Greenbrier Mall
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedGreenbrier Mall is a regional shopping center in Chesapeake, Virginia, serving the Hampton Roads area and nearby communities in Virginia and North Carolina.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Greenbrier Mall is a nearly 900,000-square-foot regional shopping center in Chesapeake, Virginia, within the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. Its sloping site gives the property an unusual two-level configuration, with entrances and retail circulation arranged across upper and lower elevations. The mall serves shoppers from southeastern Virginia and adjacent communities in northeastern North Carolina, and has historically combined department-store anchors, specialty retailers, restaurants, and family-oriented entertainment. The center’s original anchor lineup included Miller & Rhoads and Sears. Miller & Rhoads was absorbed by Hecht’s in 1990, while the mall’s department-store mix changed repeatedly during the following decade. Hess’s opened an additional anchor in 1987, and a Leggett location began trading on September 7, 1988. Proffitt’s acquired the former Hess’s store in 1993 and later sold its operations to Dillard’s in 1996. The Leggett store briefly became a Belk location before being transferred to Dillard’s in 1998 through a reciprocal store exchange. That building subsequently served as an auxiliary Dillard’s location focused on men's and children's merchandise. A major repositioning took place in 2003. Dillard’s consolidated its operations into a reconstructed approximately 160,000-square-foot east-end store. The renovation also introduced a new interior color scheme and the mall’s “G” logo, while the former Leggett, Belk, and Dillard’s building was converted for JCPenney. In April 2004, CBL & Associates Properties acquired Greenbrier Mall from Gregory Greenfield & Associates for $102.5 million. The replacement JCPenney store was completed and opened at the mall’s north end in 2005. Hecht’s later became Macy’s in 2006 as part of the chain’s nationwide rebranding. The property subsequently faced the broader structural pressures affecting traditional department stores and enclosed malls. Sears Holdings transferred the Sears real-estate interest into Seritage Growth Properties in 2015, and the Greenbrier Sears store closed in September 2018 after Sears announced it as part of a nationwide round of closures. A proposed relocation of the Gameworks entertainment venue to MacArthur Center was announced in 2019 but was later abandoned after the operator closed nearly all of its locations. Redevelopment efforts for the vacant Sears site included a 2020 proposal for a Rosie's Gaming Emporium, a bar, four restaurants, and a hotel. Chesapeake City Council withdrew the proposal on September 15, 2020, citing traffic concerns involving nearby intersections. The mall entered receivership in March 2022, and ownership transferred to the lender in October of that year. A three-day auction began on February 27, 2025; Michael Sifen, acting through Sifen, Inc., was announced as the winning bidder on April 4, 2025. In January 2026, plans were announced to convert the former Sears space into a Costco wholesale warehouse with an accompanying gas station. The proposed Costco is expected to employ approximately 200 people and open in 2027, subject to development and construction progress.
History
Greenbrier Mall is a regional enclosed shopping center in Chesapeake, Virginia, in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. Covering nearly 900,000 square feet, the property occupies a hillside site with entrances and shopping areas distributed across upper and lower levels. Its trade area extends across southeastern Virginia and into nearby parts of North Carolina. The mall’s original department-store anchors were Miller & Rhoads and Sears. Miller & Rhoads was sold to Hecht’s in 1990. Hess’s joined the center in 1987, followed by a Leggett store that opened on September 7, 1988. The Hess’s location became a Proffitt’s store after Proffitt’s acquired the chain in 1993. Dillard’s acquired Proffitt’s in 1996, changing the anchor structure again. The Leggett store briefly operated under the Belk name before being transferred to Dillard’s in 1998 as part of an exchange between the retailers. It later served as a men's and children's auxiliary Dillard’s store. Greenbrier Mall underwent an extensive renovation in 2003. Dillard’s consolidated its two locations into a reconstructed east-end store of approximately 160,000 square feet. The renovation introduced a new color palette and the mall’s current “G” logo. The former Leggett, Belk, and Dillard’s building was converted into a JCPenney location. In April 2004, CBL & Associates acquired the property from Gregory Greenfield & Associates for $102.5 million. The new JCPenney store was completed and opened at the north end of the mall in 2005. Hecht’s was converted to Macy’s in 2006 during the nationwide Hecht’s-to-Macy’s rebranding program. The center’s later history reflects the contraction of traditional department-store retail. In 2015, Sears Holdings placed the property interest associated with its Greenbrier Mall store among 235 assets spun off to Seritage Growth Properties. Sears announced in June 2018 that the Greenbrier store would close as part of a nationwide closure program, and the location shut in September of that year. Entertainment and mixed-use redevelopment proposals followed. In 2019, Gameworks, formerly known at the property as Jillian’s, announced an intended move to MacArthur Center by spring 2020. The relocation did not proceed after the company closed all but one of its locations. In 2020, developers proposed placing a Rosie's Gaming Emporium, a bar, four restaurants, and a hotel on the former Sears parcel. Chesapeake City Council withdrew the proposal on September 15, 2020, citing traffic concerns at intersections around Greenbrier Parkway, Crossways Boulevard, and Eden Way North. Financial and ownership pressure continued. The mall entered receivership on March 10, 2022, and CBL & Associates anticipated returning the property to its lender. Ownership formally transferred to the lender in October 2022. A three-day auction began on February 27, 2025, and Michael Sifen, acting through Sifen, Inc., was announced as the winning bidder on April 4, 2025. In January 2026, plans were announced for Costco to occupy the former Sears space. The proposal includes a wholesale warehouse and gas station, with an anticipated workforce of about 200 employees and a target opening in 2027. If completed, the project would represent a substantial shift from a traditional department-store anchor toward a membership warehouse format and would form part of the mall’s continuing effort to reuse vacant large-scale retail space.
