Photo Story: Macon Mall
In the heart of Georgia, the Macon Mall was the shopping hub for residents of Macon and of the Middle Georgia area from the mid 1970s to mid 2000s.
As the second largest shopping center in Georgia at the time of construction, some customers drove as long as 90 minutes one way to shop.
Located in West Macon, the mall spanned at 1,055,00 square feet when it opened in 1975. With a 100 acre plot of land, the mall had room for four anchor stores and multiple smaller businesses.
When the Shoppes at River Crossing were built in North Bibb County in 2008, many stores vacated the Macon Mall and moved to the Shoppes.
Hull Property Group, the new owners of the Macon Mall, demolished the east wing of the mall.
The Mall has attracted a few businesses in recent years such as Smok’n Pig Restaurant, B. Turners Clothing Company and Dry Falls Outfitters. However, the Macon Mall has a high rate of vacancy even after the demolition of large parts of the mall.
Here is what the mall looks like in 2016:
A mural located on the upper level of the Macon Mall pays tribute to the city.
Multiple electronic signs surround the mall to advertise sales and happenings at anchor stores.
Bibb County police cars line up in the parking lot at the Macon Mall. Macon's precinct 4 police department offices are located at the Macon Mall.
Some sets of escalators remain closed at the Macon Mall even during the peak holiday shopping season.
These rocking chairs located outside of Smok'n Pig Bar-B-Que Restaurant are often full of hungry waiting guests.
Drys Falls Outfitters located at the Macon Mall is a popular shopping destination among college students and those who enjoy the outdoors.
Smok'n Pig Bar-B-Que Restaurant and B. Turner's Clothing Company are two of the malls top destinations that often stay busy even during the work week.
Parking spots near one of the main entrances to the Macon Mall and anchor store JcPenney appear to be in excess.
Christmas trees and decorations are seen throughout the mall among shoppers.
Memorabilia remembering Mercer University's defeat of Duke University in the 2014 NCAA tournament upset appears on the lower level of the mall.