Western Hills Mall Explained

Western Hills Mall
Opening Date:1969
Developer:Aronov Realty
Owner:Peleg Group
Number Of Stores:37
Number Of Anchors:0 (space for 2)
Floor Area:[1]
Floors:1
Website:shopmalls.com

Western Hills Mall is a shopping mall located in Fairfield, Alabama, United States, a suburb of Birmingham.

The mall opened in 1969 as the second in Birmingham,[2] under the development of Aronov Realty.[3] Loveman's of Alabama, which became Pizitz in 1980, was one of its original anchor stores.[4] Pizitz later became McRae's, then Parisian. JCPenney was the other major store, with Yeilding's and F.W. Woolworth Company as the other major tenants.[5] The Yeilding's space was later occupied by Goody's Family Clothing.

In 2006, Western Hills Mall underwent a major transformation. The JCPenney location was demolished, with the mall building being truncated at the former Penney entrance. A new Walmart Supercenter was built on the site of the former JCPenney.[6] Parisian also closed in the late 2000s and a Burlington Coat Factory took its place.[7]

In January 2016, Walmart Supercenter closed its doors.[8] In February 2017, Burlington Coat Factory also went out of business from the mall, which left the mall with no anchors.[9]

On February 16, 2018, a shootout occurred at the mall. Anthony Alberigi, the manager of the mall, was killed in the gunfire.[10]

In January 2022, the Peleg Group of Miami, Florida, bought the mall from Aronov Realty for $2.94 million.[11] Once taking ownership, they went forward with a $4 million renovation project that included new AC, new paint, a new parking lot and fixing various roof issues.[12]

Notes and References

  1. http://aronov.com/uploadedFiles/Aronov/Retail/Property_Portfolio/Malls/ar03-23007-WesternHillsMall-ICSC-LeaseFlyers-2012-web.pdf Unknown
  2. Book: Hollis, Tim. Vintage Birmingham Signs. 2008-01-01. Arcadia Publishing. 9780738553764. en.
  3. Book: Chain Store Age, Executives Edition Combined with Shopping Center Age. 1967-07-01. Lebhar-Friedman. en.
  4. Book: Hollis, Tim. Vintage Birmingham Signs. 2008-01-01. Arcadia Publishing. 9780738553764. en.
  5. Book: Directory of major malls. 1990. MJJTM Publications Corp.. 9.
  6. Web site: Western Hills getting Wal-Mart Supercenter - Birmingham Business Journal. Birmingham Business Journal. 2016-04-09.
  7. Web site: Burlington Coat Factory set to open in Western Hills Mall - Birmingham Business Journal. Birmingham Business Journal. 2016-04-09.
  8. Web site: Walmart closing could be devastating for Fairfield. 26 January 2016.
  9. Web site: Western Hills Mall loses anchor store. 24 February 2017.
  10. News: Mall manager killed after "reckless" shootout at Western Hills Mall; 1 suspect still at large. Staff. CBS 42. 2018-02-16. WIAT. 2018-02-17. en-US.
  11. News: Parker. Illyshia. Developer of Fairfield mall sells property to Florida investment firm. Birmingham Business Journal. 5 May 2022.
  12. News: Robinson. Aajene. Renovations almost complete at Western Hills Mall. WBRC Fox 6. 17 November 2022.