Cumberland Mall
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedA major shopping mall and retail-entertainment destination in the Cumberland district of metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Cumberland Mall is a shopping mall in the Cumberland district of metropolitan Atlanta, near Smyrna and Vinings, Georgia. Developed by Crow Carter & Company, it opened on August 8, 1973, and was the largest shopping mall in Georgia at the time. It was also notable as Georgia's first four-anchor mall and only the second mall of that format in the Southeastern United States. Its original department-store anchors were Rich's, Davison's, Sears, and JCPenney. For more than a decade, Cumberland Mall was one of the leading retail destinations in the Atlanta region. Its early tenant mix included department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, and distinctive interior design features intended to create a comprehensive suburban shopping experience. A food court was added in the late 1982 or early 1983 period. Competitive pressure and changing retail patterns led to a major renovation in 1989, during which many of the mall's original design elements and several early tenants, including Magic Pan, McDonald's, Piccadilly Cafeteria, and Cashin's Restaurant, disappeared. The mall underwent a much more extensive repositioning after the departure of Rich's in 2003. The former Rich's building was demolished and replaced with a new entrance and an open-air wing. The redevelopment also introduced or expanded restaurant offerings, including Buffalo Wild Wings, Maggiano's Little Italy, The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, and Stoney River Legendary Steaks. JCPenney's former space was demolished for a Costco warehouse, while the interior received new skylights, a larger food court, and broader circulation improvements. The work was completed in early 2007 and was intended to strengthen the property despite the reduction in traditional department-store anchors. Macy's returned to the property in 2005 in the former Rich's lineage, while Costco opened on November 15, 2006. Sears remained an anchor until its closure on November 25, 2018. A proposed Kroger grocery conversion of part of the former Sears building was announced and later abandoned in 2016. In 2020, Dick's Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, and Planet Fitness occupied portions of the former Sears structure. Round1 Entertainment subsequently joined the property in 2021, adding bowling, arcade, and family-entertainment uses to the retail mix. The former Ted's Montana Grill space was replaced in 2022 by Canadian seafood restaurant The Captain's Boil. The current destination combines conventional retail, warehouse retail, department-store shopping, fitness, restaurants, and entertainment. Its tenant profile includes Macy's, Costco, Dick's Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Planet Fitness, and Round1 Entertainment, alongside restaurants and other specialty retailers. Cumberland Mall is also connected to the Cobb Galleria Centre by a pedestrian walkway over Cobb Parkway, reinforcing its role within a larger commercial and event district. Ownership and corporate management details are not identified in the supplied reference material.
History
Cumberland Mall was developed by Crow Carter & Company in the Cumberland district of metropolitan Atlanta. It opened on August 8, 1973, at a time when enclosed suburban shopping centers were becoming important regional retail destinations. The property was Georgia's first four-anchor mall and one of only two such malls in the Southeastern United States when it opened. Its original anchors were Rich's, Davison's, Sears, and JCPenney, giving the center a broad department-store base supported by smaller retailers, restaurants, and services. The mall was among the Atlanta region's leading shopping centers for more than a decade. Its early physical design included a number of distinctive elements intended to make the enclosed mall more than a collection of stores. A food court was added in the late 1982 or early 1983 period, strengthening the property's ability to retain visitors for longer shopping trips. By the late 1980s, however, competitive development and changing consumer expectations prompted a significant renovation. The 1989 work removed much of the original design character and coincided with the loss of tenants such as Magic Pan, McDonald's, Piccadilly Cafeteria, and Cashin's Restaurant. The opening of Town Center Mall in Kennesaw in 1986 increased competitive pressure in the northwest Atlanta retail market. Cumberland Mall continued operating with its original department-store framework until the departure of Rich's in 2003. The vacancy produced a major redevelopment rather than a simple replacement. The old Rich's structure was demolished, a new mall entrance and open-air wing were built, and the property added a restaurant-oriented component that included Buffalo Wild Wings, Maggiano's Little Italy, The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, and Stoney River Legendary Steaks. JCPenney also left during the redevelopment period, and its former location was demolished for a Costco warehouse. The interior of the mall was renovated with new skylights and an expanded food court. Macy's returned on March 6, 2005, in the former Rich's/Davison's department-store lineage, and Costco opened on November 15, 2006. The overall redevelopment was completed in early 2007 and sought to preserve the mall's relevance by balancing traditional department stores with warehouse retail, restaurants, and updated common areas. Sears later became part of Seritage Growth Properties after Sears Holdings spun off 235 properties in 2015. A proposed plan reported in 2015 would have converted the upper level of the Sears building into a 93,000-square-foot Kroger grocery store. Kroger announced on January 12, 2016, that it would not proceed. Sears announced in August 2018 that the Cumberland Mall store would close as part of a nationwide reduction, and the location closed on November 25, 2018. The former Sears building was subsequently repositioned for multiple uses. Dick's Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy opened on August 21, 2020, and Planet Fitness opened on September 1, 2020. These additions shifted part of the property's anchor strategy toward sporting goods, recreation, and fitness. Round1 Entertainment joined the mall in 2021, adding an experiential component centered on arcade and family entertainment. In dining, Ted's Montana Grill closed on June 8, 2020, amid financial pressures associated with the COVID-19 period; The Captain's Boil replaced the former restaurant space in 2022. Cumberland Mall remains an active mixed-use retail and entertainment destination. Its current anchor and major-use profile includes Costco, Macy's, Dick's Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Planet Fitness, and Round1 Entertainment. The property also contains restaurants, specialty retailers, and a food court. A pedestrian walkway connects the mall with the Cobb Galleria Centre across Cobb Parkway, linking the shopping center with a nearby event and commercial complex. The supplied sources do not identify a current owner, operating company, or executive leadership team.
