Green Tree Mall

Green Tree Mall is an enclosed shopping mall in Clarksville, Indiana, immediately north of Louisville, Kentucky, and approximately four miles from downtown Louisville. Positioned near Interstate 65, the property functions as a retail destination for Clarksville, Jeffersonville, New Albany, and nearby communities in southern Indiana, while also drawing customers from the wider Louisville area. The mall contains approximately 795,382 square feet of retail space and has historically combined department-store anchors, inline specialty shops, restaurants, services, and community programming. The property developed in stages during the 1960s. Sears opened the first store at the site on September 29, 1966, while the enclosed mall opened in 1968 with JCPenney, a Danners variety store, and other retailers. The center took its name from a large, old boundary tree that once stood on the site. Ben Snyder's operated as an original anchor, but after Hess's acquired the Ben Snyder's chain, a replacement Hess's store was constructed and the former Ben Snyder's space was converted into a food court. That space later became known as Tumble Station and was subsequently used by a martial arts school. Green Tree Mall's anchor lineup changed over time as department-store companies consolidated and individual locations closed. Dillard's occupies the former Hess's location, while JCPenney remains in its original anchor position. Sears, another long-running anchor, closed on October 1, 2017, after its parent company announced a nationwide round of store closures. The mall is described as having more than 80 inline stores and two major operating anchors, Dillard's and JCPenney, following the Sears departure. Ownership has changed several times. Prentice sold the mall to Macerich in 1977. Macerich later sold it to CBL Properties in June 2013, followed by a sale to Centennial Realty in 2021. The property was sold again in 2023 to Namdar Realty, which also manages the mall according to the mall's published information. These transactions reflect the mall's continuing role as a regional retail asset rather than a standalone retail chain. Beyond shopping, Green Tree Mall has hosted family-oriented activities and local community events. Its programming has included Club Mom, a children's entertainment event held on the first Tuesday of each month, as well as a larger Kids Day event. In 2007, the property was scheduled to host the first Kentucky Derby Festival event in Indiana, the U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloonfest, but the event was canceled because of poor weather. The first Texas Roadhouse restaurant opened in 1993 and was reported to remain in operation, adding a dining component to the center's retail mix. Green Tree Mall is therefore best understood as a regional shopping-center property and local commercial landmark. Its identity is tied to its location, anchor tenants, long operating history, access from Interstate 65, and role in community events rather than to a consumer-goods product portfolio.

Green Tree Mall was developed in Clarksville, Indiana, north of Louisville along the Interstate 65 corridor. The first store at the site was Sears, which opened on September 29, 1966. The enclosed mall followed in 1968, opening with JCPenney, Danners, and other retailers. Its name refers to a large and notably old boundary tree that once stood where the mall was built. The original anchor mix included Sears and Ben Snyder's, along with JCPenney. After Hess's acquired the Ben Snyder's chain, it constructed a new store at the mall rather than continuing to use the former Ben Snyder's building. The older anchor space was converted into a food court. That food-court concept later became known as Tumble Station and was eventually occupied by a martial arts school in 2016. The Hess's operation ultimately became Dillard's, which remains one of the mall's principal anchors. A Texas Roadhouse restaurant opened at the property in 1993 and was reported to continue operating. Through the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, the mall maintained a broad combination of department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, and services. The center has approximately 795,382 square feet of total area and has been described as containing more than 80 inline stores. The mall's ownership history includes a 1977 sale from Prentice to Macerich. Macerich sold the property to CBL Properties in June 2013. Centennial Realty acquired it in 2021, and Namdar Realty acquired it in 2023 and became the identified owner and manager. The changes occurred amid a broader period of restructuring in the American department-store and enclosed-mall sectors. Sears announced in July 2017 that its Green Tree Mall store would close as part of a national plan affecting 43 stores. The location closed on October 1 of that year. After the closure, Dillard's and JCPenney remained the mall's major operating department-store anchors. Green Tree Mall has also served as a venue for family and civic programming. Regular or recurring activities have included Club Mom children's entertainment events and Kids Day. In 2007, the mall was scheduled to host the U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloonfest, described as the first Kentucky Derby Festival event in Indiana, but poor weather led to its cancellation. These activities illustrate the property's role as both a retail center and a community gathering place.

