September of 1976, in the middle of the “Golden Age of The Mall”, Hilltop opened in Richmond with great fanfare and success. Developed and built by A. Alfred Taubman, a true retail visionary who would revolutionize retail, Hilltop was constructed of the finest materials available. Taubman went even further and commissioned Charles Perry to create Solar Cantata, a timeless piece of public art which still graces Hilltop’s center court. For over 30 years, Hilltop was a true community center and attracted the most vibrant retailers. It still holds a special place in the hearts and minds of those who grew up with this iconic place. The ravages of the Great Recession and the retail upheaval were unkind to Hilltop, a circumstance that saddened the local community as they watched the decline of their once beloved mall.

Fast forward to July of 2017…the sleeping giant is awoken by the partnership of LBG Real Estate Companies, LLC and Aviva Investors, LLC, who were able to overlook the years of wear on this former grande dame. The new owners have stepped in and are working on an inspired re-invention of Hilltop and its environs to restore and even surpass its former glory.

If vision is the ability to see that which is invisible to others, The Shops at Hilltop and its guests should get ready for a new, imaginative and beautiful reality. The LBG team of pragmatic dreamers is creating a sensuous and vibrant indoor environment that references the natural perfection outdoors.

The color palette will be dynamic and uplifting; the materials, dimensional and tactile. Once predictable corridors are expanding into gateways connecting experiences as well as stores and eateries. Center Court is emerging as an intimate gathering space that can easily morph into a concert venue, a product launch platform . . . essentially a place where anything might/could happen.

When completed in 2019, The Shops at Hilltop will transform the way the community, the region and the tenants regard their connection with this very special destination.