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5 Shocking Transformations And New Tenants Reshaping Cross Creek Mall In 2025

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The retail landscape of Fayetteville, North Carolina, is undergoing a dramatic and necessary evolution, centered entirely around the Cross Creek Mall. As of late 2024 and heading into 2025, the regional shopping center is shedding its traditional anchor-store model in favor of a vibrant, mixed-use entertainment and dining hub, driven by a massive strategic investment from its owner, CBL & Associates. This transformation isn’t just about new paint; it’s a multi-million dollar overhaul designed to secure the mall’s future as the premier destination for shopping, dining, and family entertainment in Cumberland County and the surrounding Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) area.

The changes are immediate, impactful, and signal a strong commitment to the mall’s long-term viability, moving away from the "dead mall" narrative that has plagued many older retail centers. Key to this strategy is the total redevelopment of the former Sears department store space, which is being converted into a dynamic collection of high-profile tenants, cementing Cross Creek Mall’s status as a modern retail powerhouse on the 401 Bypass. The strategic refinancing of the property also underscores the financial confidence in this new vision.

The Multi-Million Dollar Redevelopment: A New Era of Entertainment and Dining

The most significant and exciting development at Cross Creek Mall is the strategic overhaul of the property, spearheaded by owner and manager CBL & Associates Properties Inc. The company has secured its investment with a substantial $78 million CMBS loan, backed by the mall, which features a fixed interest rate of 6.856%. This financing ensures the capital is in place to execute a comprehensive vision that redefines the mall’s purpose beyond traditional retail.

The core of this transformation involves the complete repurposing of the former Sears department store site, a common strategy for revitalizing older malls across the country. The goal is to create an experiential destination, blending retail with high-quality dining and entertainment options that appeal to a broader demographic, including the large military community from nearby Fort Liberty.

Key Tenants Driving the Experiential Shift

The new additions are strategically chosen to boost foot traffic and increase the average time spent at the property, ensuring the mall remains a central fixture in Fayetteville’s economy. The former Sears space is being carved up to accommodate several major national brands, marking a significant upgrade to the mall’s offerings.

  • Main Event: This is arguably the biggest draw of the redevelopment. Main Event is a massive entertainment complex that will occupy approximately 38,000 square feet of the former anchor space. The addition of Main Event, which offers bowling, arcade games, and laser tag, marks the entertainment brand's entrance into the North Carolina market, filling a major void for family-friendly activities in Cumberland County.
  • Rooms to Go: Complementing the entertainment and dining, Rooms to Go is moving into a large portion of the redeveloped area, providing a high-traffic destination for furniture and home goods shopping.
  • Bahama Breeze: A popular national restaurant chain, Bahama Breeze brings a sought-after casual dining experience to the property.
  • Longhorn Steakhouse: This well-known steakhouse brand will further enhance the mall’s dining options, attracting customers specifically for its culinary offerings.
  • Razzoo's Cajun Cafe: A development project for Razzoo's was noted in 2023 plans, indicating a continued focus on diverse restaurant options to serve the Fayetteville community.

This mix of furniture, entertainment, and multiple full-service restaurants represents the modern mall strategy: turning a shopping center into a lifestyle hub where people can spend an entire day, not just an hour.

Anchor Stores and The Shifting Retail Landscape of 2025

While the redevelopment focuses on new tenants and experiential offerings, the traditional retail components of Cross Creek Mall are also seeing changes, reflecting broader national retail trends. The mall continues to be anchored by major department stores, but the tenant roster is always in flux, adapting to e-commerce pressures and changing consumer tastes.

The Fate of Forever 21 and Other Key Retailers

A significant piece of news heading into 2025 is the reported closure of the Forever 21 store at Cross Creek Mall. This closure is symptomatic of the ongoing challenges faced by fast-fashion retailers in the age of e-commerce, forcing mall operators like CBL to find more resilient and diverse tenants to fill the space.

However, the mall's directory remains robust with a diverse mix of specialty stores and services, ensuring it remains the primary retail destination for Fayetteville. Key long-standing and newer tenants include:

  • Department Stores: Macy's and Belk (the latter is an implied anchor, with Windsor Fashions located nearby).
  • Apparel & Footwear: American Eagle Outfitters - Aerie, Aeropostale, DTLR, Charlotte Russe, Journeys, and Rainbow Shops (which focuses on trendy and affordable plus-size women's clothing).
  • Specialty & Services: Bank of America, AT&T, Auntie Anne's, and the recently opened US Foods CHEF'STORE, which launched in January 2024 at 511 Cross Creek Mall. The US Foods CHEF'STORE opening, a wholesale-style food service provider, is a clear example of the mall's strategy to diversify its offerings beyond traditional soft goods.

The Future Vision: Cross Creek Phase 2 and Beyond

The transformation of Cross Creek Mall is not a single-project effort but a continuous, phased strategy. Beyond the immediate redevelopment of the former Sears box, there are plans for further expansion and mixed-use development, referred to as "Cross Creek Phase 2."

This future phase boasts up to 40,000 square feet of available land designated for future retail, office, medical, or mixed-use development. This indicates a clear intention by CBL & Associates to evolve the property into a comprehensive commercial center, integrating non-retail services like medical offices alongside shopping and entertainment. This holistic approach is the blueprint for successful regional malls in the 21st century, ensuring the property serves as a full-service community hub.

The mall’s strategic location on the 401 Bypass, easily accessible from the All-American Freeway and Morganton Road, solidifies its importance as a regional economic driver. By aggressively pursuing high-quality entertainment and dining tenants while managing the transition of traditional retail spaces, Cross Creek Mall is strategically positioned to not only survive but thrive in the competitive North Carolina retail market, offering a dynamic and updated experience for all of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

5 Shocking Transformations and New Tenants Reshaping Cross Creek Mall in 2025
cross creek mall
cross creek mall

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