Gallery at South DeKalb

Gallery at South DeKalb is a shopping mall in the Panthersville census-designated place of DeKalb County, Georgia, at the intersection of Candler Road and Interstate 20. The property opened in 1968 as South DeKalb Mall with Rich's and JCPenney serving as its principal anchor stores. From its early years, the center operated in a competitive suburban retail environment that included other DeKalb County malls, particularly Northlake Mall. The mall's original identity was strongly expressed through its signage and graphic design. During the early 1970s, South DeKalb Mall used a distinctive bas-relief-style type treatment and a closely placed asterisk in its logo. Later signage retained elements of that visual heritage, helping preserve a connection with the property's original name even after its rebranding. The center's anchor composition changed over time. JCPenney left in 2001 when it moved to Stonecrest, and the former department-store space was subsequently occupied by Amazing Rooms, a furniture retailer. Rich's successor, Macy's, remained one of the mall's principal anchors until Macy's announced in January 2020 that the location would close as part of a nationwide store-reduction program. The store closed on March 17, 2020. The property was later marketed as The Gallery at South DeKalb, a name associated with an effort by new ownership to present a changed image for the mall. During this period, the center included Macy's, Amazing Rooms, Piccadilly Cafeteria, a small office center behind the mall, and a multiplex cinema. American Screen Works developed a 14-screen theater with stadium seating and a jazz lounge. That cinema operation closed in 2015, reopened under Satellite Cinemas on April 22, 2016, and shut permanently in 2017. Gallery at South DeKalb remains a locally oriented shopping and commercial property rather than a nationally prominent retail brand. Its tenant mix and physical identity have evolved through department-store departures, entertainment changes, and ownership-led repositioning. The property is owned by Namdar Realty Group, and publicly available reference material identifies the mall as an operating commercial center in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Gallery at South DeKalb began operating in 1968 as South DeKalb Mall in DeKalb County, Georgia. The mall was built at the intersection of Candler Road and Interstate 20, a location that connected it to surrounding residential communities and the wider Atlanta-area road network. Its original department-store anchors were Rich's and JCPenney. The center faced competition from the beginning, including Northlake Mall and other retail destinations in DeKalb County. The mall developed a recognizable visual identity in the early 1970s. Its signage used a raised, stylized type treatment for the words South DeKalb Mall, accompanied by a closely positioned asterisk. Later illuminated signage continued to reference the earlier design, allowing the property to retain a visible link to its original identity despite subsequent changes in name and tenancy. The anchor mix changed substantially in the early twenty-first century. JCPenney departed in 2001 after relocating to Stonecrest. The vacated space was later used by Amazing Rooms, a furniture retailer. Rich's was eventually succeeded by Macy's, which became the mall's principal department-store presence. Other tenants and amenities included Piccadilly Cafeteria and a small office center located behind the mall. The property was subsequently reintroduced as The Gallery at South DeKalb. The renaming was associated with an ownership effort to alter the mall's image and position it as a refreshed commercial destination. During this phase, American Screen Works developed a 14-screen cinema with stadium seating and a jazz lounge. The theater closed in 2015, reopened under Satellite Cinemas on April 22, 2016, and closed permanently in 2017. These changes illustrate the property's attempts to maintain an entertainment component alongside conventional retail. Macy's announced on January 7, 2020, that its South DeKalb store would close under a national program involving 125 store closures. The location ceased operations on March 17, 2020, removing the mall's remaining major department-store anchor. Reference material identifies Namdar Realty Group as the owner. The mall continues to operate as a local shopping and commercial property, with its identity shaped by its long history, changing tenant base, and periodic repositioning.

• 2020

  Macy's closes

  [1]Gallery at South DeKalben.wikipedia.org

  Macy's announces the closure of the location in January, and the store closes on March 17.

• 2017

  Mall cinema closes permanently

  [1]Gallery at South DeKalben.wikipedia.org

  The reopened cinema ceases operations permanently.

• 2016

  Cinema reopens under Satellite Cinemas

  [1]Gallery at South DeKalben.wikipedia.org

  Satellite Cinemas reopens the former theater on April 22.

• 2015

  American Screen Works theater closes

  [1]Gallery at South DeKalben.wikipedia.org

  The mall's 14-screen cinema operation shuts down.

• 2001

  JCPenney relocates to Stonecrest

  [1]Gallery at South DeKalben.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney leaves the property and its former anchor space later becomes associated with Amazing Rooms.

• 1970

  Distinctive South DeKalb Mall signage emerges

  [1]Gallery at South DeKalben.wikipedia.org

  The mall adopts a stylized bas-relief-inspired logo and sign treatment that remains a reference point for later property signage.

• 1968

  South DeKalb Mall opens

  [1]Gallery at South DeKalben.wikipedia.org

  The shopping mall opens in DeKalb County with Rich's and JCPenney as its anchor stores.

A locally oriented regional shopping center serving communities in southeastern DeKalb County and the surrounding Atlanta metropolitan area.

• Retail property · 1968

  Shopping mall retail

  Gallery at South DeKalb provides a multi-tenant retail environment serving nearby residents and motorists along Candler Road and Interstate 20. Its historical tenant mix has included department stores, furniture retail, food service, beauty services, and other mall-oriented businesses.

• Department stores · 1968

  Department-store anchors

  The property opened with Rich's and JCPenney as anchors. Rich's was later succeeded by Macy's, while JCPenney departed in 2001 and the former space was occupied by Amazing Rooms. Macy's closed its location in 2020.

• Entertainment

  Cinema and entertainment complex

  American Screen Works developed a 14-screen cinema with stadium seating and a jazz lounge at the mall. The theater closed in 2015, briefly reopened under Satellite Cinemas in 2016, and permanently closed in 2017.

• Food service

  Food and cafeteria services

  Historical mall amenities included Piccadilly Cafeteria and other food-service offerings. Chick-fil-A was also present at one point but closed at the end of January 2012.

• Gallery at South DeKalb repositioning

  DeKalb County · Atlanta metropolitan area

  The property adopted the Gallery at South DeKalb name as part of an ownership-led effort to change the mall's image and present it as a renewed shopping and entertainment destination.

  Outcome. The renamed property retained a local retail and commercial role, although several major anchors and the cinema later departed.

  Source

• 2020

  Macy's closes its South DeKalb storeStrategy

  Background

  Macy's included the location in a nationwide plan to close 125 stores.

  Action taken

  The company announced the closure on January 7, 2020, and shut the store on March 17, 2020.

  Aftermath

  The mall lost its remaining major department-store anchor.

  Source

• 2016

  Satellite Cinemas reopens the theaterOther

  Background

  The American Screen Works cinema had closed in 2015.

  Action taken

  Satellite Cinemas reopened the facility on April 22, 2016.

  Aftermath

  The cinema closed permanently in 2017.

  Source

• 2001

  JCPenney relocates from the mallStrategy

  Background

  JCPenney moved its DeKalb County operation to Stonecrest, leaving a major anchor space vacant.

  Action taken

  The former JCPenney space was subsequently occupied by Amazing Rooms.

  Aftermath

  The change reduced the mall's original department-store anchor base and altered its tenant composition.

  Source

1. 1Gallery at South DeKalben.wikipedia.org
2. 2Gallery at South DeKalb official websitesouthdekalbmall.com