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Central Park (shopping complex)
Encyclopedia
Central Park is a shopping complex in Fredericksburg, Virginia
, with over 255 businesses. The complex is located near the intersection of Interstate 95
and State Route 3. Many national big-box store
s, restaurants, and smaller local businesses occupy the Central Park complex. The complex has 2200000 square feet (204,386.7 m²) of leased retail space. The complex's developer, the Silver Companies, describes Central Park as "The East Coast's Largest Power Retail Center". In the 2004 rankings from the American Studies Department at Eastern Connecticut State University
, Central Park was ranked as the largest unenclosed mall (and the second largest mall) on the East Coast
, and as the seventh largest mall in the United States.
Central Park also includes a Holiday Inn Select Hotel
, and a Hilton Garden Inn
, with three more hotels scheduled to open in the next few years. In late January 2006, the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center opened, giving the Fredericksburg region its first convention center
. Central park is also home to Central Park Funland which is a small theme park.
Central Park was developed by the Silver Companies. (Carl D. Silver Parkway, the primary road through Central Park, is named after the founder and owner of the Silver Companies.) Before the complex was developed, the site was occupied by a Sheraton Hotel
and a golf course. The complex was begun in 1995, and is still expanding and growing. Central Park is now a 310 acres (1.3 km²) power center. It serves as the retail shopping and primary dining component of the 2400 acres (10 km²) mega-development Celebrate Virginia, which uses the slogan "North America's Largest Retail Resort" and spans Stafford County
, the Rappahannock River
, and the City of Fredericksburg. Across Route 3 from Central Park is the older Spotsylvania Mall, which has undergone extensive renovation to become the Spotsylvania Towne Centre
.
Many area residents complain that the developers did not make adequate allowances for the increase in traffic caused by the complex. Residents and travelers in the area are often frustrated by the congestion along the Route 3 corridor near the Interstate 95 interchange.
The center's major big box tenants include Ashley Furniture, Best Buy
, Borders Books & Music
, DSW Shoe Warehouse, Ethan Allen
, Kohl's
, Lowe's
, Office Depot
, Old Navy
, PetSmart
, Shoppers Food Warehouse, The Sports Authority, Regal Theaters 15
, Target
, Toys "R" Us, Walmart and Wegmans. Tweeter Audio(out of business) and Linens 'n Things
previously operated in the center until 2009.
Borders Boook Store has been closed for several months
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
, with over 255 businesses. The complex is located near the intersection of Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Virginia
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, Interstate 95 runs through the state. It runs concurrently for with Interstate 64 in Richmond, and meets the northern terminus of Interstate 85 in Petersburg. Though Interstate 95 was originally planned to go straight through Washington, D.C., it was instead...
and State Route 3. Many national big-box store
Big-box store
A big-box store is a physically large retail establishment, usually part of a chain. The term sometimes also refers, by extension, to the company that operates the store...
s, restaurants, and smaller local businesses occupy the Central Park complex. The complex has 2200000 square feet (204,386.7 m²) of leased retail space. The complex's developer, the Silver Companies, describes Central Park as "The East Coast's Largest Power Retail Center". In the 2004 rankings from the American Studies Department at Eastern Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University is a public, coeducational liberal arts university and is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Eastern is located in Willimantic, Connecticut on . Founded in 1889, it is the second-oldest campus in the Connecticut State University System...
, Central Park was ranked as the largest unenclosed mall (and the second largest mall) on the East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
, and as the seventh largest mall in the United States.
Central Park also includes a Holiday Inn Select Hotel
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn is a brand of hotels, formally a economy motel chain, forming part of the British InterContinental Hotels Group . It is one of the world's largest hotel chains with 238,440 bedrooms and 1,301 hotels globally. There are currently 5 hotels in the pipeline...
, and a Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn is a chain of hotels trademarked by the Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Garden Inns are considered to be upscale mid-priced hotels that are designed for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel brand is similar to that of the Courtyard by Marriott brand, a key competitor...
, with three more hotels scheduled to open in the next few years. In late January 2006, the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center opened, giving the Fredericksburg region its first convention center
Convention center
A convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees...
