Towson Town Center
Encyclopedia
Towson Town Center is a large indoor shopping mall
located in Towson, Maryland
. It was the largest indoor shopping mall in Maryland prior to the completion of Arundel Mills
in late 2000 in Hanover
and the 2007 expansion of the Annapolis Mall
.
. Towson Plaza was built next to the Towson location of Hutzler's
which has since closed and been redeveloped. Towson Plaza was one of the earliest multi-level shopping centers . and much of that original structure remains incorporated into the current mall as its two lower levels. The mall was enclosed in 1973, and renovated in 1982 with the opening of Hecht's
across the parking lot. Lawrence Rachuba and the DeChiaro group were the developers.
Over the years, stores and attractions were added on to increase traffic in the mall and make it more competitive with other malls in the area. One memorable effort was "Gadgets," a theme restaurant with mechanical characters performing periodic shows on stage, which opened and closed in the early 1980s. Some of the original stores survived this era but later closed, including Hess Shoes, Loewmeyer's, and Friendly's
. The first floor center court, now the GBMC Grand Court, contained a restaurant and bar (The Garden Cafe). A dandelion fountain was installed in 1982, along with an elevator between the escalators. During the 1991 renovation, the fountain was replaced with a smaller fountain, which was later removed in 2008. Garden Cafe became Bistro Sensations in 2000 and has since gone out of business. The mall now contains fountains under the three large glass domes.
The third and fourth floors opened in October 1991 and included a new food court. While the third and fourth floors are directly above each other, access from the third floor to the second and first form a downhill pattern, as much of the mall property is on a slope. The 2007 expansion described below expanded the older first and second floors toward Dulaney Valley Road.
(formerly Hecht's
) and Nordstrom
. The three-story Macy's
connects to the mall's top two floors, while Nordstrom connects to all four mall floors (including Nordstrom Rack on the first floor).
, Lucky Brand Jeans
, Sephora
, Fossil, Lush cosmetics, Bose, Zumiez
, Pottery Barn
, the Buckle
, BCBG MaxAzria
, Swarovski
, Bare Escentuals, Panchero's Mexican Grill
, Burberry
, Lacoste, Louis Vuitton
, XXI Forever
, Stoney River Legendary Steaks
, Tiffany & Co.
, Love Culture, Bose
, Michael Kors
, Ed Hardy, and True Religion
. Francesca's Collections, Coldstone Creamery, Naartjie
, Rack Room Shoes, Madewell, Aerie, and Free People
have opened so far in 2011. West Elm
also opened in 2011 in a temporary location and will move to a permanent location in the mall by the end of 2012. Toys R Us operates a Toys R Us Express store that is only open during the holiday season.
, Dulaney Valley Road
, and Joppa Road
and is also bordered in the north by Fairmount Avenue. It can be accessed from the Baltimore Beltway by taking exit 27 and heading south.
The mall is close to Goucher College
, Towson University
, the Towson Sheraton
hotel, and the Towson library
.
Public bus service to the mall is available on Routes 3, 8, 11, 12
, 48
and 55, operated by the Maryland Transit Administration
. The Collegetown Network, a joint venture of many higher-education institutions in and around Baltimore, also operates a shuttle service that transports many students to and from the 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...
located in Towson, Maryland
Towson, Maryland
Towson is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 55,197 at the 2010 census...
. It was the largest indoor shopping mall in Maryland prior to the completion of Arundel Mills
Arundel Mills
Arundel Mills is a mall located in Hanover, Maryland and is now owned by Simon Property Group. With its GLA, it was the largest mall in Maryland, until the Westfield Annapolis Mall surpassed it with its 2007 expansion...
in late 2000 in Hanover
Hanover, Maryland
Hanover, Maryland is a locality in unincorporated northwestern Anne Arundel County, Maryland in the United States, located south of Baltimore near the Howard County line....
and the 2007 expansion of the Annapolis Mall
Annapolis Mall
Annapolis Mall, officially known as Westfield Annapolis, is a shopping mall owned by the Westfield Group that is located near the junction of U.S. Route 50 and Interstate 97 in Annapolis, Maryland...
.
History
Towson Plaza was an open-air mall built in 1959 on ground originally sold by Goucher CollegeGoucher College
Goucher College is a private, co-educational, liberal arts college located in the northern Baltimore suburb of Towson in unincorporated Baltimore County, Maryland, on a 287 acre campus. The school has approximately 1,475 undergraduate students studying in 31 majors and six interdisciplinary...
. Towson Plaza was built next to the Towson location of Hutzler's
Hutzler's
Hutzler's, or Hutzler Brothers Company, was a department store founded in Baltimore by Abram G. Hutzler in 1858. From its beginning as a small dry goods store at the corner of Howard and Clay Streets in Downtown Baltimore, Hutzler's eventually grew into a chain of 10 department stores, all of...
which has since closed and been redeveloped. Towson Plaza was one of the earliest multi-level shopping centers . and much of that original structure remains incorporated into the current mall as its two lower levels. The mall was enclosed in 1973, and renovated in 1982 with the opening of 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....
across the parking lot. Lawrence Rachuba and the DeChiaro group were the developers.
