Lenox Square

Lenox Square is a large enclosed shopping mall in the Buckhead district of Atlanta, Georgia. It is one of the best-known retail destinations in the southeastern United States and forms a major luxury and department-store cluster with nearby Phipps Plaza. The property is owned by Simon Property Group and is positioned at the intersection of several important transportation and commercial corridors, close to the Lenox MARTA station and the JW Marriott Buckhead. The mall originated with developer Ed Noble, whose company acquired the site in 1956. Construction began in July 1957, and the center was completed in 1958 before its public opening ceremony in August 1959. The original development contained approximately 800,000 square feet of retail space and was organized into Mall, Plaza, and Market sections. Its initial anchors included Rich's, Davison's, and a Colonial Stores supermarket. The original tenant mix was unusually broad for its era, including a bowling alley, an indoor golf-driving range, a Kresge five-and-dime store, and a movie theater added in 1963. Lenox Square evolved from an open-air regional shopping center into an enclosed and increasingly upscale mall. A major renovation and expansion in the early 1970s enclosed the property and introduced a Neiman Marcus store. This was the luxury retailer's first location outside Texas and Florida and remains its only store in Georgia. A further expansion completed in 1980 added a three-level section and food court while replacing the former open Plaza Court and supermarket. The surrounding project also incorporated office, hotel, and parking facilities, and the adjacent Lenox MARTA station opened in 1984. Department-store changes reshaped the property in the 1980s and 1990s. Davison's, which had been owned by Macy's since 1924, adopted the Macy's name in 1986. Rich's moved its Atlanta flagship from downtown to Lenox Square in 1991. The mall's largest expansion to that point was completed in 1995, adding a second story above the original Mall Level and increasing the center to roughly 1.457 million leasable square feet and about 200 stores and restaurants. The property later lost the title of Georgia's largest mall to Mall of Georgia after that center opened in 1999. The consolidation of Federated Department Stores' regional brands produced another important transition. After Federated began integrating Rich's with Macy's, the Lenox Macy's location closed and was extensively renovated for the first Bloomingdale's store in the southern United States, which opened in October 2003. The former Rich's-Macy's site later operated as the flagship of Macy's Central before the company's divisions were consolidated. In 2007, Neiman Marcus was enlarged by approximately 52,000 square feet, and an upper level was added to the connecting wing. A further property renovation took place from 2013 into 2014, including new lighting, landscaping, windows, and interior and exterior improvements. In the 2020s, the mall continued to refresh its tenant mix with fashion, luxury, lifestyle, and specialty additions. Announced or reported additions included Psycho Bunny, Savage X Fenty, Cotton On, Moncler, Sandro, The Webster, and Ferrari, alongside a new Apple store format. Lenox Square also promotes unusually large locations for Pottery Barn and Forever 21. Beyond conventional retail, Lenox Square has a civic and cultural role in Atlanta. It is associated with the Peachtree Road Race, serving as the starting point for the summer southbound race and, beginning in 2025, the finish point for the winter northbound race. The property has also hosted Rich's Great Tree Christmas celebrations since 2000, after the event moved from Underground Atlanta. Its combination of department stores, luxury tenants, transportation access, tourism, and event programming has made Lenox Square a durable landmark of Atlanta's retail geography.

Lenox Square was developed by Ed Noble through J. Noble Properties after the company acquired the Buckhead site in 1956. Groundbreaking took place in July 1957, and the center was completed in 1958. Its formal public opening followed on August 3, 1959. The original complex contained approximately 800,000 square feet across Mall, Plaza, and Market areas, with Rich's, Davison's, and Colonial Stores as principal anchors. Early specialty tenants included a bowling alley, indoor golf facilities, a Kresge store, and a movie theater that opened in 1963. During the early 1970s, Lenox Square underwent a large-scale renovation that enclosed the shopping center and added a new wing. The project brought Neiman Marcus to the property; it was the chain's first store outside Texas and Florida and remains its only Georgia location. A second major expansion, completed in 1980, created a three-level rear section and food court. The broader development added office, hotel, and parking facilities, helping transform the mall into a larger mixed-use commercial destination. Transit access improved when MARTA's Lenox station opened in December 1984. The mall's department-store identity continued to change. Davison's, already owned by Macy's, was renamed Macy's in 1986. Rich's transferred its flagship from downtown Atlanta to Lenox Square in 1991. The largest expansion in the property's history at that time was completed in 1995, adding a second floor above the original Mall Level and increasing the center to approximately 1.457 million leasable square feet and around 200 stores and restaurants. Mall of Georgia surpassed it in size after opening in 1999. Federated Department Stores' brand consolidation created another major transition in 2003. The Lenox Macy's location closed and was redeveloped for Bloomingdale's, which opened there in October as the first Bloomingdale's store in the South. The former Rich's-Macy's building later served as the Macy's Central flagship before Macy's unified its divisions. In 2007, Lenox Square expanded Neiman Marcus by approximately 52,000 square feet and added an upper level to the wing connecting the store with the mall. The property received another extensive renovation between 2013 and 2014, with changes to lighting, landscaping, windows, and other internal and external elements. In the 2020s, Lenox Square continued to emphasize fashion, luxury, lifestyle, and experiential retail, announcing additions such as Moncler, Sandro, The Webster, Ferrari, Psycho Bunny, Savage X Fenty, and Cotton On. It also highlighted a redesigned Apple format and large Pottery Barn and Forever 21 locations. Lenox Square is closely tied to Atlanta's public life. The mall has hosted Rich's Great Tree Christmas celebrations since 2000, and it is associated with the Peachtree Road Race. Beginning in 2025, it serves as the start of the summer southbound 10-kilometer race and the finish of the winter northbound race. The property remains a major Buckhead landmark, linked to nearby Phipps Plaza, MARTA stations, hotels, offices, restaurants, and regional road infrastructure.

