shopping.
In February 1985, Davison's started rebranding as Davison's-Macy's. By the end of the year, all Davison's locations in the region carried the Macy's name.
At the close of the decade, Augusta Mall had established itself as the main shopping center.
This first growth phase prepared the way for the 1990 renovation with another anchor and dozens of stores.
Renovations and National Spotlight in the 1990s
In March 1990, Augusta Mall began a $32 million project that reshaped the property. A two-level Sears opened in a 157,000 square foot building, becoming the fourth anchor.
Alongside it came 39 new inline stores, a 14-bay food court called The Park, and interior updates that added new finishes and lighting.
The expansion raised the store count from about 100 to over 130.
Two years later, the mall was pulled into national politics.
On October 28, 1992, Vice President Dan Quayle appeared at a campaign rally inside the building during the final days of the election season.
More than 5,000 people attended, overwhelming expectations for a crowd of around 1,000.
For a day, retail space doubled as a stage for a national figure, showing how public life could spill into a commercial center.
By 1998, Augusta Mall was prepared for its third expansion.
Department store J. B. White closed at Regency Mall and relocated here, joining as the fifth anchor. Its space was later converted to Dillard's.
Growth came with challenges, as heavier traffic clogged Wrightsboro Road and nearby Interstate 520.
To ease the load, the city approved $231,000 in improvements, adding new lanes and ramps for easier access.
Early 2000s Upgrades and Setbacks
In 2002, Augusta Mall carried out a round of infrastructure improvements aimed at keeping the property functional after years of heavy use.
Crews worked on storm drain maintenance, resurfaced parking lots, and handled updates inside the building.
These changes weren't about expansion but about keeping the mall ready for larger crowds that still passed through its doors every week.
That same year, Macy's closed its store in the former Davidson's, and the lower level of the space was converted into a furniture store.
The closure showed how national retailers were shifting their footprints even as Augusta Mall continued to add tenants in other wings.
Rich's merged with Macy's in 2003, both operating under the "Rich's-Macy's" name in one location. In 2005, Rich's signs on the outside were swapped for Macy's branding.
In November 2004, The Rouse Company was absorbed by Chicago's General Growth Properties, placing Augusta Mall under GGP's control.
Twelve years later, in 2016, Brookfield Property Partners bought into General Growth Properties, taking a partial stake.
By August 2018, Brookfield completed the takeover, assuming full ownership of GGP and bringing Augusta Mall into the Brookfield portfolio.
Lifestyle Additions and Tumultuous Years (2006–2013)
In the summer of 2006, construction crews began clearing the upper level of the former Davison's-Macy's store.
That portion of the anchor was demolished, while the lower level was rebuilt into a 60,000 square foot Dick's Sporting Goods.
Rising above it, developers added a 180,000 square foot lifestyle wing called The Augusta Promenade.
The Promenade was dedicated on November 8, 2007, and promoted as a modern extension to the enclosed mall.
Its open-air storefronts introduced a new kind of retail to the property, with tenants that included Williams-Sonoma, Sephora, The Buckle, and P.F. Chang's China Bistro.
The mix combined dining and specialty shopping in a space designed to look and feel different from the main building.
The opening year was also marked by an unusual event when a man drove his car into the mall, causing damage inside the building.
Repairs followed quickly, but the incident set the property apart in local memory.
In 2012, Buca di Beppo opened within the complex, giving visitors a full-service Italian restaurant. However, the location lasted only until January 2017.
During this same period, several tenants left or arrived as national retail trends shifted.
Abercrombie & Fitch closed its Augusta Mall store in January 2013, part of a broader contraction of the brand.
In July 2014, merchandise worth $2,000 was stolen from Victoria's Secret, an incident that drew local headlines.
By January 2016, mall officials announced that Vans, Torrid, and rue21 would soon open, showing how Augusta Mall continued to rotate its lineup with brands aimed at younger shoppers.
Closures, Solar Energy, and Violent Incidents (2017–2020)
In April 2017, the Apple Store at Augusta Mall was robbed by several men who entered during business hours and left with stolen merchandise.
The event drew police to the property and added to a series of incidents that punctuated the decade.
The following spring, Williams Sonoma closed its location in April 2018, ending its run inside the mall.
That same month, management introduced a 435-kilowatt rooftop solar panel system, shifting part of the building's power supply to renewable energy.
Later in 2018, plans were announced for a 4,500 square foot QC Nails Salon, which brought in a new service-oriented tenant to diversify the mix.
On February 8, 2020, it was revealed that Sears would shutter its Augusta Mall store as part of a nationwide plan affecting 39 locations.
The two-level, 157,000 square foot anchor closed its doors in April 2020, leaving a large vacancy at one end of the complex.
Months later, on October 3, 2020, a confrontation inside the mall escalated when a firearm was drawn.
Two people were struck: one later died at a nearby hospital, and the other survived with an injury to the leg.
Augusta Mall in 2024–2025: Security Concerns and New Anchors
Between 2024 and 2025, Augusta Mall drew attention for a string of security issues that brought deputies to the property more than once.
False reports, violent disputes, and confrontations in the parking lot all added to a sense of unease.
However, daily business at the mall carried on, and stores remained open throughout.
At the same time, redevelopment plans advanced inside the property. The vacant Sears, which closed in April 2020, is now slated to be partly filled by Primark.
When it opens, the store will mark Primark's first location in Georgia, a new anchor for the mall and a fresh addition to its retail mix.
Walking the mall today, the building feels full.
National chains are still in place, and the core anchors - Dick's Sporting Goods, JCPenney, Dillard's, Macy's, and Barnes & Noble continue to operate.
Some wings look more modern than others, especially where The Promenade was added.
Still, overall, the property gives the impression of a center that has held on better than many of its peers.
The hallways are bright, lined with recognizable brands.
While some vacancies show up here and there, the scale of retail activity makes it clear that Augusta Mall remains a major draw for the region.