On February 12, the SouthPark Mall will celebrate 50 years of shopping, dining and entertainment.
Starting this week, a visual timeline of SouthPark’s history will be on display to greet guests, providing them the opportunity to walk back in time through the center’s rich past. SouthPark will also randomly surprise and delight guests in celebration of its anniversary on February 12.
To commemorate the milestone in the community, SouthPark is partnering with local charities and organizations throughout the year, including Bright Blessings, a non-profit organization that has provided more than 17,000 homeless and impoverished children with birthday celebrations they’ll never forget. The center donated toys to their Party Closet and will throw a surprise celebration in March for a child in need. SouthPark’s 15-year partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Animal Care & Control Division will continue during 2020 with monthly adoptions through October. A goal of 150 animal adoptions is set for this milestone year.
“It’s inspiring to celebrate SouthPark’s history and legendary evolution over the past 50 years, as we look toward its promising future,” said SouthPark General Manager Randy Thomas. “The center has created a thriving community within Charlotte, and we are proud to hold a special place in the hearts of our guests who have been shopping and sharing memories with us for decades.”
After purchasing the Morrocroft Family Farm in what was once the outskirts of Charlotte, the Belk and Ivey families, owners of two of the three original department stores, developed SouthPark and opened its doors in 1970. The name “SouthPark” was inspired by the mall’s location – just five miles south of Uptown Charlotte. With the opening of the mall, the two families not only created a premier shopping center, but also a brand-new Charlotte neighborhood.
SouthPark has continued to evolve and enhance its offerings based on the needs of shoppers over the past five decades. Two expansions have accommodated the ever-growing roster of retailers at the center, including the addition of a luxury wing anchored by Nordstrom in 2004. SouthPark is also home to many brands that can’t be found elsewhere in the Charlotte or North Carolina markets, including Louis Vuitton, Burberry, David Yurman, Tory Burch and Neiman Marcus. Digitally native retailers like Peloton, Warby Parker, UNTUCKit and Fabletics, among others, have also launched new locations at SouthPark as they expand to physical storefronts to capitalize on guests seeking the experiential aspects only offered by brick-and-mortar shopping.
The Village at SouthPark opened in 2007, featuring 150 luxury apartments above 80,000 square feet of ground floor retail space. Simon also developed Symphony Park, a seven-acre outdoor theatre and greenspace. The all-encompassing destination offers a variety of activities including charitable walks, fundraisers and events, and community members enjoy events such as Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Pops Concert Series, Great Grapes Wine Festival and The Lantern Festival.