Governor's Square

Governor's Square is a super-regional enclosed shopping mall in Tallahassee, Florida, located on Apalachee Parkway less than two miles east of the city's downtown area. The mall opened in 1979 with a two-level design that was unusual for northern Florida at the time. Because it was built into a hillside, visitors can enter the complex at either the first or second level depending on the location of the entrance. This design has remained one of the property's defining physical characteristics. The original anchor lineup consisted of JCPenney, Sears, and Maas Brothers. Maas Brothers was converted to Burdines in 1991, and the Burdines location later became a Macy's store in March 2005. A 1993 expansion added another wing and brought Dillard's into the property as a fourth anchor. Over time, these department-store changes reflected the broader evolution of the American enclosed-mall sector, including department-store consolidation, rebranding, and store closures. Governor's Square received a reported $10 million renovation in 2015. The project helped modernize the shopping environment while preserving the mall's role as one of the principal enclosed retail destinations in the Tallahassee area. For many years, it was the newer of the area's two enclosed malls, the other being The Centre of Tallahassee, formerly known as Tallahassee Mall. The mall's anchor mix changed again in the late 2010s and 2020s. Sears announced in December 2018 that its Governor's Square store would close as part of a nationwide round of closures; the location shut in March 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the vacant Sears space was temporarily used by the Florida Department of Health as a monoclonal antibody treatment site. Macy's subsequently announced in January 2024 that it would close the Governor's Square store as part of a five-store closure plan. The store closed permanently on March 26, 2024. JCPenney and Dillard's are identified as the mall's current anchor stores. The former Macy's space has been designated for redevelopment as a Tilt Studio arcade, with construction announced as beginning in 2026 and an expected opening in 2027. A separate anchor space formerly occupied by Sears remains vacant in the available reference material. Governor's Square therefore continues to operate as an active shopping center while adapting its large-format spaces to changing retail and entertainment uses.

Governor's Square opened in 1979 on Apalachee Parkway in Tallahassee, Florida. Its two-level enclosed layout represented a notable new format for northern Florida and was made possible in part by the site's hillside setting. Entrances connect with different levels of the mall, allowing shoppers to enter on either the first or second floor depending on their approach. The original department-store anchors were JCPenney, Sears, and Maas Brothers. In 1991, Maas Brothers was converted to Burdines. The Burdines location was later rebranded as Macy's in March 2005, following the broader integration of the Burdines name into Macy's. In 1993, the mall expanded with an additional wing, and Dillard's joined the property as a fourth anchor. This expansion strengthened Governor's Square's position as a major enclosed retail center in the Tallahassee market. The property underwent a reported $10 million renovation in 2015. Its location in a relatively affluent trade area close to downtown helped it remain an important regional shopping destination. For much of its history, Governor's Square was the newer of Tallahassee's two enclosed malls; the other was The Centre of Tallahassee, previously called Tallahassee Mall. The mall later experienced the department-store closures affecting many American shopping centers. On December 28, 2018, Sears announced that its Governor's Square store would be closed as part of a nationwide closure program. The store shut in March 2019, leaving an anchor-sized vacant space. During the COVID-19 pandemic, that space received a temporary community-health use as a Florida Department of Health monoclonal antibody treatment site. Macy's announced on January 18, 2024 that it would close its Governor's Square store as part of a five-store closure plan. The store ceased operations on March 26, 2024. The former Macy's anchor was subsequently selected for conversion into a Tilt Studio arcade. Available reference material states that construction was expected to begin in 2026 and that the entertainment venue was expected to open in 2027. JCPenney and Dillard's remain the identified current anchors, while the former Sears space is described as vacant. The mall thus remains active but is transitioning portions of its traditional department-store footprint toward entertainment and other uses.

• 2025

  Tilt Studio redevelopment announced

  [1]Governor's Squareen.wikipedia.org

  Tilt Studio is announced as the planned arcade operator for the former Macy's anchor space.

• 2024

  Macy's closes

  [1]Governor's Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The Macy's store permanently closes on March 26 after a closure announcement earlier in the year.

• 2019

  Sears closes

  [1]Governor's Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The Sears anchor closes in March after being included in a nationwide store-closure plan.

• 2015

  Major renovation

  [1]Governor's Squareen.wikipedia.org

  Governor's Square receives a reported $10 million renovation.

• 2005

  Burdines converts to Macy's

  [1]Governor's Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The Burdines anchor is rebranded as Macy's in March.

• 1993

  Expansion adds a wing and Dillard's

  [1]Governor's Squareen.wikipedia.org

  An additional mall wing is added, and Dillard's becomes the property's fourth anchor.

• 1991

  Maas Brothers becomes Burdines

  [1]Governor's Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The original Maas Brothers anchor is converted to a Burdines department store.

• 1979

  Governor's Square opens

  [1]Governor's Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The two-level enclosed shopping mall opens on Apalachee Parkway in Tallahassee, becoming a major regional retail destination.

A regional enclosed shopping and entertainment destination serving Tallahassee and the surrounding trade area.

• Department store anchor · 1979

  JCPenney

  JCPenney is one of Governor's Square's identified current anchor stores, providing department-store merchandise across apparel, accessories, beauty, home, and related categories. The store was part of the mall's original anchor lineup when the property opened in 1979.

• Department store anchor · 1993

  Dillard's

  Dillard's joined Governor's Square during the 1993 expansion and became the property's fourth anchor. The department store contributes apparel, beauty, accessories, and home-goods retail to the mall's regional offering.

• Arcade and family entertainment

  Tilt Studio

  Tilt Studio is the planned entertainment concept for the former Macy's anchor space. The project is described as an arcade redevelopment, with construction expected to begin in 2026 and an anticipated opening in 2027.

• Former department store anchor · 2005

  Macy's

  Macy's occupied the former Burdines anchor after the store was converted in March 2005. Macy's announced the location's closure in January 2024, and the store closed permanently on March 26, 2024.

• 2025

  Conversion of former Macy's space to Tilt StudioStrategy

  Background

  Macy's closed its Governor's Square store in March 2024, creating an opportunity to repurpose a large anchor space.

  Action taken

  Tilt Studio was selected for an arcade project in the former Macy's space, with construction expected in 2026 and an anticipated opening in 2027.

  Aftermath

  The proposed project would shift part of the mall's anchor-space use from department-store retail toward family entertainment.

  Source

• 2015

  Renovation of Governor's SquareStrategy

  Background

  The mall faced the continuing need to maintain a contemporary regional shopping environment in a competitive enclosed-mall market.

  Action taken

  Governor's Square completed a renovation reported to have cost $10 million.

  Aftermath

  The renovation modernized the property, although later anchor closures continued to change the mall's tenant mix.

  Source

1. 1Governor's Squareen.wikipedia.org