Beltway Plaza
Encyclopedia
The Beltway Plaza mall is located in Greenbelt, Maryland
. It was developed by the late Sidney J. Brown and First National Realty. It was originally composed of a massive S. Klein
department store separated by a large parking lot from an A&P Supermarket
located in a strip shopping center along with a barbershop, single screen movie theater, and Drug Fair
store. By 1972-73, a small indoor mall was created, situated between the strip shopping center and the S. Klein store, that included a 6-screen theater, steakhouse, a branch of George’s appliance store chain, an ice cream shop, and in-house catalog store. Within a few years of the S. Klein closing in 1975, the mall underwent major renovations. Small fountains were added. The renovations included an additional 8 screen cinema and a Giant supermarket that was added to one wing of the former shopping strip. The renovation also enclosed the area from the original mall to the supermarket. The mall has 115 stores and restaurants and anchors include a Giant
supermarket, Burlington Coat Factory
, Marshalls
, Target
, Shoppers World, and Big Lots
. The Target cannot be reached from the mall without going outdoors, though it shares a common roof.
chain, to be constructed in the Beltway Plaza Regional Shopping Center in Greenbelt, Maryland
. At the time the two story and basement structure would be the largest Washington suburban department store and was expected to open the following Easter. Governor J. Millard Tawes
witnessed the signing of the 30 year lease (the store would last only 13) between the plaza developer and S. Klein.
The store opened on Oct 17, 1963. The Beltway Plaza property is home to some perilous slopes that have periodically given way and forced closure of the store for a short period in 1966. During construction of the store, in December 1962, five men died and 11 were injured in a basement earth slide. S. Klein was at Beltway Plaza until 1975, when the chain decided to close the store. The Washington Post of Feb 6, 1975 ( p. G14) reported:
After closure of the S. Klein store, the building was split up to house multiple stores. It is the current location for the Burlington Coat Factory
, JoAnn Fabrics, and Marshalls
stores at the plaza. Shoppers World and Big Lots
discount department stores opened in the former Value City space in 2010.
Greenbelt, Maryland
Greenbelt is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Contained within today's City of Greenbelt is the historic planned community now known locally as "Old Greenbelt" and designated as the Greenbelt Historic District...
. It was developed by the late Sidney J. Brown and First National Realty. It was originally composed of a massive S. Klein
S. Klein
S. Klein On The Square, or simply, S. Klein, was a popular priced department store chain based in New York City that is now defunct. The flagship stores were located along Union Square in Manhattan; this location would combine with the 1920s idiomatic catch phrase "on the square" to provide the...
department store separated by a large parking lot from an A&P Supermarket
The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, is a supermarket and liquor store chain in the United States. Its supermarkets, which are under six different banners, are found in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. A&P's liquor stores, known as...
located in a strip shopping center along with a barbershop, single screen movie theater, and Drug Fair
Drug Fair
Drug Fair was the name a chain of drugstores based in New Jersey. The company kept its headquarters in Somerset, New Jersey and was founded in 1954. In addition to its drugstore chain Drug Fair also owned and operated Cost Cutters, a discount drug and general merchandise chain which sold many of...
store. By 1972-73, a small indoor mall was created, situated between the strip shopping center and the S. Klein store, that included a 6-screen theater, steakhouse, a branch of George’s appliance store chain, an ice cream shop, and in-house catalog store. Within a few years of the S. Klein closing in 1975, the mall underwent major renovations. Small fountains were added. The renovations included an additional 8 screen cinema and a Giant supermarket that was added to one wing of the former shopping strip. The renovation also enclosed the area from the original mall to the supermarket. The mall has 115 stores and restaurants and anchors include a Giant
Giant Food of Landover, Maryland
Giant Food LLC is a supermarket chain with 202 stores in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.. It is headquartered in unincorporated Prince George's County, Maryland, near Landover. Giant often is known as Giant-Landover to avoid confusion with sibling company Giant-Carlisle...
supermarket, Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 450 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico.. In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction...
, Marshalls
Marshalls
Marshalls, Inc., is a chain of American department stores owned by TJX Companies. Marshalls has over 750 conventional stores, as well as larger stores named Marshalls Mega Store, covering 42 states and Puerto Rico. Marshalls expanded into Canada in March 2011...
, 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...
, Shoppers World, and Big Lots
Big Lots
Big Lots, Inc. is a Fortune 500 retail corporation with annual revenues well over $4 billion.Its department stores focus mainly on selling closeout and overstock merchandise. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio, USA and currently operates over 1,400 stores in 47 states...
. The Target cannot be reached from the mall without going outdoors, though it shares a common roof.
S. Klein Store
On July 15, 1962, The Washington Post and Times Herald published a sketch of the 320000 square feet (29,729 m²) department store of the S. KleinS. Klein
S. Klein On The Square, or simply, S. Klein, was a popular priced department store chain based in New York City that is now defunct. The flagship stores were located along Union Square in Manhattan; this location would combine with the 1920s idiomatic catch phrase "on the square" to provide the...
chain, to be constructed in the Beltway Plaza Regional Shopping Center in Greenbelt, Maryland
Greenbelt, Maryland
Greenbelt is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Contained within today's City of Greenbelt is the historic planned community now known locally as "Old Greenbelt" and designated as the Greenbelt Historic District...
. At the time the two story and basement structure would be the largest Washington suburban department store and was expected to open the following Easter. Governor J. Millard Tawes
J. Millard Tawes
John Millard Tawes , a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 54th Governor of Maryland in the United States from 1959 to 1967. He remains the only Marylander to be elected to the three positions of State Treasurer, Comptroller, and Governor.-Early life and family:Tawes was born to...
witnessed the signing of the 30 year lease (the store would last only 13) between the plaza developer and S. Klein.
The store opened on Oct 17, 1963. The Beltway Plaza property is home to some perilous slopes that have periodically given way and forced closure of the store for a short period in 1966. During construction of the store, in December 1962, five men died and 11 were injured in a basement earth slide. S. Klein was at Beltway Plaza until 1975, when the chain decided to close the store. The Washington Post of Feb 6, 1975 ( p. G14) reported:
S. Klein Department Stores, a New York retailer that was a pioneer in the discount business, is closing its two big Washington area stores within six weeks, industry sources said yesterday. Officers of the company, a subsidiary of McCroryMcCrory StoresJ.G. McCrory's or McCrory Stores was a chain of five and dime stores in the United States based in York, Pennsylvania. The stores typically sold shoes, clothing, housewares, fabrics, penny candy, toys, cosmetics, and often included a lunch counter or snack bar...
Corp., refused to conform or deny the reports.
After closure of the S. Klein store, the building was split up to house multiple stores. It is the current location for the Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 450 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico.. In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction...
, JoAnn Fabrics, and Marshalls
Marshalls
Marshalls, Inc., is a chain of American department stores owned by TJX Companies. Marshalls has over 750 conventional stores, as well as larger stores named Marshalls Mega Store, covering 42 states and Puerto Rico. Marshalls expanded into Canada in March 2011...
stores at the plaza. Shoppers World and Big Lots
Big Lots
Big Lots, Inc. is a Fortune 500 retail corporation with annual revenues well over $4 billion.Its department stores focus mainly on selling closeout and overstock merchandise. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio, USA and currently operates over 1,400 stores in 47 states...
discount department stores opened in the former Value City space in 2010.