The rise and fall of Tuscaloosa’s McFarland Mall

McFarland Mall was was once the premier shopping destination in West Alabama, but the mall fell on hard times after the turn of this century.

With the Tuscaloosa City Council on May approving a $65 million incentive plan to redevelop the site, here’s a look back at the history of McFarland Mall:

● Feb. 19, 1969: Developed by Ward Wharton McFarland, McFarland Mall opens with Woolco and Gayfers as anchors, along with 30 other stores.

● 1975: Gayfers adds a second floor, becoming McFarland Mall’s only twostory tenant.

● 1980: With the opening of University Mall bringing competition, McFarland Mall undergoes a significant renovation. A 320-seat food court under an atrium is added, along with Goody’s Family Clothing as an anchor store. The mall eventually grows to have four anchors, 40 stores, a 12-screen movie theater and the food court.

● 1983: Woolco closes and is replaced by Zayre.

● 1989: Zayre closes and is replaced by Jefferson Home Furniture , T.J. Maxx, and Drug Mart.

● 1993: A standalone Books-a-Million store opens and the Drug Mart is converted into a Shoe Station.

● 2004: The Fox 12 movie theater closes.

● 2008: Dillard’s closes, followed by Goody’s in 2009.

● 2009: Developer Stan Pate buys McFarland Mall from Ward McFarland Inc.

● 2012: Pate announces redevelopment plan, Encore Tuscaloosa. Dillard’s is demolished and Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen opens.

● 2013: Books-A-Million closes.

● 2014: Demolition of unused portions of McFarland Mall begins.

● 2016: T.J. Maxx closes site and moves into McFarland Plaza; Shoe Station follows suit.

● 2019: Asuka Buffet moves into store

Cheddar’s site.

● 2020: Demolition goes into final stages, including former site of Chili’s restaurant.

● 2021: Old Woolco wing of the mall is demolished.

● 2022: Goody’s wing is demolished, leaving Dollar Tree as the only retail store left at the site.

● 2024: The council approves a motion authorizing Mayor Walt Maddox to execute a $65.1 million incentive plan with Stan Pate’s Encore Tuscaloosa LLC. The re-developed site could include a full-service hotel, a limited-service hotel, casual dining restaurants, coffee shop-style restaurants, fast-food restaurants and other commercial retail.