IMO, Columbia Place's failure is more related to the changing demographics. Leapfrog development has essentially killed that part of Two Notch Rd. Plus Columbia has two primary market areas more or less divided by the Congaree and Broad Rivers where Spartanburg has one. Westgate is the center of the primary retail shopping area in town, and Spartanburg doesn't have the leapfrogging issue that Columbia has.
I don't know what restaurants are in the mall, but there used to be a Garfield's Grill (or something like that). It was standard chain restaurant food as I recall. While I'm not much for chain restaurants, I've always thought Spartanburg should have a Chili's or TGI Fridays. Those are pretty standard restaurants. In fact, we have an entire thread about the "stuff" (restaurants/retail) Spartanburg doesn't have but should.

IMO, Columbia Place's failure is more related to the changing demographics. Leapfrog development has essentially killed that part of Two Notch Rd. Plus Columbia has two primary market areas more or less divided by the Congaree and Broad Rivers where Spartanburg has one. Westgate is the center of the primary retail shopping area in town, and Spartanburg doesn't have the leapfrogging issue that Columbia has.

I don't know what restaurants are in the mall, but there used to be a Garfield's Grill (or something like that). It was standard chain restaurant food as I recall. While I'm not much for chain restaurants, I've always thought Spartanburg should have a Chili's or TGI Fridays. Those are pretty standard restaurants. In fact, we have an entire thread about the "stuff" (restaurants/retail) Spartanburg doesn't have but should.

Do they advertise as "smoke friendly," or is it just that there's a smoking section? There's a big difference IMO.

This is good stuff. Do you think this guy being from Greenville gives him a bias?

No - I didn't detect any bias.

One thing you can say about Milliken is that he knows a good investment when he sees it. The fact that the business and political leaders got behind this idea speaks volumes for what was (and can be) accomplished when you work together with your neighbor. It's a shame that Greenville and Spartanburg cant work together on some things other than economic development these days. Adopting some zoning and actually planning for growth in both counties is virutually non-exsistant (though still better in Greenville).

This is particularly interesting because at that time, Spartanburg and Greenville were essentially the same size cities, so I find it interesting that some Greenvillians were so insistent about the Donaldson Center location.

Thanks for the responses all!

WestGate is the 5th largest in the state, sitting at just below a million square feet. Haywood is #1, Citadel (Chas) is #2, Columbia Place is #3, Coastal Grand (MYB) is #4. However, that is a pretty big mall to be in a city the size of Spartanburg and given the proximity to Haywood which probably draws more of a regional clientele.

I like the white interior with the palm trees more than the earth tone thing that seems to be so popular. It gives a brighter, more open feel. It may need a refurb, but I wouldn't change the interior. I like it. That is surprising that the mall lost Gap - seems they would have at least downgraded it to a clearance store like they did in Aiken before that store closed. I think they have some pretty good stores and the mall was busy. It suits the area well enough. Remember, too, it's a CBL mall, and CBL doesn't usually do upscale like Simon, GGP, etc.

Another thought, since the Proffitt's was apparently the newest anchor store from what I read here, it's surprising that Belk didn't move in to that store and close the store they're in, as it looks like it was from the 70s.

Why not? I was in there Friday night with my wife for a couple of drinks and had a good time.

My wife and I went to Dudley's last night. They are now SMOKE FRIENDLY, and not just confined to the bar. Although the service and food were good, I do not plan on going back. Guess I will have to try Two Samuels soon. Are there any other places that have changed their smoking policy? (from/to smoking/non-smoking)

Westgate is better than it used to be, that's for sure. I think you'll get a lot of varying opinions about it though. It serves its purpose well enough, but some of us want it to be a little more. Being located so close to Haywood Mall hurts Westgate a little. The quantity and quality of products they send to the department stores is a little lower than Haywood, so sometimes it can be hard to find what you want. And while I suspect the economy may be a culprit with the vacancies, the mall still lost the GAP. While I'm not much for their clothes it's a pretty basic store that you'd think any mall in America could support.

It was last remodeled when they expanded it in the mid 90s. I want to say it was around 1996 or 1997. I have only vague memories of the old movie theater that used to be behind it. Haywood was just remodeled a few years ago, so it's definitely going to look older by comparison. The general look and feel of Westgate is fine IMO. I guess the trend in malls is to add more faux-hardwood, but I'd rather it look like an egyptian hotel lobby.

Since they built Costco and removed the JB White/Proffits building the mall is technically smaller than it used to be. At one point it had the same square footage as Haywood, and as a result Westgate and Haywood were tied for the largest malls in South Carolina. I'm assuming Westgate is down to the #2 or #3 spot now.

Hopefully someone can help me out with this, but I swear that the spot where Dick's and Bed Bath & Beyond is located used to be one store, but I can't recall what it was.

Here's a link to some facts about the mall, including a demographics report which is sort of interesting. They outline and analyze the trade area of the mall.

If I recall correctly, the spot where Dick's and Bed Bath & Beyond are located was once an Upton's.