Opry Mills

Opry Mills is a large outlet and entertainment shopping center in Nashville, Tennessee. The property is located beside the Grand Ole Opry House and the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, placing it within one of the city’s principal tourism and hospitality districts. Its retail format combines outlet stores, dining, entertainment, and visitor-oriented attractions rather than functioning solely as a conventional enclosed mall. The center was created as part of a redevelopment of the former Opryland Themepark site. In 1997, Gaylord Entertainment Company and the Mills Corporation announced a broad redevelopment program called Destination Opryland. The plan followed the decision to close Opryland Themepark and included the future mall, improvements to the Grand Ole Opry House, an Opry Plaza retail and entertainment area, a marina near the General Jackson dock, and a proposed TNN/CMT broadcast center. Opryland Themepark closed permanently on December 31, 1997, and construction of the mall began in October 1998. Opry Mills opened on May 11, 2000. Its opening drew approximately 100,000 people, and the first day generated about $3 million in sales according to the cited historical account. A survey of opening-weekend visitors indicated a substantial tourism component, with visitors coming from across the United States and from multiple foreign countries. The original tenant mix included major outlet and destination-oriented operators such as Saks Off 5th, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Rainforest Café, and Regal Cinemas Opry Mills 20 & IMAX. These tenants reflected the developers’ intention to make the property an attraction for both local shoppers and Nashville tourists. Ownership and control changed several times during the center’s early history. Gaylord initially held a minority interest while Mills Corporation owned the majority and operated the property. Gaylord sold its one-third interest to Mills in 2002. In 2004, KanAm Grund Group acquired a 50 percent interest in Opry Mills. The Mills Corporation itself later experienced financial difficulties and was acquired in 2007 by Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management. The transaction placed Opry Mills within Simon’s Mills portfolio. The center faced a major interruption in 2010 when severe Tennessee flooding sent water as high as approximately 10 feet into the property. Opry Mills closed for extensive environmental remediation and rebuilding. Insurance litigation delayed the work and contributed to uncertainty for tenants; several retailers either relocated or decided not to return. Simon eventually resumed reconstruction after a financing arrangement was announced in 2011. The mall reopened on March 29, 2012, following roughly two years of closure and repairs. The relaunch included physical improvements, a revised tenant and neighborhood layout, a modernized logo, and themed areas organized around fashion, children’s offerings, and entertainment. In 2012, Simon Property Group also obtained full control of management of the Mills portfolio by acquiring Farallon’s interest. The property subsequently continued to refresh its tenant base with outlet, apparel, dining, and entertainment brands. The center temporarily closed in March 2020 along with Simon’s other U.S. properties because of the COVID-19 pandemic, reopening approximately two months later with social-distancing measures. Its later leasing activity included new stores and restaurants, while some long-standing tenants, such as Bed Bath & Beyond, departed as their parent companies reduced or ended operations. Opry Mills remains an active Nashville shopping and entertainment destination, with its identity tied to outlet retail, tourism, and the surrounding Opryland complex.

