Harrisburg Mall

Harrisburg Mall

An exterior view of Harrisburg Mall, March 2018
Location	Swatara Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Address	3501 Paxton Street Harrisburg, PA 17111
Opening date	1969
Closing date	January 31, 2024
Developer	M.A. Kravitz/Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance [1]
Owner	St. John Properties
No. of stores and services	35+
No. of anchor tenants	3 (1 open, 2 vacant)
Total retail floor area	995,000 square feet (92,400 m2)
No. of floors	2 (3 in former Macy's, private 3rd floor in Bass Pro Shops from original Wanamaker's)
Public transit access	CAT bus: 6/13, 8, 19, 20
Website	www.shopharrisburgmall.com

The Harrisburg Mall is a regional mall located just outside Harrisburg in Swatara Township, Pennsylvania. It is the largest mall in the Harrisburg metropolitan area. The anchor store is Bass Pro Shops. There are 2 vacant anchor stores that were once Macy's and Boscov's.

History

The mall, formerly known as the Harrisburg East Mall, opened in 1969 with JCPenney, Wanamaker's, and Gimbels as anchors. ^[1] During construction a natural limestone cave known variously as Big Pit, Paxtang or Crystal Paradise Cave known for its anthodite and speleothem formations was uncovered. ^{[2] [3]}

Interior view of Harrisburg Mall near Bass Pro Shops, March 2018

In 1978, Gimbels closed, due to poor sales at the location as well as its distance from the other stores in the chain which made it unprofitable. ^[4] Hess's opened in that space later the same year. ^[5]

In 1994, Hess's closed, due to the company's merge with other stores. Hecht's, being one of them, opened immediately after.

In 1999, Wanamaker's closed, and Lord & Taylor opened a year later.

In 2001, JCPenney closed, and Boscov's opened in that space in 2003.

In 2004, A $77 million revitalization of the mall which, in addition to renovations to the mall's decor, included the addition of a 14-screen Great Escape theater and entertainment complex on the southwest corner of the mall. The last phase of the renovation was planned to be completed in 2008 with a brand new "streetscape" look on the north side of the mall. However, the addition remained uncompleted in 2009, due in part to changing market conditions, as well financial difficulties with the mall's owner, Feldman Mall Properties. All three of these stores were abandoned in an unfinished state.

In 2004, Lord & Taylor closed, and Bass Pro Shops opened later that year, after a two floor expansion of the building was built, and the Wanamaker's third floor was made private.

Harrisburg Mall entrance near Bass Pro Shops in September 2022

In 2006, Hecht's was converted to Macy's due to Macy's parent company (Federated Department Stores) having acquired Hecht's parent company (May Department Stores) in 2005.

In 2008, Boscov's filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, causing 10 stores to close, the Harrisburg Mall location being one of them. ^[6] The building has been vacant since.

On July 9, 2009, the Harrisburg Mall was sold at sheriff's sale to three financial groups after the previous owner, Feldman Lubert Adler defaulted on a $52.5 million mortgage. ^[7] In June 2012, Harrisburg Mall was purchased from TD Bank by Maryland-based commercial real estate developers St. John Properties and Petrie Ross Ventures, who collectively own or have developed over 25 million sq. ft. of commercial property in six states.

The Sega Sports Restaurant space was demolished in mid-2012. ^{[8] [9]} In 2013, Books-A-Million opened a 2nd & Charles store in the spot originally slated for Barnes & Noble. ^[10]

On January 6, 2020, it was announced that Macy's would be closing in March 2020 as part of a plan to close 125 stores nationwide. ^[11] After Macy's closed, Bass Pro Shops is the only anchor store left.

On February 7, 2023, St. John Properties revealed a redevelopment plan for the Harrisburg Mall in which the mall, with the exception of Bass Pro Shops, would be demolished and redeveloped to include retail along with business space that can be used for medical offices, schools, light manufacturing, and general offices. The redevelopment plan still needs approval. Demolition of the mall would begin no earlier than 2024. ^[12] Tenants of the Harrisburg Mall have been given notices to vacate by January 31, 2024, to allow for demolition and redevelopment of the mall to begin. ^[13]

Anchors

Current

• Bass Pro Shops - Opened 2004

Former

• Gimbels - Opened 1969, closed 1978.
• Wanamaker's - Opened 1969, closed 1999.
• JCPenney - Opened 1969, closed 2001.
• Hess's - Opened 1978, closed 1994.
• Hecht's - Opened 1994, closed 2006.
• Lord & Taylor - Opened 2000, closed 2004.
• Boscov's - Opened 2003, closed 2008.
• Macy's - Opened 2006, closed 2020

References

1. "Harrisburg". CSA Super Markets: 71. 1968.
2. Images from the Cave Archived 2014-01-05 at the Wayback Machine
3. 1964 Field Trip
4. "Hess's to replace Gimbel's at Harrisburg East Mall (December 28, 1977)". The Morning Call. 1977-12-28. p. 22. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
5. "Hess's to open at Harrisburg East Mall on September 15 (1978)". Scrantonian Tribune. 1978-08-20. p. 16. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
6. "Boscov's will close Harrisburg Mall store".
7. Harrisburg Mall, Colonial Country Club sold at sheriff's auction
8. "Harrisburg Mall Demolition Celebration Of Former Sega Sports Restaurant Scheduled For July 16". Shop Harrisburg Mall. 2012-07-12.
9. Klaus, Mary; Patriot-News, The (2012-07-16). "Unfinished sports bar demolition starts Harrisburg Mall improvements". pennlive.
10. "2nd & Charles has opened in Harrisburg Mall". pennlive. 2013-05-30.
11. "Macy's store at Harrisburg Mall is closing". pennlive. 2020-01-06.
12. Bell, Mac (February 9, 2023). "Harrisburg Mall owners propose demolition, redevelopment plan". Harrisburg, PA: WHTM-TV. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
13. Ye, Ryan (December 13, 2023). "Harrisburg Mall tenants must vacate the property by the end of January". York, PA: WPMT. Retrieved December 17, 2023.

External links

• Harrisburg Mall
• Feldman Mall Properties

40°15′07″N76°49′48″W / 40.252°N 76.830°W / 40.252; -76.830