{{Short description|Former shopping mall in Salisbury, North Carolina}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{infobox shopping mall | name = Rowan Mall | location = Salisbury, North Carolina, United States | coordinates = {{coord|35.6543|N|80.4602|W|display = inline,title}} | opening_date = October 25, 1967 | closing_date = 1995 | demolished_date = 1996 | developer = Rowan Mall Shopping Center Inc. | owner = | number_of_anchors = 3 (2 junior anchors) | floor_area = {{convert|108000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} | floors = 1 }}

'''Rowan Mall''' was a shopping mall in Salisbury, North Carolina, United States. It was anchored by Roses. It opened in 1967, closed in 1995, and was demolished in 1996.

==History== ===1960s=== Rowan Mall opened its doors by a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 25, 1967.<ref name=auto>{{cite news|title=Rowan Mall Shopping Center Opens Today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-rowan-mall-opens/132384207/|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|date=October 25, 1967|page=1|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 25, 2023}}</ref> It opened with 11 stores, being primarily anchored by Roses, with junior anchors Winn Dixie and Eckerd Drug.<ref name=auto/> The Roses at the mall was roughly 60,000 square feet, the Eckerd Drug was 10,100 square feet, and the Winn Dixie was 13,300 square feet.<ref name=auto1>{{cite news|title=S.C Firm Wins Rowan Contract|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sentinel-rowan-mall-gets-contractor/132384712/|newspaper=The Sentinel|date=March 13, 1967|page=11|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 25, 2023}}</ref> Construction costs for the mall project were $1.5 million.<ref name=auto1 /> The mall was located at the intersection of i85 and E. Innes Street, right across the street from Towne Mall.<ref name=auto/> Mall developer Rowan Mall Shopping Center Inc. was based out of Columbia, South Carolina.<ref>{{cite news|title=Construction Under Way On Salisbury Shopping Center|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-news-rowan-mall-under-cons/132384181/|newspaper=The Charlotte News|date=March 22, 1967|page=1|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 25, 2023}}</ref>

Management duties for the mall were transferred in June 1969 to Headen Realty Co., who specialized in apartment management. This would be their first venture into commercial retail environments.<ref>{{cite news|title=Headen Realty To Expand, Manage Commercial Property Center|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-rowan-mall-manage/132384733/|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|date=June 8, 1969|page=60|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 25, 2023}}</ref>

===1970s=== The mall would sell to a group of 5 Businessmen from Greensboro, Raleigh and Burlington, North Carolina in June 1976. The 108,000 square foot mall was purchased for a price of more than $1.7 million, and had 10 tenants at the time of the sale.<ref>{{cite news|title=Group Buys Rowan Mall|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-robesonian-rowan-mall-sells/132384793/|newspaper=The Robesonian|date=June 14, 1976|page=26|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 25, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Greensboro businessmen join in purchase of mall|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greensboro-record-rowan-mall-bought/132384168/|newspaper=The Greensboro Record|date=June 7, 1976|page=22|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 25, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Group Buys Mall|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-rowan-mall-gets-bought/132384234/|newspaper=News and Record|date=June 10, 1976|page=31|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 25, 2023}}</ref>

===1980s=== In March 1981, Roses would undergo a small renovation that involved the addition of a garden center on the outside, and the reconfiguring of the interior layout of the store.<ref>{{cite news |title=Roses completes big remodeling project |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salisbury-post-roses-undergoes-remod/145156569/ |newspaper=The Salisbury Post |date=March 18, 1981 |page=16 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 11, 2024}}</ref>

In December 1981, the mall would sell to I. R. E Real Estate Fund Ltd., based out of Florida, for an estimated $2.2 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rowan Mall sold for $2.2 million |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salisbury-post-rowan-mall-sells-agai/145156698/ |newspaper=The Salisbury Post |date=December 31, 1981 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 11, 2024}}</ref>

On November 19, 1985, the then famous Budweiser Clydesdales made a display at the Rowan Mall. They were on display from 1pm to 5pm.<ref>{{cite news|title=Famous Clydesdales Coming To Salisbury |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/statesville-record-and-landmark-rowan-ma/132984323/|newspaper=Statesville Record and Landmark|date=November 17, 1985|page=50|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 6, 2023}}</ref>

On January 25, 1989, Winn-Dixie at Rowan Mall would close.<ref>{{cite news|title=Winn-Dixie closing store in Rowan Mall |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salisbury-post-winn-dixie-closes-at/145156871/|newspaper=The Salisbury Post|date=January 10, 1989|page=1|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 11, 2024}}</ref>

===1990s=== On March 29, 1994, 2 men and 1 female entered a gun shop located inside of the mall. One of the men while the owner was opening a cabinet, smashed a glass display with his own firearm. The other man pulled out a .308 pistol and shot the shop keeper, and all 3 ran off. Nothing was actually stolen, and the shopkeeper ended up receiving medical treatment at Rowan Memorial Hospital.<ref>{{cite news|title=3 sought in shooting at Rowan gun shop|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-rowan-mall-shooti/132384275/|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|date=March 31, 1994|page=26|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 25, 2023}}</ref>

The final blow to the mall would come when Roses announced it would close its Rowan Mall store as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Liquidation started in January 1994 and would conclude in roughly 2 to 3 months.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rose's to close stores in Hickory, Salisbury |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-roses-closes-at-r/132384384/|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|date=November 5, 1993|page=47|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 25, 2023}}</ref>

The mall would soon after close, and by April 1996, it was being demolished for the Innes Street Market, a 400,000 square foot power center.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rowan Mall bites the dust |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salisbury-post-rowan-mall-gets-demol/145156456/ |newspaper=The Salisbury Post|date=April 11, 1996|page=19|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 11, 2024}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{Charlotte malls}}

Category:1967 establishments in North Carolina Category:1995 disestablishments in North Carolina Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 1996 Category:Buildings and structures in Salisbury, North Carolina Category:Demolished buildings and structures in North Carolina Category:Demolished shopping malls in the United States Category:Shopping malls established in 1967 Category:Shopping malls disestablished in 1995 Category:Shopping malls in North Carolina Category:Tourist attractions in Rowan County, North Carolina