NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Children of the 1970s, '80s and '90s can be part of one last hurrah for RiverGate Mall this Friday. Residents have come together to coordinate one last "cruise" of the mall before the landscape of the RiverGate Mall area changes completely.

First opened in the 1970s, RiverGate Mall now looks drastically different — both in patronage and tenancy, with only a few retailers and restaurants still open.

But big changes are coming, with both Goodlettsville and Metro Nashville city officials approving plans for a major overhaul of the property. Both city governments approved plans for a mixed-use development that is expected to bring millions in revenue to the Nashville area. The plans include multifamily housing, townhomes for sale, senior housing, retail, restaurant, sports and entertainment facilities, medical offices, general offices and hotels that will "promote significant economic development," per Metro officials.

With significant change coming, one woman decided to throw one last celebration of the mall this Friday.

Lisa Kistner Sheler, a resident of Hendersonville, floated the idea of having "one last cruise" of the mall, harkening back to a generations-old tradition.

For those unfamiliar, "cruising the mall" means driving around the mall loop while blasting music out of the stereo, sometimes pulling over in the adjacent parking lots to chitchat with friends.

"RiverGate Mall will soon be a memory," her event page on Facebook reads, in part. "In honor of that, I would like all of us 80s kids and anyone else who used to spend every weekend there to have one last night to 'cruise,' socialize, and relive a little of our youth."

"I was up late one night not able to sleep and I was scrolling on TikTok, and I said, 'We can't just let it go away without some kind of event,'" Sheler told News 2. "There's so many people that loved it; before we could drive, we were in the mall hanging out with our friends; after we drove, we would cruise the mall."

After she created a Facebook event, thousands of people saw the idea and loved it. Multiple people took to posting photos of the cars they used to cruise the mall in, sharing memories of their childhood and teen years cruising.

The plan even has the support of the mall management, according to Sheler.

A statement posted online by RiverGate Mall Management Team thanked the community for their interest, sharing their own memories of their time in Goodlettsville and Nashville.

"We are delighted to see the enthusiastic conversations here, on the HIP Facebook group and beyond. For 54 years, we've woven ourselves into the fabric of Goodlettsville and Metro Nashville," the statement reads. "We've grown with your families, proudly serving as the backdrop for annual photos with the Easter Bunny and Santa. For some of you, your first job was at the mall and further down the road we reconnected and partnered to elevate your startup businesses and civic organizations. Our halls even served an energetic group of daily mall walkers in their quest for exercise. Our place in history spans generations and we are excited to see the momentum of people wanting to come together, celebrate, and honor their favorite pastime with an homage visit to the mall."

The management team said it "unequivocally welcomes the community to shop, eat, work and connect at Rivergate."

They also reiterated safety measures for all those planning to attend the final cruise, telling drivers to use caution on all access and ring roads.

"Public use of parking lots is reserved for the sole purpose of parking and transit of vehicles," they warned. "No congregation, tents, food trucks or tailgating is allowed."

They added an appreciation for the "loyalty and patronage shown over the years and look forward to seeing you this Friday."

Sheler said she's been overwhelmed by the response her idea has gotten.

"I knew that the people that I hung out with in those days loved the mall — that was our thing," Sheler said. "I was really overwhelmed at the response that I did get. It started out with a couple hundred people, and then it just grew from there. People are so excited for it."

Sheler said she's been hearing stories from people interested in the event about how they met their spouses at the mall or had their first jobs there and other memories people had.

"It's blessed me in ways I didn't think it would," she told News 2.

In addition to having one last nostalgia cruise, Sheler said she was hoping attendees would also spend their money at the businesses inside, as they've been hanging on inside the mall as it has declined over the years.

"I know it's just a small dip in the bucket..." Sheler said. "This one last thing is sending it off with honor instead of [the mall] just dying out without any kind of remembrance at all."

The final cruise of RiverGate Mall is set to begin around 7 p.m. Friday, June 20. Attendees are encouraged to hang out until they can't stay awake or until they get tired of looping around the mall, according to Sheler.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/middle-tn-neighborhood-news/final-rivergate-mall-cruise-event/