Tanglewood Mall

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Coordinates: 37°13′44.4″N, 79°58′37.1″W

Tanglewood Mall parking lot and sign, in 2003.
Tanglewood Mall parking lot and sign, in 2003.
A "dead" wing of Tanglewood Mall, in 2004, before renovations began.
A "dead" wing of Tanglewood Mall, in 2004, before renovations began.

Tanglewood Mall is a shopping mall in southwest Roanoke County, Virginia. It originally opened for business in 1973. The mall is currently managed by Urban Retail Properties.

Tanglewood was approaching "dead mall" status at one point, but appears to be on the road to recovery with extensive renovations. The mall has the advantage of being located near some of the most affluent areas of Roanoke County and the city of Roanoke.

Tanglewood Mall is located at the intersection of US 220 and Route 419. The Roy L. Weber Expressway's southern terminus is the exit with 419.

Contents

[edit] Anchors

[edit] History

When Tanglewood Mall opened in 1973, the original anchor stores were JCPenney, Leggett (now Belk), Woolco, Miller & Rhoads, and G.C. Murphy. The mall's interior contained dark parquetry floors, tinted glass, modern lighting, and three large fountains.

G.C. Murphy left Tanglewood Mall in 1979. Following this departure, the space was reconfigured into a food court. Woolco closed its Tanglewood location in 1983, and the space was renovated to create a Brendle's catalog showroom. Another notable feature of Tanglewood Mall was known as The French Quarter, which was designed to look like a French village, with boutiques including a gourmet market and restaurant.

The interior was renovated in 1985 following the opening of Valley View Mall, which swept away much of the 1970s-style decorative details, replacing them with softer colors, and Mediterranean tile, as well as a passenger elevator.

Due to at least three changes of ownership, Tanglewood Mall was a mix of different retail philosophies, as successive owners attempted to move the mall up- and down-scale. However, Miller & Rhoads left the mall in 1989, and Brendle's left in 1996. The French Quarter closed in 1995 to make way for Goody's Family Clothing. In 1996, the mall received a second renovation.

[edit] Renovations (2005-2007)

The mall began renovations and construction in 2005, a process that will continue until 2007. According to mall marketing manager Rebecca Spaid, the mall will be reconfigured to make space for "several new tenants," as well as refreshing the appearance of the mall's interior and exterior.[1]

February 2006 saw the opening of AC Moore Arts & Crafts, ahead of the proposed construction schedule. AC Moore had opened in a section of previous storefronts. Then the TJMaxx renovated the former Brendle's space and relocated in April. Unfortunately, it no longer opened into the mall. Nearby in-line space was also converted to two more junior anchors, one which was Staples.[2] The third "box", the only that opened into the mall corridor was vacant until Stein Mart moved in, leaving another vacant spot.

Steve and Barry's opened in October 2006, occupying approximately 48,000 square feet on the second level which includes the second level of the former TJ Maxx space and the virtually empty food court, as well as a several storefronts. The few tenants that had remained in the food court, including Chick-Fil-A, have since re-located within the mall.[3] On 18 September 2006, Chick-fil-A held its grand-reopening in a new location on the upper-level, after a soft reopening 16 September.

Kroger, an outparcel, is finishing renovating its interior and exterior; its new front will "better highlight the company’s selection of fresh foods."[4] The renovations are also in anticipation of a Ukrops opening in 2007 a short distance away.

Mall marketing manager Rebecca Spaid commented, "Here We GROW Again is our theme for 2006 as construction gives Tanglewood Mall a facelift. With the addition of new tenants coupled with the relocation of popular tenants, we sport a fresh look and better opportunities to serve our customers."[4] Despite the opening of Cheeburger Cheeburger, Tanglewood still grapples with vacancy, such as the gap where Stein Mart left.

[edit] Events

Annually, Tanglewood hosts various events within the mall. Santa's Castle is present from mid-November until Christmas Eve, and there is a "Breakfast with Santa" event. For Easter, the easter bunny appears at Tanglewood at the "Easter Bunny's Garden Gazebo"; a "Wake Up with the Bunny" event also is held. Tanglewood hosts the home and real estate show "Star City Living", as well as health or insurance related days.

The annual "Tons of Fun" indoor winter carnival, is held in partnership with Roanoke County Parks, Recreation & Tourism. Geared to families, it features many activities for children from rides to arts and crafts, to entertainment. Various businesses host interactive tables, including local non-profits (museums, zoo, symphony, etc). Dancers, baton twirlers, puppeteers, and magicians all entertain.

There is also a mall walker program.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Blue Ridge Business Journal: New tenants moving into Tanglewood Mall, 28 November 2005
  2. ^ Jenny Kincaid Boone. "Staples might be moving into Tanglewood Mall", The Roanoke Times, June 17, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-07-29. (English) 
  3. ^ The Roanoke Times: Mall makes another score, 21 March 2006
  4. ^ a b "Chick-Fil-A re-opens at Tanglewood Mall", Tanglewood Mall press release, 18 September 2006.

[edit] External links