Rivergate Mall was built by Retail Planning Corporation, an Atlanta-based mall developer, just outside the state capital of Nashville, Tennessee within Goodletsville along Two Mile Pike.[1][2] The mall officially opened on October 6, 1971.[3] Upon its opening, Rivergate Mall became the largest mall in Tennessee, a title it would hold until the opening of Hickory Hollow Mall in 1978. The mall originally included three anchor stores: Cain-Sloan, Castner Knott, and JCPenney.[4] Other major tenants at opening included Jo-Ann Fabrics, McCrory, and Walgreens.[5] The mall's first expansion phase opened in November 1978, with a new parking area and 55,000 square feet (5,100 m2) of retail space, which included 22 stores and 74 supporting shops.[6]Journeys opened their first location in the mall in December 1986.[7] Cain-Sloan sold its store to Dillard's in 1987, as a part of deal which included the sale of three Nashville-area locations.[8] A wing featuring Sears, dozens of new parcels, and a food court was added in 1989.
1990s to 2000s
During a tornado outbreak on May 18, 1995, part of the Rivergate Mall's roof collapsed, injuring more than a dozen people.[9] The mall was sold to CBL Associates & Properties for $247 million in June 1998.[10] In August of that year, Proffitt's purchased five Nashville-area Castner Knott's from Dillard's. Dillard's had acquired Castner Knott's through their purchase of the parent company Mercantile Stores Company.[11] With the threat of competition from nearby Opry Mills, CBL renovated the mall in 1999, adding new carpeting and a new entranceway.[12] Proffitt's sold its store to Hecht's in March 2001 as part of a deal to sell off nine locations.[13]Linens 'n Things opened a store at the mall in 2003.[14] In 2006, Macy's replaced Hecht's after Federated Department Stores, now Macy's Inc, purchased Hecht's parent company May Department Stores.[15] By 2008, the Streets of Indian Lake was nearing completion in nearby Hendersonville, attracting many upscale retailers, causing a decline in shoppers at the mall.[16] Incredible Dave's, a restaurant and entertainment center, replaced a mall wing in 2012, but closed in 2014.[17]
2010s to present
In 2013, CBL sold three of their malls, including the Rivergate Mall, to an offshore investor for $176 million.[18] The new owner leased the malls to Atlanta-based Hendon Properties.[19] An 11,695-square-foot Guitar Center opened in the mall in the spring of 2017, while existing tenant, teen apparel retailer rue21, opened a larger store with an additional 2,600 sq ft (240 m2) in the summer of 2017. Another existing tenant, shoe retailer Foot Locker, added a new store with an additional 1,000 sq ft (93 m2) in the fall of 2017.[20] Sears closed its store at the mall in March 2019 as part of a plan to close 80 locations nationwide.[21] Following the closure of Macy's in 2020,[22] the anchor store's space was sold to Urban Story Ventures for $4 million, however the group did not announce any redevelopment plans for the space.[23]