- 2022
The Captain's Boil replaces Ted's Montana Grill
[1]The Captain's Boil opens in the former Ted's Montana Grill space.
- 2021
Round1 Entertainment opens
[1]Round1 Entertainment joins the mall's tenant and entertainment mix.
- 2020
Former Sears space gains new tenants
[1]Dick's Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, and Planet Fitness open in the former Sears building.
- 2018
Sears closes
[1]The Sears anchor closes on November 25 after being included in a nationwide store-closure plan.
- 2016
Kroger plan cancelled
[1]Kroger abandons its proposed conversion of the upper Sears level into a grocery store.
- 2007
Redevelopment completed
[1]The interior renovation, new entrance, open-air wing, expanded food court, and related redevelopment work are completed in early 2007.
- 2006
Costco opens
[1]Costco opens on November 15 in space created through redevelopment of the former JCPenney site.
- 2005
Macy's returns
[1]Macy's opens on March 6 in the former Rich's/Davison's department-store lineage.
- 2003
Rich's leaves and redevelopment begins
[1]The departure of Rich's creates the vacancy that leads to a major redevelopment program.
- 1989
Major renovation
[1]A major renovation changes the mall's interior and removes many original design elements.
Products and positioning
A large suburban Atlanta shopping, dining, fitness, and entertainment destination anchored by department-store, warehouse, sporting-goods, and experiential tenants.
Retail · 1973
Department-store retail
Cumberland Mall's department-store offer has changed over time from its original Rich's, Davison's, Sears, and JCPenney anchors to a more concentrated contemporary presence led by Macy's. The department-store component provides apparel, home goods, beauty products, accessories, and other general merchandise within the broader mall environment.
Warehouse retail · 2006
Costco Wholesale
Costco occupies the former JCPenney redevelopment site and opened in November 2006. It adds a warehouse-club format to Cumberland Mall, offering bulk groceries, household goods, electronics, apparel, pharmacy-related services, and other general merchandise. Its presence gives the property a high-frequency value and convenience component distinct from conventional enclosed-mall retail.
Sporting goods · 2020
Dick's Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy
Dick's Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy occupy part of the former Sears building. Opened in August 2020, the combined sporting-goods presence broadens the mall into athletic apparel, footwear, equipment, golf merchandise, and recreational products. Their location reflects the property's post-department-store strategy of using large-format space for specialty retail and active-lifestyle categories.
Fitness · 2020
Planet Fitness
Planet Fitness opened in the former Sears building in September 2020. The fitness club adds a recurring-service use to the mall's retail and dining offer, generating visits that are less dependent on traditional shopping trips and supporting the property's shift toward mixed retail, service, and experiential occupancy.
Family entertainment · 2021
Round1 Entertainment
Round1 Entertainment joined Cumberland Mall in 2021. Its arcade and family-entertainment format contributes an experiential destination to the property, complementing restaurants and retail stores and helping diversify the mall beyond conventional merchandise shopping.
Food service · 1983
Dining and food court
Dining has been a recurring part of Cumberland Mall's repositioning. The property has included a food court since the early 1980s and has supported full-service and casual restaurants such as Buffalo Wild Wings, Maggiano's Little Italy, The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's, and Stoney River Legendary Steaks. The Captain's Boil replaced Ted's Montana Grill in 2022.
Brand decisions
2020
Reposition former Sears space for sports and fitnessGeneration changeBackground
Sears closed in late 2018, leaving a large former anchor building requiring a new tenant strategy.
Action taken
Dick's Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy opened in August 2020, followed by Planet Fitness in September.
Aftermath
The former department-store space gained a combination of specialty retail and recurring fitness services.
2016
Cancel proposed Kroger conversionStrategyBackground
A plan had been reported to convert the upper level of the former Sears building into a 93,000-square-foot Kroger grocery store.
Action taken
Kroger announced on January 12 that it would not proceed with the proposed Cumberland Mall location.
Aftermath
The former Sears space remained available for later redevelopment and was eventually allocated to sporting goods, golf, and fitness uses.
2005
Replace the former JCPenney site with CostcoGeneration changeBackground
JCPenney planned to close, creating another large vacant anchor location during the mall's redevelopment.
Action taken
The JCPenney building was demolished and the site was redeveloped for a Costco warehouse, which opened in November 2006.
Aftermath
The move introduced warehouse retail and reduced the property's dependence on traditional department stores.
2003
Redevelop the former Rich's anchorStrategyBackground
The departure of Rich's in 2003 left a major anchor vacancy and created pressure to refresh the mall's physical layout and tenant mix.
Action taken
The former Rich's building was demolished and replaced with a new mall entrance, an open-air wing, and additional restaurant-oriented space.
Aftermath
The work formed part of a broader redevelopment completed in early 2007 and repositioned the property around retail, dining, and updated common areas.
Sources2 sources
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