Assembly Square Marketplace
Encyclopedia
Assembly Square Marketplace is currently a power center and mixed-use development located in Somerville, Massachusetts
. From the 1980s until the mid-2000s, it was an enclosed shopping mall
called Assembly Square Mall. Scheduled plans for the facility call for a six phased expansion, thus changing its classification into super regional mall. 66.5 acres (269,116.2 m²) of office, retail, residential, research and development, hospitality and entertainment space are envisioned by project completion in 2011.
The 322000 square feet (29,914.8 m²) mall was originally anchored by a 79000 sq ft (7,339.3 m²). Jordan Marsh
and a 95637 sq ft (8,885 m²). Kmart
; these anchor stores remained the same until 1996, when Macy's
acquired Jordan Marsh. Macy's closed the store in 1997, and by 1999, it was replaced with Building 19
.
Shortly after Building 19 opened, the mall was closed off except for Building 19 and Kmart. The vacant mall and Building 19 spaces were gutted and reconfigured in 2005. The Kmart store remained in place.
The new Assembly Square Marketplace was completed in early 2006 and contains stores including Staples
(in the former Building 19), AC Moore, Bed Bath & Beyond
, TJ Maxx & More, HomeGoods
, Sports Authority
, Home Depot and Christmas Tree Shops
. The area around the mall will be redeveloped as an "urban village
"-style development .
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
. From the 1980s until the mid-2000s, it was an enclosed shopping mall
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...
called Assembly Square Mall. Scheduled plans for the facility call for a six phased expansion, thus changing its classification into super regional mall. 66.5 acres (269,116.2 m²) of office, retail, residential, research and development, hospitality and entertainment space are envisioned by project completion in 2011.
History
Assembly Square Mall opened in 1980. The mall building was previously occupied by a Ford Motors factory, and was later used as a supermarket distribution center before its conversion to a mall.The 322000 square feet (29,914.8 m²) mall was originally anchored by a 79000 sq ft (7,339.3 m²). Jordan Marsh
Jordan Marsh
Jordan Marsh & Company was a department store in Boston, Massachusetts, which grew to be a major regional chain in the New England area of the United States. In 1996, the last of the Jordan Marsh stores were converted to Macy's. The store was formerly part of Allied Stores and then Federated...
and a 95637 sq ft (8,885 m²). Kmart
Kmart
Kmart, sometimes styled as "K-Mart," is a chain of discount department stores. The chain acquired Sears in 2005, forming a new corporation under the name Sears Holdings Corporation. The company was founded in 1962 and is the third largest discount store chain in the world, behind Wal-Mart and...
; these anchor stores remained the same until 1996, when Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
acquired Jordan Marsh. Macy's closed the store in 1997, and by 1999, it was replaced with Building 19
Building 19
Building #19 is a chain of discount stores in New England. The store is well-known throughout New England for selling items at drastically discounted prices, although the items are oftentimes factory irregulars or damaged in some other way...
.
Shortly after Building 19 opened, the mall was closed off except for Building 19 and Kmart. The vacant mall and Building 19 spaces were gutted and reconfigured in 2005. The Kmart store remained in place.
The new Assembly Square Marketplace was completed in early 2006 and contains stores including Staples
Staples, Inc.
Staples Inc. is a large office supply chain store, with over 2,000 stores worldwide in 26 countries. Based in Framingham, Massachusetts, United States, the company has retail stores, serving customers under its original name in Austria, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Norway,...
(in the former Building 19), AC Moore, Bed Bath & Beyond
Bed Bath & Beyond
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. was formed in 1971 and today operates a chain of domestic merchandise retail stores across United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. They feature mostly medium-ranged, but also a limited selection of high quality, domestic merchandise: items for the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen,...
, TJ Maxx & More, HomeGoods
HomeGoods
HomeGoods is a chain of home furnishing stores operated by TJX Companies and has 270 stores across the US as of February 2007.HomeGoods operates the home furnishings sections of T.J. Maxx 'n More and Marshalls Mega Store stores....
, Sports Authority
Sports Authority
The Sports Authority, Inc. is one of the largest sporting goods retailers in the United States. It is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, and operates more than 460 stores in 45 U.S...
, Home Depot and Christmas Tree Shops
Christmas Tree Shops
Christmas Tree Shops are a retail chain that started in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts on Cape Cod in 1970 as a complex of three small stores; the Front Shop, the Back Shop, and the Barn Shop. The multiple store location, which was located on Route 6A, explains why the name is Christmas Tree Shops...
. The area around the mall will be redeveloped as an "urban village
Urban village
An urban village is an urban planning and urban design concept. It refers to an urban form typically characterized by:* Medium density development* Mixed use zoning* The provision of good public transit...
"-style development .