Middlesboro Mall

Middlesboro Mall is an enclosed shopping mall on U.S. Route 25E in Middlesboro, Kentucky. With more than 26 stores and services, it functions as a regional retail center for a predominantly rural and mountainous trade area spanning eastern Kentucky and nearby parts of Tennessee. Its tenant mix has historically combined department stores, discount and general-merchandise retailers, specialty shops, services, and entertainment. The mall opened in October 1983 during a period when commercial development was concentrating along the U.S. 25E corridor. Its original anchor lineup included Belk, JCPenney, Kmart, and a range of specialty merchants. David Hocker and Associates was the mall's first owner. The property later experienced the store turnover typical of regional shopping centers. Sears added a hometown-format store in June 1987 and expanded it in 1989. Kmart closed on June 1, 2002, and its space was subsequently occupied by Steve & Barry's in 2006. Steve & Barry's closed in 2009 after the retailer entered bankruptcy during the economic downturn associated with the late 2000s. Roses opened in the former Kmart location in 2010. Sears departed in November 2012 and opened a separate store north of the mall on U.S. Route 25E. JCPenney's location became vacant after the retailer announced in June 2020 that the Middlesboro store would close as part of a nationwide store-closure program. In January 2024, Hobby Lobby was announced as the replacement tenant for the former JCPenney space, and the store opened on May 10, 2024. The mall's current anchor or major tenant lineup is identified as including Belk, Roses, Golden Ticket Cinemas, and Hobby Lobby. Since 2004, Middlesboro Mall has been owned by Ershig Properties, a Henderson, Kentucky-based property company. Beyond retailing, the mall has served as a community gathering and public-use venue. Its role in supporting adult literacy classes was discussed in a 1993 academic study of shopping malls as public spaces. The Children's Reading Foundation of Appalachia-KY has used the facility for Read Across America activities and other community programs, including Malloween, Books with Santa, and a back-to-school fashion show. In 2013, mall management announced that it would donate space for offices of the Children's Reading Foundation, reflecting the property's role as both a commercial center and a civic venue.

Middlesboro Mall developed as part of the commercial growth along U.S. Route 25E in and around Middlesboro, Kentucky. Retail activity on the corridor expanded from the late 1960s onward, creating the basis for a shopping center intended to serve the surrounding mountainous and largely rural region. The enclosed mall opened in October 1983 with Belk, JCPenney, Kmart, and numerous specialty merchants. David Hocker and Associates was the property's first owner. The tenant roster changed as national retailers adjusted their store formats and portfolios. Sears joined the mall in June 1987 with a 16,500-square-foot hometown store and added approximately 5,283 square feet in 1989. Kmart closed on June 1, 2002. Its former space was used by Steve & Barry's beginning in 2006, but that retailer closed in 2009 following bankruptcy during the difficult economic conditions surrounding the 2008 downturn. Roses subsequently opened in the space in 2010. Sears left the mall in November 2012 and relocated to a new store north of the property on U.S. Route 25E. JCPenney later became another significant vacancy. On June 4, 2020, JCPenney announced that the Middlesboro store would close as part of a nationwide plan involving 154 stores. The former JCPenney space remained an important redevelopment opportunity until Hobby Lobby was announced as the incoming tenant in January 2024. Hobby Lobby opened there on May 10, 2024. Since 2004, ownership has been attributed to Ershig Properties, based in Henderson, Kentucky. The mall's continuing role has not been limited to shopping. A 1993 academic discussion of malls as public spaces cited Middlesboro Mall's use for adult literacy classes. The Children's Reading Foundation of Appalachia-KY has also used the property for Read Across America programs and local events such as Malloween, Books with Santa, and a back-to-school fashion show. In 2013, management announced that it would donate mall space for offices of the Children's Reading Foundation. These activities illustrate the mall's function as a civic and social venue for the surrounding region in addition to its role as a retail property. The property is currently described as containing more than 26 stores and services. Its major tenants or anchors include Belk, Roses, Golden Ticket Cinemas, and Hobby Lobby. The mall remains positioned as a regional shopping and entertainment center for Middlesboro, eastern Kentucky, and nearby Tennessee communities.

• 2024

  Hobby Lobby opens

  [1]Middlesboro Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Hobby Lobby opens in the former JCPenney space on May 10.

• 2020

  JCPenney closure announced

  [1]Middlesboro Mallen.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney announces that the mall store will close in a nationwide closure plan.

