Opening Years of Cumberland Mall
Cumberland Mall opened on August 8, 1973, after construction on a 100-acre plot near Smyrna and Vinings, becoming the largest retail complex in the state of Georgia.
Developed by Crow Carter & Company, the mall was the first four-anchor center in the state and the second of its kind in the Southeast, covering over 1 million square feet.
The original anchors included Sears, Rich's, Davison's, and JCPenney, with each department store opening between July and October of that year.
The first anchor to launch was Sears on July 11, 1973, followed by Rich's on August 6, Davison's on the official opening day, and JCPenney on October 31.
National tenants filled the concourses, including Piccadilly Cafeteria, Magic Pan, Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour, B. Dalton Bookseller, and Frederick's of Hollywood.
Design firms Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and Stevens & Wilkinson helped shape the 1970s Modern décor.
Center Court featured skylights, ficus trees, water fountains, and a suspended "People Pavilion" seating area above the main walkway.
At its launch, Cumberland Mall quickly drew shoppers from across Metropolitan Atlanta, offering one of the widest selections of apparel, dining, and services.
The destination stood out in regional retail listings. It would later become one of the earliest activities for suburban families in Atlanta, Georgia.
Competition and Renovation Era
When Town Center at Cobb opened in 1986, it revolutionized shopping habits across suburban Atlanta, drawing customers who had previously spent their weekends inside Cumberland Mall.
The pressure showed in tenant sales, and by the end of the decade, the owners launched a full renovation that stripped away most of the mall's original features.
In 1989, contractors replaced the 1970s fountains and planters with marble floors, brass railings, and glass elevators. New benches were also installed along the concourses.
A carousel appeared in the middle court, giving families a reason to linger, even as older restaurants like Magic Pan and Piccadilly Cafeteria shut their doors.
The following years saw further changes to the layout. In 1991, the upper level of the Sears wing was renovated to become the mall's first food court.
National chains moved into this dedicated dining space, making it a draw for shoppers who wanted variety under one roof, instead of scattered cafes.
This period redefined the property. The mall no longer resembled the mod-style showpiece that opened in 1973, but a space updated for the early 1990s market.
Redevelopment and Anchor Changes
Macy's, once operating in the Davison's space, closed its Cumberland Mall location in 2003, leaving behind one of the center's largest vacant anchors.
Developers responded by tearing the structure down and planning an open-air addition that would serve as a new entrance and corridor for restaurants.
By 2006, construction crews had also demolished the JCPenney store, making way for a 148,000-square-foot Costco that opened on November 15 of that year.
The new warehouse club marked a sharp shift from traditional department store anchors, broadening the site's retail profile in the regional market.
In early 2007, the interior renovations were completed. Skylights brightened the concourses, and the food court was expanded to handle larger crowds.
National chains moved into the new wing, including The Cheesecake Factory, Maggiano's Little Italy, P.F. Chang's, Stoney River, and Buffalo Wild Wings.
By the end of this redevelopment phase, only Macy's in the Rich's space and Sears remained as department store anchors, supported by Costco and dining tenants.
The adjustments kept the mall active, though its mix now leaned heavily toward restaurants and big-box retail rather than fashion-driven department stores.
Ownership Shifts and Anchor Losses
In 2015, Sears Holdings created Seritage Growth Properties. This spinoff included the Sears building at Cumberland Mall in its portfolio of 235 sites.
Later that same year, Kroger announced plans for a 93,000-square-foot grocery store on the upper level of Sears. Still, by January 2016, the deal was canceled.
The cancellation left the property unchanged until August 22, 2018, when Sears confirmed it would close its Cumberland Mall location in November.
The closure was part of a nationwide reduction of 46 stores. By November 25, 2018, Sears had vacated, leaving Macy's and Costco as the only anchors.
Sears' departure marked the end of one of the mall's original 1973 anchors, altering the tenant balance that had helped define the property for decades.
With fewer department stores, the mall began shifting toward big-box concepts and service-oriented leases to stabilize its tenant mix.
This period highlighted the increasing challenge of retaining traditional anchor tenants in a rapidly evolving retail environment.
Pandemic Years and New Tenants
On June 8, 2020, Ted's Montana Grill closed at Cumberland Mall, citing financial strain, leaving the dining corridor with fewer options during the pandemic.
Within months, redevelopment of the former Sears structure created opportunities for new tenants that opened in the second half of 2020.
Dick's Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy launched on August 21, 2020, occupying the upper level of the former Sears, and Planet Fitness followed on September 1.
These additions brought sporting goods and fitness into a space once reserved for department store retailing.
In 2021, Round One Entertainment opened on the lower level of the former Sears, offering bowling, arcade games, and karaoke, further diversifying the mall's tenant categories.
By 2022, the former Ted's Montana Grill location was leased to The Captain's Boil, a Canadian seafood chain making its entry into the Atlanta market.
This cluster of openings between 2020 and 2022 reshaped the mall's appeal, pulling traffic from entertainment, athletics, and food services.
Tallulah Apartment Development
Brookfield Properties introduced the Tallulah project in 2022 as part of its effort to redevelop underused portions of Cumberland Mall. The chosen site sat at the west gate, where a Sears Auto Center had once operated.
The plan called for a five-story building with 327 apartments, built with a central courtyard pool and supported by a precast parking deck.
Construction began in 2023 under New South Construction, starting with site clearing and foundation work. By midyear, the frame was in place, enclosing one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts ranging from 560 to 1,450 square feet.
Leasing launched in early 2024. Monthly rents started at around $1,500 for smaller units. They rose above $3,000 for larger floor plans, positioning Tallulah toward higher-income renters, including those associated with nearby office parks.
By 2025, the property had reached almost full occupancy. Sidewalk links connected residents to the mall's Costco, Macy's, and dining wing, providing the complex with a walkable connection to the shopping center.
Tallulah marked the first housing to be directly integrated into the mall's footprint.
Cumberland District & Galleria Redevelopment
By 2023, pressure for redevelopment extended beyond the mall's footprint, as the Cumberland district shifted toward mixed-use strategies tied to residential demand.
Planning documents described parking lots as potential sites for towers, following models tested nearby at The Battery Atlanta, which featured retail, apartments, and offices.
The $190 million plan called for the demolition of the Galleria Specialty Shops and the construction of new meeting halls and ballrooms on the site.
Renderings released that month showed outdoor courtyards, landscaped plazas, and a redesigned grand entryway with a canopy leading into the facility.
Officials have scheduled the groundbreaking for fall 2025, with completion expected in early 2027. This timeline aligns with broader redevelopment efforts along the corridor.
The project also called for a 13,000-square-foot meeting space connected to a parking deck, thereby expanding the convention center's trade capacity.
As the convention district prepared to expand, the mall's role within the area's commercial network began to adjust toward serving as part of a mixed node.