Landover Mall
Encyclopedia
Landover Mall was a large shopping mall
located in Landover, Maryland
directly across from FedEx Field, off MD 202 and Interstates 95
and 495. The mall was owned by Lerner Enterprises
, and opened in 1972. Like its neighbor Capital Plaza Mall
, it was a major attraction through its opening years in Prince George's County. The mall featured many anchors and smaller tenants; however, upon the decline and closing of its major anchors, the mall itself entered a state of decline. Finally, in 2002, the mall's doors were closed and it ultimately was demolished in 2006. Sears is still open because it owns the land beneath the store.
, sleigh ride
, doves
and a "Cupcake Boat Ride", but no Santa or explicit references to Christmas
. Toys For Tots
once did a charity event where they would go fishing
in the fountain.
, Garfinckel's
, Woodward & Lothrop
(Woodies), and one national chain, Sears
. There was a six-screen theater in the basement, which had its own escalators, but it closed in 1991. In 1990, Garfinckel's filed for bankruptcy and went out of business. The former Garfinckel's anchor store was never replaced. Five years later, Woodies went out of business. JCPenney moved into the former Woodies location but found business unprofitable. The store was converted to a JCPenney outlet location in fall 1998 and was closed altogether in early 2001. In early 2002, Hecht's
closed its doors after opening a new store at Bowie Town Center
in nearby Bowie, Maryland
.
decided to shut the mall down completely. The mall's doors were sealed shut with cinder blocks, although the Sears store remained open. In addition to the failure of business, it is believed that the mall was closed due to high criminal activity in the neighboring towns of Ardmore
, Glenarden
, Brightseat, Palmer Park, Dodge Park, Capitol Heights
, Kentland and Seat Pleasant
.
Demolition began in 2006, and was completed in early 2007. The entire mall was demolished, and its aftermath was recycled. Sears was the only store that remained open after the mall's closure because it owned the land to which their building stood upon. Despite the fate of the mall, Sears was kept open and was not demolished as a result. However, its entrance to the rest of the mall was sealed shut on both its levels.
. The area of the former mall and most of its parking lot is now fenced off and barricaded with cement blocks. Landover Mall's main entrance sign is covered with a tarp, and the message board reads "Sears - Sears Open Daily and Sunday 10:00 - 9:30pm." During the games of the Washington Redskins
in nearby FedEx Field, the available open parking lots on the mall grounds are used to house cars during the games.
38°55′12"N 76°51′22"W
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
located in Landover, Maryland
Landover, Maryland
Landover is an unincorporated community in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, within the census-designated place of Greater Landover. The Prince Georges County Sports and Learning Complex is in Landover...
directly across from FedEx Field, off MD 202 and Interstates 95
Interstate 95
Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and serving some of the most populated urban areas in the country, including Boston, Providence, New Haven, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore,...
and 495. The mall was owned by Lerner Enterprises
Lerner Enterprises
Lerner Enterprises is a real estate business founded by Ted Lerner in North Bethesda, Maryland, United States, and operates primarily throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolis...
, and opened in 1972. Like its neighbor Capital Plaza Mall
Capital Plaza Mall
Capital Plaza Mall was a shopping mall located at the intersection of Annapolis Road and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway in Landover Hills, Maryland. It was built between 1961 and 1963, as a regional shopping center to serve the Bladensburg and Landover area of suburban Washington, D.C...
, it was a major attraction through its opening years in Prince George's County. The mall featured many anchors and smaller tenants; however, upon the decline and closing of its major anchors, the mall itself entered a state of decline. Finally, in 2002, the mall's doors were closed and it ultimately was demolished in 2006. Sears is still open because it owns the land beneath the store.
Fountains
The mall had three fountains, one adjacent to Hecht's, Sears, and in center court. According to an article in the Washington Post published the day of the mall's grand opening, the Hecht's "The water display consists of seven 3" geysers that are programmed in continuously changing programs of water height (3' to 15') for the perimeter nozzles, and the center nozzle can push the water to a height of 30' if desirable. All splash will be contained in the perimeter six geysers." The main fountain in the mall contained three circular platforms, each representing a loop within the Capital Beltway interchange at Landover Road. During the holiday season the center ring fountains would be shut off and replaced with its annual secular Holiday displays, which featured gingerbread house, fairies, candy canes, snowmen, reindeerReindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
, sleigh ride
Sleigh Ride
"Sleigh Ride" is a popular light orchestral piece composed by Leroy Anderson. The composer had the original idea for the piece during a heat wave in July 1946; he finished the work in February 1948. Lyrics, about a person who would like to ride in a sleigh on a winter's day with another person,...
