Georgia Square Mall

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Georgia Square Mall — at a glance

- Where and what: A two‑level shopping mall in Athens, Georgia, USA. It opened in 1981 and originally had about 100 stores and four anchor stores.

- Opening and anchors: Opened February 11, 1981 with JCPenney, Belk, Sears, and Davison’s as anchors.

- Major changes over the years:
- Davison’s became Macy’s in 1986, then Rich’s in 1998, then Rich’s–Macy’s in 2003, and back to Macy’s in 2005. Macy’s closed in 2017.
- Sears closed in 2019.
- JCPenney announced closure in 2020, and closed later that year.
- After JCPenney closed, Belk remained as the mall’s last active anchor.

- Size and features: About 850,000 square feet when it opened; now home to around 45 stores with 3,807 parking spaces.

- Renovations: Exterior entrances and interior updates were done around 2007 to refresh the look.

- Future plans: In early 2022, a proposal floated a mixed‑use redevelopment for the site, including more than 1,000 residential units and almost 100,000 square feet of new retail/restaurants. Some existing retail space, including Belk, could be kept, but much of the mall might be demolished.

- Nearby context: Located in Athens, near the University of Georgia, serving local residents and shoppers.

In short: Georgia Square Mall opened in 1981 with four anchors and about 100 stores. Over the years, most big stores closed or changed, leaving Belk as the last anchor. A 2022 redevelopment plan suggests a large mixed‑use project could replace much of the mall.