McFarland Mall timeline: A look back at the rise and fall of a Tuscaloosa mall

Ken Roberts, Tuscaloosa News
Updated ·2 min read

McFarland Mall was was once the premier shopping destination in West Alabama, but the mall fell on hard times after the turn of the century.

Here's a look back at the history of McFarland Mall:

More: From retail to rubble: What will happen with McFarland Mall site?

  • Feb. 19, 1969: Developed by Ward Wharton McFarland, McFarland Mall opens with Woolco and Gayfers as anchors, along with 30 other stores.

  • 1975: Gayfers adds a second floor, becoming McFarland Mall's only two-story tenant.

  • 1980: With the opening of University Mall bringing competition, McFarland Mall undergoes a significant renovation. A 320-seat food court under an atrium is added, along with Goody's Family Clothing as an anchor store. The mall eventually grows to have four anchors, 40 stores, a 12-screen movie theater and the food court.

  • 1983: Woolco closes and is replaced by Zayre.

  • 1989: Zayre closes and is replaced by Jefferson Home Furniture , T.J. Maxx, and Drug Mart.

  • 1993: A standalone Books-a-Million store opens and the Drug Mart is converted into a Shoe Station.

  • 2004: The Fox 12 movie theater closes.

  • 2008: Dillard's closes, followed by Goody's in 2009.

  • 2009: Developer Stan Pate buys McFarland Mall from Ward McFarland Inc.

  • 2012: Pate announces redevelopment plan, Encore Tuscaloosa. Dillard's is demolished and Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen opens.

  • 2013: Books-A-Million store closes.

  • 2014: Demolition of unused portions of McFarland Mall begins.

  • 2016: T.J. Maxx closes site and moves into McFarland Plaza; Shoe Station follows suit.

  • 2019: Asuka Buffet moves into Cheddar's site.

  • 2020: Demolition goes into final stages, including former site of Chili's restaurant.

  • 2021: Old Woolco wing of the mall is demolished.

  • 2022: Goody's wing is demolished, leaving Dollar Tree as the only retail store left at the site.

  • 2024: The Tuscaloosa City Council approves a motion authorizing Mayor Walt Maddox to execute a $65.1 million incentive plan with Stan Pate's Encore Tuscaloosa LLC. The re-developed site could include a full-service hotel, a limited-service hotel, casual dining restaurants, coffee shop-style restaurants, fast-food restaurants and other commercial retail.

McFarland Mall, shown in this 2012 photo, opened in 1969 on Skyland Boulevard.
McFarland Mall, shown in this 2012 photo, opened in 1969 on Skyland Boulevard.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: McFarland Mall timeline: The rise and fall of a Tuscaloosa mall