PHOTOS: Final look inside Macy’s before demolition begins this week to build Capital Sports Complex

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – A project to breathe new life into the old Macy’s building located at the Charleston Town Center Mall is making strides with demolition set to begin this week.

The multi-million dollar Capital Sports Complex investment comes in the midst of multiple closures at the mall including two popular restaurants over the weekend: Tidewater Grill and Chop House.

“Hopefully, this will provide an economic impact for the entire state of West Virginia, but this is not necessarily mall-specific. I think it will help whatever is left of the mall, but we’re not looking back at 1995,” said Ben Salango, Kanawha County Commissioner. “I’m trying to think and the mayor is trying to think of 2025 and 2035. We’re looking ahead. We’re not looking behind.”

Despite the nostalgia from those who remember shopping at Macy’s before it closed in 2019, there’s still a lot of excitement surrounding the sports complex that’s set to take its place.

The project was announced back in 2022. Once complete it will include: an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a rock-climbing wall, a 30,000 square foot exercise area, rentable party rooms, and a gymnasium with six basketball courts, 12 volleyball courts, and a four-lane elevated walking/running track. An indoor turf field, eight pickleball courts, a wrestling gym with two mats, a retail store, and administrative offices will also be housed in the new development.

“It’s always hard to see history and this building come down, but what is going to go in place of that is the economy of tomorrow, and most important, it’s going to really energize and continue that great momentum that we have with our sports tourism,” said Charleston Mayor Amy Goodwin.

“There’s a lot of memories. There’s a lot of history past, but what we’re looking for is the future: ‘What can this be?'” said Goodwin. “Just as the mall did back in 1983, being one of the largest malls in the country, this is also going to bring the type of future growth and future development.”

According to Salango, the project had setbacks due to legal troubles, but the property was closed on last week. Once demolition begins, he said it will take about six to eight weeks, then they’ll finalize the architectural design and construction can begin.

In total, he said it will be about three years before the project is complete.

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