- 2026
Costco redevelopment announced
[1]Plans were announced for a Costco warehouse and gas station in the former Sears space, with a proposed 2027 opening.
- 2025
Sifen, Inc. wins mall auction
[1]Michael Sifen, through Sifen, Inc., was announced as the winning bidder after the February auction.
- 2022
Receivership and lender transfer
[1]The property entered receivership in March and transferred to its lender in October.
- 2020
Sears-site redevelopment proposal withdrawn
[1]The city withdrew a proposed gaming, restaurant, bar, and hotel project because of traffic concerns.
- 2018
Sears closes
[1]The Greenbrier Sears store closed in September after being included in a nationwide closure program.
- 2015
Sears real-estate interest spun off
[1]The Sears property interest was included in Sears Holdings’ transfer of 235 properties to Seritage Growth Properties.
- 2006
Hecht’s becomes Macy’s
[1]The Hecht’s anchor was rebranded as Macy’s during a national chain transition.
- 2005
New JCPenney opens
[1]The replacement JCPenney store opened at the north end of the mall.
- 2004
CBL & Associates acquires the property
[1]CBL & Associates acquired Greenbrier Mall from Gregory Greenfield & Associates for $102.5 million.
- 2003
Major mall renovation
[1]The mall completed a major renovation that consolidated Dillard’s, added a new visual identity, and prepared a former anchor building for JCPenney.
Products and positioning
A large regional enclosed shopping center serving Chesapeake, the broader Hampton Roads region, and nearby North Carolina communities. Its positioning has historically depended on department-store anchors and a broad specialty-retail mix, while recent property activity has focused on repurposing vacant anchor space and adapting the center to changing retail patterns.
Anchor retail
Department-store retail
Greenbrier Mall has historically been organized around large department-store anchors, including Miller & Rhoads, Sears, Hess’s, Proffitt’s, Dillard’s, Hecht’s, Macy’s, Belk, and JCPenney. These stores provided broad assortments of apparel, accessories, home goods, beauty products, and family merchandise.
Shopping-center retail
Specialty retail
The mall’s specialty-retail component consists of smaller stores serving categories such as clothing, footwear, jewelry, beauty, accessories, electronics, gifts, and home-related merchandise. The exact tenant roster changes over time as leases expire and the property is repositioned.
Food service and leisure
Dining and entertainment
Restaurants, food-service businesses, and entertainment venues have formed part of Greenbrier Mall’s tenant mix. The property formerly accommodated Jillian’s and later Gameworks-related entertainment activity, while subsequent redevelopment proposals considered additional restaurants, a bar, and a gaming venue.
Wholesale retail · 2026
Costco warehouse and gas station
Plans announced in January 2026 call for Costco to occupy the former Sears anchor space with a wholesale warehouse and gas station. The proposed project is expected to employ approximately 200 people and target an opening in 2027.
Brand decisions
2026
Costco warehouse redevelopment planProduct launchBackground
The vacant Sears anchor created an opportunity to introduce a large-format retail use to the property.
Action taken
Plans were announced to convert the former Sears space into a Costco wholesale store with a gas station.
Aftermath
The planned project is expected to employ about 200 people and open in 2027, although completion remains subject to development.
2025
Sifen, Inc. wins property auctionM&ABackground
After transfer to the lender, Greenbrier Mall was offered in a three-day auction beginning February 27, 2025.
Action taken
Michael Sifen, through Sifen, Inc., was announced as the winning bidder on April 4, 2025.
Aftermath
Sifen, Inc. became the identified owner associated with the mall’s next redevelopment phase.
2022
Receivership and transfer to lenderStrategyBackground
The mall faced financial and operational pressure as its anchor mix weakened and redevelopment challenges continued.
Action taken
Greenbrier Mall entered receivership on March 10, 2022, and formally transferred to the lender in October 2022.
Aftermath
The property moved out of CBL & Associates’ ownership and was subsequently offered through an auction process.
2020
Withdrawal of Rosie's mixed-use redevelopment proposalOtherBackground
A redevelopment concept proposed a Rosie's Gaming Emporium, a bar, four restaurants, and a hotel on the former Sears site.
Action taken
Chesapeake City Council withdrew the proposal after identifying traffic concerns at nearby Greenbrier Parkway, Crossways Boulevard, and Eden Way North intersections.
Aftermath
The proposed redevelopment did not proceed, leaving the former Sears site available for later reuse plans.
2018
Closure of Sears anchorStrategyBackground
Sears announced a nationwide program to close 78 stores amid the retailer’s continuing contraction.
Action taken
The Sears store at Greenbrier Mall closed in September 2018.
Aftermath
The closure left a large vacant anchor parcel that later became the focus of multiple redevelopment proposals.
2004
CBL & Associates purchases Greenbrier MallM&ABackground
The property was sold during the broader renovation program.
Action taken
CBL & Associates acquired the mall from Gregory Greenfield & Associates for $102.5 million.
Aftermath
CBL became the mall’s operator and owner before the property later entered receivership.
Acquisition price. $102.5 million (April 2004)
2003
Comprehensive mall renovation and anchor reconfigurationStrategyBackground
Greenbrier Mall undertook a major renovation to update its physical identity and reorganize its department-store space.
Action taken
Dillard’s consolidated into a reconstructed east-end store, the former Leggett/Belk/Dillard’s building was converted for JCPenney, and the mall introduced a new color scheme and “G” logo.
Aftermath
The project created a new JCPenney anchor and modernized the center’s public-facing design.
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