Harrisburg Mall

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The Harrisburg Mall is a regional mall located just outside Harrisburg in Swatara Township, Pennsylvania. It is the largest mall in the Harrisburg area and currently has Macy's and Bass Pro Shops as anchor stores.

Video Harrisburg Mall

History

The mall, formerly known as the Harrisburg East Mall, opened in 1969 with JCPenney, Wanamaker's, and Gimbels as anchors. During construction a natural limestone cave known variously as Big Pit, Paxtang or Crystal Paradise Cave known for its anthodite and speleothem formations was uncovered.

A $77 million revitalization of the mall was begun in 2004, which, in addition to renovations to the mall's decor, included the addition of a 14-screen Great Escapes theater and entertainment complex on the southwest corner of the mall. The last phase of the renovation was planned to be completed in 2008 with a brand new "streetscape" look on the north side of the mall. However, the addition remained uncompleted in 2009, due in part to changing market conditions, as well financial difficulties with the mall's owner, Feldman Mall Properties. All three of these stores were abandoned in an unfinished state.

On July 9, 2009, the Harrisburg Mall was sold at sheriffs sale to three financial groups after the previous owner, Feldman Lubert Adler defaulted on a 52.5 million dollar mortgage.

In June 2012 Harrisburg Mall was purchased from TD Bank by Maryland-based commercial real estate developers St. John Properties and Petrie Ross Ventures, who collectively own or have developed over 25 million sq. ft. of commercial property in six states. The Sega space was demolished in mid-2012. In 2013, Books-A-Million opened a 2nd & Charles store in the spot originally slated for Barnes & Noble.