Exploring the Retro Charm of Southpark Mall in Colonial Heights

The Southpark Mall in Colonial Heights, Virginia, was built by the developer Faison and opened in 1989. It is a single-story mall listed as spanning approximately 800,000 square feet on 6.67 acres, with Leggett, Sears, JCPenney, and Macys as the original anchors. Leggett later became Belk, which then became a Dillard’s, which closed in 2012 and was converted to Dick’s Sporting Goods. Sears closed in January 2018, and while plans were proposed in 2022 to tear it down and build a mixed-use complex with 280 apartments, no work seems to have been done yet to begin the project.This may be because CBL Properties, which purchased the property for $9.5 million in 2016, filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020, and sold the mall to Q&L Realty for $5.45 million in 2022. It is unclear what Q&L Realty’s plans are for the mall’s future aside from “landscaping improvements, new signage and parking lot upgrades.”

As of 2024, Southpark Mall exhibits signs of the struggles plaguing many indoor malls, including the empty Sears, a smattering of vacant storefronts, and a low volume of shoppers. However, the stores that remain in the mall are vibrant, and it is easily the friendliest mall I’ve visited so far. Curlee, who owns a clothing store that shares his name, chatted with me for a while about the glory days of the mall and recommended I visit the Macarthur Center in Richmond, which was a great tip. He also offered to pose for a shot in his store and invited visitors to stop by. I always find it exciting to find local businesses thriving in malls where chains once dominated the scene.

I also talked with Lindsey at Reeds Jewelers, who shared my enthusiasm for the cool late 80s décor still evident over the central areas – mirrored panels along the ceilings and geometric frames atop mirrored columns give a beautiful retro vibe to the mall that will likely charm any mall enthusiasts. I also really liked the central court, which showcased a neat series of columns with a clock in their center. While Lindsey did lament the removal of the fountains in the central areas – a sentiment I share, as it’s clear that they must have given more of a focal point to the floors beneath the skylights – she was happy to tell me about her experiences at Southpark Mall. I promised her I’d recommend her to anyone in the market for jewelry gifts for loved ones, and I had such a pleasant conversation with her that I can follow up on that with complete sincerity. After all, part of what makes a mall experience meaningful is interacting with people who can share their knowledge and understanding of the products they sell and feeling welcomed and valued in the process. Though I certainly didn’t talk to all the salespeople there, I did find this atmosphere to be very much alive and well at the Southpark Mall, and I hope for the sake of the people working to keep it alive that shoppers rediscover the magic of supporting the businesses and their employees that have invested in their communities.