Quenby Mall

Plans for the construction of the Quenby Mall were announced by Masten-Langston Faison Co, based out of Charlotte, North Carolina in December 1965.^[1] The center was aimed to be 160,000 square feet, featuring Belks, Harris Teeter and W. T. Grant as anchor stores.^[2] The mall was designed to resemble that of an old English Village, with brickwork walls, planters, and exposed wooden beams being used to complement the style.^[1] Ground was broken in December 1965, between North First and North Second streets in Albemarle, North Carolina.^[3] This was one of the earliest examples of an enclosed mall in North Carolina, predicted to be number 5 by the time of its opening.^[2]

The malls grand opening happened on September 29, 1966, opening with 5 stores. Belks, W. T. Grants, Friedman's Jewelers, Royce Shoes and Eckerd Drug opened with the mall, meanwhile Harris Teeter and other smaller shops were still finishing construction.^[4] In addition, a Hardee's was located as an outparcel of the mall, and had been open for several months prior to the grand opening.^[4]

Following the closure of the W. T. Grant store at the mall, department store JCPenney would announce plans to locate at the mall in September 1976.^[5] The renovations would complete, and JCPenney had a grand opening on January 26, 1977.^[6]

On July 3, 1980, Belk at the Quenby Mall closed in favor of the location at the new Albemarle Mall, which was scheduled to open on July 30 of that year.^[7]

The mall would undergo a renovation in 1983, brought upon by its then owners Stephen D Bell & Company, based out of Greensboro, North Carolina. Improvements included a new ceiling, new lighting, new flooring and the addition of heating and air conditioning.^[8]

Two businesses: Burney's and Minor Things, would open up at the mall on March 23, 1985. Minor Things was an apparel shop selling children's clothes and shoes, meanwhile Burney's featured outdoor activity gear.^[9]

In 1987, JCPenney closed their doors at the Quenby Mall, and hosted a fixture sale in their former store in November of that year.^[10]

In 1988, the mall would be put up for sale, with several proposed ideas including changing the mall into a mixed use center.^[11]

Following JCPenney's departure, both Harris-Teeter and Eckerd Drug would leave the mall for a new strip center across town in 1989.^[12][13] This would leave the mall anchorless.

First Union Bank would consolidate their Quenby Mall Branch into another location, closing operations at the mall in early 1989.^[14]

By the 1990s, the mostly empty shopping mall was attracting interest by the local government to house the health department and other county offices.^[15]

A restaurant known as Dinner Bell located at the Quenby Mall, opening in July 1992.^[16] They were allowed to stay after the county's renovations.^[17]

Stanly County's intentions to purchase the mall were being finalized in late 1992,^[18] and completed on January 24, 1993.^[17] The mall was purchased by the county for a total of $1.3 million, and they went on to perform over $2 million in renovations on the property to get it suited to their needs.^[17]