Groundbreaking and Opening Years, 1971–1976
In August 1971, Perimeter Mall opened in Dunwoody, Georgia, on land sold by the Spruill family.
The Rouse Company, the developer, built two anchors at launch: a three-level Rich's and a JCPenney that began operating in November 1971.
Officials said it was the first major shopping center in metro Atlanta to be located outside the Interstate 285 loop.
Perimeter Mall became the fourth mall in DeKalb County, following Avondale Mall in 1964, North DeKalb Mall in 1965, and the Gallery at South DeKalb in 1968.
The original plan followed the enclosed format common in large retail projects of the era, with a central concourse linking the anchors and a range of national and regional tenants.
Parking fields provided space for thousands of vehicles, serving weekday commuters and weekend shoppers.
The site, positioned near the interchange of Interstate 285 and the future Georgia State Route 400, extended the mall's customer base into several suburban counties.
In the same period, Perimeter Center added office and commercial developments, situating the mall within an expanding business district.
The Rouse Company oversaw leasing and daily operations, securing tenants that sustained consistent customer flow.
By 1976, Perimeter Mall stood as a major retail center in the northern Atlanta suburbs, supported by direct highway connections and a range of stores that encouraged shoppers to return.
First Wave of Growth, 1977–1986
In 1977, the first Great American Cookie Company store opened at Perimeter Mall.
The brand later expanded nationwide, but its origin was tied to the property.
In 1982, a major expansion added a new wing anchored by Davison's, increasing retail space and shifting the floor plan to a T-shape.
The addition extended walking distances for shoppers and created room for more mid-sized retailers.
In 1986, Davison's rebranded as Macy's, replacing the regional name with a nationally recognized one.
The change followed broader department store consolidation taking place across the Southeast.
Parking areas and directional signage were updated to integrate the new wing with existing circulation patterns.
By the mid-1980s, Perimeter Mall operated with three anchors, Rich's, JCPenney, and Macy's, supported by a larger tenant roster.
The property's expanded footprint and updated branding reinforced its role as a major suburban retail destination in the Atlanta market.
Parking, Prestige, and a New Flagship, 1997–2000
In November 1997, Perimeter Mall completed a five-level parking garage.
Management said the structure added capacity for thousands of vehicles and improved access for rising customer volumes.
On February 20, 1998, Nordstrom opened a three-level, 230,000-square-foot store at the mall, its first location in the Southeast.
The launch was part of a broader expansion that connected the new anchor to existing concourses and added storefronts along the route.
Officials said the store drew shoppers from across the metro area and beyond.
In 2000, The Cheesecake Factory opened on site, bringing a high-profile dining tenant to the property.
That same year, JCPenney closed after nearly 30 years as an anchor. The closure left a large section vacant and altered traffic patterns in that wing.
With the parking expansion complete and a major national department store in place, Perimeter Mall entered the new decade with an updated infrastructure and anchor mix.
The vacant JCPenney space became the focus for redevelopment planning in the years that followed.
Ownership Change and Anchor Realignment, 2003–2005
In 2003, Rich's converted to the dual-branded Rich's-Macy's, and the original Macy's location, formerly Davison's, closed.
The space was redeveloped for Bloomingdale's, which opened later that year.
That same year, The Rouse Company sold Perimeter Mall to General Growth Properties.
The transfer placed the property under one of the largest U.S. retail operators.
After JCPenney's 2000 closure, its building was demolished to make way for a three-level Dillard's.
The new anchor opened on March 23, 2005, restoring a four-anchor format.
Also in 2005, Rich's-Macy's dropped the Rich's name to operate solely as Macy's.
With Macy's, Dillard's, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale's in place, Perimeter Mall closed the period with fully occupied anchor spaces and a refreshed retail lineup.
The changes marked one of the most extensive reconfigurations in the property's history.
Renovations and Re-tenanting, 2012–2016
In January 2012, Bloomingdale's said it would close its Perimeter Mall location.
Later that year, Von Maur confirmed it would take over the space. The company rebuilt the interior before opening, marking its first store in Georgia.
In 2013, the food court underwent upgrades.
Work included new finishes and the addition of tenants such as Chipotle Mexican Grill, expanding the mix of national dining brands on site.
From 2015 to 2016, the property completed a renovation program covering flooring, lighting, seating, restrooms, and signage.
Crews replaced older ceramic tile with updated materials, installed modern lighting systems, and redesigned wayfinding to match updated branding.
Original decorative elements from the 1970s were removed, giving the space a more current appearance.
By the end of 2016, the mall operated with Macy's, Nordstrom, Dillard's, and Von Maur as anchors.
The upgrades supported higher customer volumes and kept the property competitive in a regional market that was adding new retail square footage.
Brookfield Era and District Connectivity, 2016–2023
In 2016, Brookfield Property Partners acquired a major stake in General Growth Properties.
By August 2018, Brookfield completed its purchase, taking full ownership of Perimeter Mall.
The mall received an interior refurbishment in 2017, with improvements to common areas and finishes.
The work coincided with continued commercial growth in the Perimeter Center district, which added office, hotel, and residential developments.
MARTA's Dunwoody Station, adjacent to the property, had opened on June 8, 1996.
In late 2000, the MARTA Red Line extended service north, adding direct rail access from more suburban markets.
The connection remained a consistent advantage into the 2020s.
By 2023, the combination of updated interiors, national anchors, and transit access sustained the mall's position as a major retail destination in the northern Atlanta suburbs.
Film Sets and New-to-Market Tenants, 2024–2025
In 2024, Perimeter Mall served as a filming location for Red One, a Christmas-themed action movie.
Scenes were shot inside the property, adding to its record of use for large-scale productions.
By August 2025, leasing activity brought new national brands to the site. POP MART confirmed plans to open its first Georgia store at the mall.
The 1,700-square-foot space, located between Hollister and Starbucks in the Macy's wing, was scheduled for a full build-out before opening.
LEGO also listed a store as "coming soon" on the mall directory.
That location, on the second floor near Dillard's, was positioned between Journeys and Express and across from American Eagle Outfitters.
On August 8, 2025, Shein operated a weekend pop-up next to Macy's. Videos posted online showed extended lines of shoppers waiting to enter.
The event drew sustained foot traffic during both days of operation.
These additions combined long-term leases with short-term activations, maintaining activity in high-profile areas of the mall.
Anchors Macy's, Dillard's, Nordstrom, and Von Maur continued to operate alongside the new specialty retailers, supporting steady traffic and regional visibility in a competitive retail market.