Forest Hill Village, An Abandoned Shopping Center in a Growing Area

Forest Hill Village, An Abandoned Shopping Center in a Growing Area

Forest Hill Village on Northside Dr

Forest Hill Village is a strange shopping center. Not because it's necessarily abandoned, but rather its location. It's no doubt that the North Macon area has been growing constantly over the past 20 years. It started with Bass Pro Shops in 2005, then The Shoppes at River Crossing in 2008, Bass Plantation in 2010, and then North Macon Plaza in 2019. 3 miles south of The Shoppes at River Crossing sits Forest Hill Village, a small shopping center with only one business left. 

Piggly Wiggly at Forest Hill Village

Forest Hill Village opened on November 19th, 1975. The original tenants were Piggly Wiggly, Revco Drugs, Robinson's Hardware, Hallmark, Central Bank, and NuWay. I couldn't find exact closing dates for most of these stores, but it appears that the first to close was Robinson's Hardware, as the last mention of the store was in 1982. Central Bank's last mention was in 1985, Hallmark's last mention was in 1986, and Revco's last mention was in 1993. The major anchor, Piggly Wiggly would close in 1990, due to a new FoodMax store being built down the street. Around this time a bar called Rivalry's would open, facing Forest Hill. In the 90s, Warner Robins Supply Co. would move into the former Piggly Wiggly, and then expand into the former Revco.

Warner Robins Supply Co

Fun fact: Warner Robins Supply Co has only one location left, and it's in Perry. Not even in Warner Robins. 

Warner Robins Supply Co closed in 2009, and ever since, that space has been abandoned. In 2007, the shopping center had ScissorHands and Tan-Fastic Tanning Salon, both of which have closed. In the early 2010s, the only businesses left were Rivalry's, NuWay, and Designer Tan. 

Rivalry's Sports Bar

Rivalry's closed around 2015/2016, after a break-in, leaving Nu-Way and Designer Tan. After this, nothing really happened at Forest Hill Village. In 2022, a Popeyes was built in the parking lot, and in 2024, Nu-Way officially closed after 49 years, due to a new location opening at North Park II near Tom Hill, leaving Designer Tan as the last tenant.

I went to Forest Hill Village today, but sadly didn't take as many photos as I wanted to in hindsight. Despite that, here's what I took, and what Forest Hill Village looks like 50 years later.

Forest Hill Village sign

The most interesting part of this shopping center is by far this retro looking logo. It looks straight out of the 80s. There's also a marquee sign next to it, which I didn't get a clear photo of. Here's what it says: 

KARAOKE SUN & THUR

LIVE                           FRI SAT

COME SEE US               

I assume this was an advertisement for Rivalry's. And no, I didn't get any photos of Rivalry's, or any of the abandoned stores except for Piggly Wiggly/Warner Robins Supply. Maybe I'll go back and get more photos at some point, I don't know.

Former Piggly Wiggly/Warner Robins Supply Co

You can still see the labelscar for the Warner Robins Supply Co "house" sign. This building has been abandoned for 16 years at this point.

Warner Robins Supply Co doors

For some reason, this store was closed on Saturdays. Also, note the chain on the door. I assume this building has been broken into before. 

Inside the former Warner Robins Supply Co

This building is in TERRIBLE condition. There's wood everywhere, you can see stuff falling apart in the ceiling, it's awful. They might as well demolish this building.

Former Revco/Warner Robins Supply extension

At first, I had no clue what this was. No labelscar at all, the only remants being the "of Macon" sign. After looking at an old image (which I posted in this blog & on FB), this was in fact part of Warner Robins Supply. 

Inside the former Revco/Warner Robins Supply extension

Still in bad condition. Most of the lights appear to be gone, there's no ceiling tiles, yeah it's rough. 

Designer Tan

After all of this, Designer Tan survives as the plaza's last tenant. 

I feel like I haven't documented this place enough, and would like to take more photos in the future. After all, this is a really interesting place, and likely won't be around for too much longer.

The fate is unknown for Forest Hill Village.

Rivergate Plaza, 31 Years Later

Rivergate Plaza, 31 Years Later

View of Tom Hill Sr. Blvd from I-75

Tom Hill Sr. Blvd is by far one of Macon's busiest roads, and has been so for many years. It really all started with North Park, a shopping center built in 1988. This shopping center brought in newer Kroger and Kmart stores, which both had existing locations on Riverside Dr. We won't be talking about North Park today, but instead we will talk about Rivergate Plaza.

