From History to Highlights: What Makes Raleigh's Crabtree Valley Mall a Must-Visit

Crabtree Valley Mall, often referred to simply as Crabtree, is a major shopping center located in Raleigh, North Carolina. With over 1.3 million square feet of space, it is the largest enclosed mall in the Research Triangle area. Home to anchor stores such as Macy’s and Belk, Crabtree continues to serve as a central retail hub for the region.

Opening and Early Expansion

Opening in August 1972 at the intersection of Glenwood Avenue and the I-440 Beltline (Route 1), Crabtree initially featured anchor stores like Belk, Sears, G.C. Murphy, Miller & Rhoads, and Thalhimer’s. It quickly became a popular destination for shoppers across central and eastern North Carolina, with the Belk store, still the largest in the mall, becoming a notable draw.

The 1980s saw significant remodeling, including the addition of specialty stores and a food court. This expansion kept Crabtree as the dominant shopping center in the area until the 1990s when nearby malls like Cary Towne Center and Crossroads Plaza introduced more competition.

Expansion and Redevelopment

In response to growing competition, Crabtree launched an extensive expansion in 1993, which led to the closure of several original anchors. Thalhimer’s rebranded as Hecht’s, and later became Macy’s in 2006. A significant change also came with the addition of H&M in 2010, marking the mall’s continuing evolution.

Despite setbacks such as a parking deck collapse in 1993 and the closure of Sears in 1994, Crabtree adapted. The former Sears location was repurposed for new stores and helped accommodate a larger Hecht’s, later transitioning to Lord & Taylor before closing in 2006. These changes helped Crabtree maintain its status as a premier shopping destination.

Recent Challenges and Developments

Crabtree’s location near Crabtree Creek has resulted in frequent flooding during major storms, most notably Tropical Storm Alberto in 2006 and Hurricane Fran in 1996. Despite efforts to mitigate flooding, the mall still faces challenges during heavy rains.

The closure of Sears in 2018 marked another shift for the mall. Plans were announced to replace the former Sears building with a 30-story tower, a redevelopment project estimated to cost $290 million and create over 1,300 jobs.

My Visit To Crabtree

At first glance, Crabtree looks like it’s a pretty run-of-the-mill mall. This is a bit misleading! First of all, the fact that there are still plenty of shoppers and very few noticeable vacancies is a bit of an anomaly in and of itself in 2025. It’s a clean, well-kept mall with plenty to see, and the stores range from staples like Belk or the swiftly-vanishing Forever 21 chain to a surprising amount of local businesses. Check out Curate, which  carries local artists’ goods, or the Raleigh Popsicle Co., for example. As you are probably aware, I firmly believe that fun and unique local businesses are key to giving a mall the necessary sense of identity and discovery, and Crabtree has more than I’d expected. You’ve also got Ultimate Comics, Niche & Dime, and a bunch of clothing stores that I don’t recall seeing elsewhere. Nice! If you look, you can also find some remnants of the original design – the aforementioned floor patterns are neat. The staircases with brass railings (at least, they look like brass) and the interior Belk entrance all have a distinct charm that I’d recognize them by. It’s also quite large! In an era of dying malls, finding one like Crabtree that has so much to see and do is refreshing. It’s definitely a great place to stop, stretch your legs, check out some stores, and maybe grab a popsicle while you’re on your Route 1 advanture!