Over the years, stores and attractions were added on to increase traffic in the mall and make it more competitive with other malls in the area. One memorable effort was "Gadgets," a theme restaurant with mechanical characters performing periodic shows on stage, which opened and closed in the early 1980s. Some of the original stores survived this era but later closed, including Hess Shoes, Loewmeyer's, and Friendly's
Friendly's
Friendly Ice Cream Corporation is the owner and operator of the Friendly's restaurant chain on the United States' East Coast. Founded in 1935 in Springfield, Massachusetts by brothers Curtis Blake and S. Prestley Blake, 20, their first shop served double-dip cones for 5 cents...
. The first floor center court, now the GBMC Grand Court, contained a restaurant and bar (The Garden Cafe). A dandelion fountain was installed in 1982, along with an elevator between the escalators. During the 1991 renovation, the fountain was replaced with a smaller fountain, which was later removed in 2008. Garden Cafe became Bistro Sensations in 2000 and has since gone out of business. The mall now contains fountains under the three large glass domes.
The third and fourth floors opened in October 1991 and included a new food court. While the third and fourth floors are directly above each other, access from the third floor to the second and first form a downhill pattern, as much of the mall property is on a slope. The 2007 expansion described below expanded the older first and second floors toward Dulaney Valley Road.
Anchor stores
At opposite ends of the mall are two department stores, Macy'sMacy'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...
(formerly 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....
) and Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
. The three-story 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...
connects to the mall's top two floors, while Nordstrom connects to all four mall floors (including Nordstrom Rack on the first floor).
Crime
A large parking garage is connected directly to the mall structure. A popular area high school teacher was murdered on one of the garage's upper levels in 2005, leading some to worry that the crime in inner-city Baltimore was gaining a stronger foothold in the suburbs. After the murder, several reports of mugging as well as muggers with guns lead to several security upgrades with many firsts in mall security.Renovations
In 2007, Towson Town Center began a $76 million expansion and renovation project that added to the existing structure, its largest expansion since 1992. The project included renovations to the mall's first and second floors, parking, restaurants, and a "Main Street"-style facade with exterior shopping, which was largely completed in October 2008. The project includes a larger Crate & Barrel store, P.F. Chang's, Cheesecake Factory, Abercrombie kidsAbercrombie Kids
Abercrombie kids is an American lifestyle brand by Abercrombie & Fitch. Targeting consumers aged 7–14, the concept is designed as the children's version of A&F and is marketed as "Classic Cool"...
, Lucky Brand Jeans
Lucky Brand Jeans
Lucky Brand Jeans is a designer denim company founded in Vernon, California, United States in 1990 by Gene Montesano and Barry Perlman. Lucky Brand is a subsidiary of the Liz Claiborne fashion company. Lucky also produces sportswear, outerwear, T-shirts and active wear. Lucky Brand products are...
, Sephora
Sephora
Sephora is a chain of cosmetics stores founded in France in 1970 and acquired by Paris-based conglomerate LVMH in 1997. The Sephora chain includes more than 750 stores in 17 countries...
, Fossil, Lush cosmetics, Bose, Zumiez
Zumiez
Zumiez is a mall-based, specialty apparel store founded by Tom Campion and Gary Haakenson in 1978, and publicly traded since 2005. "Offering gear and clothing for the skater, snowboarder, and surfer," Zumiez sells action-sports related clothing and has created an image based around action sports...
, Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn is an American-based home furnishing store chain with retail stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Since September 1986, when it was purchased from GAP, Inc, Pottery Barn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Williams-Sonoma, Inc....
, the Buckle
The Buckle
The Buckle, Inc. is an upscale retailer selling apparel, footwear, and accessories for fashion-conscious young men and women.-History:Buckle began as a men's clothing store in 1948 in Kearney, Nebraska. The first store was founded by David Hirschfeld and operated under the name "Mills Clothing"....
, BCBG MaxAzria
Max Azria
Max Azria is a French fashion designer of Tunisian Jewish descent who founded the contemporary women's clothing brand BCBGMAXAZRIA. Azria is also the designer, chairman and CEO of BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP, a global fashion house that encompasses over 20 brands...
, Swarovski
Swarovski
Swarovski is the brand name for a range of precisely-cut crystal and related luxury products produced by Swarovski AG of Wattens, Austria...
, Bare Escentuals, Panchero's Mexican Grill
Panchero's Mexican Grill
Panchero's Mexican Grill is a chain of fast casual Fresh Mex restaurants in the United States serving Mexican-style cuisine. The chain was founded in 1992 by Rodney Anderson when he opened two units: one in Iowa City, Iowa , and one in East Lansing, Michigan...
, Burberry
Burberry
Burberry Group plc is a British luxury fashion house, manufacturing clothing, fragrance, and fashion accessories. Its distinctive tartan pattern has become one of its most widely copied trademarks. Burberry is most famous for its iconic trench coat, which was invented by founder Thomas Burberry...
