Northgate Mall, Tullahoma, TN

 A dead mall

(Source)

Although I grew up not far from the southern Middle Tennessee town of Tullahoma, I don’t recall ever having visited.  With no interstate traversing the hamlet, I don’t think I ever even passed through.  But they do have a large military presence at Arnold Air Force Base, their own regional airport and, of course, Northgate Mall.

Northgate Mall lease plan ca. 2011.  View the full PDF version here.

Northgate Mall opened in 1976 on the town’s main northwest to southeast oriented thoroughfare.  JCPenney was the original anchor while Nashville based Castner Knott joined the lineup a year later in 1977. 

1- Christmas at Northgate Mall’s center court.  2- Community events at the mall entrance to the vacant at the time northwestern anchor.  3- Hibbett Sports mall entrance.  4- The mall entrance to Burkes Outlet.  5- The main corridor looking to the northwest.  6- Looking toward the southeast.  (Source for all)

In the first decade of the new millennium, JCPenney remained in business while Castner Knott was bought out by Dillard’s and wore the Little Rock based retailer’s nameplate.  They were joined by junior anchors Goody’s and Big Lots, the latter of which had moved into a space formerly occupied by a Kroger supermarket.

Northgate Mall pamphlet ca. 2019.  View the full PDF version here.

By the late 2010s, the mall was still doing well enough and its interior concourse served as a community center for the small town.  JCPenney was by then the only remaining traditional department store but was joined by stores like Publix and Hibbett Sports.

1- Northgate Mall’s main entrance.  (Source)  2- The northwestern entrance next to the vacant anchor.  (Source)  3- The old school façade of the old school former anchor Bog Lots.  (Source)  4- The view along the front face.  (Source)  5- Renovations at the mall include the addition of Marshalls.  (Source)  6- Exterior facing only spaces being added to where the enclosure used to be.  (Source)

However, in the early 2020s, changes were on the way.  The interior concourse was eliminated and newcomers like Old Navy and Marshall’s took its place.  That’s too bad as this mall seemed to do pretty well as community center.  I dread that small town peers like The Crossroads and Selma Mall may one day see the same fate.

Northgate Mall pamphlet ca. 2021.  View the full PDF version here.

Northgate Mall on Facebook