Tom Hill Sr Blvd in 2001

Tom Hill Sr Blvd in 2025

Rivergate was built in 1994. There's not much in terms of history. It featured Macon's first Publix from 1994-2020, as well as Regal Cinemas in the 90s and 2000s. There were also a few outparcels, which we will also take a look at.

Rivergate Plaza sign

This shopping center has quite a few tenants, but the major anchor stores are currently vacant. Also, it's worth nothing that the video board on the sign is severely outdated. It advertises Publix, Stevi B's, and Steak 'n Shake, all of which have been gone for many years.

Buffalo Wild Wings, formerly Rio Bravo and El Azteca

Rio Bravo was a Mexican restaurant that operated in the 90s. Unfortunately, an armed robbery in addition to other crimes happened at Rio Bravo in late 2000, causing the restaurant to close. It reopened as El Azteca that year, and closed in 2011. Buffalo Wild Wings opened in December 2013.

IHOP, formerly Applebee's and Macon Diner

Originally opened as an Applebee's in the 90s and closed in 2006. At this point, IHOP already had a presence in the area, with a location on River Place Dr that opened in 2001. It closed in 2005. Macon Diner opened in 2008 but closed after a few months. IHOP opened in 2010.

FedEx Office and Panera Bread

There's not much to say about these places. This outparcel was built in the 2000s, and is the exact same as it was when it was built.

Regal Cinemas/The Edge/Planet Fitness sign

This sign doesn't list all of the businesses at Rivergate for some reason.

VIP Beauty/Batteries + Bulbs/Papa John's/Pet Supermarket, formerly Barnes & Noble

Barnes and Noble opened in the 90s and closed in 2008 when the store relocated to The Shoppes at River Crossing. Carol's Linens opened in the early 2010s but moved to Forsyth Rd in 2010. This is when the building was split, and Batteries + Bulbs, Papa John's, and Pet Supermarket opened. Tuesday Morning opened in 2015 but closed in 2023 due to bankruptcy. It's now this VIP Beauty store.

Rivergate entrance

Rivergate directional sign

Rivergate is kind of a strange shopping center, mainly because of these directional signs in the parking lot. Usually, you only see these in malls. The sign's quite outdated due to Sky Zone closing a few years ago, Big Lots closing, and Hertz relocating.

Miller-Motte College and Dollar Tree

One of the strange parts of this shopping center is this section that has two levels. Miller-Motte College (formerly Miller-Motte Technical College) takes up the entirety of the second level I believe. There used to be a Stevi B's here that closed.

Guitarras, Great Clips, Hertz, Surge and Spas Nails

Former Big Lots, originally Publix

Publix originally opened in 1994. They remained for many years until a newer Publix store was being built in West Macon. They then made the strange decision to close this location, which is pretty sad because I always liked this Publix. It was one of those that had a skylight at the front of the store, and overall it just hit different. The newer Publix stores just don't hit the same as this one did. 

Publix cart corral

Big Lots cart corral

When I went to this Big Lots a few days before they closed, I got a shopping basket but it didn't appear that any of the signage was being sold. I took a look inside the now-closed store, and...

Inside the now-abandoned Big Lots

Almost everything is left inside. There was even a shopping cart inside. I'm wondering if they're going to be doing a fixture auction at some point, considering the fact that the shelving is still there and there's still the signage outside. That, or maybe they're trying to reopen it at some point. I guess we'll find out in the future.

Businesses alongside Rivergate

Not much to comment on here, but there was a LifeWay Christian Store around here. I believe it closed in 2003.

Former Regal Cinemas

Regal Cinemas opened in the early 90s before Rivergate was built. They closed in the late 2000s and reopened as The Edge in the early 2010s, which closed after less than a year. It was later Planet Fitness and Sky Zone.

Former Sky Zone Trampoline Park

Not much to talk about, I believe this closed in 2023. They boarded up the windows for some reason.

Former Planet Fitness

There are some signs nearby advertising a new fitness center called OneLife. They're doing some form of renovations here clearly, and I imagine this will be where OneLife is. 

Old tanning room sign from Planet Fitness

Rivergate is in a weird spot right now. It's in a great location, yet it's plagued by recent closures such as Big Lots and Planet Fitness. North Park across the street is thriving, and it makes you wonder, what does the future hold for Planet Fitness?

Some Abandoned Stores on Eisenhower Parkway

Some Abandoned Stores on Eisenhower Parkway

Kinder's Center sign in 2025

Originally, I wanted to take a different direction with this post, sort of a "rise and fall" history lesson, but a few things prevented that from happening. So instead, I'll take the time to showcase some of the abandoned places on Eisenhower I explored.

