Photos: Lenox Square mall through the years

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Photos: Lenox Square mall through the years

Since 1959, Lenox Square has been among Atlanta's best-loved shopping malls, serving as an anchor in the ever-growing Buckhead business district.

Construction on Lenox Square began in 1957; the mall opened in 1959 as an open-air shopping venue.

Atlanta Mayor William Hartsfield makes one of the early announcements about the coming Lenox Square center in 1959. (AJC File)

Opening ceremonies for Lenox Square took place in August 1959. Pictured, from left, are John Smith, Chess Lagomarsino, Jim Rudder, Oby Brewer, Ike Aiken, and Mrs. Edward Noble, the developer's wife. The children are Bennie and Vivian Noble. (AJC/file)

By 1969, when this photo was taken, Lenox Square was the largest shopping center south of Washington, D.C. More than 30,000 people came during an 'average day.'

Celebrities who've showed up at the mall included former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. He came to the Warner Brothers Store in 1996 to greet fans during the unveiling of a limited edition painting of him done by artist Steve Kaufman. (AJC Photo/Frank Niemeir)

Supermodel Tyra Banks was at the Lenox Square Mall Victoria's Secret for autograph session on Oct. 29, 1997. (AJC Staff Photo/William Berry)

Shopping isn't all that's drawn crowds. Here, Freaknik revelers bring Lenox Road traffic to a standstill after Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza malls closed early, in 1995. (AJC/file)

There have been parades. Megan DeSilva helps carry the world's largest Irish flag down Peachtree Street during the 2015 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade. JONATHAN PHILLIPS / SPECIAL

And there have been lots of runners. In this photo, elite runners start their watches as they begin the 42nd AJC Peachtree Road Race at Lenox Square Mall on July 4, 2011. Jason Getz jgetz@ajc.com

One of the Lenox Square traditions, Macy's Pink Pig takes guests on a ride at Lenox Square Mall in this photo from 2011. (Photo by Barry Williams/Macys)

Some traditions ended. The last Christmas season for the Rich's department store name was 2004. (AJC/file)

Lenox Square underwent a major remodeling, including its Neiman Marcus wing, shown here, in 2007. (AJC/file)

The area around the mall changed. This 1990photo shows a wide path reaching north from the Lenox Square mall area (at bottom) toward I-285. The land was being cleared for construction of a six-lane extension to Georgia 400. (AJC/file)

One traditional celebrity visitor has been, of course, Santa Claus. Here he talks with 5-year-old Gracie Sossaman from Hattiesburg, Miss., who was in Georgia visiting her grandparents in Jasper, Ga. (AJC/file).

Sometimes, traditions encounter hang-ups. The Macys Great Tree was a great big mess Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2013 after a crane broke while lowering the Christmas tree from atop the department store at Lenox Square mall. The huge crane apparently buckled near the top, leaving the tree dangling over the three-story glass façade along the Lenox Road side of the Macys store. Pieces of the tree and at least one of the large ornaments fell onto an awning below, but there were no reports of injuries. In 2011, the trunk of a 60-foot white pine tree cracked before it could be hoisted to the top of the store and a back-up tree had to be cut down and delivered. The lighting of the tree is a Thanksgiving Day tradition in Atlanta that dates back 64 years to when it was called the Richs Great Tree and was atop the flagship Richs department store downtown. JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM

Many interior upgrades and exterior facelifts later, Lenox Square is still a hit with Atlanta area shoppers and visitors alike and is the third-largest mall in the state after the Mall of Georgia and Perimeter Mall.

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Construction on Lenox Square began in 1957; the mall opened in 1959 as an open-air shopping venue.

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