T
he city of Charleston is currently in talks with the owners of the downtown Town Center Mall for a possible property transfer, according to municipal leaders.
Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin made the announcement during her annual State of the City address on Monday, Jan. 5.
"Over the last year, we have been in discussions with The Hull Group — the Mall’s current owner — to transfer ownership of the mall property to the City of Charleston," Goodwin told council members and others gathered during her Monday evening speech.
Transfering the property to the city would allow the municipality to begin what Goodwin described as "the largest economic development effort in more than 40 years."
"Once we complete the acquisition of the property, we will immediately work with top developers nationwide to determine its future use," Goodwin said.
The three-level Charleston Town Center Mall was first opened in November 1983.
In January 2019, U.S. National Bank purchased the property for $35 million. It was sold to the Atlanta-based Hull Property Group in May 2021.
In 2022, the city of Charleston and representatives with the Kanawha County Commission announced plans to replace the former Macy’s Department Store with an $80 million multi-sports complex, which would be known as the Capital Sports Center.
By 2024, both Sears and Macy's — two of the mall's original anchor stores — had been demolished.
As of the start of January 2026, construction on the proposed sports complex had not yet begun.
