Arsenal Yards
Arsenal Yards is a mixed-use retail, dining, office, hospitality, and residential development built on the former Arsenal Mall site in Watertown, Massachusetts.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Arsenal Yards is a mixed-use development in Watertown, Massachusetts, occupying the site of the former Watertown Arsenal and the shopping center historically known as Arsenal Mall. The property began operating as Arsenal Marketplace in 1983 after New England Development converted the former industrial site into a suburban retail center. It was commonly known as Arsenal Mall for much of its shopping-center history, before being renamed The Arsenal Project in 2013 and ultimately redeveloped and branded as Arsenal Yards. The original mall was anchored by Marshalls and Ann & Hope. After Ann & Hope closed in the early 2000s, portions of the center were reconfigured for Home Depot and Linens 'n Things, with Golfsmith later occupying the latter space. Simon Property Group acquired the center in 1999. The site also had an unusual connection to Boston sports history: its food court displayed the digital game clock formerly used at the Boston Garden from 1969–70 until the arena closed. Boylston Properties and The Wilder Companies acquired the property in 2013 and renamed it The Arsenal Project. The partners subsequently pursued a large-scale transformation from a conventional enclosed or partially enclosed shopping center into a walkable, mixed-use neighborhood. Boylston Properties presented redevelopment plans in 2016, and the Watertown Planning Board approved them unanimously in January 2017. Construction was staged so that Marshalls and Home Depot could continue operating while the wider property was rebuilt. The completed Arsenal Yards plan combines approximately 250,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space with about 200,000 square feet of offices, a 150-room Hampton Inn hotel, and approximately 425 residences. The first new or renewed retail tenants opened in late 2019, including Old Navy, Gap Outlet, and Chipotle, which had been among the last stores to close before construction. Additional tenants and attractions included Shake Shack, Majestic Cinema by Cinemaworld, and Ulta Beauty. Roche Bros., the Hampton Inn, and other retail and restaurant components opened in 2021. The residential component known as Blvd & Bond opened in June 2021; it was developed by Boylston Properties and managed by the Bozzuto Group. Arsenal Yards is therefore best understood not as a standalone consumer-goods brand but as a branded real-estate destination. Its positioning centers on adaptive reuse, smart-growth planning, a broad mix of shopping and dining, entertainment, offices, lodging, and housing. The development serves local residents and visitors in the greater Boston area, while preserving a connection to the site's historic Arsenal setting.
History
The Arsenal Yards site forms part of the former Watertown Arsenal, a military-industrial complex whose origins predate the Civil War. The property was later adapted for commercial use, and New England Development opened a shopping center called Arsenal Marketplace in 1983. The center became widely known as Arsenal Mall and initially included Marshalls and Ann & Hope as anchor stores. Ann & Hope closed in the early 2000s. Its former space was subsequently used by Home Depot and Linens 'n Things, with Golfsmith later replacing Linens 'n Things. Simon Property Group purchased the center in 1999. Among the mall's distinctive features was the digital game clock displayed in its food court. The clock had previously been used at the Boston Garden from the 1969–70 season until the arena closed. In 2013, Boylston Properties and The Wilder Companies acquired the shopping center and renamed it The Arsenal Project. The new ownership pursued a more comprehensive redevelopment strategy, reflecting the shift from traditional mall formats toward mixed-use, walkable districts. In 2016, Boylston Properties introduced plans for Arsenal Yards, a project combining retail, restaurants, offices, housing, and hospitality. The Watertown Planning Board unanimously approved the plans in January 2017. Construction proceeded while two major stores, Marshalls and Home Depot, remained open. The first stores in the redeveloped district opened in late 2019. Old Navy, Gap Outlet, and Chipotle returned after being among the final businesses to close before renovation. The new tenant mix also included Shake Shack, Majestic Cinema by Cinemaworld, and Ulta Beauty. In 2021, the project added the Hampton Inn, Roche Bros., and further stores and restaurants. The residential component, Blvd & Bond, opened in June 2021. It was developed by Boylston Properties and managed by the Bozzuto Group. In its completed or planned form, Arsenal Yards encompasses approximately 250,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, about 200,000 square feet of office space, a 150-room hotel, and approximately 425 residences. The project repositioned the property from a conventional suburban shopping center into a mixed-use neighborhood connected to the historic identity of the Watertown Arsenal.
