Southland Center (Taylor, MI)

[Hudsons81]

Southland Center is the newest of Metro Detroit's four -land shopping malls. It is located 13 miles southwest of downtown Motown. It, along with it's three sister centers, was developed by the J.L. Hudson Company and was constructed by Victor Gruen and Louis G. Redstone. It later opened on July 20, 1970. The original anchor was a three-story Hudson's (along with an attached Budget Store) and original junior tenants included Woolworth, Kroger and a two-screen movie theater. Among the original inline tenants were Chess King, Foxmoor and Hot Sam Pretzels, as well as local chains Land of Hi-Fi, Singer Sewing and women's apparel chain Winkleman's.

Kroger moved to a larger store across Eureka Road a few years later and in 1976, a two-story JCPenney became the second anchor, which joined about 25 new inline tenants, including those in the old Kroger space. During the 1980's, both auditoriums in the theater were split, creating a total of four screens and the theater was eventually purchased by AMC Theaters in 1986. In 1988, the Rouse Company of Maryland purchased Southland Center, that same year, a one-story Mervyn's joined as the center's third anchor. Next, a food court called Picnic in the Garden debuted in late 1992 and featured a towering triangular-shaped skylight and tenants including McDonald's, Sbarro and Taco Bell.

Woolworth continued to hang on until closing in July 1997. Early 2001 brought the first anchor rebranding at Southland Center-Hudson's was rebranded as Marshall Field's. In November 2004, Southland Center received new ownership in General Growth Properties, when that company purchased Rouse. Just two years later, in 2006, major changes would occur, commencing with the shuttering of Mervyn's in February, other than stints as Halloween stores, that space has never been retenanted. Next, Marshall Field's became Macy's in September. Finally, the food court, which was shuttered in late 2005, was completely gutted and expanded into a Best Buy store-the skylight was worked into the new store.

Meanwhile, the theater eventually experienced declining attendance and closed in January 1999. Borders opened in the former theater space in September 2000, only for it to close in September 2011. After serving as a Halloween store in 2012, it reopened as Forever 21 in the spring of 2013, relocating from a smaller storefront within the mall. In addition, GGP's bankruptcy troubles in the early 21st century resulted in the creation of a new spinoff company, Rouse Properties, which took control of Southland Center in January 2012.

Several months later, Rouse announced significant changes to Southland Center, which will culminate into a remodeling project that's supposed to start soon. In late 2013, several storefronts in the JCPenney wing were gutted and expanded into a Shoe Carnival, around that same time, the long-dead former Mervyn's wing became populated again and finally, a few weeks back on August 29, Ulta opened along the Macy's-Best Buy corridor. In addition, JCPenney underwent a massive renovation that began in 2012 and continued with minor work in 2013 and early 2014, which included the addition of an in-store Sephora.

Rouse recently announced that the still-vacant Mervyn's space will be torn down for a 12-screen, all-digital, Cinemark theater to open in late 2015, which will feature reclining leather seats. I don't know how well that will fare with MJR Digital Cinemas' proposed plan to reopen the vacant AMC Star Taylor 10 across Eureka Road, which is planned for the Christmas holiday.

This mall seems to be doing pretty great, especially considering that it's the only regional enclosed mall within about a ten-mile radius.

[TheFugitive]

Rouse recently announced that the still-vacant Mervyn's space will be torn down for a 12-screen, all-digital, Cinemark theater to open in late 2015, which will feature reclining leather seats.

Century III Mall near Pittsburgh is doing the same thing.
Tearing down the vacant former Hornes/Lazarus space and installing a
state-of-the-art digital movie theater.

[Hudsons81]

Well, at least there is still a place to buy CDs and movies here at Southland Center-Best Buy, to be specific, but I still remember when there was both a Sam Goody and a Suncoast Video along the Hudson's-Mervyn's corridor.

Anyways, it'll be interesting to see how successful the new Cinemark 12 will be-especially considering that there will already be another theater literally across Eureka Road, plus, JCPenney is one of the anchors here and that'll factor in how this mall will survive even after the remodeling.

[Hudsons81]

Here's how Southland Center was laid out when it opened.


The mall originally featured an aviary and a waterfall in center court. Both were removed by 1981.



This was taken in 1971 where Best Buy is today.


Tree clearing takes place in 1975 for the JCPenney wing.


A fashion show that took place at the mall in 1985.


Dave Caruso of the Caruso Brothers performed a concert at Southland Center in 1989.


Inside and outside Picnic in the Garden in it's heyday.



Mervyn's when it was still open.


Picnic in the Garden after it was shuttered.

[Hudsons81]

The long-awaited remodeling project has begun. Olga's Kitchen is in the background to the left and Auntie Anne's is nearly out-of-frame to the far right.


It's expected to be completed by 2015. Here's a rendering of the finished product.


None of the photos in this post or the one above this were mine.

[Hudsons81]

Current anchors:



Current junior anchors:





Coming 2015:


Official site: http://www.shopsouthlandcenter.com
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southland_Center_(Michigan)
Listing on Rouse Properties' website: http://rouseproperties.com/southland-center
Listing on Mall Hall of Fame (scroll down to "Detroit's Southland Center"): http://mall-hall-of-fame.blogspot.com/search/label/Detroit%20Malls
Listing on my retail blog from 2013: http://motor-city-retail-history.blogspot.com/2013/02/southland-center-taylor-michigan.html

[Hudsons81]

H&M is actually opening a store in Southland Center next fall.

http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2014/11/14/news/doc546658be7fba5081919341.txt

[Hudsons81]

November 2014 update.

