Concord Mills Mall Grand Opening
Concord Mills opened on September 17, 1999, developed by The Mills Corporation with more than 170 stores inside a 1,362,000 square foot oval-shaped building.
The one-level design created a continuous loop where visitors moved past anchor tenants, dining courts, and themed areas that used murals and signage to highlight North Carolina.
AMC Concord Mills 24 opened with 24 screens for first-run films, joined by Best Buy and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, which displayed a 23,000-gallon aquarium and themed exhibits.
The Dining Pavilion stood at a central junction, while nearly 19 anchor spots were filled by national chains and outlet brands.
Inline dining tenants added more options along the loop.
The layout encouraged long visits with attractions and rest areas placed evenly along the circuit, giving shoppers a balanced flow through the property.
The mall's placement near Exit 49 of Interstate 85 linked it to Charlotte Motor Speedway and regional routes.
The access point drew visitors from Cabarrus County and event crowds from the speedway.
Within months of the opening, hotels and restaurants appeared along Concord Mills Boulevard to serve travelers and shoppers.
The mix of retail and attractions turned the property into a full-day outing where families could combine a movie, a meal, and a shopping trip in one stop.
Early reports counted rapid growth in visitor numbers, showing how the mall had established a presence almost immediately after opening day.
Building an Attraction Beyond Shopping
Concord Mills recorded 17.6 million visits in 2005, a figure reported for that year. The center combined traditional outlets with several attractions that drew longer visits.
AMC Concord Mills 24 offered 24 screens for first-run releases and operated inside the mall footprint.
Bass Pro Shops established a large-format store adjacent to an inline retail; media accounts describe an in-store aquarium and experiential displays tied to outdoor merchandise.
Great Wolf Lodge opened on April 4, 2009, providing 402 suites and an indoor water park marketed to families and weekend travelers.
The resort is conveniently located within a short drive of the mall, offering on-site dining and a range of activity programs.
NASCAR Speedpark, later branded Speedpark at Concord Mills, marked a grand opening week of May 16, 2013.
The facility included multiple go-kart tracks, mini golf, and an assortment of family rides.
Those attractions operated on parcels near the mall parking areas and used branded signage visible from the main access routes.
Seasonal programming and holiday schedules appeared in mall calendars during the 2000s.
Ownership Shifts and Growing Pains
In 2007, Simon Property Group acquired a Mills portfolio that included a 59 percent stake in Concord Mills and assumed property management duties.
Leasing activity in subsequent seasons included turnover among national retailers and openings by new outlet brands occupying former anchor boxes.
Under Simon management, the property added a ticketed aquarium.
SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord opened on February 20, 2014, operated by Merlin Entertainments; the attraction included a walk-through ocean tunnel and a touch pool.
The aquarium required reserved-entry ticketing and established a distinct operating schedule compared with walk-in retail.
During the late 2000s and early 2010s, leasing strategies cited by market reports emphasized a mix of outlet retailers, value brands, and experiential tenants.
A Makeover for the Modern Shopper
On April 6, 2016, Simon announced an interior refresh program for Concord Mills.
The public plan named a redesigned Dining Pavilion, installation of three new restaurant spaces, four lounge areas with soft seating, upgraded Wi-Fi and charging infrastructure, brighter lighting, and additional skylights.
Construction was scheduled to phase in from May 2016 while retail operations remained open.
Execution of the program included LED lighting retrofits, new floor finishes in high-traffic corridors, and refreshed ceiling elements.
Mall communications and local reporting thereafter noted expanded lounge seating, more than 50 charging stations added across common areas, and updated wayfinding signage inside the loop and at external entries.
The Dining Pavilion returned with an expanded vendor mix and denser seating layouts.
Exterior work completed during the refresh cycle included façade touchups and improved pedestrian approaches in front of main entries.
By 2019, property updates listed valet service among guest amenities and cited common-area modernizations as completed phases of the refresh effort.
Concord Mills at Twenty: Holding Ground in a Changing Market
Concord Mills reached its 20th anniversary on September 17, 2019. The property reported roughly 200 stores inside about 1.4 million square feet of gross leasable area.
The milestone year included anniversary programming and public commentary marking two decades since the 1999 opening.
Employment and tax figures featured in local reporting for 2019. At that time, the center supported about 4,000 jobs across retailers, food service, and attractions.
Publications cited roughly $20 million per year in sales tax revenue tied to activity connected with the mall and its surrounding commercial district.
Property communications listed guest amenities added in prior years, and managers highlighted events scheduled around the anniversary to draw repeat visits and seasonal crowds.
New Stores and Additions in 2023-2024
Hollister and its sister brand Gilly Hicks opened across from The Children's Place.
The store carries casual clothing, loungewear, and swimwear aimed at younger shoppers, adding another apparel option to the mall's tenant mix.
Primark opened in November 2023, its first store in North Carolina. The 40,000-square-foot location sits near Entrance 3 beside Dick's Sporting Goods.
The retailer brought clothing for women, men, and children, along with beauty and homeware lines.
The debut drew large crowds, reflecting Primark's reputation for low prices paired with fast-turnover fashion.
Australian retailer Cotton On opened at Entrance 6, bringing apparel and accessories for women and men, along with a Cotton On Kids section under the same roof.
New York Thread also opened, offering beauty services including threading, waxing, eyelash treatments, and henna.
Ugg launched an outlet store with its well-known sheepskin boots and seasonal footwear.
MINISO joined the lineup as well, adding a mix of cosmetics, stationery, toys, and kitchenware to the mall's retail circuit.
Together, these openings expanded the range of international and specialty brands available at Concord Mills.
In 2024, five new tenants joined Concord Mills. Mean Mug opened first, followed by Cavender's Boot City, HEYDUDE, Hi Level Fashion, and BoxLunch.
Together, they expanded the mix of footwear, apparel, and specialty goods across the loop.
Also in October, Kings Jungle Playground was announced for a space near Entrance 6 in Suite 641.
The indoor play attraction was planned as a family venue inside the mall, but by the summer of 2025, it had not yet opened to the public.
Concord Mills in 2025: Fresh Faces and Familiar Anchors
The summer of 2025 brought another round of tenant activity at Concord Mills. Starbucks opened inside the property, expanding beverage choices beyond the Dining Pavilion.
Juicy Body Goddess, a fashion retailer, joined at the same time, adding new options for clothing within the circuit.
Gap Outlet also opened across from the Dining Pavilion in mid-2025.
The store brought a large-format apparel brand into the mall and became one of the most visible new anchors of the year.
Its opening placed another national retailer in a high-traffic location, reinforcing the mix of outlet-focused tenants.
Entertainment drew investment as well. Dave & Buster's finished its 2025 remodel, which added darts and shuffleboard suites, bowling lanes, updated event spaces, and a refreshed menu.
The work positioned the location as an updated draw within the property.
Concord Mills hosted National Outlet Shopping Day between June 12 and June 15, drawing large numbers of shoppers in pursuit of sales.
Along with other updates, this made 2025 a year of fresh changes, keeping the mall established as a regional retail and entertainment draw.