Hickory Ridge Mall

Hickory Ridge Mall is a community shopping mall in Memphis, Tennessee. It opened in 1981 with Goldsmith's and Sears as its principal anchor stores and became one of the major retail properties serving southeastern Memphis. At its peak, the mall contained more than 100 stores and approximately 855,000 square feet of gross leasable area, giving it the scale of a large community or “towne center” shopping complex rather than a small neighborhood retail strip. The mall developed through several phases. Dillard's joined the property as an additional anchor in 1986, while MM Cohn and Dawahares also operated as junior-anchor retailers. In 1997, the property underwent renovation intended to improve its competitiveness before and after the opening of Wolfchase Galleria, a major regional mall elsewhere in the Memphis area. That competitive environment, together with changing local demographics and the growth of vacant large-format retail space nearby, contributed to tenant losses during the early 2000s. Anchor turnover became an important part of the mall's later history. Dillard's left in 2006. Goldsmith's had been converted into Macy's earlier that year, but Macy's closed after the building was severely damaged by a tornado. Sears remained at the property for several more years and was the last traditional department-store anchor to leave; its closure was announced in September 2013, with the store shutting during the late-2013 to early-2014 period. On February 5, 2008, a tornado struck Hickory Ridge Mall. Sears, the former Goldsmith's/Macy's building, and the main entrance sustained heavy damage, and several people were injured. Although an initial management statement indicated that the mall could remain closed indefinitely while cleanup proceeded, temporary work allowed Sears to reopen on February 10. The storm scattered insulation and other debris across parts of the Memphis area. A report that one person had died in connection with the mall was not confirmed; three deaths were reported at a nearby warehouse. World Overcomers Ministries subsequently acquired the mall from its former owners and pursued a redevelopment and reopening plan. Renovation began in 2008, and Hickory Ridge Mall reopened on April 3, 2010, with a community celebration. The former Macy's space was repurposed for America's Incredible Pizza Company, which later closed in 2012. The former Sears space was subsequently used by CubeSmart beginning in 2021. CubeSmart closed in 2022, and Extra Space Storage occupied the space later that year; it was reported as operating there in November 2024. Hickory Ridge Mall therefore represents a transition from a conventional department-store-anchored mall to a more mixed and partially repurposed community retail property. Its history reflects broader changes in American enclosed-mall retail, including competition from newer regional centers, anchor-store contraction, disaster-related reconstruction, and the conversion of former department-store spaces to entertainment, storage, or other nontraditional uses.

Hickory Ridge Mall opened in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1981. Its original anchor lineup included Goldsmith's and Sears, establishing the property as a substantial community shopping destination for the southeastern part of the city. The mall later expanded its anchor offering when Dillard's opened in 1986. MM Cohn and Dawahares also operated as junior anchors, giving the property a broad department-store and specialty-retail mix. The mall was renovated in 1997 as it sought to remain competitive in a changing Memphis retail market. The opening of Wolfchase Galleria that year increased competition for shoppers and tenants. During the early 2000s, Hickory Ridge experienced tenant losses associated with shifting demographics and the presence of vacant big-box properties in the surrounding area. Dillard's closed in early 2006. Goldsmith's had become Macy's in 2006, but Macy's later departed after deciding not to repair the tornado damage to its building. A major interruption occurred on February 5, 2008, when a tornado struck the mall. Sears, the former Goldsmith's/Macy's location, and the main entrance were heavily damaged. Several people were injured. A reported death associated with the mall was never confirmed, although three people died at a warehouse near the property. Storm debris, including insulation foam, was carried across the Memphis area along the tornado's path. Despite an initial indication that the mall might remain closed indefinitely, temporary work allowed Sears to reopen on February 10. World Overcomers Ministries eventually bought the property and undertook a redevelopment effort. Renovation began in 2008, and the mall reopened on April 3, 2010. The reopening was marked by a community event and reflected a new operating phase for the property. The former Macy's space was converted for America's Incredible Pizza Company, but that tenant closed in 2012. Sears remained the final traditional anchor for several years. Its closure was announced in September 2013, and the store departed during the late-2013 to early-2014 period. This left Hickory Ridge without its historic department-store anchor base and reinforced the mall's shift toward alternative uses and a smaller community-retail role. The former Sears building later entered the self-storage market. CubeSmart opened there in 2021 but closed in 2022. Extra Space Storage replaced it during the middle or latter part of 2022 and was reported to remain open as of November 2024. Hickory Ridge Mall's development thus illustrates the evolution of an enclosed mall from a department-store-led shopping center into a partially repurposed property shaped by competition, demographic change, natural-disaster recovery, and adaptive reuse.