- 2021
Major hospitality, grocery, and residential components open
[1]The Hampton Inn, Roche Bros., additional businesses, and the Blvd & Bond residential community opened during 2021.
- 2019
First redeveloped stores open
[1]The first Arsenal Yards tenants opened in late 2019, including Old Navy, Gap Outlet, and Chipotle.
- 2017
Redevelopment receives unanimous planning approval
[1]The Watertown Planning Board unanimously approved the Arsenal Yards redevelopment plans in January.
- 2016
Arsenal Yards redevelopment proposed
[1]Boylston Properties introduced a plan to replace the former mall format with a mixed-use neighborhood.
- 2013
Property becomes The Arsenal Project
[1]Boylston Properties and The Wilder Companies acquired the property and renamed it The Arsenal Project.
- 1999
Simon Property Group acquires the center
[1]Simon Property Group purchased the shopping center, then commonly known as Arsenal Mall.
- 1983
Arsenal Marketplace opens
[1]New England Development opened a shopping center on the former Watertown Arsenal site under the name Arsenal Marketplace.
Products and positioning
A smart-growth, mixed-use destination combining retail, dining, entertainment, offices, hospitality, and housing on the historic Watertown Arsenal site.
Mixed-use real estate development · 2016
Arsenal Yards mixed-use district
The core offering is a mixed-use neighborhood combining approximately 250,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space with about 200,000 square feet of offices, a 150-room Hampton Inn hotel, and approximately 425 residences. It is designed as a destination for shopping, dining, entertainment, work, lodging, and residential living rather than as a conventional standalone mall.
Residential community · 2021
Blvd & Bond
Blvd & Bond is the residential community within Arsenal Yards. The development opened in June 2021 and forms the housing component of the wider mixed-use neighborhood. It was developed by Boylston Properties and managed by the Bozzuto Group.
Retail and leisure · 2019
Retail, dining, and entertainment collection
Arsenal Yards hosts a broad tenant mix spanning apparel, beauty, grocery, fast-casual and full-service dining, and entertainment. Named examples include Old Navy, Gap Outlet, Chipotle, Shake Shack, Ulta Beauty, Roche Bros., and Majestic Cinema by Cinemaworld.
Brand decisions
2016
Convert the former mall into Arsenal YardsStrategyBackground
The owners sought to reposition the aging shopping-center property as a mixed-use, smart-growth neighborhood with retail, restaurants, offices, housing, and hospitality.
Action taken
Boylston Properties introduced plans for a comprehensive redevelopment under the Arsenal Yards name.
Aftermath
The Watertown Planning Board approved the plans unanimously in January 2017, construction proceeded, and the first new stores opened in late 2019.
2013
Rebrand the shopping center as The Arsenal ProjectStrategyBackground
The property changed ownership as its operators began considering a broader redevelopment of the existing mall.
Action taken
Boylston Properties and The Wilder Companies renamed Arsenal Mall as The Arsenal Project.
Aftermath
The interim identity preceded the later Arsenal Yards redevelopment and final destination brand.
Recent events
- 2021
Hotel, grocery, and additional Arsenal Yards businesses open[1]
Product launch
The Hampton Inn, Roche Bros., and other stores and restaurants opened as the mixed-use redevelopment reached a later stage.
- 2021
Blvd & Bond residential community opens[1]
Product launch
The residential community within Arsenal Yards opened in June 2021 and was managed by the Bozzuto Group.
- 2019
First Arsenal Yards stores open after redevelopment begins[1]
Product launch · Other
The first stores in the redeveloped district opened in late 2019, including Old Navy, Gap Outlet, and Chipotle.
- 2017
Watertown Planning Board approves Arsenal Yards redevelopment[1]
Regulation
The Watertown Planning Board unanimously approved the redevelopment plans in January 2017.
- 2016
Redevelopment plans for Arsenal Yards introduced[1]
Other
Boylston Properties introduced plans to transform the former shopping center into a mixed-use neighborhood called Arsenal Yards.
- 2013
Arsenal Mall renamed The Arsenal Project after ownership change[1]
M&A · Other
Boylston Properties and The Wilder Companies acquired the property and changed its name to The Arsenal Project.
- 1999
Simon Property Group acquires Arsenal Mall[1]
M&A
Simon Property Group purchased the shopping center, which was then operating as Arsenal Mall.
Sources1 sources
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