The opening of Turtle Creek Mall in October 1994 fundamentally transformed Hattiesburg. It is hard to explain to someone who did not live in the Pine Belt that the opening of the Turtle Creek Mall was an enormous occasion. The new mall ushered in a new era of retail shopping and social life in the Pine Belt area. It also changed the local economic development landscape and shifted the local tax base. For many of us who grew up in the area, the early days of Turtle Creek Mall evoke a deep sense of nostalgia and serve as a reminder of the pre-Amazon days when a trip to the mall was a full-fledged experience.
Turtle Creek Mall provides an excellent example of how community focus can evolve over time. At one point Hattiesburg’s heartbeat was undeniably in historic downtown. When the old Cloverleaf Mall opened, Hattiesburg’s retail focus shifted south along Broadway Drive and Highway 49 South. The focus of Hattiesburg again shifted “out west” along Highway 98 with the opening of Turtle Creek Mall. Arguably, Hattiesburg had already started to shift westward, but the developers Turtle Creek Mall saw the trends and accelerated the western expansion of Hattiesburg. The older Cloverleaf Mall quickly lost many of its most popular stores, as Turtle Creek Mall became the go-to destination for those seeking not only the latest fashions and gadgets but also social interaction. In the pre-internet and early-internet world, it was also a place to “run into your friends.”
Turtle Creek Mall’s original two anchor stores were Gayfers and Belk. The new mall also included a nine-screen United Artist movie theater. The theater was a substantial upgrade from Hattiesburg’s older theaters. I remember the first movie that I watched in the new theater was Apollo 13. A year after its launch, Turtle Creek Mall added Sears and J.C. Penny, further cementing its status as the biggest and best shopping destination in town. In an era before Amazon reshaped our shopping habits, visits to the mall were an adventure and a chance to explore new trends, buy a few items, eat in the food court or simply spend quality time with friends and family.
The mall buzzed with life in the early days. Parking spaces were scare, especially around Christmas. People in their cars would circle the parking lot waiting for a parking spot to come open. In the days before cell phone cameras, long lines of families waited to have their kid’s photo taken with Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. It was place where you went shopping for special events – a trendy new Christmas present or new clothes to wear to church on Easter. Of course, Christmas and Easter shopping still happens at the mall, but the vibe is different.
I recently looked at an original list of Turtle Creek Mall stores, many of them I had forgotten about. Among the original stores were Dollar Tree, Waldenbooks, Disc Jockey, Reel Collections, Lamar Bank, Garfield’s Restaurant, Lubby’s Cafeteria, Randy Price & Company, Kirkland’s, Gadzooks, and Boot Country. The original food court included Arby’s, Corn Dog 7, McDonald’s, Long John Silver, and Chick-fil-a.
Mall shopping was never just about buying things; it was a social event, a chance to catch up with friends. The opportunity for spontaneous encounters was something that today’s online shopping can hardly replicate. The mall also had a sense of community spirit. Many local school choirs and musicians have performed in the Turtle Creek Mall over the years. I remember the grand opening of Turtle Creek Mall included a performance by country-bluegrass music star Alison Krauss. For many of us, the mall was the backdrop to our formative years.
My most cherished memories at the Turtle Creek Mall were my annual trips with my grandmother at Christmastime. We would always eat in the Garfield’s restaurant and then walk around looking for my Christmas presents. At the time I thought the trips were about purchasing items; but today I know they were more about spending time and creating lasting memories with her.
Turtle Creek Mall is over three decades old now and it continues to operate today. I don’t think it is a secret that the entire mall industry has challenges in an era dominated by online shopping and rapidly changing retail landscapes, but the mall carries on. I truly wish the best for Turtle Creek Mall. I hope it continues to operate as a viable shopping destination for Pine Belt residents for many years to come.