. Central park is also home to Central Park Funland which is a small theme park.
Central Park was developed by the Silver Companies. (Carl D. Silver Parkway, the primary road through Central Park, is named after the founder and owner of the Silver Companies.) Before the complex was developed, the site was occupied by a Sheraton Hotel
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts is Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide's largest and second oldest brand . Starwood's headquarters are in White Plains, New York.-Sheraton history:...
and a golf course. The complex was begun in 1995, and is still expanding and growing. Central Park is now a 310 acres (1.3 km²) power center. It serves as the retail shopping and primary dining component of the 2400 acres (10 km²) mega-development Celebrate Virginia, which uses the slogan "North America's Largest Retail Resort" and spans Stafford County
Stafford County, Virginia
Stafford County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a U.S. state, and just across the Rappahannock River from the City of Fredericksburg. As of the 2000 census, the population was 92,446, increasing to 128,961 in 2010.. Its county seat is Stafford. In 2006, and again in 2009,...
, the Rappahannock River
Rappahannock River
The Rappahannock River is a river in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately in length. It traverses the entire northern part of the state, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, across the Piedmont, to the Chesapeake Bay, south of the Potomac River.An important river in American...
, and the City of Fredericksburg. Across Route 3 from Central Park is the older Spotsylvania Mall, which has undergone extensive renovation to become the Spotsylvania Towne Centre
Spotsylvania Towne Centre
The Spotsylvania Towne Centre is a mall located in Spotsylvania, Virginia, on Virginia State Route 3, less than a mile west of Interstate 95, and directly across from the Central Park shopping and dining complex. The mall is owned and developed by Cafaro Company...
.
Many area residents complain that the developers did not make adequate allowances for the increase in traffic caused by the complex. Residents and travelers in the area are often frustrated by the congestion along the Route 3 corridor near the Interstate 95 interchange.
Major stores/businesses
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
, Borders Books & Music
Borders Group
Borders Group, Inc. was an international book and music retailer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company employed approximately 19,500 throughout the U.S., primarily in its Borders and Waldenbooks stores....
, DSW Shoe Warehouse, Ethan Allen
Ethan Allen
Ethan Allen was a farmer, businessman, land speculator, philosopher, writer, and American Revolutionary War patriot, hero, and politician. He is best known as one of the founders of the U.S...
, Kohl's
Kohl's
Kohl's Corporation is an American department store chain headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, operating , 1,089 stores in 49 states. In 1998, it entered the S&P 500 list, and is also listed in the Fortune 500...
, Lowe's
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
, Office Depot
Office Depot
Office Depot is a supplier of office products and provides many services. The company's selection of brand name office supplies includes business machines, computers, computer software and office furniture, while its business services encompass copying, printing, document reproduction, shipping,...
, Old Navy
Old Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing brand as well as a chain of stores owned by Gap, Inc., with corporate operations in San Francisco and San Bruno, California. It is one of the first major corporations to house headquarters in the new Mission Bay district of San Francisco.Gap, Inc. was run by...
, PetSmart
PetSmart
PetSmart, Inc. is a retail chain doing business in the United States and Canada engaged in the sale of specialty pet supplies and services such as grooming and dog training, PetSmart PetsHotel dog and cat boarding facilities and Doggie Day Care.- History :...
, Shoppers Food Warehouse, The Sports Authority, Regal Theaters 15
Regal Entertainment Group
Regal Entertainment Group also known as REG is a movie theater chain headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. Regal operates the largest and most geographically diverse theater circuit in the United States, consisting of 6,775 screens in 548 locations in 39 states and the District of Columbia as of...
, Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
, Toys "R" Us, Walmart and Wegmans. Tweeter Audio(out of business) and Linens 'n Things
Linens 'n Things
Linens 'n Things is an online retailer of home textiles, housewares and decorative home accessories. Until 2008, the company also did business as a big box retailer under the name Linens 'n Things, Inc., headquartered in Clifton, New Jersey, United States, and did business across the United States...
previously operated in the center until 2009.
See also
Borders Boook Store has been closed for several months