SouthPark Mall

[StevenRocks]

My friend Keith at the Malls of America blog found an awesome shot of the interior SouthPark fountain taken in 1976.

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If you're too young to remember what the mall looked like back in the day (or like me: I never had a chance to go to SouthPark until 1992, and by then the fountain and the court around it had been substantially changed.) you will be suprised. If you do remember the place as it used to be, you'll get warm and fuzzy about this shot.

I'm going to use that picture in an evolution of the SouthPark fountain post on LiveMalls eventually.

EDIT: Eventually is now! Check out http://livemalls.blogspot.com/2006/04/evol...n-court-at.html

Edited April 17, 2006 by StevenRocks

[DigitalSky]

Ho-Ly Crap!

[turbocraig]

LOVE the giant shower head... they should re-install that in the circular court at Tiffany/Louis/Burberry/N-M... That is too cool.

[DigitalSky]

LOVE the giant shower head... they should re-install that in the circular court at Tiffany/Louis/Burberry/N-M... That is too cool.

now THAT would be amazing.

[StevenRocks]

You never know. They might do it.

Then again, the funky Modern arbor that they have already is really nice.

[Charlotteman]

That could have been me standing near the fountain, as I went to South Park Mall quite frequently in 1976:)

Someone help me remember, did SP Mall open in 1970?

[Rickydavisfan21]

Drove By village at southpark, impressive and going up fast I assume the steel thing next to the entrance is Crate and Barrel?

[turbocraig]

I think it is. It has the same curved facade that the C&B rendering has, so I'd assume so.

[DigitalSky]

That could have been me standing near the fountain, as I went to South Park Mall quite frequently in 1976:)

Someone help me remember, did SP Mall open in 1970?

Yes. February 12, 1970.

[Rickydavisfan21]

anyone have a link the the crate and barrel rendering?

[DigitalSky]

[StevenRocks]

Yes. February 12, 1970.

You beat me to it

[appatone]

I don't know how recently everyone has been to Belk in SP but the Chanel name is everywhere in there. I was walking out of the store and noticed signs, banners, display cases everywhere. So, I noticed that Chanel probably has the largest cosmetic display space in the store. If I'm not mistaken, Louis Vuitton and Kate Spade first dabbled in the Charlotte market by leasing space in Belk and then moving into their own stores. With this huge Chanel thing going on in Belk I think Chanel may be priming Charlotte for a Chanel store in the new wing. Also Belk SP has huge Ralph Lauren areas so I would imagine that SP must be on RL's radar. Just some thoughts.

[StevenRocks]

Usually when Belk SouthPark starts promoting a brand, that brand is getting ready to open at store in the mall.

[Temeteron]

Usually when Belk SouthPark starts promoting a brand, that brand is getting ready to open at store in the mall.

its too bad they cant promote A/X lol

[charlotte_bon_vivant]

Usually when Belk SouthPark starts promoting a brand, that brand is getting ready to open at store in the mall.

Unless Chanel is opening a cosmetics store, maybe not. Belk SP doesn't carry Chanel accessories or clothing. Unless it's all hidden away and no one will tell me where it is.

[veggieboifl]

Chanel is more than likely about to have cosmetics event,etc. in Belk in the evry new future. We do this at Bloomingdales a lot!

[StevenRocks]

Unless Chanel is opening a cosmetics store, maybe not. Belk SP doesn't carry Chanel accessories or clothing. Unless it's all hidden away and no one will tell me where it is.

I think Neiman Marcus SouthPark will have a small Chanel accessories or sportswear boutique, kind of like what Louis Vuitton has in the Raleigh Saks. Belk will probably get some kind of Chanel enhancement as well.

[charlotte_bon_vivant]

I think Neiman Marcus SouthPark will have a small Chanel accessories or sportswear boutique, kind of like what Louis Vuitton has in the Raleigh Saks. Belk will probably get some kind of Chanel enhancement as well.

Thanks, but this is not the answer I was looking for. I was hoping you'd provide directions to the Chanel in Belk. If only you could see the single tear rolling down my cheek.

NM at Lenox has an in-store Chanel boutique. It's okay. I do like the design: glass walls and very clean displays. The lighting is kind of low. It reminds me a bit of the Avenue Montaigne store in Paris.

[StevenRocks]

Thanks, but this is not the answer I was looking for. I was hoping you'd provide directions to the Chanel in Belk. If only you could see the single tear rolling down my cheek.

I wish I could tell you there was one. There wasn't when I last went. But considering that this is Belk SouthPark we're talking about, they may have slipped one in on Level Three while nobody was looking.

I could totally see them having one though. Considering how much St. John they move, I can imagine Chanel would have appeal to the "Regency Sportswear" shoppers.

[NCMike1981]

Were Belk stores in Charlotte always just Belk or was there once a hyphenated name attached? If yes when did the other name drop off?

[krazeeboi]

I used to know it originally as Belk-Hudson, but apparently the Belk name was hyphenated with others throughout its history.

[NCMike1981]

Yeah Hudson Belk is still around in the Triangle area

[appatone]

I don't know if any of you are interested but I snapped this picture of the back end of the original Belk building in downtown Monroe. This is where Belk's started. You can see the old signage that someone tried to paint over years ago.

Edited April 19, 2006 by appatone

[StevenRocks]

Were Belk stores in Charlotte always just Belk or was there once a hyphenated name attached? If yes when did the other name drop off?

Belk has always been Belk or Belk Brothers in Charlotte.