From the archives: River Ridge mall
Take a look back at River Ridge mall's history with this set of photos from our archives from 1978, when the mall was under construction, to the present.
August 4, 1978. The 80-acre site for the shopping mall off Candlers Mountain Road, lower left, is nearly cleared. The road running diagonally from the lower left to the upper right is Candlers Mountain Road. According to the original caption that ran with this photo, the $50 million mall was to be called Lynchburg Centre.
1978. The location of River Ridge mall, prior to construction of the $50 million project.
June 21, 1978. As grading of the site gets underway, an unknown official holds up an artist's rendering of the completed interior.
On September 7, 1978, grading of the property was well underway.
1980. The exact date of this photo is not known, but the parking lot paving at River Ridge mall appears to be underway.
1980. The exact date of this photo is not known, but the parking lot paving at River Ridge mall appears to be underway.
Aug. 1, 1980. A crowd waits for the official opening of Thalhimers at River Ridge mall. More than 10,000 people entered the new store in the first two hours, exceeding projections.
Elaborate Christmas decorations have been a hallmark of River Ridge mall, particularly in the early years. This photo is thought to be from the early 1980s, possibly from the first Christmas it was open in 1980.
Elaborate Christmas decorations have always been part of the River Ridge mall. This photo is thought to be from the very early 1980s, possibly from the first Christmas it was open in 1980.
Another look at Christmas decorations at River Ridge mall. This photo is thought to be from the very early 1980s, possibly from the first Christmas it was open in 1980.
Elaborate Christmas decorations have always been part of the River Ridge mall. This photo is thought to be from the very early 1980s, possibly from the first Christmas it was open in 1980.
Feb 26, 1981. The interior of the Sears store.
This photo from Feb. 26, 1981 appears to show shoppers fascinated by live models posing as store mannequins.
September 1990. Interior view of the mall toward the entrance to what is now Belk.
September 1990. A view inside the mall looking toward Sears.
September 1990. Interior view of the mall. Do you recognize any of the stores in this shot?
July 18, 1990. Monica Arthur, Montgomery Ward sales manager in the children's department, stocks merchandise at the new store.
Aug. 11, 1992. Some remodeling work to the interior of River Ridge mall.
Aug. 11, 1992 - Some major renovations were underway inside the mall.
December 21, 1993. Sisters Teri Lee, 2, and Jeri Lee Kirby,4, left, of Madison Heights laugh as they interact with some mechanical singing bears that were a fixture of River Ridge mall Christmas decorations for many years.
Dec. 21, 1993. Parents look on as children enjoy a ride on a toy train through Christmas decorations. Generations of parents and children have participated in holiday rituals at the mall; were you among them?
March 8, 1994. Smoking was still allowed in the mall, but not for much longer. After June 1, 1994, smoking was banned inside River Ridge mall.
Dec. 26, 2011. Customers roam through Belk at River Ridge mall to buy new items and make returns the day after Christmas.
In this November 2012 file photo, shoppers walk through River Ridge mall in Lynchburg.
In this July 8, 2014 photo, Josh Bennett, left, and Jacob Harlow walk through River Ridge mall, just as generations of Central Virginia youth have done.
Dec. 14, 2014. Tuba players perform Christmas songs with other brass musicians during Tuba Christmas at River Ridge mall on a Sunday afternoon. Live performances by Central Virginia students have been a staple of the holiday season for many years.
As the retail environment in Central Virginia has continued to evolve, the fortunes of particular stores and the mall as a whole have continued to change. A shopper walks past an empty store in this file photo from early 2015.
Feb. 11, 2016. Construction is underway on a Residence Inn at River Ridge mall near Wards Road. During the years since the mall was constructed, the retail environment along Wards Road has changed dramatically.
River Ridge mall seen from Candlers Mountain on Friday March 11, 2016 in Lynchburg.
A couple walks past the entrance to Macy's while at the River Ridge mall on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, in Lynchburg, Va. The River Ridge mall Macy's store is one of 100 locations nationwide that will be shuttered.
Macy's at River Ridge mall, seen from Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, in Lynchburg, Va.
Violet Hiskey, 1, shows the Easter Bunny her favorite toy during a photo shoot at River Ridge Mall on Saturday, Mar. 17, 2018 in Lynchburg, Va.
Children start to work on their flying creations during River Ridge Kids Club's first event at River Ridge Mall Thursday, March 29, 2018.
