Southlake Mall in Morrow, GA: From Department Stores to Public Projects

Southlake Mall opened in 1976 off Interstate 75 in Morrow, Georgia, just south of Atlanta. The shopping center was built with two levels and four anchor stores: Rich's, Davison's, Sears, and JCPenney.

It was active during a period of suburban growth in Clayton and Henry counties. The food court was added later, relocating to the lower level during a renovation that also included the installation of a carousel and the replacement of the center escalators.

By the late 1980s, Davison's had become Macy's, then closed in 2003. Rich's turned into Rich's-Macy's, then just Macy's by 2005. JCPenney closed in 2011, and Sears followed in 2018.

The mall went into foreclosure in 2013 and was sold in 2019 to a pair of real estate firms. By 2025, Macy's was the only remaining retail anchor.

Opening Day and Suburban Momentum (1976-1985)

Southlake Mall opened in 1976 with four major stores: Rich's, Davison's, Sears, and JCPenney.

The location, at the intersection of Interstate 75 and State Highway 54, put it within range of both Clayton and Henry counties.

Rich's was the largest store. It covered 230,000 square feet over two floors. It included a full-service restaurant and snack bar inside the store.

The rest of the mall followed a two-level layout typical of regional shopping centers of the time, with enclosed walkways, department store access from both levels, and a mix of mid-tier retailers and small specialty shops.

Morrow and nearby towns were expanding in the late 1970s. Highway traffic drew regular crowds into the parking lots.

Southlake Mall stayed active as a shopping center through the 1980s.

The area didn't have a competing regional mall until later.
The center court served as a meeting spot, featuring benches and planters.

By the early 1980s, the exterior and store lineup remained mostly the same. The layout and number of stores remained largely unchanged.

In 1986, Davison's was renamed Macy's as part of a regional consolidation across Atlanta and the southeastern United States.

Design Shifts and Interior Remodeling (1986-1999)

The layout remained the same into the 1990s, but changes in how people used the mall led to interior transformations.

A major renovation took place before the end of the decade.

The food court, which had previously occupied space on the upper level, was moved to the lower level near the center court.

A carousel was installed as a visual feature in the same area. The escalators were moved to the ends of the corridor, replacing the older central set.

As part of the work, the fountain in front of Sears and Radio Shack was removed to make room for one of the new escalator landings.

These changes were made to update public areas and adjust the flow of people through the mall, without increasing its size.
It was typical during that time to place food courts in central spots, add noticeable entertainment options, and create separate areas on each floor.

The department stores remained stable, but there was more turnover among the smaller retailers.

Closures and Rebranding (2000-2012)

In January 2003, Macy's closed the former Davison's location at Southlake Mall.

That store location had been in the mall since it opened in 1976. Around the same time, Rich's began operating under the name Rich's-Macy's.

In 2005, that branding was dropped as well, and the store became Macy's.

For a brief period, both brand names were featured on store signs and marketing materials.

These changes were part of a larger effort by Federated Department Stores to standardize its brand names across different regions.

The Morrow Conference & Event Center began in 2009, located in what was formerly Davison's at Southlake Mall.

It includes a variety of spaces, including a ballroom, an exhibit hall, a classroom, meeting areas, and a lounge.

Capacity shifts with setup, serving anywhere from 50 to more than 30,000 people.

The venue is used for both business and public events.

JCPenney closed its Southlake location on June 1, 2011. The closing left an empty anchor space and reduced customer activity in that part of the mall.

In 2012, C-III Asset Management took over the mall's mortgage. By February 5, 2013, the property was in foreclosure.

That process did not include the separately owned anchor parcels.

General Growth Properties, which had held ownership following its own bankruptcy in 2010, released its interests in the property.

The mortgage was later transferred to B Properties, a subsidiary of Bayer Properties.

That firm specialized in repositioning declining retail centers but made no structural additions to the site.

Turnover and Sale (2013-2018)

The JCPenney anchor space at Southlake Mall got new life in 2014 when Chime Solutions opened a two-story call center.

The first phase covered 65,000 square feet. Later expansions took the total to more than 100,000.

The company created more than 1,000 jobs, thanks to its access to I-75 and nearby MARTA service.

Sears remained at Southlake Mall until September 2018. It closed as part of a national plan to shut down underperforming stores.

Macy's was the only retail anchor store still open after Sears closed.

The Sears location, situated near the parking lot, also served as the mall's main entrance.

That part of the mall experienced a decline in foot traffic after the store closed.

By the time Sears closed, just one of the mall's original four anchors was still operating.

No expansion wings or new external buildings were added between 2013 and 2018.

The property continued operating, but with a growing number of vacant storefronts.

Following foreclosure, the mall remained under the control of B Properties for several years.

The company handled routine maintenance but did not begin any renovations.

Ownership Shift and Mixed-Use Activity (2019-2023)

In January 2019, Southlake Mall was sold to a joint venture between CityView Commercial LLC and Jacobs Real Estate Advisors. The seller was Vintage Capital Group, based in Los Angeles.

The new ownership group did not announce major redevelopment plans but continued operating the property as a traditional retail site.

The Morrow Center, a conference and events facility situated within the mall, continued to host public and private functions.

Its use by local organizations gave the mall an additional role beyond retail.

By 2023, the call center had closed under the Chime name, and operations were taken over by VXI Global Solutions.

Police responded to multiple incidents at Southlake Mall in recent years, mostly in the parking lot and near entry points.

Security teams stayed on site, but customer patterns didn't return to previous levels, and leasing activity slowed.

Civic Use and Ongoing Function (2024-2025)

On February 8, 2024, the Morrow Center inside Southlake Mall hosted the first Clayton County Public Schools "State of the Schools" address.

Although not tied to a mall tenant, the venue's use confirmed the mall's ongoing role as a public gathering space.

In May 2025, Clayton County held a Small Business Open House inside the mall. The event was scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

and promoted under the name "The District at Southlake Mall." Mall marketing used that phrasing to describe the complex, signaling a shift in how the space was being positioned for future use.

The mall also appeared in promotional materials for National Economic Development Week 2025, with the area near the former Forever 21 featured in online posts.

In 2021, Clayton County Public Schools purchased the former Sears anchor at Southlake Mall for $4.4 million.

The district began converting the space into a $117 million Student Convocation Center, which will include a 9,000-seat arena, a College and Career Academy, and a Junior Achievement Discovery Center.

Scheduled to open in 2025, the project is the most major redevelopment the property has seen since its original construction.