• 2025

  Peachtree Road Race role expands

  [1]Lenox Squareen.wikipedia.org

  Beginning in 2025, Lenox Square serves as the finish point for the winter northbound race as well as the start point for the summer southbound race.

• 2014

  Renovation completed

  [1]Lenox Squareen.wikipedia.org

  A property-wide renovation updated lighting, landscaping, windows, and other design elements.

• 2007

  Neiman Marcus enlarged

  [1]Lenox Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The Neiman Marcus store gained approximately 52,000 square feet, and the connecting wing received an upper level.

• 2003

  Bloomingdale's opens

  [1]Lenox Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The first Bloomingdale's store in the southern United States opened after redevelopment of a former Macy's location.

• 1995

  Major expansion completed

  [1]Lenox Squareen.wikipedia.org

  A second floor was added above the original Mall Level, bringing the center to roughly 1.457 million leasable square feet.

• 1984

  MARTA access added

  [1]Lenox Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The Lenox MARTA station opened nearby in December.

• 1980

  Rear expansion and food court

  [1]Lenox Squareen.wikipedia.org

  A three-level addition and food court expanded the mall and replaced the former open Plaza Court and supermarket.

• 1963

  Movie theater added

  [1]Lenox Squareen.wikipedia.org

  A movie theater opened on the Market Level.

• 1959

  Public opening

  [1]Lenox Squareen.wikipedia.org

  Lenox Square held its public opening ceremony on August 3.

• 1958

  Initial development completed

  [1]Lenox Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The original shopping center was completed with approximately 800,000 square feet of retail space.

• 1957

  Construction begins

  [1]Lenox Squareen.wikipedia.org

  Groundbreaking for Lenox Square took place in July.

• 1956

  Site acquired

  [1]Lenox Squareen.wikipedia.org

  J. Noble Properties acquired the Buckhead site for the future shopping center.

A large, upscale regional shopping destination combining major department stores, luxury fashion, specialty retail, dining, hospitality connections, and event programming in Atlanta's Buckhead district.

• Retail anchors

  Department stores

  Lenox Square's anchor portfolio includes Bloomingdale's, Macy's, and Neiman Marcus. Together these stores provide broad department-store merchandise while also supporting the center's upscale and luxury positioning.

• Fashion retail

  Luxury and designer fashion

  The mall's luxury-oriented tenant mix includes designer apparel, accessories, beauty, and specialty fashion. Reported additions in the 2020s included Moncler, Sandro, The Webster, Ferrari, and Psycho Bunny.

• Food and beverage · 1980

  Dining and food court

  Food service has been part of the Lenox Square format since the original development, with a dedicated food court added during the 1980 expansion. The surrounding Buckhead area also provides extensive restaurant options.

• Experiential offering · 2000

  Events and community programming

  Lenox Square functions as more than a retail property through seasonal celebrations and civic events. It has hosted Rich's Great Tree celebrations and serves as a location connected with the Peachtree Road Race.

• 2000Rich's Great Tree at Lenox Square

  Atlanta

  The long-running Rich's Great Tree Christmas celebration moved from Underground Atlanta to the Rich's flagship at Lenox Square.

  Outcome. The event became part of Lenox Square's seasonal identity.

  Source

• 2013

  Property-wide modernizationStrategy

  Background

  The aging regional mall required updates to its physical environment and presentation.

  Action taken

  Lenox Square undertook interior and exterior improvements, including new lighting, landscaping, and windows.

  Aftermath

  The renovation was completed in 2014.

  Source

• 2007

  Neiman Marcus expansionGeneration change

  Background

  Lenox Square continued upgrading its luxury retail offer after earlier expansions and department-store changes.

  Action taken

  The mall expanded Neiman Marcus by approximately 52,000 square feet and added an upper level to the connecting wing.

  Aftermath

  The project increased the center's leasable area and strengthened its luxury-anchor role.

  Source

• 2003

  Redevelopment for Bloomingdale'sStrategy

  Background

  Federated Department Stores was consolidating regional department-store names, affecting the Macy's and Rich's operations associated with Lenox Square.

  Action taken

  The Lenox Macy's location was closed and extensively renovated to accommodate Bloomingdale's first Southern store.

  Aftermath

  Bloomingdale's opened at the mall in October 2003, adding a new upscale anchor to the property.

  Source

1. 1Lenox Squareen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Simon Property Group: Lenox Squaresimon.com