• 2022

  Extra Space Storage takes over former Sears space

  [1]Hickory Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Extra Space Storage replaces CubeSmart after CubeSmart's closure.

• 2021

  CubeSmart opens in former Sears building

  [1]Hickory Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The former Sears space is repurposed for self-storage use by CubeSmart.

• 2013

  Sears closure announced

  [1]Hickory Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The mall's last remaining traditional anchor announces its departure.

• 2012

  America's Incredible Pizza Company closes

  [1]Hickory Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The entertainment and dining tenant occupying the former Macy's space closes.

• 2010

  Mall reopens after renovation

  [1]Hickory Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Hickory Ridge Mall reopens on April 3 with a community celebration.

• 2008

  Tornado damages the mall

  [1]Hickory Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A February tornado heavily damages major portions of the mall, including Sears, Macy's, and the main entrance.

• 2008

  World Overcomers Ministries acquires the property

  [1]Hickory Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  World Overcomers Ministries purchases the mall and begins a renovation and reopening program.

• 2006

  Dillard's closes and Goldsmith's becomes Macy's

  [1]Hickory Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Dillard's closes, while the Goldsmith's location is relaunched under the Macy's name.

• 1997

  Mall renovation

  [1]Hickory Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The property is renovated to improve its competitive position as Wolfchase Galleria opens in the Memphis market.

• 1986

  Dillard's joins the anchor lineup

  [1]Hickory Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Dillard's opens at the mall, expanding its department-store offering.

• 1981

  Mall opens with Goldsmith's and Sears

  [1]Hickory Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Hickory Ridge Mall opens in Memphis with Goldsmith's and Sears serving as its principal anchor stores.

A large community shopping center serving southeastern Memphis, later repositioned through redevelopment and nontraditional reuse of former anchor spaces.

• Retail property · 1981

  Community shopping mall

  Hickory Ridge Mall provides enclosed community-shopping-center space for apparel, department-store merchandise, specialty retail, food, and services. At its peak, the property contained more than 100 stores and approximately 855,000 square feet of gross leasable area. Its tenant mix and anchor configuration have changed substantially over time as department stores closed and portions of the property were adapted for other uses.

• Entertainment and dining · 2010

  America's Incredible Pizza Company

  America's Incredible Pizza Company occupied the former Macy's space after the mall's post-tornado reopening. The use represented an attempt to replace a damaged department-store anchor with a combined food and family-entertainment operation. The location later closed in 2012.

• Self-storage · 2022

  Extra Space Storage

  Extra Space Storage operates from the former Sears building. It replaced CubeSmart after CubeSmart's departure in 2022, illustrating the conversion of a former department-store anchor into a nontraditional, service-oriented use. The facility was reported as operating in November 2024.

• 2021

  Conversion of former Sears space to self-storageStrategy

  Background

  After Sears closed, the large anchor building required a new use within a mall whose traditional department-store base had contracted.

  Action taken

  CubeSmart opened in the former Sears space in 2021.

  Aftermath

  CubeSmart closed in 2022, after which Extra Space Storage took over the location.

  Source

• 2013

  Acceptance of Sears departureStrategy

  Background

  Sears was the mall's last remaining traditional anchor after the departure of Dillard's and Macy's and the post-tornado changes to the property.

  Action taken

  The closure was announced in September 2013, with the store leaving during the late-2013 to early-2014 period.

  Aftermath

  The property lost its final historic department-store anchor and continued toward a more diversified and repurposed operating model.

  Source

• 2008

  Redevelopment and reopening after tornado damageStrategy

  Background

  The February 2008 tornado caused extensive damage to major mall areas and created uncertainty about whether the property would reopen. World Overcomers Ministries subsequently acquired the mall and pursued renovation.

  Action taken

  The new ownership began reconstruction and reopened the mall in April 2010, while replacing the former Macy's use with a family entertainment and dining tenant.

  Aftermath

  The reopening restored public access but marked a shift away from the mall's earlier department-store-centered format.

  Source

1. 1Hickory Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org