• 2023

  Namdar Realty becomes owner and manager

  [2]Green Tree Mall official websitegreentreemall.com

  The mall was sold to Namdar Realty, which is identified as its owner and manager.

• 2021

  Centennial Realty acquires the mall

  [1]Green Tree Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Ownership transferred to Centennial Realty.

• 2017

  Sears closes

  [1]Green Tree Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Sears anchor closed on October 1 after its planned closure was announced in July.

• 2016

  Former Tumble Station space becomes a martial arts school

  [1]Green Tree Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The former food-court area, later known as Tumble Station, was being used by a martial arts school.

• 2013

  CBL Properties acquires the mall

  [1]Green Tree Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Macerich sold Green Tree Mall to CBL Properties in June.

• 2007

  Great Balloonfest event is canceled

  [1]Green Tree Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A planned U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloonfest at the mall was canceled because of poor weather.

• 1993

  First Texas Roadhouse opens

  [1]Green Tree Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The first Texas Roadhouse restaurant opened at Green Tree Mall and was reported to remain in operation.

• 1977

  Prentice sells the mall to Macerich

  [1]Green Tree Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Ownership transferred from Prentice to Macerich.

• 1968

  Enclosed mall opens

  [1]Green Tree Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The main mall opened for business with retailers including JCPenney and Danners, establishing the Clarksville shopping center.

• 1966

  Sears opens as the first store at the site

  [1]Green Tree Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The first store associated with Green Tree Mall opened on September 29, 1966, when Sears began operating at the developing site.

A regional enclosed shopping center and community retail anchor serving Clarksville and the Louisville-area market.

• Department store anchor

  Dillard's

  Dillard's is one of Green Tree Mall's two major operating anchors. The store occupies the back annex associated with the former Hess's location, which itself replaced the original Ben Snyder's anchor arrangement.

• Department store anchor · 1968

  JCPenney

  JCPenney opened with the main mall in 1968 and remains in its original anchor location. It provides department-store merchandise and continues the property's long-standing anchor format.

• Restaurant · 1993

  Texas Roadhouse

  The first Texas Roadhouse opened at Green Tree Mall in 1993. It forms part of the mall's restaurant and dining offer and was reported to continue operating at the property.

• Shopping-center retail · 1968

  Inline retail and service stores

  Green Tree Mall has been described as containing more than 80 inline stores, representing a mix of specialty retail, food, services, and other tenant categories. The exact current tenant roster is subject to change.

• 2007U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloonfest

  Indiana · Louisville area

  Green Tree Mall was scheduled to host a Kentucky Derby Festival balloon event described as the festival's first event in Indiana.

  Outcome. The event was canceled because of poor weather.

  Source
• Club Mom

  Clarksville, Indiana · Southern Indiana · Louisville area

  A recurring children's entertainment and family event hosted at the mall, reported to take place on the first Tuesday of each month.

  Outcome. The program supported Green Tree Mall's role as a community gathering venue; a specific attendance or commercial result is not reported.

  Source
• Kids Day

  Clarksville, Indiana · Southern Indiana · Louisville area

  A larger family-oriented event described as similar to the mall's Club Mom programming.

  Outcome. The available reference material does not report a specific outcome.

  Source

• 2023

  Namdar Realty acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Green Tree Mall changed ownership several times after Macerich's tenure, including transfers to CBL Properties and Centennial Realty.

  Action taken

  Namdar Realty acquired the mall and became its identified owner and manager.

  Aftermath

  The property continued operating as a regional shopping mall under Namdar Realty's ownership and management.

  Source

• 2017

  Sears closure decisionOther

  Background

  Sears announced a nationwide program to close 43 stores, including its long-running Green Tree Mall location.

  Action taken

  The Green Tree Mall Sears store closed on October 1, 2017.

  Aftermath

  The closure left Dillard's and JCPenney as the mall's two major department-store anchors.

  Source

1. 1Green Tree Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Green Tree Mall official websitegreentreemall.com