1984–1993: Development and opening
The Washington, D.C.-based real estate developer Herbert S. Miller and his 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, known as the Landmark Mills template. [2] Originally called "Washington Outlet Mall" during planning stages, it was not planned to be enclosed until the last minute. [4]
The 130 acres (53 ha) 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 Boulevard and I-95. The mall was designed by Wah Yee Associates of Michigan, [5] and was a joint venture involving the German-based KanAm Grunderbesitz GmbH, which helped develop and fund the project. [6]
The first phase of the mall opened September 19, 1985. 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 AMC Theatres Potomac Mills 10. [7] 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. [8]
After opening
The success of Potomac Mills led to Western Development Corporation to develop the Landmark Mills portfolio, which included Franklin Mills in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Gurnee Mills in Gurnee, Illinois, and Sawgrass Mills in South Florida. Western Development Corporation completed a corporate spin-off to form a public real estate investment trust (REIT) known as the Mills Corporation in April 1994. [9] [10]
AMC Theatres expanded to 15 screens, and at around October 1996, The Mills Corporation, under new CEO Laurence C. Siegel, announced a 300,000-square-foot (28,000 m2) expansion to add more entertainment-based chains, and theme restaurants to Potomac Mills, inspired by the development of Ontario Mills near Los Angeles, California; this would include expanding AMC Potomac Mills 15 to 30 screens. [11] Around 2004, AMC Theatres relocated within the mall, and opened the expanded AMC Potomac Mills 18 movie theater. [12]
By May 2006, The Mills Corp. was under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission due to its financial problems. As a result, in February 2007, the company's portfolio, including Potomac Mills, would be acquired by Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management for $1.64 billion. [13] The acquisition was completed in April 2007, and Mills was rebranded The Mills: A Simon Company. [14] In May 2008, Simon announced a 50,000 square feet (4,600 m2) expansion featuring new retail and restaurant space. The expansion was scheduled to start in the fall of 2008. [15]
Bloomingdale's - The Outlet Store had its grand opening on August 20, 2010. It was the company's first outlet store. [16] In May 2011, the JCPenney Outlet Store began liquidation sales, and closed its doors in July of that year. It was converted into a traditional department store in October 2011, as JCPenney announced that it would sell its outlet division to SB Capital Group 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. [17] [18] In March 2012, Simon Property Group acquired full control of the property by buying out Farallon's stake in 26 Landmark Mills malls for $1.5 billion. [19] Bailey Banks & Biddle Outlet would debut on March 31, 2012. [20]
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. [21] Near the end of March 2019, a new sign was unveiled, featuring an updated design. [22] 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. [23] The architect for the renovation was Bartlett Hartley & Mulkey (BHM). [24]
Potomac Mills celebrated its 40th anniversary in September 2025. On April 17, 2026, Five Oaks Properties, LLC acquired the former Kaiser Permanente clinic at 14139 Potomac Mills Road for $5.5 million, which closed after Kaiser relocated to Minnieville Road. A redevelopment proposal, Potomac Lofts, with 130 condominiums, has been moving through local Prince William County review stages to add mixed-use housing to the area. The land would rezoned for residential use if approved. [25] Slick City Action Park would open in 2026 in the former Buy Buy Baby anchor space. [26]
