Harrisburg Mall

Harrisburg Mall
Location Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Address 3501 Paxton Street Harrisburg, PA 17111
Opening date 1969
Developer M.A. Kravitz/Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance[1]
Owner St. John Properties and Petrie Ross Ventures
No. of stores and services 90+
No. of anchor tenants 3
Total retail floor area 995,000 square feet (92,400 m2)
No. of floors 2
Public transit access CAT (Route 8, 13, 20)
Website Harrisburg Mall

The Harrisburg Mall is a regional mall located just outside Harrisburg in Swatara Township, Pennsylvania. It is the largest mall in the Harrisburg area. The mall, formerly known as the Harrisburg East Mall, opened in 1969 with JCPenney, Wanamaker's, and Gimbels anchoring it.[1] Over the years, as anchors either moved out, or went out of business, the mall's lineup changed, with Gimbels being replaced by Hess's, then Hecht's, and currently Macy's; Wanamaker's having been replaced by Lord & Taylor, and currently, Bass Pro Shops; and JCPenney having been replaced by Boscov's (which vacated in October 2008 and is currently empty)[2]

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. [3] [4]

A $77 million revitalization of the mall was begun in 2004, which, in addition to renovations to the mall's decor, included the addition of a 14-screen Great Escapes 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. Tenants were to include Barnes & Noble, Panera Bread, and Sega Sports Grill among others. 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.

On July 9, 2009, the Harrisburg Mall was sold at sheriffs sale to three financial groups after the previous owner, Feldman Lubert Adler defaulted on a 52.5 million dollar mortgage.[5]

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 space was demolished in mid-2012.[6][7] In 2013, Books-A-Million opened a 2nd & Charles store in the spot originally slated for Barnes & Noble.[8]


References

  1. 1 2 "Harrisburg". CSA Super Markets: 71. 1968.
  2. ↑ Boscov's will close at Harrisburg Mall
  3. ↑ Images from the Cave
  4. ↑ 1964 Field Trip
  5. ↑ Harrisburg Mall, Colonial Country Club sold at sheriff's auction
  6. ↑ http://www.shopharrisburgmall.com/harrisburg-mall-demolition-celebration-of-former-sega-sports-restaurant-scheduled-for-july-16/
  7. ↑ http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/07/sega_sports_bar_demolition_sta.html
  8. ↑ http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/05/2nd_charles_opens_today_at_har.html

External links

Coordinates: 40°15′07″N 76°49′48″W / 40.252°N 76.830°W / 40.252; -76.830

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