Walk into Eastridge Mall on a Tuesday morning and you’ll hear it. That distinct, echoing hum of a space built for thousands that is currently hosting dozens. It’s a vibe anyone from Gaston County knows by heart. We call it "the Gastonia mall," but its official name has always been Eastridge, and honestly, its survival is kind of a miracle when you look at what happened to places like Northlake or the now-demolished Eastland in Charlotte.
People always ask if it’s "dying." That’s a heavy word.
If you grew up here in the 80s or 90s, the Gastonia mall North Carolina locals flocked to was the undisputed king of a Saturday night. You’d grab an Orange Julius, hit the arcade, and maybe see a movie. Today? It’s different. It’s not just a place to buy jeans anymore. It’s a weird, fascinating ecosystem of local entrepreneurs, a few surviving national giants, and a whole lot of questions about what comes next for suburban retail in the South.
The Reality of Retail at Eastridge Mall
Let’s be real for a second. The anchor stores are the pulse of any mall, and Eastridge has had a wild ride. When Belk, Dillard’s, and JCPenney are all under one roof, you’ve technically got a functioning regional mall. That’s the "big three" that have managed to stick it out here while other malls saw their anchors boarded up with plywood.
But have you looked at the occupancy lately?
It’s a patchwork. You’ve got the national staples like Foot Locker or Bath & Body Works—which always seems to smell like Cucumber Melon the second you step within 50 feet of it—mixed with shops you’ve never heard of. This is where the Gastonia mall North Carolina experience gets interesting. Instead of just Gap or Abercrombie, you’re seeing local sneaker boutiques, customized t-shirt shops, and independent jewelry repair.
It’s becoming an incubator.
Smaller businesses can actually afford the leases here now because the corporate demand has dipped. That’s a win for local Gastonia makers, even if it feels "emptier" than the glory days. The mall is currently managed by Spinoso Real Estate Group, and they’ve been tasked with the impossible: keeping a 1970s-era shopping center relevant in a world where everyone buys their socks on TikTok Shop or Amazon.
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Why Gastonia Didn't Follow the "Dead Mall" Trend
You’ve probably seen those "Dead Mall" videos on YouTube. Eerie music, dusty fountains, overgrown plants. Eastridge isn’t that. Not yet, and maybe not ever.
One reason is the location. Sitting right off I-85 at Exit 20, it’s basically the gateway to Gastonia. If you’re driving from Kings Mountain or Lowell, it’s the easiest place to go. Also, the city of Gastonia has been aggressively pushing for redevelopment in the surrounding area. Think about the FUSE District downtown. That energy is slowly radiating outward.
There’s also the food factor.
Seriously.
People still go to the mall just for the food court. Whether it’s the nostalgic hit of Sbarro or the local spots that have rotated in, the food court remains a community hub. It’s where the mall walkers—those dedicated seniors who get their miles in before the shutters even go up—eventually congregate for coffee. It’s a social infrastructure that a website can't replace.
The Struggle of the Modern Department Store
We need to talk about the anchors again because that’s where the real drama is. Belk is a Southern institution, and their presence at the Gastonia mall North Carolina location is a massive anchor for the entire East Franklin Boulevard corridor. But as Belk navigated its own financial restructuring and bankruptcy scares a few years back, everyone in Gastonia held their breath.
If Belk leaves, the mall is in trouble.
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Dillard’s operates as a clearance center here, which is a specific retail strategy. It’s not the high-end, shiny Dillard’s you see at SouthPark Mall in Charlotte. It’s a hunt. You go there to dig through racks for 70% off deals. It brings in a different kind of shopper—the bargain hunter—who keeps the parking lot from looking like a ghost town.
But then there’s the empty space. The former Sears wing? That’s the elephant in the room. Large-scale vacancies like that are hard to fill with "just another store." Usually, you need a non-retail use, like a gym, a call center, or even medical offices. We’re seeing this trend across the country, where malls are becoming "mixed-use" hubs rather than just cathedrals of consumption.
What’s Actually Happening with Security and Perception?