Children start to work on their flying creations during River Ridge Kids Club's first event at River Ridge Mall Thursday, March 29, 2018.
People applaud the lighting of the River Ridge Mall Christmas tree on November 23, 2018. The tree stands 23 feet tall and people are able to walk through it. The tree was lit at 6 p.m. on Black Friday, kicking off the Christmas season for River Ridge Mall.
Angela Martinez, 8, of Forest plays in the River Ridge Mall Christmas Tree on November 23, 2018.
Filmgoers line up for the "Avengers: Endgame" premiere at Regal Cinemas River Ridge Thursday evening, April 25, 2019.
Fair goers enjoy a ride called the Yoyo at the Lisko Family Midway Amusements Inc. carnival in front of River Ridge Mall in Lynchburg , VA, May 24, 2019. (Taylor Irby/The News & Advance)
The sun sets over the Lisko Family Midway Amusements Inc. carnival in front of River Ridge Mall in Lynchburg , VA, May 24, 2019. (Taylor Irby/The News & Advance)
Za’Mya Mosley, 8. reacts to losing a game at the Lisko Family Midway Amusements Inc. carnival in front of River Ridge Mall in Lynchburg , VA, May 24, 2019. (Taylor Irby/The News & Advance)
The Lisko Family Midway Amusements Inc. carnival in front of River Ridge Mall seen from the ferris wheel in Lynchburg , VA, May 24, 2019. (Taylor Irby/The News & Advance)
One of the aquatic tanks at SeaQuest in Lynchburg, September 4, 2019.
Construction workers get ready to continue the demolition of the former Sears building at River Ridge mall on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019.
Building debris lies on the ground after the first morning of the demolition of the former Sears building at River Ridge mall on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019.
Sophie Emerson, of Madison Heights, (left) walks into a store with her mother, Kimberly Emerson, at River Ridge Mall in Lynchburg on Wednesday, May 20, 2020.
People walk through River Ridge Mall in Lynchburg on Wednesday, May 20, 2020.
Geneva Agnew, (left), 5, plays with Gavin Agnew, 3, at River Ridge Mall in Lynchburg on Wednesday, May 20, 2020.
Customers browse products and gifts from local artisans, crafters and makers at Christmas at the Ridge in River Ridge Mall in Lynchburg on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020.
Customers browse products and gifts from local artisans, crafters and makers at Christmas at the Ridge in River Ridge Mall in Lynchburg on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020.
Customers browse products and gifts from local artisans, crafters and makers at Christmas at the Ridge in River Ridge Mall in Lynchburg on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020.
Liberty University has bought a 75 percent interest in River Ridge mall, the shopping center that neighbors the school on Candlers Mountain Ro…
River Ridge mall shoppers may see changes soon, but not as big as some were expecting right away.
River Ridge mall in Lynchburg will not be open for Turkey Day shoppers this year, although anchor stores that have exterior entrances might open.
Macy’s in Lynchburg will close in 2017, and by the end of the year, the former Sears building will be demolished to make way for an outdoor sh…
The News & Advance has photo archives dating to the early 20th century. In 2017 we digitized hundreds of these photos and published a vari…
Pacific Sunwear of California Inc., better known at PacSun, will close its store in Lynchburg’s River Ridge mall in May.
An aquarium is planned to open in River Ridge mall by the end of the summer.
With a new store opening in River Ridge mall, another one will close.
Although many changes to Lynchburg's River Ridge mall already are underway, and shoppers have seen results of Liberty University’s $20 million…
Iron & Ale Bistro at River Ridge mall will open Feb. 17.
A new store selling women's apparel and home decor and goods will open at River Ridge mall this summer.
After an incident involving juveniles at River Ridge mall Saturday night, a new youth policy program will be implemented for Friday and Saturd…
Something Else Boutique, a clothing boutique located in Bedford, will open a new location Nov. 1 at River Ridge mall.
River Ridge mall is moving forward with its next phase of redevelopment, beginning with the demolition of the former Macy’s building on the we…
River Ridge mall announced Wednesday an Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon location is slated to open in late summer.
Demolition of the vacant Macy’s location at River Ridge mall began Tuesday, construction soon will begin on a part of the mall dubbed the West…
The owners of Lynchburg's La Carreta restaurants will open a new eatery at River Ridge mall in spring 2022.
River Ridge mall has announced Rookie’s, an ice cream and cookie shop, has joined its roster of retailers.