Perimeter Mall is different from other shopping malls in Atlanta in that it much busier than most and has more current retail stores. It also offers upscale restaurants and salons. It features valet parking. The mall sits at the center of the region called “Perimeter”.
Sometime before its opening in 1971, the Spruill family sold a large portion of their property for the construction of Perimeter Mall, with the completion of Dunwoody Village occurring the same year.
Perimeter Mall opened (1971) and was the fourth mall to open in DeKalb County, after Avondale Mall in 1964, North DeKalb Mall in 1965, and the Gallery at South DeKalb in 1968. Its original anchor stores were Rich's and JCPenney, which made it very similar in design and layout to the nearby Greenbriar Mall. Perimeter Mall was the first mall in metro Atlanta to be located outside of I-285.
In 1982, an additional wing that included a Davison's was added. This gave the mall a T shape. Davison's became Macy's in 1986.
On April 25, 1990, James Calvin Brady, a 31-year-old man with a psychiatric history opened fire with a revolver in the food court, killing one person and injuring 4 others before turning himself in to the police.[4][5][6]
A brand new 5-level parking garage was built in November 1997.[7]
On February 20, 1998, Nordstrom opened its first location in the Southeast, a 3-level 230,000 square foot store in the mall.[8] The same year Nordstrom opened, the mall was expanded again.[9]
In 2015–2016, the mall underwent renovations including new ceramic flooring, new lighting, modern seating areas, updated restrooms and new signage. Some of the mall's original 1970s decor was replaced.[14]