, doves
Doves
Doves are an English alternative indie rock band, originating from Wilmslow, Cheshire. The band comprises brothers Jez Williams and Andy Williams , and Jimi Goodwin . The members started working seriously together after meeting at The Haçienda in Manchester. Doves' unofficial fourth member is...
and a "Cupcake Boat Ride", but no Santa or explicit references to Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
. Toys For Tots
Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which donates toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by reservist Major William L...
once did a charity event where they would go fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
in the fountain.
Prime and downfall
In its prime, the Landover had three local department store anchors: Hecht'sHecht's
Hecht's, also known as Hecht Brothers, Hecht Bros. and the Hecht Company, was a large chain of department stores located mainly in the mid-Atlantic and southern region of the United States....
, Garfinckel's
Garfinckel's
Garfinckel's was a prominent department store chain based in Washington, D.C., that catered to a clientele of wealthy consumers. It declared Chapter 11, in June 1990, and ceased operations in 1990.-History:...
, Woodward & Lothrop
Woodward & Lothrop
Woodward & Lothrop was a department store chain headquartered in Washington, D.C. Woodward & Lothrop was Washington, D.C.'s first department store, opening in 1887. Woodies, as it was often nicknamed, maintained stores in the Mid-Atlantic United States...
(Woodies), and one national chain, Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
. There was a six-screen theater in the basement, which had its own escalators, but it closed in 1991. In 1990, Garfinckel's filed for bankruptcy and went out of business. The former Garfinckel's anchor store was never replaced. Five years later, Woodies went out of business. JCPenney moved into the former Woodies location but found business unprofitable. The store was converted to a JCPenney outlet location in fall 1998 and was closed altogether in early 2001. In early 2002, Hecht's
Hecht's
Hecht's, also known as Hecht Brothers, Hecht Bros. and the Hecht Company, was a large chain of department stores located mainly in the mid-Atlantic and southern region of the United States....
closed its doors after opening a new store at Bowie Town Center
Bowie Town Center
-History:Shopping center developer Simon Property Group of Indianapolis broke ground on the retail portion of the project — a lifestyle center called Bowie Town Center in October 2000. The Town Center project was a by-product of improvements that were made years ago to Route 50...
in nearby Bowie, Maryland
Bowie, Maryland
Bowie is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 54,727 at the 2010 census. Bowie has grown from a small railroad stop to the largest municipality in Prince George's County, and the fifth most populous city and third largest city by area in the state of...
.
Closure and demolition
After the closure of the main anchors to the mall, Ted LernerTed Lerner
Theodore N. "Ted" Lerner is an American real estate developer and managing principal owner of the Washington Nationals baseball team. His family business, Lerner Enterprises, is the largest private landowner in the Washington, D.C. region...
decided to shut the mall down completely. The mall's doors were sealed shut with cinder blocks, although the Sears store remained open. In addition to the failure of business, it is believed that the mall was closed due to high criminal activity in the neighboring towns of Ardmore
Ardmore, Maryland
Ardmore is an unincorporated community in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States....
, Glenarden
Glenarden, Maryland
Glenarden is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 6,000 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Glenarden is located at ....
, Brightseat, Palmer Park, Dodge Park, Capitol Heights
Capitol Heights, Maryland
Capitol Heights is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,138 at the 2000 census. Development around the Capitol Heights Metro station has medical facilities and eateries to support the community...
, Kentland and Seat Pleasant
Seat Pleasant, Maryland
Seat Pleasant is an incorporated city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States immediately east of Washington D.C. The population was 4,885 at the 2000 census. Two state highways run through it — Maryland Route 704 and Maryland Route 214...
.
Demolition began in 2006, and was completed in early 2007. The entire mall was demolished, and its aftermath was recycled. Sears was the only store that remained open after the mall's closure because it owned the land to which their building stood upon. Despite the fate of the mall, Sears was kept open and was not demolished as a result. However, its entrance to the rest of the mall was sealed shut on both its levels.
Demolition aftermath
Sears was tentatively planning on relocating to the Ritchie Station Marketplace shopping center on Ritchie Road near Capitol Heights, MarylandCapitol Heights, Maryland
Capitol Heights is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,138 at the 2000 census. Development around the Capitol Heights Metro station has medical facilities and eateries to support the community...
. The area of the former mall and most of its parking lot is now fenced off and barricaded with cement blocks. Landover Mall's main entrance sign is covered with a tarp, and the message board reads "Sears - Sears Open Daily and Sunday 10:00 - 9:30pm." During the games of the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in nearby FedEx Field, the available open parking lots on the mall grounds are used to house cars during the games.
External links
38°55′12"N 76°51′22"W