Anderson Mall

Anderson Mall is a regional shopping center in Anderson County, South Carolina. The property opened on February 10, 1972, after development by Melvin Simon & Associates, the company that later became associated with Simon Property Group. Its original anchor lineup included Meyers Arnold, JCPenney, and Eckerd Drug, and the center began operations with 14 stores. The mall was designed to consolidate and expand retail activity serving Anderson and surrounding communities, replacing some of the importance formerly held by downtown department stores. The center has undergone several significant changes in its anchor and tenant mix. In the 1980s, Gallant Belk and Sears relocated from downtown Anderson to the mall following an expansion and renovation program first announced in 1982. Meyers Arnold subsequently changed ownership and became part of Uptons; after that chain left the market, the former space was used for Belk's men's and home operations. In 2007, Belk reorganized those departments, moving the men's business into the primary Belk store and placing the home department in an adjacent space. Those changes helped clear room for Dillard's, which opened at the mall in late 2008 as part of a broader remodeling of the property. The mall later experienced the effects of national department-store retrenchment. Sears announced in 2018 that its Anderson Mall location would close as part of a nationwide store-reduction program, and the store shut in September of that year. JCPenney was placed on a 2020 closure list during the retailer's restructuring, but the Anderson location was removed from the list later that month and remained part of the mall's anchor lineup. The former Sears building was subsequently selected for a Rural King store. The announced location represented Rural King's second store in South Carolina, following its WestGate Mall location. According to the supplied reference material, the store was scheduled to open in the former Sears space and held its grand opening on June 19, 2026. With that opening, all of Anderson Mall's major anchor spaces were described as occupied. The property provides approximately 671,000 square feet of gross leasable area. Its principal offer is a combination of department-store shopping, agricultural and rural merchandise, specialty retail, footwear, jewelry, personal services, food, and other mall-based services. Anderson Mall's role is primarily regional rather than national: it serves local and nearby consumers through a concentration of large-format anchors and smaller tenants under one retail destination. The mall remains active, although its tenant composition and ownership history reflect the continuing transformation of the American department-store and shopping-center sectors.

Anderson Mall was developed in Anderson County, South Carolina, by Melvin Simon & Associates. Planning became public in 1970 when Meyers Arnold announced plans for a 60,000-square-foot department store at the proposed center. The mall opened on February 10, 1972, with Meyers Arnold, JCPenney, and Eckerd Drug as its principal anchors. Fourteen stores operated on opening day, including a department store, shoe retailers, jewelry stores, and a wig shop. The center expanded its importance in the Anderson retail market during the 1980s. An expansion and renovation program was announced in 1982, and both Gallant Belk and Sears moved from downtown Anderson into the mall in 1984. Meyers Arnold was later acquired by Uptons. After Uptons withdrew from the market, the former Meyers Arnold premises were used for Belk's men's and home departments. A further reconfiguration took place in the 2000s. In 2007, Belk closed its separate men's and home store. The men's operation was incorporated into the existing Belk women's and children's store, while the home department moved to a nearby mall space. The changes prepared the property for Dillard's, which opened in late 2008. The project also included remodeling across the mall and changes to other stores. Anderson Mall's anchor base was affected by the contraction of traditional department-store chains. Sears announced in May 2018 that its Anderson location would close under a nationwide plan, and the store ended operations in September 2018. In June 2020, JCPenney was initially named among stores scheduled for closure during the company's restructuring, but the Anderson Mall location was removed from the list later that month. The former Sears building later became the proposed home of Rural King. The retailer's Anderson location was described as its second in South Carolina, following the store at WestGate Mall. The supplied reference material reports a grand opening on June 19, 2026. This would restore occupancy to the former Sears anchor and leave the mall's major anchor spaces occupied by Belk, JCPenney, Dillard's, and Rural King. The mall has approximately 671,000 square feet of gross leasable area. Its current identity is based on regional shopping, with large department-store and rural-lifestyle anchors complemented by specialty stores and services. Ownership is identified in the supplied reference material as Kohan Retail Investment Group and Summit Properties USA, while the property continues to be represented through a Simon-branded mall website.

• 2026

  Rural King opens in former Sears building

  [1]Anderson Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The reported Rural King store held its grand opening on June 19, occupying the entire former Sears anchor building.

• 2020

  JCPenney remains open

  [1]Anderson Mallen.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney removed the Anderson Mall store from its announced closure list in June.

• 2018

  Sears closes

  [1]Anderson Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Sears anchor closed in September after being included in the retailer's nationwide closure program.

• 2008

  Dillard's opens

  [1]Anderson Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Dillard's opened in late 2008 after the Belk reconfiguration, alongside a broader remodeling of Anderson Mall.

• 2007

  Belk departments are reorganized

  [1]Anderson Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Belk closed its separate men's and home store, consolidated men's merchandise into its principal store, and moved home goods into adjacent mall space.

• 1984

  Belk and Sears relocate from downtown

  [1]Anderson Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Gallant Belk and Sears closed their downtown Anderson stores and moved into the expanded and renovated mall.

• 1982

  Expansion and renovation announced

  [1]Anderson Mallen.wikipedia.org

  An expansion and renovation program was announced, setting the stage for later anchor relocations and property growth.

• 1972

  Anderson Mall opens

  [1]Anderson Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The mall officially opened on February 10 with Meyers Arnold, JCPenney, and Eckerd Drug as anchors and 14 operating stores.

• 1970

  Meyers Arnold announces an anchor store

  [1]Anderson Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Meyers Arnold announced plans for a 60,000-square-foot store at the planned Anderson Mall, with completion targeted for 1971.

A regional, community-serving shopping center combining traditional department stores, specialty retail, and a large rural-lifestyle anchor.

• Department stores · 1972

  Department-store retail

  Anderson Mall's principal department-store offer is represented by Belk, JCPenney, and Dillard's. These anchors provide broad assortments spanning apparel, accessories, footwear, beauty, home goods, and other general merchandise. Their presence gives the property a conventional regional-mall structure while providing large-scale shopping options for Anderson-area consumers.

• Rural and agricultural retail · 2026

  Rural King

  Rural King occupies the former Sears anchor building. The store broadens Anderson Mall's tenant mix beyond conventional department-store merchandise toward farm, agricultural, outdoor, hardware, workwear, and rural-lifestyle goods. The location was described as Rural King's second store in South Carolina.

• Specialty shopping · 1972

  Specialty retail and services

  The mall's smaller tenants have historically included shoe stores, jewelry stores, a wig shop, and other specialty retailers. Together with food, personal-care, and service businesses, these occupants complement the anchor stores and provide the convenience and variety expected from a regional enclosed shopping center.

• 2018

  Replace the Sears anchor after closureOther

  Background

  Sears announced the closure of its Anderson Mall store as part of a nationwide reduction program, leaving a major anchor building vacant in September 2018.

  Action taken

  The former Sears building was later designated for Rural King.

  Aftermath

  Rural King's reported 2026 opening restored occupancy to the former Sears anchor space.

  Source

• 2007

  Reconfigure Belk space to accommodate Dillard'sStrategy

  Background

  Belk's separate men's and home store occupied space that was subsequently needed for a new department-store anchor.

  Action taken

  The men's department was moved into the main Belk store, the home department was relocated to adjacent mall space, and the former arrangement made room for Dillard's.

  Aftermath

  Dillard's opened in late 2008, and the mall underwent broader remodeling.

  Source

1. 1Anderson Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Anderson Mall official websitesimon.com