Landmark Mall
Encyclopedia
The Landmark Mall, or Landmark Regional Shopping Center, is located in a triangle formed by Duke Street (Virginia State Route 236
), Shirley Highway (I-395
), and Van Dorn Street (Virginia State Route 401
) in Alexandria, Virginia
.
The mall opened in 1965, and was the first mall in the Washington D.C. area to feature three anchor department stores; the Hecht Company (now Macy's) (163,000 sq ft), Sears and Roebuck (236,000 sq ft), and Woodward & Lothrop
(later JCPenney, then Lord & Taylor, now vacant) (151,000 sq ft). The mall opening occurred on August 4, 1965, when then Lt. Gov. Mills E. Godwin, Jr. cut the ceremonial ribbon. The mall opened with 32 stores in the 675000 square feet (62,709.6 m²) center including Bond Clothes, Casual Corner
, People's Drug Store, Raleigh Haberdasher
, Thom McAn
, and Waldenbooks
. The center also included the second location of S&W Cafeteria
in the Washington D.C. suburbs.
Originally an outdoor mall, it was enclosed about 1990. It is currently owned by General Growth Properties
.
Plans were announced in 2008 to revitalize the mall by converting it to an open-air "town center" shopping center. Those plans have been put on hold with General Growth's bankruptcy
filing in April 2009; the mall itself filed for bankruptcy at the same time.
Lord & Taylor announced on May 29, 2009, that it would be closing its store at the mall.
Virginia State Route 236
State Route 236, also known for part of its length as Little River Turnpike, is a primary state highway in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It runs from the split of U.S. Route 29 and U.S...
), Shirley Highway (I-395
Interstate 395 (District of Columbia-Virginia)
Interstate 395 in Washington, D.C., and Virginia is a 13 mile long spur route that begins at a junction with Interstate 95 in Springfield, Virginia and ends in northwest Washington, D.C. It passes underneath the National Mall near the United States Capitol and ends at a junction with U.S...
), and Van Dorn Street (Virginia State Route 401
Virginia State Route 401
State Route 401, also known as part of Van Dorn Street, is a primary state highway in Alexandria, Virginia, United States. It runs from the south city limits near the Van Dorn Street Metro station northeast to State Route 420 , generally paralleling Interstate 395 to the east...
) in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
.
The mall opened in 1965, and was the first mall in the Washington D.C. area to feature three anchor department stores; the Hecht Company (now Macy's) (163,000 sq ft), Sears and Roebuck (236,000 sq ft), and 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...
(later JCPenney, then Lord & Taylor, now vacant) (151,000 sq ft). The mall opening occurred on August 4, 1965, when then Lt. Gov. Mills E. Godwin, Jr. cut the ceremonial ribbon. The mall opened with 32 stores in the 675000 square feet (62,709.6 m²) center including Bond Clothes, Casual Corner
Casual Corner
Casual Corner was an American retail clothing chain founded in 1950. It operated stores under the names Casual Corner and Petite Sophisticate. The chain operated more than 525 stores at its peak.-History:...
, People's Drug Store, Raleigh Haberdasher
Raleigh Haberdasher
Raleigh Haberdasher, more commonly called Raleigh's, was a high end, local men's and women's furnishings store based in Washington, D.C.-History:The first store opened on February 16, 1911, at 1109 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, in the Raleigh Hotel. Mr...
, Thom McAn
Thom McAn
Thom McAn is a brand of shoes distributed by Footstar, Inc., formerly the Melville Corporation . The brand is currently sold in Kmart and Wal-Mart stores, and consists of leather dress, casual, and athletic shoes...
, and Waldenbooks
Waldenbooks
Waldenbooks , operated by the Walden Book Company, Inc., was an American shopping mall-based bookstore chain and a subsidiary of Borders Group. The chain also ran a video game and software chain under the name Waldensoftware as well as a children's edutainment chain under Walden Kids...
. The center also included the second location of S&W Cafeteria
S&W Cafeteria
S&W Cafeteria was a Charlotte, North Carolina-based chain of cafeteria style restaurants. The chain specialized in low-cost, southern style cookery. Branch locations were located in the Southeastern United States from Washington, D.C...
in the Washington D.C. suburbs.
Originally an outdoor mall, it was enclosed about 1990. It is currently owned by General Growth Properties
General Growth Properties
General Growth Properties, Inc. is a publicly traded real estate investment trust in the United States. It is based in Chicago, Illinois at 110 North Wacker Drive, a historic building designed by architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White...
.
Plans were announced in 2008 to revitalize the mall by converting it to an open-air "town center" shopping center. Those plans have been put on hold with General Growth's bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
filing in April 2009; the mall itself filed for bankruptcy at the same time.
Lord & Taylor announced on May 29, 2009, that it would be closing its store at the mall.