Lakeshore Mall Redevelopment: A New Era for Gainesville, GA

by Shannon Sanborn

Lakeshore Mall Redevelopment: A New Era for Gainesville

There Was a Time...

There was a time Lakeshore Mall wasn't just a place to shop — it was where Gainesville came together.

I can still picture being sixteen, cruising through that parking lot with friends, thinking I had life figured out. We spent whole weekends there. Grabbed food, walked the mall, ran into half the school, just enjoyed being kids. Looking back, those are memories I'm grateful for.

Like a lot of you reading this, Lakeshore is part of my story too. That's exactly why what's happening there right now caught my attention.

A Mall That Grew With Gainesville

When Lakeshore Mall opened back in 1970, it was one of Northeast Georgia's premier shopping destinations. For decades it was more than retail — it's where families shopped for school clothes, friends met for lunch, memories got made.

But like malls everywhere, things shifted. Online shopping took over. Retailers changed how they operate. Enclosed malls started struggling to stay relevant.

Instead of letting one of Gainesville's most recognizable properties keep fading, the city and a developer named Branch Properties saw a chance to reimagine it entirely.

What's Actually Coming

Here's what's approved right now: 652 apartment units, more than 305,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and entertainment space, and 38,200 square feet of outdoor community green space spread across the 49-acre site.

Down the road — in future phases, not part of the current build — Branch Properties has said they're planning to add around 80 townhomes and a hotel.

The question I hear most: is Belk leaving? Is Dick's leaving?

No. Both are staying. Belk remains part of the property. Dick's is relocating into a new building within the redevelopment, but it's not going anywhere.

This isn't shaping up to be just another shopping center. It's meant to be a place where people live, work, eat, shop, and actually gather — outdoors, not just wandering an enclosed hallway.

Where Things Stand

The city approved the rezoning in February 2025. Branch Properties has said they plan to break ground in late 2026, with demolition and infrastructure work starting first, and the full build stretching across roughly seven years and three phases. Full buildout is targeted for 2028, though a project this size on this timeline will likely keep shifting as it goes — I'll update this as real dates firm up.

Why This Matters

As a Realtor, I don't just pay attention to homes. I pay attention to where Gainesville is headed.

Projects like this shift traffic patterns, pull in nearby businesses, and often spark more investment throughout the surrounding area. Nobody can promise you what it does to property values specifically. But a redevelopment this size, in this location, tends to become a catalyst for a lot more than just itself.

That's why I think this is one of the most important things happening in Gainesville right now.

More Than Just Construction

It's easy to drive past and only see fencing and dirt. I see something else.

I see a place a lot of us grew up in getting a second shot. The teenagers of today probably won't cruise a mall parking lot on a Friday night the way we did. Instead they'll have restaurants, green space, community events, places built for how people actually want to spend time together now.

Cities change. Communities grow. Change isn't always easy, but it opens the door for the next generation to build their own memories here.

I'll Be Following This the Whole Way

Part of what I'm doing with ExploreGainesvilleGA.com is documenting the projects actually shaping this city. As construction moves forward, I'll keep sharing updates, photos, video, and whatever I'm seeing on the ground.

This isn't just another development. It's another chapter in Gainesville's story, and I think it's going to be a good one.

This guide was created by Shannon Sanborn, The Flying Realtor with eXp Realty. With more than 20 years of construction experience and extensive knowledge of Gainesville and Hall County, Shannon helps buyers and sellers make informed real estate decisions throughout North Georgia. If you're buying, selling, or exploring new construction in Gainesville, Hall County, or the surrounding area, ExploreGainesvilleGA.com is your trusted local resource.