University Mall opened in 1974 with
J. C. Penney,
Sears-closed in July 2018, and
McRae's, in its first location outside
Mississippi. The mall was largely damaged by
Hurricane Ivan in 2004, but all three anchor stores soon reopened. Plans were first announced in 2007 to redevelop the mall, which had been losing stores, but retain all three anchors. Belk, which bought the McRae's chain, closed its store at the mall in 2011 and consolidated into a newly relocated store at
Cordova Mall. In 2013, Simon began demolition of the mall property, and announced the newly redeveloped mall would include
Academy Sports + Outdoors,
Burlington Coat Factory, and
Toys "R" Us, which closed in June 2018. The first phase of renovation would also include a new series of inline shops including
Famous Footwear,
Motherhood Maternity, and a
Jimmy John's restaurant. J. C. Penney has remained operational at the mall. In 2015,
Sears Holdings spun off 235 of its properties, including the Sears at University Town Plaza, into Seritage Growth Properties. The former Sears was torn down in 2019 for a
BJ's Wholesale Club.
Conn's would open in the former Toys "R" Us in 2022. ==References==