PMA Designer Oils has opened up in the space previously occupied by Top Line.


Kay Jewelers has been remodeled. During the project, they temporarily moved to the former Gloworks space close towards JCPenney.


Ulta Beauty opened in August, taking over spaces formerly occupied by Forever 21 and Lane Bryant, as well as space in the back that has sat vacant since Tilt Arcade occupied it.



The former Fischer's Hallmark space is now a Toys "R" Us Express.


New flooring has been put in in the West Court and along the corridor leading west from it.


The walls on either side of the facade of the Macy's West Court entrance are now white.


Demolition of the former Mervyn's building is nearing completion. A year from now, the fake wall you see below will be removed to reveal a Cinemark theater lobby.

[Hudsons81]

Yet another new store announcement-Zumeiz is also joining the Southland Center tenant list.

http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2014/12/04/news/doc5480a2ffe176a194584213.txt

[Hudsons81]

Mervyn's is now being demolished to make way for the new Cinemark theater.

http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2015/04/21/news/doc5536b5e32faa6849646986.txt

Construction crews have begun razing the former Mervyn’s department store at Southland Center in Taylor to make way for a Cinemark theater complex.

Cinemark Holdings announced last year that it would open a 12-screen all-digital theater at the mall. Along with the theater, company officials said the development would bring three national chain restaurants into the 50,000 square-foot space.

The project is expected to be complete by fall 2015.

A spokesman from Cinemark Holdings was not immediately available for comment.

[Hudsons81]

May 2015 Update:

• The former Mervyn's is now gone.
• All flooring throughout the corridors and courts has been replaced.
• Macy's has received a new paint job on the rest of the interior entrances.
• The entire block of stores starting at Charlotte Russee on the west court and continuing into the corridor to the former Mervyn's has been gutted and is becoming an H&M.
• Several stores-namely Torrid, Payless Shoe Source, Journey's and Southland Music-have moved from the aforementioned block of stores to other locations within the mall.
• Wet Seal is now Campus Den.
• Looks like Radio Shack has closed.
• The Dairy Queen/Orange Julius east court kiosk is gone.

[Hudsons81]

List of stores, 1998:

5-7-9, Afterthoughts, AMC Southland 4 Theaters, American Eagle Outfitters, Angie's Angels to Brides, Athletic Attic, Athletic X-Press, B. Dalton, Baker's Shoes, Bath & Body Works, Carlton Cards, Champ's Sports, The Children's Place, Cinnabon, Claire's, Coffee Beanery, Contempo Casuals, Corey's Jewel Box, County Seat, Dairy Queen/Orange Julius, Disney Store, D.O.C., D.O.C. Eyeworld, Elias Bros. Big Boy, Elias Jewelry & Repairs, Farr Jewelers, Fiesta Catina, Fischer's Hallmark, Foot Action, Foot Locker, Frederick's of Hollywood, Glamour Photography, GNC, Great American Cookie Company, Great Steak & Potato Company, H&R Block, Haircut House, Helzberg Diamonds, Hudson's, Hudson's Nature Nook, Imperial Sports, J. Riggings, Jarman Shoes, JB Robinson Jewelers, JCPenney, Jola Pastel/Brazilian Cafe, JW, Kay-Bee Toys, Kay Jewelers, Kid's Foot Locker, Kinney Shoes, Lady Foot Locker, Lafayette Coney Island, Lane Bryant, Leather Limited, Lechter's, Lerner New York, Limited, The Loop, Magic Wok, McDonald's, Merksamer Jewelers, Mervyn's, Meyer's Jewelers, Mike's Shoe Repair, Modern Woman, Mr. Sam Tailor, My Photographer, Naturalizer Shoes, Newsboy, Northern Reflections, Olga's Kitchen, Pacific Sunwear, Paul Harris, Payless Shoe Source, Pearle Vision, Piercing Pagoda, PNC Bank ATMs, Pop Culture, President Tuxedo, Pretzel Peddler, Quick Test Opinion Center, Radio Shack, Rave, Record Town, Ruby Tuesday, Sam Goody, San Francisco Music Box, Sawa Family Restaurant, Sbarro, Sibley Shoes, Software Etc., Southland Music, Spencer's, Structure, Subway, Sunburst, Suncoast Video, Sunglass Hut, Superstars, T-Shirt Place, Things Remembered, Tilt Arcade, Tom's Collectibles, Trade Secret, Tropical Grill, Tuxedo World, Universal Nails, Victoria's Secret, Wicks & Sticks, Wilson's The Leather Experts, Wonder Nails, World of Racing, Zales Jewelers

[Hudsons81]

Rumors have been circulating on social media about abductions that have been taking place in the parking lots recently, which involved placing empty bottles on tires. These rumors have been claimed to be false by officials.

http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2015/08/22/news/doc55d796b028130660041197.txt

[Hudsons81]

H&M opened on October 1st.

In addition, a new DQ/Orange Julius kiosk has also opened, this time, in front of H&M.

https://www.facebook.com/ShopSouthlandCenter/photos/a.387191768620.169278.204830408620/10153317597393621/?type=3&theater

[Hudsons81]

The Cinemark 12 is now projected for a spring 2016 opening instead, however, the court at the future interior entrance is already being referred to as the Cinemark Court.