Potomac Mills

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Potomac Mills Mall
PotomacMillsInterior.jpg
The Dining Pavilion at Potomac Mills food court at Neighborhood 4, c.  January 2025
Potomac Mills
Location Woodbridge, Virginia, United States
Address2700 Potomac Mills Circle
Opening dateSeptember 19, 1985;40 years ago (September 19, 1985)
Renovated
  • 2008
  • 2024–2025
Previous namesWashington Outlet Mall (planning)
Developer Western Development Corporation
Management Simon Property Group
Owner Simon Property Group (99.1%)
ArchitectWah Yee Associates
Stores and services225 (at peak)
Anchor tenants 20 (at peak)
Floor area 1,540,304 sq ft (143,098.9 m2)
Floors1
Website www.simon.com/mall/potomac-mills
Building details
Potomac mills mall.jpg
Main entrance in August 2005
General information
StatusOperational
Renovating team
ArchitectsBartlett Hartley & Mulkey Architects
Renovating firm Simon Property Group

Potomac Mills is a super-regional outlet mall located in Woodbridge, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The first mall developed by The Mills Corporation (then known as the Western Development Corporation), the company and the mall were acquired by Simon Property Group in 2007. The mall has its own census-designated place (CDP), called Potomac Mills, Prince William County, Virginia. However, it is not to be confused with another CDP that uses the mall's name, known as Potomac Mills, Westmoreland County, Virginia.

Contents

Simon claims it to be the largest outlet mall [1] in Virginia. It has also been claimed to be the top tourist attraction in Virginia, [2] [3] but the commonwealth tourism board ranked it as tenth in 2004. [4]

History

The original food court at Neighborhood 4, c. May 2008 PotomacMillsFoodCourt.jpg
The original food court at Neighborhood 4, c. May 2008

Pre-construction and development

Real estate developer Herbert S. Miller and his real estate firm Western Development Corporation developed Potomac Mills as a prototype for a shopping center which would combine elements of a regional mall with discount retail. [2] Originally called "Washington Outlet Mall" during planning stages, it was not planned to be enclosed until the last minute. [4]

The 130 acres selected for construction were mostly farmland and woods, although it included several homes and businesses. The Prince William Board of Supervisors approved the first of several rezonings for the mall on February 21, 1984, after a fight over the proposed 140 feet (43 m)-tall, 1,260 square feet (117 m2) illuminated sign. [3] Potomac Mills began construction that same year near Opitz Blvd and I-95. The mall was designed by Wah Yee Associates of Michigan. [5]

The first phase of the mall opened September 19, 1985, with early anchors being Sears Outlet, Linens 'n Things, and Books-A-Million. Comprising what are now Neighborhoods 1 and 2, it occupied approximately 650,000 square feet (60,000 m2) and had parking for over 5,500 cars. [2] The second phase, completed in 1986, added another 550,000 square feet (51,000 m2) of retail space in Neighborhood 2 and a movie theater, (now AMC Theatres, operating as AMC Potomac Mills 18). [6]

JCPenney at Potomac Mills as an outlet anchor, c. May 2011. This was the same month the chain began liquidating the store, leading to its permanent closure in July 2011. Potomac Mills JCPenney Outlet mall entrance.jpg
JCPenney at Potomac Mills as an outlet anchor, c. May 2011. This was the same month the chain began liquidating the store, leading to its permanent closure in July 2011.

The third phase, completed in 1993, added 400,000 square feet (37,000 m2) of value-retail space. anchored by Marshalls, JCPenney Outlet Store, and Burlington Coat Factory. [6] [7] Cohoes Fashions was also an early tenant and later closed in 1987, being replaced by a Woodward & Lothrop outlet store. Other original tenants included IKEA, and Waccamaw Pottery. [8] The IKEA location at Potomac Mills was one of the company's earliest retail outlets in America, and proved so popular that it eventually required a new, dedicated building adjacent to the primary Potomac Mills complex. [9]

After opening

Influence on other buildings

The success of Potomac Mills led to Western Development Corporation to develop the Landmark Mills portfolio, which included Gurnee Mills in Gurnee, Illinois, Franklin Mills in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and even Arundel Mills in Hanover, Maryland, which is 30-35 minutes away from D.C. Western Development Corporation became The Mills Corporation in 1994. [10] [11]

In February 2007, The Mills Corp.'s portfolio, including Potomac Mills, would be acquired by Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management for $25.25 per share, following the rejection of Brookfield Asset Management's offer, which offered to acquire The Mills Corp. for $21 per share. This was because The Mills Corporation filed for bankruptcy. [12] The acquisition was completed in April 2007, and Potomac Mills' branding was relaunched as The Mills: A Simon Company. [13]

In May 2008, Simon announced a 50,000-square-foot expansion featuring new retail and restaurant space, including a Neiman Marcus Last Call Clearance Center. The expansion was scheduled to start in the fall of 2008. [14]

JCPenney Outlet during liquidation in May 2011, with "STORE CLOSING" signs in the background Potomac Mills JCPenney Outlet interior.jpg
JCPenney Outlet during liquidation in May 2011, with "STORE CLOSING" signs in the background
JCPenney at Potomac Mills after department store conversion Potomac Mills - Jcpenney.jpg
JCPenney at Potomac Mills after department store conversion