Simply 10 and Boost Mobile at Kinder's Center

Kinder's Center was never a major shopping center, but it had a decent amount of stores. Its main anchor was Kinder's Furniture, a furniture store that operated in Macon since the 1970s. Originally their location was across from the Macon Mall on Macon Tech Drive, where Haverty's sits now. In 1999, they relocated to this location near Pio Nono Avenue in a former Kmart. OfficeDepot also sat in this shopping center for many years.

Former Kroger/OfficeDepot

I wanted to get a closer look at the abandoned OfficeDepot (which was originally a Kroger until 1985) but this is a very sketchy area, and there were people just standing in front so I didn't. Maybe another time though.

Former Video Warehouse/Harbor Freight

Video Warehouse had a store in the corner of Kinder's Center for many years. Harbor Freight actually wasn't at this location, they just had signage. It was in the space next to Video Warehouse. Even though Harbor Freight has been gone for 6 years, the tool images remain in the windows.

Former Subway (left) and Champion Windows (right)

This Subway had had a very unlucky history. When the Mother's Day Tornado of 2008 went through Macon, the Subway was severely damaged. I don't have any images of the tornado damage, but when Hurricane Irma hit in 2017, the Subway was damaged once again.

Damage to the Subway after Hurricane Irma

The Subway didn't last much longer, closing around 2018 or 2019. Let's see what both of these abandoned places look like today.

Former Champion Windows

I've never been to Champion, whenever we passed it I always thought it was a clothing store or something. This closed around the same time as the Subway.

Former Subway...?

When I looked through the windows of the former Subway, this is what I saw. I genuinely do not remember if the Subway was ever repurposed as another store, but I suppose it was, as this doesn't match Subway's design from the time.

Gas station under construction at Kinder's Center

This I don't entirely understand. It seems like a very weird spot to build a gas station. My guess the former Subway will probably serve as the food mart. They did something similar down the street, where they converted an old Taco Bell into a gas station.

Parkway Village across from Macon Mall

Parkway Village was a pretty popular shopping center throughout the 80s and the 90s. It was built in 1985, anchored by Kroger, with a Toys R Us as an outparcel. It also featured Pier 1 Imports, DZ Discovery Zone, Man's World, Little Caesers and more. Circuit City as built as an add-on in 1992. The Kroger is now a flea market, the Toys R Us is now a building for CGTC, and the Circuit City is now a Harbor Freight.

Former DZ Discovery Zone

DZ Discovery Zone was sort of a "fun center" type place in the 90s. You can kind of compare it to like a McDonald's PlayPlace, but bigger. All DZ Discovery Zone locations closed in 2001. This location has been abandoned ever since. You'll be shocked when you see what's still inside...

Inside the former DZ Discovery Zone

Yeah, the interior is still intact... minus all of the mazes and actual play areas. The building appears to still be in good shape too, it honestly looks like it's only been gone for a few years. It amazes me that 24 years later this building has been basically untouched. Maybe someone could so something with this, open their own new fun center.

Former Pier 1 Imports

I initially found out that Pier 1 was here from a commercial on YouTube, that actually shows the exterior. It's been changed a little bit, so clearly there was another tenant here later on. Pier 1 closed around 1999 when Oglesby Square opened. That location went out around 2014/2015 when a newer location at the Shoppes at River Crossing was built. I wish I took another photo of the front, because there is actually a labelscar. 

Inside the former Pier 1 Imports

Looks like an old Pier 1, that's for sure. There's like a bunch of unopened boxes and stuff which makes me wonder if this place is still in use or not. I doubt it, to be honest. 

Bloomfield Village sign

Bloomfield Village was by far the biggest letdown. It originally featured a Revco drugstore, which was converted to CVS after they bought out Revco. Next to that was I believe a Piggly Wiggly or Winn-Dixie, which was later a Books-A-Million in the 90s. Ashley Furniture opened in 2003 and stayed until 2010.

Former Revco/CVS

There is also another labelscar that reveals this used to be something called "The House of Shekinah Glory". One quick Google search shows that this was a church that has since relocated. No interior photos as they blocked out the windows. Lame.

Former Ashley HomeStore

Again, windows blocked, boring. They're not even tinted, they're completely blocked. I'm assuming there have been some break-ins or something.

All of these buildings should be revitalized in some way. Open some new supermarkets or something. Eisenhower was once a great area which has since fallen off into irrelevancy. I hope Eisenhower Parkway gets revitalized properly at some point.