The Opry Mills site was originally occupied by Opryland Themepark, which opened in 1972 as a major Nashville entertainment attraction. In November 1997, Gaylord Entertainment Company and Mills Corporation announced that the park would close and that the wider property would be transformed through a redevelopment program called Destination Opryland. The planned project included an outlet mall, improvements to the Grand Ole Opry House, a refreshed Opry Plaza, a marina near the General Jackson dock, and a proposed TNN/CMT broadcast facility with studio-tour elements. Opryland Themepark ended operations on December 31, 1997, and demolition preceded construction of the mall. Construction of Opry Mills began in October 1998. The center opened on May 11, 2000, with an initial tenant mix designed to serve both Nashville residents and tourists visiting the adjacent Opry complex. Original attractions included Regal Cinemas Opry Mills 20 & IMAX, Saks Off 5th, Rainforest Café, and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. The opening drew roughly 100,000 people in one day, while visitor research during the first weekend suggested that the property attracted travelers from well beyond the Nashville area and from outside the United States. During its first years, Mills Corporation held a two-thirds interest and Gaylord Entertainment held the remaining third. Gaylord sold its interest back to Mills in December 2002 for cash and assumed debt, giving Mills complete ownership at that stage. In October 2004, KanAm Grund Group acquired half of Mills’ interest in the property. The ownership structure changed again after Mills Corporation encountered financial difficulties. Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management acquired the Mills portfolio in a transaction completed in April 2007, and the former Mills assets became part of Simon’s Mills platform. A decisive event in the property’s history occurred in May 2010, when flooding across Tennessee inundated Opry Mills. Water reportedly reached as high as 10 feet inside the mall. The property required environmental cleanup, structural work, and extensive restoration. Insurance disputes interrupted the reconstruction process in 2010, while tenants considered temporary or permanent alternatives. Barnes & Noble ended its lease and did not return, and Borders also did not reopen before the chain ceased U.S. operations. A financing arrangement announced in April 2011 enabled reconstruction to proceed, although the original target for reopening in August 2011 was missed. Opry Mills reopened on March 29, 2012. The restoration included a physical facelift, a new or modernized logo, a reorganized tenant mix, and themed zones focused on fashion, children’s merchandise, and entertainment. Simon Property Group obtained full management control of the Mills portfolio in 2012 after buying Farallon’s interest. Litigation related to the flood continued; in 2018, the Tennessee Supreme Court left standing a lower-court decision that reduced the insurance recovery available to Simon for the damage. The property continued to evolve through tenant changes and new openings. In 2019, additions included Vans Outlet, Helzberg Diamonds Outlet, Samsonite Outlet, and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. Opry Mills temporarily closed in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and reopened approximately two months later under public-health and social-distancing measures, coinciding with its twentieth anniversary. Bed Bath & Beyond was later reported as closing permanently at the end of 2020. Subsequent leasing announcements described additional outlet, apparel, restaurant, and entertainment concepts, including openings and expansions scheduled for late 2025 and 2026. Opry Mills’ continuing role is that of a large Nashville outlet destination supported by tourism, nearby hotels and attractions, national retailers, food service, and entertainment.

• 2020

  Pandemic closure and reopening

  [1]Opry Millsen.wikipedia.org

  Opry Mills closes temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic and later reopens with social-distancing measures.

• 2018

  Flood-insurance ruling remains in effect

  [1]Opry Millsen.wikipedia.org

  The Tennessee Supreme Court declines to overturn a ruling reducing the mall’s flood-insurance recovery.

• 2012

  Opry Mills reopens

  [1]Opry Millsen.wikipedia.org

  The center reopens on March 29 after restoration and a major repositioning of its retail neighborhoods.

• 2010

  Flood damage forces closure

  [1]Opry Millsen.wikipedia.org

  Tennessee flooding severely damages the mall and begins a multiyear remediation and reconstruction period.

• 2007

  Simon acquires the Mills portfolio

  [1]Opry Millsen.wikipedia.org

  Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management complete the acquisition of Mills Corporation’s portfolio, including its Opry Mills interest.

• 2004

  KanAm acquires a half interest

  [1]Opry Millsen.wikipedia.org

  KanAm Grund Group acquires 50 percent of Mills Corporation’s interest in Opry Mills.

• 2002

  Gaylord sells its ownership interest

  [1]Opry Millsen.wikipedia.org

  Gaylord sells its one-third stake to Mills Corporation, leaving Mills with full ownership at that point.

• 2000

  Opry Mills opens

  [1]Opry Millsen.wikipedia.org

  The shopping center opens on May 11 with a major outlet, dining, cinema, and entertainment tenant mix.

• 1998

  Mall construction begins

  [1]Opry Millsen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of Opry Mills begins in October after demolition of the former theme-park facilities.

• 1997

  Destination Opryland redevelopment announced

  [1]Opry Millsen.wikipedia.org

  Gaylord Entertainment and Mills Corporation announce a redevelopment program that includes an outlet mall and improvements to surrounding Opryland attractions.

• 1997

  Opryland Themepark closes

  [1]Opry Millsen.wikipedia.org

  The theme park permanently closes on December 31, clearing the principal site for redevelopment.

• 1972

  Opryland Themepark opens

  [1]Opry Millsen.wikipedia.org

  The property’s predecessor, Opryland Themepark, begins operations on the future Opry Mills site.

