Concord Mills

Apr 21, 2026 - 17:42
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Concord Mills

Mid-1990s–1999: Development and opening

← Previous revision Revision as of 12:11, 21 April 2026
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[[Western Development Corporation]], later [[corporate spin-off|spun-off]] as [[The Mills Corporation]] in 1994, began planning on Concord Mills in the mid-1990s as a super-regional "shoppertainment" mall with colorful aesthetics, [[retail outlet]]s, [[dining]], and attractions.{{Cite web |last=WFAE |date=January 28, 2013 |title=Episode 4: The Legend Of Concord Mills Mall |url=https://www.wfae.org/podcast/2013-01-28/episode-4-the-legend-of-concord-mills-mall |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=WFAE 90.7 - Charlotte's NPR News Source |language=en}}
[[Western Development Corporation]], later [[corporate spin-off|spun-off]] as [[The Mills Corporation]] in 1994, began planning on Concord Mills in the mid-1990s as a super-regional "shoppertainment" mall with colorful aesthetics, [[retail outlet]]s, [[dining]], and attractions.{{Cite web |last=WFAE |date=January 28, 2013 |title=Episode 4: The Legend Of Concord Mills Mall |url=https://www.wfae.org/podcast/2013-01-28/episode-4-the-legend-of-concord-mills-mall |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=WFAE 90.7 - Charlotte's NPR News Source |language=en}}


Concord Mills was designed by the [[St. Louis]]-based Kiku Obata & Company, and was developed as a [[joint venture]] with [[Germany|German]]-based KanAm.{{Cite web |title=The Mills Are Alive…with Graphics|url=https://signsofthetimes.com/the-mills-are-alivewith-graphics/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251016034249/https://signsofthetimes.com/the-mills-are-alivewith-graphics/ |archive-date=2025-10-16 |access-date=2026-03-14 |website=signsofthetimes.com |language=en}} The mall had its grand opening on September 17, 1999 with over 200 stores, originally featuring 65 payphones. Concord Mills made 4,000 jobs, $20 million+ in sales taxes per year, and $26 million in property taxes since 1997.{{Cite web |last=Whisenant |first=David |date=September 11, 2019 |title=Concord Mills celebrates 20th anniversary |url=https://www.wbtv.com/2019/09/10/concord-mills-celebrates-th-anniversary/ |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=WBTV |language=en}} The mall also featured seven themed neighborhoods, including "Courts" in each one, such as ''Urban Stage Entertainment Court'' with [[nightlife]] aesthetics, ''Fashion Court'', ''Style Court'', ''Basketball Court'', with rims and netting attached to the ceiling, ''Best Fest Food Court'', ''Music Court'', the ''[[NASCAR Racing]] Court'' with black-and-white checker flags and vehicle murals (sponsored by [[NASCAR]]), another ''Entertainment Court'', and the ''Runaway Court''. The [[food court]] originally featured North Carolina imagery, paying homage to the state. [[Simon DeBartolo Group]], later Simon Property Group in 1998, held joint venture interests in Concord Mills.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/914713/000091205702024499/a2082542zex-99_1.htm#:~:text=Simon%2520Property%2520Group%2520sold%2520its,venture%2520debt%2520for%2520Arizona%2520Mills. |access-date=2026-03-21 |website=SEC|title=EXHIBIT 99.1}}
Concord Mills was designed by the [[St. Louis]]-based Kiku Obata & Company, and was developed as a [[joint venture]] with [[Germany|German]]-based [[Mills Corporation#KanAm Grund Group|KanAm]].{{Cite web |title=The Mills Are Alive…with Graphics|url=https://signsofthetimes.com/the-mills-are-alivewith-graphics/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251016034249/https://signsofthetimes.com/the-mills-are-alivewith-graphics/ |archive-date=2025-10-16 |access-date=2026-03-14 |website=signsofthetimes.com |language=en}} The mall had its grand opening on September 17, 1999 with over 200 stores, originally featuring 65 payphones. Concord Mills made 4,000 jobs, $20 million+ in sales taxes per year, and $26 million in property taxes since 1997.{{Cite web |last=Whisenant |first=David |date=September 11, 2019 |title=Concord Mills celebrates 20th anniversary |url=https://www.wbtv.com/2019/09/10/concord-mills-celebrates-th-anniversary/ |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=WBTV |language=en}} The mall also featured seven themed neighborhoods, including "Courts" in each one, such as ''Urban Stage Entertainment Court'' with [[nightlife]] aesthetics, ''Fashion Court'', ''Style Court'', ''Basketball Court'', with rims and netting attached to the ceiling, ''Best Fest Food Court'', ''Music Court'', the ''[[NASCAR Racing]] Court'' with black-and-white checker flags and vehicle murals (sponsored by [[NASCAR]]), another ''Entertainment Court'', and the ''Runaway Court''. The [[food court]] originally featured North Carolina imagery, paying homage to the state. [[Simon DeBartolo Group]], later Simon Property Group in 1998, held joint venture interests in Concord Mills.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/914713/000091205702024499/a2082542zex-99_1.htm#:~:text=Simon%2520Property%2520Group%2520sold%2520its,venture%2520debt%2520for%2520Arizona%2520Mills. |access-date=2026-03-21 |website=SEC|title=EXHIBIT 99.1}}


===2000s–2010s===
===2000s–2010s===
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