Dutch Square

Dutch Square is an enclosed shopping mall in Columbia, South Carolina. Developed by Caine Company and opened in 1970, it was designed as a large regional retail destination and initially included Woolco, J. B. White, and Tapp's department stores. The property was promoted at opening as the largest mall in the Carolinas, reflecting the scale and regional ambition of suburban enclosed malls during that period. Over time, Dutch Square hosted a broad range of department stores, specialty retailers, pharmacies, food-service businesses, and community-oriented services. Former major tenants included Woolworth, Eckerd Drug, and Morrison's Cafeteria, in addition to its original department-store anchors. Like many established shopping centers, the mall later faced pressure from changing retail patterns and the loss of major anchors. Its management company filed for bankruptcy in 1993 after several anchor departures, creating a significant period of uncertainty for the property. The mall entered a revival phase after Phillips Edison acquired it in 1995. In 1997, the City of Columbia annexed the mall property, bringing the site within the city's boundaries and adding its tax revenues to the municipal base. After the annexation, the property underwent redevelopment that added approximately 18,000 square feet of space. These changes helped reposition Dutch Square as a neighborhood and community shopping center rather than solely a regional department-store destination. A further anchor transition occurred in late 2014, when Belk announced that it would close its Dutch Square location as part of a strategy to concentrate on a new flagship store in the Columbia area. The mall's later tenant mix emphasized value retail, apparel, office supplies, sporting goods, fitness, wireless services, and other practical shopping and service uses. National tenants identified in available reference material include Burlington, Office Depot, Ashley Stewart, Dollar Tree, Snipes, Hibbett, and Planet Fitness. In 2025, Total Wireless opened in an exterior location, and Chick-fil-A relocated to a Dutch Square outparcel. Dutch Square remains an active retail property serving Columbia and surrounding communities. Its current anchor-oriented tenant base includes Burlington Coat Factory and Office Depot, while additional inline stores and outparcel businesses broaden the center's offer. Ownership, corporate structure, financial performance, and executive leadership are not established in the supplied reference material.

Dutch Square was built by Caine Company and opened in 1970 in Columbia, South Carolina. Its original tenant roster included Woolco, J. B. White, and Tapp's department stores. The development was marketed as the largest mall in the Carolinas, positioning it as a major regional retail destination at a time when enclosed malls were expanding across the United States. The property subsequently added or hosted other significant retailers and service businesses, including Woolworth, Eckerd Drug, and Morrison's Cafeteria. The mall later encountered the structural challenges affecting many older enclosed shopping centers. Several anchor tenants departed, weakening the property's draw and contributing to the bankruptcy filing of its management company in 1993. Dutch Square was purchased by Phillips Edison in 1995, beginning a revival period. Two years later, the City of Columbia annexed the mall property. Annexation brought Dutch Square inside the city's boundaries and made its tax revenues part of the municipal tax base. Following the annexation, the property underwent redevelopment that added approximately 18,000 square feet, helping adapt the center to changing tenant and shopper requirements. The mall continued to evolve from a traditional department-store-led regional mall into a more diversified community shopping center. In late 2014, Belk announced that it would close its Dutch Square location because it intended to concentrate on a new flagship store in the Columbia area. The later tenant mix centered on value-oriented retail, apparel, office supplies, discount merchandise, sporting goods, fitness, wireless services, and food. Identified national tenants include Burlington, Office Depot, Ashley Stewart, Dollar Tree, Snipes, Hibbett, and Planet Fitness. Burlington Coat Factory and Office Depot are identified as the current anchor stores in the supplied reference material. In 2025, Total Wireless opened in an exterior location, and Chick-fil-A relocated to a Dutch Square outparcel. The available sources do not establish the mall's current owner, financial results, executive leadership, or detailed leasing history.

• 2025

  New wireless tenant and restaurant relocation

  [1]Dutch Squareen.wikipedia.org

  Total Wireless opened on the exterior of the mall, while Chick-fil-A moved to a Dutch Square outparcel.

• 2014

  Belk announces store closure

  [1]Dutch Squareen.wikipedia.org

  Belk announced the closure of its Dutch Square location as it redirected attention toward a new Columbia-area flagship.

• 1997

  Columbia annexation and redevelopment

  [1]Dutch Squareen.wikipedia.org

  Columbia annexed the mall property, followed by redevelopment that added approximately 18,000 square feet.

• 1995

  Phillips Edison acquisition

  [1]Dutch Squareen.wikipedia.org

  Phillips Edison purchased Dutch Square and initiated a revival phase for the property.

• 1993

  Management company files for bankruptcy

  [1]Dutch Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The mall's management company filed for bankruptcy after Dutch Square lost several anchor tenants.

• 1970

  Dutch Square opens

  [1]Dutch Squareen.wikipedia.org

  Caine Company opened Dutch Square as an enclosed shopping mall in Columbia, South Carolina, with Woolco, J. B. White, and Tapp's among its initial tenants.

A community-oriented enclosed shopping center combining value retail, practical services, national chains, and restaurant outparcels in Columbia, South Carolina.

• Anchor retailer

  Burlington

  Burlington is identified as one of Dutch Square's current anchor stores. Its value-oriented apparel and home-merchandise format supports the mall's repositioning toward practical, discount-focused shopping.

• Anchor retailer

  Office Depot

  Office Depot is identified as a current anchor at Dutch Square. The store adds office supplies, technology products, and related services to the center's tenant mix, broadening its appeal beyond apparel and general merchandise.

• Retail category

  Value and discount retail

  Dutch Square's tenant mix includes value-oriented apparel and discount retail through businesses such as Ashley Stewart and Dollar Tree. These stores contribute everyday merchandise and price-sensitive shopping options for local customers.

• Services and specialty retail

  Fitness and sporting goods

  Planet Fitness, Snipes, and Hibbett represent fitness, footwear, apparel, and sporting-goods uses associated with the property. Together they provide service and specialty-shopping functions distinct from the mall's anchor stores.

• Outparcel businesses · 2025

  Outparcel food and wireless services

  Dutch Square also accommodates businesses outside the enclosed mall structure. In 2025, Total Wireless opened on the exterior of the center and Chick-fil-A relocated to a Dutch Square outparcel, reinforcing the property's mixed retail and service model.

• 2014

  Belk exits Dutch SquareStrategy

  Background

  Belk reviewed its Columbia-area store strategy and chose to concentrate on a new flagship location.

  Action taken

  Belk announced that it would close its Dutch Square location.

  Aftermath

  The closure represented another major anchor transition and increased the importance of value retail, services, and other non-department-store tenants at Dutch Square.

  Source

• 1997

  Redevelopment after municipal annexationStrategy

  Background

  After Columbia annexed the mall property, Dutch Square needed to strengthen its position following earlier anchor losses and management difficulties.

  Action taken

  The owner undertook redevelopment that added approximately 18,000 square feet of space.

  Aftermath

  The redevelopment supported the property's revival and its evolution toward a diversified community shopping center.

  Source

1. 1Dutch Squareen.wikipedia.org