In December 2025, the final tenants inside Rivergate Mall closed, with most of the rest of the mall closing on February 13, 2026. Demolition of the old mall began in March, except for Dillard’s, which is still open, and will remain open to become part of the redevelopment. Click for More News
Last year the City of Goodlettsville approved a package of economic incentives to support a RiverGate Mall Redevelopment Project. Being partly in Goodlettsville and partly in Nashville, the approval follows a similar funding package granted by the Metro Nashville Council and its Industrial Development Board.
About the Transformation
The $450 million transformative redevelopment will be a mixed-use community integrating residential, retail, hospitality, entertainment, office, medical, dining, public green spaces, and new infrastructure. According to master plans, there will be 710 apartment units, 127 townhomes, 80 senior living units, 120,000 square feet of commercial space including a 51,000 square-foot grocery store, a 120-key hotel, and 20,000 square feet of medical and general office space.
While only a third of the original mall layout fell within the city limits of the City of Goodlettsville, the new development will offer double that amount contributing a significant increase in economic benefits for the city.
Honoring the Past
In February 2025, Merus Design Build announced the purchase of the property for $33 million, which they plan to transform into a walkable, mixed-use district. They are partnering with civil engineering company Fulmer Lucas, Smith Gee Studio for land planning and master planning, and lending partner Pinnacle Financial Partners, as well as with Metro Nashville and the City of Goodlettsville. Groundbreaking of the new development will take place later in 2026, with building taking place in a number of phases and completion expected in 2030.
“RiverGate has been part of this community since 1971, and that history matters,” Patrick Poole, Senior Vice President and Nashville Market Leader for Merus told citynownext.com. “Stepping into a site like this comes with a responsibility—not just to redevelop it, but to do it right. Our focus is taking a property designed for a different era and reimagining it as a walkable, active district where people can live, work, gather, and spend time. It’s a significant reinvestment, and one we believe can make a lasting difference for this area.”
As part of the project, Merus will be donating a portion of the site to Metro Nashville to support future rapid bus transit improvements through the WeGo system.
Memories of the Past
“So many good memories of Rivergate Mall,” said one comment on Channel 5’s Facebook page. “I loved to go in the back door of JC Penney and shop, then I would just walk around to all the stores, eat in the food court. The grand kids liked to ride the carousel. [It was] so much fun, I can’t believe it’s all gone. Christmas in the mall was spectacular. So sad. The good ole days are gone, but they will never be forgotten.”
“There’s a lot of nostalgia to see the actual structure come down, but I think that overall people are looking forward to the fact that new life has been brought into this area, and we look forward to supporting that,” City of Goodlettsville Director of Communications Mary Lane Hucks told WKRN.com.
New Future for Community
The mayor’s office told WSMV.com that over the past decade, the use of the mall [had] declined, as well as its economic value.
“We can take the lessons we’ve learned from the Global Mall redevelopment in Antioch and the Bellevue Mall to revitalize another space that is no longer serving the community well,” Mayor Freddie O’Connell told Channel 4. “With [our] development partner in place, we can reimagine this space to be a community asset that brings neighbors together and enlivens the neighborhood.”
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