The JCPenney Outlet Store closed permanently in July 2011, and was converted into a traditional department store in October 2011, as JCPenney announced that it would phase out its outlet division to focus on its core retail operations and online businesses. Potomac Mills was one of the two JCPenney Outlet locations selected for renovation into a department store; the other store was the Franklin Mills location. [15] [16]

In March 2012, Simon Property Group acquired full control of the property by buying out Farallon's stake in the Mills portfolio for $1.5 billion. [17]

The Potomac Mills apple tree sign was damaged by high winds in 2011, and again in March 2018. The second incident bent and stressed its steel support poles, causing it to tilt precariously over Interstate 95, and forced the sign's dismantling. [18] Near the end of March 2019, a new sign was unveiled, featuring an updated design. [19]

On April 24, 2023, it was announced that buybuyBaby would close as the chain was going out of business. [20] On May 9, 2023, andThat announced that they would be closing as part of a plan to close 10 stores nationwide. [21]

Interior view, c. January 2025 PotomacMillsInterior2.jpg
Interior view, c. January 2025

In October 2024, Simon Property Group announced that Potomac Mills' food court would be renovated into a "food pavilion" branded as the Dining Pavilion at Potomac Mills. The renovation would add contemporary flooring and lighting, a new white-and-gray color palette, charging stations, and new seating. [22] The architect for the renovation was Bartlett Hartley & Mulkey (BHM). [23]

In August 2025, Primark opened a 32,000-square-foot store at the mall. The store is the second location in Virginia. More stores such as Slick City and Rally House are also planned to open. [24] [25] [26]

The Dining Pavilion had its grand opening at Potomac Mills in February 2025. [27] Potomac Mills celebrated its 40th anniversary in September 2025. Entertainment for the mall, besides the 18-screen AMC theater, includes Round1 Bowling & Arcade. [6]

References

  1. ↑ "Center Information", Potomac Mills website, Simon Property Group, retrieved June 4, 2021
  2. 1 2 3 "Project Information: Potomac Mills", Western Development Corporation website, February 13, 2012, retrieved June 4, 2021
  3. 1 2 Snyder, Roger (April 10, 2019). "At Potomac Mills, the sign(s) of our times". Prince William Times. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  4. 1 2 Flagg, Michael (October 7, 2004), At 19, Potomac Mills Mall 'Is What It Is' , retrieved June 4, 2021
  5. ↑ "TOO MUCH FOR POTOMAC MILLS?". The Washington Post. June 24, 1996. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 Pugh, Kari (September 17, 2025). "From Flying Elvises to discount fashion, Potomac Mills celebrates 40 years". INSIDENOVA.COM. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  7. ↑ Mead, Eileen (September 29, 1993). "Potomac Mills going all out to toast addition of major retailers to mall". The Free Lance-Star - Google News Archive Search. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Cohoes Moving to Mall in Silver Spring". The Washington Post. May 16, 1988. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Destination Design: Potomac Mills and Ikea". The Washington Post. August 21, 2013. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Company History". The Mills Corporation. Archived from the original on November 14, 2006. Retrieved January 17, 2007.
  11. ↑ "Mills Shifts Focus to Traditional Malls". International Council of Shopping Centers. Archived from the original on February 20, 2006. Retrieved January 17, 2007.
  12. ↑ "Mills to be acquired by Simon and Farallon for $25.25 each". CBNC. February 16, 2007. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Simon, Farallon bid $1.56 billion for Mills". Reuters. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  14. ↑ MIKE, LOUIS LLOVIO/TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF (May 17, 2008). "Potomac Mills mall unveils plans for expansion, new stores". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Potomac Mills JCPenney Outlet closing". WashingtonExaminar. May 16, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  16. ↑ "JCPenney Co. 2 retail outlet conversions". RRStar.
  17. ↑ "Simon Property Group announces two strategic acquisitions". Simon Investors.
  18. ↑ Cook, Gina (March 4, 2018). "Leaning Potomac Mills Mall Sign Taken Down". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  19. ↑ Staff Reports (March 31, 2019). "'Reimagined' Potomac Mills sign nears completion". Prince William Times. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Is Buy Buy Baby closing stores? See the list of locations in every state". May 6, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Christmas Tree Shops is closing 10 stores, including two on Cape Cod. Here's where they are. - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe .
  22. ↑ STAFF, INSIDENOVA (October 30, 2024). "Potomac Mills mall plans to transform food court into 'food pavilion'". INSIDENOVA.COM. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Potomac Mills: Dining Pavilion and Restroom Renovation". Bartlett Hartley & Mulkey. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  24. ↑ Report, Staff (December 6, 2024). "New 'Slick City' action park coming to Potomac Mills early next year". Prince William Times. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  25. ↑ Neibauer, Michael (July 1, 2025). "Rally House sports apparel chain surges into Greater Washington with locations at Simon malls". Washington Business Journal.
  26. ↑ Team, PWLiving Editorial (April 10, 2025). "Primark Welcomes Shoppers to its Second Virginia Store at Potomac Mills". Prince William Living. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  27. ↑ Kiser, Uriah (February 25, 2025). "Potomac Mills Unveils Newly Remodeled Dining Pavilion". Potomac Local News. Retrieved March 18, 2026.

38°38′36″N77°17′43″W / 38.6434°N 77.2953°W / 38.6434; -77.2953

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