• 2013

  Mall donates space to literacy organization

  [1]Middlesboro Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Management announces donated space for offices of the Children's Reading Foundation of Appalachia-KY.

• 2012

  Sears relocates outside the mall

  [1]Middlesboro Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Sears leaves the mall in November and opens a separate store north on U.S. Route 25E.

• 2010

  Roses opens

  [1]Middlesboro Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Roses fills the former Kmart and Steve & Barry's space.

• 2009

  Steve & Barry's closes

  [1]Middlesboro Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The retailer leaves the mall after entering bankruptcy during the late-2000s economic downturn.

• 2006

  Steve & Barry's opens

  [1]Middlesboro Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Steve & Barry's occupies the former Kmart space.

• 2004

  Ershig Properties becomes owner

  [1]Middlesboro Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Ershig Properties is identified as the mall's owner from 2004 onward.

• 2002

  Kmart closes

  [1]Middlesboro Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Kmart closes its mall store on June 1.

• 1989

  Sears expands its store

  [1]Middlesboro Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Sears adds approximately 5,283 square feet to its Middlesboro Mall location.

• 1987

  Sears joins the tenant lineup

  [1]Middlesboro Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Sears opens a 16,500-square-foot hometown store at the mall in June.

• 1983

  Middlesboro Mall opens

  [1]Middlesboro Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The enclosed mall opens in October with Belk, JCPenney, Kmart, and specialty merchants.

A community-oriented enclosed shopping center and regional retail hub serving Middlesboro, eastern Kentucky, and nearby Tennessee communities.

• Department store · 1983

  Belk

  Belk is one of the mall's principal anchor tenants, providing department-store merchandise across apparel, accessories, beauty, home, and related categories. Its presence connects the mall to the traditional full-service department-store model that characterized the property's original 1983 tenant lineup.

• Discount and general merchandise · 2010

  Roses

  Roses occupies the former Kmart space and provides discount-oriented general merchandise. The store entered the mall in 2010 after the departure of Steve & Barry's, giving the property a large-format value retail tenant in a space previously used by major discount chains.

• Cinema and entertainment

  Golden Ticket Cinemas

  Golden Ticket Cinemas is an entertainment anchor at Middlesboro Mall. Its cinema operations broaden the center's offer beyond shopping by providing movie-going and leisure activity for local residents and visitors from the surrounding regional trade area.

• Arts, crafts, and home merchandise · 2024

  Hobby Lobby

  Hobby Lobby occupies the former JCPenney space. The retailer sells arts and crafts materials, seasonal merchandise, home décor, fabrics, and related goods, adding a large-format specialty destination to the mall's post-JCPenney tenant mix.

• 2013Children's Reading Foundation community literacy support

  Middlesboro · Eastern Kentucky

  Mall management announced that it would donate space for offices of the Children's Reading Foundation of Appalachia-KY. The property had also hosted or supported literacy and family events including Read Across America activities, Malloween, Books with Santa, and a back-to-school fashion show.

  Outcome. The initiative reinforced the mall's role as a community venue and provided space for a local literacy organization.

  Source

• 2024

  Bring Hobby Lobby to the former JCPenney spaceProduct launch

  Background

  JCPenney announced the closure of its Middlesboro store in 2020, leaving a large anchor space vacant.

  Action taken

  Hobby Lobby was announced as the replacement tenant in January 2024 and opened on May 10, 2024.

  Aftermath

  The opening restored a major-format tenant to the former JCPenney space and added arts, crafts, home décor, and seasonal merchandise to the center.

  Source

• 2010

  Replace the former Kmart space with RosesStrategy

  Background

  The Kmart space had become available after Kmart's 2002 closure and Steve & Barry's subsequent departure.

  Action taken

  Roses opened in the large former Kmart location.

  Aftermath

  The mall retained a discount and general-merchandise anchor in a major vacant space.

  Source

• 1987

  Add Sears as a mall anchorOther

  Background

  The mall expanded its department-store and general-merchandise offering after opening with Belk, JCPenney, and Kmart.

  Action taken

  Sears opened a 16,500-square-foot hometown store in June 1987 and expanded it in 1989.

  Aftermath

  Sears remained a significant tenant until it left the mall in 2012 for a separate location on U.S. Route 25E.

  Source

1. 1Middlesboro Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Middlesboro Mall official websiteshopmiddlesboromall.com