If you spend any time on local Facebook groups, you’ll see people complaining about safety. It’s a common trope for any mall that isn't brand new. "I don't go there after dark anymore," they’ll say.
Is it true?
Statistically, the Gastonia Police Department keeps a pretty tight eye on the area. The mall has its own private security, too. Most of the "danger" is more about perception and the fact that the lighting in some of the older parking lots is, frankly, kind of dim. The mall feels "old," and in our brains, old often equals "unsafe." That’s a branding problem more than a crime problem.
The management has tried to counter this with events. Car shows in the parking lot, seasonal photos with Santa or the Easter Bunny, and small community expos. They are trying to remind people that the Gastonia mall North Carolina locals grew up with is still a family space.
The Economic Impact on Gaston County
Let's talk numbers, but not the boring kind. The mall is one of the largest taxpayers in the city. If Eastridge were to fold, that’s a massive hole in the local budget. It’s not just about losing a place to buy Nikes; it’s about the property taxes that fund our schools and fix the potholes on New Hope Road.
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Property values around the mall are surprisingly resilient. You’ve got Target, Kohl’s, and a dozen restaurants right across the street. This retail "cluster" is what saves Eastridge. Even if the mall itself is struggling, the land it sits on is gold.
- The "Halo Effect": Nearby businesses like Red Lobster and Olive Garden rely on the mall to draw people into the area.
- Employment: Hundreds of local teens and part-time workers get their start at these registers.
- Diversification: The shift toward local vendors means more money stays in Gastonia rather than heading to a corporate HQ in Ohio or New York.
Comparing Eastridge to Charlotte’s Retail Giants
It’s tempting to compare Gastonia’s mall to SouthPark or even Carolina Place. Don't. It’s a losing game. SouthPark is luxury; Eastridge is utility.
Gastonia is a blue-collar town that’s rapidly gentrifying as people get priced out of Charlotte. This demographic shift is the mall’s biggest hope. As more people move to Gaston County for cheaper housing, they need local places to shop. They don't always want to fight the traffic on I-85 North to get to the "nice" malls.
If Eastridge can pivot to meet these new residents—maybe by adding better dining options or "experiential" retail like an indoor playground or a boutique cinema—it could see a second act.
Actionable Tips for Visiting Eastridge Mall Today
If you’re planning a trip to the Gastonia mall North Carolina has kept running all these years, go in with the right expectations.
- Check the hours: They aren't what they used to be. Many stores inside the mall operate on shorter schedules than the big anchors. Don't show up at 8:00 PM expecting everything to be open.
- Hunt the Clearance: Specifically hit the Dillard’s Clearance Center. It is arguably the best place in the greater Charlotte area to find high-end brands for pennies, but you have to be patient.
- Support the Locals: Skip the chain kiosks and look at the storefronts run by your neighbors. The "Gastonia-themed" apparel shops often have stuff you won't find anywhere else.
- Park strategically: If you’re going to JCPenney, park there. Don't park at the main entrance and walk the length of the mall if you're in a hurry. The layout is a classic "T" shape, and it’s longer than it looks.
- Watch for Events: Check their social media for "Pop-up Markets." These bring in dozens of vendors who don't have permanent stores, making the mall feel much more alive.
The future of Eastridge isn't written in stone. It could become a luxury apartment complex with a "town center" feel, or it could continue its slow evolution into a community-centric hub. Either way, it remains a landmark of Gastonia identity. It’s a place of memories, a place of transition, and still, despite everything, a place to get a really good pair of shoes on sale.
Stop by. Walk the floors. Buy a pretzel. It’s part of the local history, and it’s still standing. That’s worth something.
How to Support Gastonia's Local Economy
To keep the retail corridor healthy, prioritize shopping at physical locations for time-sensitive needs rather than defaulting to overnight shipping. Local tax revenue stays within Gaston County, directly impacting local infrastructure and public services. If you are a small business owner, reach out to the mall management; their current strategy heavily favors local "pop-up" concepts that can test the market without a 10-year lease commitment.