Is Avalon & Oglethorpe Mall safe?
Savannah, Georgia · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Avalon & Oglethorpe Mall as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Avalon & Oglethorpe Mall
“Go with care. Avalon and the Oglethorpe Mall corridor serve as a major commercial retail hub in Savannah's Southside that is generally safe during business hours. Visitors should stay mindful of opportunistic property crimes such as vehicle break-ins around shopping plazas and exercise caution along heavy traffic corridors at night.”
Local police regularly conduct proactive patrols and surveillance operations targeting shoplifting and vehicle break-ins across Southside retail parking corridors.
About the area
Situated in Southside Savannah, Avalon and the Oglethorpe Mall area features a bustling mix of suburban retail, major department stores, chain restaurants, and modest mid-century residential pockets. It provides convenient everyday shopping and dining services away from the historic district, though the environment is heavily auto-centric.
- Suburban Retail
- Commercial Hub
- Car-Dependent
- Family-Friendly
Walking and biking in Avalon & Oglethorpe Mall
Walk score: 54/100 · Bike score: 42/100
Dedicated cycling infrastructure is sparse, with wide multi-lane arterials like Abercorn Street presenting dangerous conditions for cyclists and no direct connection to greenway trails.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are notably lower than in central and northern Savannah neighborhoods
- Abundant retail, grocery, and dining options within a short drive
- Close proximity to major regional medical centers and employment hubs
Cons
- Elevated rates of property crime and car break-ins in commercial parking areas
- Heavy vehicular traffic along Abercorn Street creating hazardous pedestrian conditions
- Several aging apartment complexes nearby exhibit higher turnover and calls for service
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low to moderate, with occasional individuals panhandling near major intersections along Abercorn Street and bus stops near the mall perimeter.
What Avalon & Oglethorpe Mall is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active and calm with commuters and retail employees heading to shopping centers and office parks.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy and energetic with steady shopper traffic, bustling parking lots, and moderate foot traffic inside commercial areas.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Well-lit along primary mall entrances and plazas, though parking lots require standard awareness of surroundings.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet once retail centers close; pedestrians should avoid walking unlit side streets or commercial access roads alone.
Transit, parking and getting around
Chatham Area Transit (CAT) serves the area primarily via Route 14 (Abercorn Local) and Route 6, connecting Southside directly to the downtown Joe Murray Rivers, Jr. Intermodal Transit Center.
Parking is abundant and free throughout Oglethorpe Mall lots and adjacent strip center plazas, with no metered street parking required.
Things to do in Avalon & Oglethorpe Mall
- Shop at Oglethorpe Mall featuring anchor stores and indoor shopping
- Catch the latest blockbuster films at the Regal Savannah movie theater
- Browse local international specialty goods and foods along the Hodgson Memorial Drive corridor
Local favorites
- Oglethorpe Mall · Shopping Mall · 4.2★ (7500)Enclosed regional mall housing retail favorites, casual eateries, and family department stores.
- Barnes Restaurant · Southern Restaurant · 4.4★ (2100)Longstanding local institution serving traditional Southern barbecue and country-style buffet favorites.
- The 5 Spot · American Restaurant · 4.5★ (1650)Casual neighborhood eatery in nearby Midtown/Southside serving burgers, craft beers, and brunch.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.