The Mall of Georgia, an indoor/outdoor complex with 220 stores in Buford, Ga., is more than a super-regional mall. It is a tourist and entertainment destination for all of Georgia as well as nearby states North Carolina and South Carolina. The anchor stores are Nordstrom, Macy's, Dillard's, JCPenny, Belk and Dick's Sporting Goods.
History
The Mall of Georgia opened in September 1999. When the idea of the mall was first conceived, planners were concerned that there would not be enough demand for such a large retail center in the small town of Buford. But from its opening, the mall has been highly successful. More than 300,000 people came during its opening weekend, and today the mall averages over 1,500,000 visitors per month.
Features
Retail is only a part of the attraction. The indoor mall sits next to an outdoor area designed to look like an old town square with restaurants and an outdoor amphitheater. There are two movie theaters, a Regal Cinema Theater and an Imax 3D Theater. There is also a carousel and a NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway. Outdoor paths connect the mall to a nearby nature center with more than two miles of nature trails.
Size
The indoor part of the Mall of Georgia contains 2,000,000 square feet and has three levels. The nearby nature preserve is 80 acres.
Special Events
The Mall of Georgia has several regular events. The amphitheater hosts concerts and performances year-round, and the Simon Kidgets Club, a membership club for kids, has regular special events. In addition, the mall hosts a variety of seasonal activities, such as its large outdoor Christmas tree in winter and an annual Easter egg hunt in the spring.
Geography
The Mall of Georgia is close to four major highways: Interstate-85, I-985, SR 20 and I-285. Inside the mall complex, there are five courtyards decorated in themes based on the five major geographic areas in Georgia (coastal, plains, Piedmont, mountain and the city of Atlanta).
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