There’s been a lot of talk lately about the comings + goings at the Citadel Mall. The 1,000,000+ square foot facility opened in the 1980s– but the 2000s brought the decline of the shopping mall, and the Citadel Mall was no exception. It has since struggled with vacancies, ultimately landing in a bit of an identity crisis.
Lately, though, it appears things are looking up for the struggling shopping center. And that’s not happening by accident – it all falls into a master plan for revitalizing + reshaping West Ashley. One chunk of that plan is anchored to converting the Citadel Mall + its surrounding properties into a new, mixed-use development.
Here’s what’s already slotted in for the space inside the mall:
- A new name. Move aside, Citadel Mall. The complex is now called the EPIC Center.
- MUSC Health will transform the old J.C. Penney store into its new West Campus. And we’re not just talking doctors’ offices. Expect anything from specialists to lab services, and even an ambulatory surgery center. The goal: to provide specialized health care in more locations – so patients don’t have to travel to the peninsula for every appointment.
- Charleston Performing Arts Center is leaving its home at Folly Road to take over the 6,600 sq. ft. suite once occupied by Palmetto Moon. Starting April 1, you can catch performances + attend Broadway workshops at the new, expanded space.
- A local investor purchased the 14-acre area that once housed Sears. It’s currently being leased to HBO for the filming of its new comedy series, “The Righteous Gemstones.”
And here’s the vision for making the surrounding area more vibrant:
- Filling in sections of the mall’s parking lots with offices, retail space + residential structures.
- Additional community development across Orleans Rd. (where the Party City is located).
- Having both parking lots + a deck to accommodate vehicles. Additionally, there are plans to address the larger transportation issues plaguing West Ashley, including longterm solutions like park-and-ride hubs, shuttles, + more bike-friendly roadways.
Charleston isn’t the first city to revamp the mall concept to keep up with the times. Several cities across the country have successfully done this– like Winter Park Village in Orlando, F.L. + The Bloc in Los Angeles. Talk about thinking outside the big box retailer.