A tourism-oriented super-regional outlet center that combines discounted national-brand retail with dining, cinema, entertainment, and proximity to Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry and Gaylord Opryland attractions.

• Fashion and consumer retail · 2000

  Outlet retail

  Opry Mills’ core offering is a broad collection of outlet and value-oriented stores selling apparel, footwear, accessories, jewelry, luggage, home goods, books, and related consumer merchandise. The center’s large scale and national-brand tenant mix make it a destination for shoppers seeking discounted products in a tourism-heavy Nashville setting.

• Outdoor retail · 2000

  Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World

  Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World was one of the original destination tenants. Its outdoor equipment, apparel, sporting goods, and related merchandise complement the property’s tourism and entertainment orientation and provide an attraction beyond conventional fashion outlet shopping.

• Entertainment · 2000

  Regal Cinemas Opry Mills 20 & IMAX

  The multiplex cinema was part of the original Opry Mills offering and helped establish the center as an entertainment destination as well as a shopping venue. Its IMAX component added a high-profile attraction for local customers and visitors.

• Food service and leisure · 2000

  Dining and family entertainment

  Restaurants and entertainment operators have been an important part of the center’s positioning. The original mix included Rainforest Café, and later leasing activity included Dave & Buster’s and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, among other food and leisure concepts.

• 2020Twentieth-anniversary reopening

  United States

  Opry Mills marked its twentieth anniversary during the period in which it reopened after a temporary COVID-19 closure, operating under social-distancing requirements.

  Outcome. The property resumed operations while applying pandemic-related public-health restrictions.

  Source
• 2012Opry Mills reopening and relaunch

  United States

  Following the 2010 flood and extended reconstruction, Simon relaunched Opry Mills with a refreshed physical environment, modernized logo, revised tenant mix, and themed shopping zones.

  Outcome. The mall reopened on March 29, 2012, restoring the property as an active shopping and entertainment destination.

  Source

• 2020

  Temporary pandemic closure and controlled reopeningStrategy

  Background

  Simon temporarily closed its U.S. properties in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Action taken

  Opry Mills closed in March 2020 and reopened approximately two months later with social-distancing restrictions.

  Aftermath

  The center resumed retail and entertainment operations under pandemic-era public-health measures.

  Source

• 2012

  Simon obtains full management control of the Mills portfolioM&A

  Background

  The Mills portfolio was jointly controlled by Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management after the 2007 acquisition.

  Action taken

  Simon acquired Farallon’s interest in the Mills portfolio.

  Aftermath

  Simon gained full control of management for the portfolio, including Opry Mills.

  Portfolio transaction value. $1.5 billion (March 2012)

  Source

• 2010

  Flood remediation and reconstructionOther

  Background

  Severe Tennessee flooding caused extensive damage, with water reportedly reaching as high as 10 feet inside the mall.

  Action taken

  The property was closed for environmental remediation, insurance claims, reconstruction, and later a broader physical and tenant-mix refresh.

  Aftermath

  The reopening was delayed beyond the initial 2011 target, and Opry Mills ultimately reopened in March 2012.

  Source

• 2002

  Mills acquires Gaylord’s remaining stakeM&A

  Background

  Opry Mills initially operated as a joint venture between Mills Corporation and Gaylord Entertainment.

  Action taken

  Gaylord sold its one-third interest to Mills for cash plus assumed debt.

  Aftermath

  Mills became the sole owner before later ownership changes involving KanAm, Simon, and Farallon.

  Transaction consideration. $30.8 million in cash plus assumption of $56 million in debt (December 2002)

  Source

• 1997

  Replace the theme park with a mixed-use destinationStrategy

  Background

  Gaylord Entertainment and Mills Corporation determined that the former Opryland Themepark property should be redeveloped rather than continue operating as a theme park.

  Action taken

  They announced Destination Opryland, centered partly on a new outlet mall and supported by hospitality, entertainment, cultural, and retail improvements.

  Aftermath

  The theme park closed at the end of 1997, and Opry Mills opened on the site in 2000.

  Source

1. 1Opry Millsen.wikipedia.org