In need of retail therapy or want to split a pretzel with friends? Consider visiting SouthPark Mall, a destination in Charlotte offering these experiences and more.

SouthPark Mall is celebrating its 55th anniversary since opening its doors on Feb. 12, 1970. Reflecting the immense growth seen across the Queen City, the mall has evolved from a local community hub to a major retail heavyweight in the southeast.

"We're going to be your top luxury destination between Atlanta and Washington, D.C.," Holly Van Cleave, SouthPark Mall's director of marketing and business, shared exclusively with CLTtoday.

Luxury brand Zara will debut in SouthPark Mall in early 2026. | Rendering via SouthPark Mall

Since 2020, 34 new brands have joined the mall, including Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, and Chanel Fragrance & Beauty. Psst... We're keeping our eyes peeled for when Zara debuts in early 2026.

In an age where many people do most of their shopping online, a present day trip to the mall has shifted from simple shopping trips to focusing on full retail experiences.

In 2022, the mall unveiled a major redevelopment of the West Plaza, debuting a new Suffolk Punch Brewing astride a new open-air pavilion, boasting a green space and kids' play area.

A major plan in the SouthPark Forward 2035 Vision Plan Connect SouthPark's destinations through an urban trail known as "The Loop." | Rendering via The City of Charlotte

More change is on the way for SouthPark Mall. Shoppers who work up an appetite can look forward to a new Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar coming soon. The mall will also play an integral role in the SouthPark Forward 2035 Vision Plan — a multi-year plan to transform the SouthPark neighborhood into a more walkable community.

With more people moving to Charlotte everyday, SouthPark Mall continues striving towards balancing growth with maintaining a sense of nostalgia and history.

"I used to shop here. Now I bring my children and we visit Santa," said Van Cleave, acknowledging how the retailers and neighborhood may change, but the reasons people return to SouthPark Mall remain the same. "It's all those decades-long memories of families coming and growing together here."