, Lacoste, Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Malletier – commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton , or shortened to LV – is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes,...
, XXI Forever
Forever 21
Forever 21 is an American chain of clothing retailers with branches in major cities in The United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East that offers fashion and accessories for young women and men....
, Stoney River Legendary Steaks
Stoney River Legendary Steaks
Stoney River Legendary Steaks is a chain of steakhouses in the United States. There are 11 Stoney River Legendary Steaks restaurants in Georgia, Maryland, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee. Its parent company is O'Charley's, Inc...
, Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co. is an American jewelry and silverware company. As part of its branding, the company is strongly associated with its Tiffany Blue , which is a registered trademark.- History :...
, Love Culture, Bose
Bose
Bose may refer to:* Amar Gopal Bose, the chairman and founder of Bose Corporation* Baise City, or Bose, a prefecture-level city in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China* Bose Corporation, an audio company* Bose , a lunar crater...
, Michael Kors
Michael Kors
Michael Kors is an American fashion designer. He is best known for designing classic American sportswear for women.-Personal life:...
, Ed Hardy, and True Religion
True Religion
True Religion Brand Jeans is an American premium clothing line, established in December of 2002 by Jeffrey Lubell and co-founder Kym Gold.In the winter of 2002, True Religion debuted its denim products from its Los Angeles base...
. Francesca's Collections, Coldstone Creamery, Naartjie
Naartjie (clothing retailer)
Naartjie Kids is a clothing retailer founded in 1989 in Cape Town, South Africa by designer Anne Eales. The clothing is made from African cotton. The corporate office is now based out of Salt Lake City, Utah...
, Rack Room Shoes, Madewell, Aerie, and Free People
Free People
Free People is a retail clothing store which is part of the Urban Outfitters family of companies.-History:In the early 1970s, Dick Hayne opened a store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and he named it Free People. His store attracted the young people who lived and shopped in the area...
have opened so far in 2011. West Elm
West Elm
West Elm is an upscale retail store that features contemporary furniture designs and other housewares. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. There are currently 37 stores in 18 states, the Canadian province of Ontario, and Puerto Rico. Customers are able to shop in-store,...
also opened in 2011 in a temporary location and will move to a permanent location in the mall by the end of 2012. Toys R Us operates a Toys R Us Express store that is only open during the holiday season.
Location
Towson Town Center is located at the intersection of York RoadMaryland Route 45
Maryland Route 45 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as York Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 1 in Baltimore north to the Pennsylvania state line in Maryland Line, where the highway continues as SR 3001...
, Dulaney Valley Road
Maryland Route 146
Maryland Route 146 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from MD 45 in Towson north to MD 23 near Jarrettsville. MD 146 connects Towson with Loch Raven Reservoir, an impoundment of Gunpowder Falls. The state highway also serves the northern Baltimore County...
, and Joppa Road
Joppa Road
Joppa Road is a road that runs across the northern suburbs of Baltimore, mostly parallel to the Baltimore Beltway. Joppa Road today is used by motorists as an alternative to congested I-695 traffic, which often causes the road to become congested itself....
and is also bordered in the north by Fairmount Avenue. It can be accessed from the Baltimore Beltway by taking exit 27 and heading south.
The mall is close to Goucher College
Goucher College
Goucher College is a private, co-educational, liberal arts college located in the northern Baltimore suburb of Towson in unincorporated Baltimore County, Maryland, on a 287 acre campus. The school has approximately 1,475 undergraduate students studying in 31 majors and six interdisciplinary...
, Towson University
Towson University
Towson University, often referred to as TU or simply Towson for short, is a public university located in Towson in Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S...
, the Towson Sheraton
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:...
hotel, and the Towson library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
.
Public bus service to the mall is available on Routes 3, 8, 11, 12
Route 12 (MTA Maryland)
Route 12 is a bus route operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore and its suburbs. The line is a dedicated service or employees of Stella Maris, a complex of long term care facilities in Timonium, Maryland.-History:...
, 48
Route 48 (MTA Maryland)
Route 48 is a limited stop bus, identified as a "Quickbus", operated by the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore and its suburbs. The line currently runs from the University of Maryland Transit Center to Towson along the York Road/Greenmount Avenue corridor. Service operates Monday...
and 55, operated by the Maryland Transit Administration
Maryland Transit Administration
The Maryland Transit Administration is a state-operated mass transit administration in Maryland, and is part of the Maryland Department of Transportation. It is better known as MTA Maryland to avoid confusion with other cities' transit agencies who share the initials MTA. The MTA operates a...
. The Collegetown Network, a joint venture of many higher-education institutions in and around Baltimore, also operates a shuttle service that transports many students to and from the mall.
Anchors
- Macy'sMacy'sMacy'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...
(194,157 sq ft.) on 3 Levels (Upper 2 Floors connect to Levels 3 and 4 of the mall) - NordstromNordstromNordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
(213,000 sq ft.) on 3 floors (2, 3, 4) - Nordstrom RackNordstromNordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
(31,000 sq ft.) on 1 floor (1)