Capital City Mall

Capital City Mall is a regional enclosed shopping mall in Lower Allen Township, Pennsylvania, approximately five miles southwest of Harrisburg. The property serves communities in the Harrisburg metropolitan area and is positioned as the only enclosed mall in Harrisburg's western suburbs. With approximately 608,911 square feet of space, it is one of three enclosed malls in the immediate Harrisburg area. The mall opened in 1974 after being developed by Crown American Corporation of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Its original anchor lineup included Bowman's, Murphy's Mart, and Sears, with a movie theater also operating at the center. The property has repeatedly changed its anchor tenants and interior uses in response to shifts in department-store retail and consumer behavior. Bowman's closed in 1979, and its space was expanded and reopened as Hess's. G.C. Murphy closed in the mid-1980s, after which the site was temporarily reopened as Ames and later redeveloped. Hess's was acquired by May Department Stores and converted to Hecht's in 1995; the store subsequently became Macy's in 2005. Capital City Mall underwent substantial renovation and reconfiguration from 1996 through 1999. During this period, the former Ames location was expanded and reopened as JCPenney, while Sears completed an expansion and interior renovation. The mall's food-and-beverage facilities also evolved. The Garden Grove food court, introduced in 1985, was later relocated from its original central position to the former United Artists movie-theater area. A major redevelopment completed in 2006 relocated and expanded the food court, added roughly 30,000 square feet of retail space, and introduced full-service restaurants including Davenport's Italian Oven and Garfield's. The center continued to adapt during the 2010s. Davenport's Italian Oven closed, and its space was later converted into a DSW store. Garfield's also closed, with Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa eventually taking over the location. A freestanding Toys 'R' Us store behind the mall relocated to Carlisle Pike and was demolished in 2015. Field & Stream opened in 2015 as an outdoor-oriented anchor. Further redevelopment followed Sears's announcement in January 2017 that its Capital City Mall store would close. The Sears building was demolished, allowing the property to add or reconfigure several uses, including Dick's Sporting Goods, Fine Wine & Good Spirits, and a smaller Sears Appliances & Mattress store. Dave & Buster's replaced a former Old Navy location and opened in 2018, adding an entertainment component to the tenant mix. In 2019, Sportsman's Warehouse replaced Field & Stream after acquiring several Field & Stream locations. The mall is owned and operated by PREIT. Its current anchor and major-use lineup includes Dick's Sporting Goods, JCPenney, Macy's, Sportsman's Warehouse, Dave & Buster's, and H&M. The center combines department stores, specialty retail, sporting-goods and outdoor merchandise, apparel, dining, entertainment, and personal services. Its history reflects the broader transformation of enclosed regional malls from department-store-centered shopping destinations into more diversified retail and experience-oriented properties.

Capital City Mall opened in 1974 in Lower Allen Township, southwest of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Crown American Corporation developed the center with Bowman's, Murphy's Mart, and Sears as its initial anchor tenants, alongside a movie theater. The mall was established as a major enclosed retail destination for the western suburbs of the Harrisburg area. The first major anchor change occurred in 1979, when locally based Bowman's closed. Its space was enlarged and reopened later that year as Hess's. In 1985, G.C. Murphy closed, and the mall added the Garden Grove food court. The former Murphy's location was briefly reactivated as an Ames store in August 1987. Ames ultimately closed in 1995, while its space was expanded and converted into a JCPenney that opened in November of the same year. Hess's was sold to May Department Stores in 1995 and reopened as Hecht's during the fall. The mall then undertook a broader renovation program between 1996 and 1999. In addition to the JCPenney redevelopment, Sears expanded and renovated its interior in 1999. These changes modernized the property and replaced several original retail concepts with larger national department-store formats. The Hecht's store was converted to Macy's in 2005. Around the same time, the food court was moved from its earlier location to the site of the former United Artists movie theater. An extensive redevelopment completed in 2006 relocated and expanded the food court, adding approximately 30,000 square feet of retail space and two full-service restaurants, Davenport's Italian Oven and Garfield's. Tenant changes continued throughout the next decade. Davenport's Italian Oven closed in 2011, and its space was converted into a DSW store that opened in March 2013. Garfield's also closed in 2013; Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa later occupied the space in November 2015. The freestanding Toys 'R' Us store located behind the mall moved to Carlisle Pike, about five miles away, and its former building was demolished in early 2015. Field & Stream opened in 2015 as a new freestanding outdoor-oriented anchor. In January 2017, Sears announced that its mall store would close by mid-February. The former Sears structure was demolished by March, making room for a redevelopment that included Dick's Sporting Goods, Fine Wine & Good Spirits, and a smaller Sears Appliances & Mattress store. The project formed part of a broader mall makeover led by PREIT. Dave & Buster's then announced plans to occupy the former Old Navy space; the entertainment venue opened in 2018. In October 2019, Sportsman's Warehouse replaced Field & Stream after acquiring eight Field & Stream stores. Capital City Mall remains an active regional shopping center. Its current major tenants include Dick's Sporting Goods, JCPenney, Macy's, Sportsman's Warehouse, Dave & Buster's, and H&M. The property is owned and operated by PREIT and combines traditional department-store retail with apparel, sporting goods, outdoor merchandise, dining, entertainment, and personal services.

• 2019

  Sportsman's Warehouse replaces Field & Stream

  [1]Capital City Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Sportsman's Warehouse takes over the Field & Stream location following an acquisition of eight Field & Stream stores.

• 2018

  Dave & Buster's opens

  [1]Capital City Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Dave & Buster's opens in the former Old Navy location, expanding the mall's entertainment offering.

• 2017

  Sears closes and redevelopment begins

  [1]Capital City Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Sears closes and its building is demolished, enabling a PREIT redevelopment with Dick's Sporting Goods, Fine Wine & Good Spirits, and a smaller Sears Appliances & Mattress store.

• 2015

  Field & Stream opens

  [1]Capital City Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Field & Stream opens as a freestanding outdoor-focused anchor after the former Toys 'R' Us building is demolished.

• 2013

  DSW opens

  [1]Capital City Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The former Davenport's Italian Oven space is converted into a DSW store.

• 2006

  Major redevelopment is completed

  [1]Capital City Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The food court is relocated and expanded, approximately 30,000 square feet of retail space is added, and two full-service restaurants open.

• 2005

  Hecht's becomes Macy's

  [1]Capital City Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Hecht's anchor is converted to Macy's.

• 1999

  Sears expansion and renovation are completed

  [1]Capital City Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Sears completes an expansion and interior renovation during the mall's late-1990s modernization program.

• 1995

  JCPenney opens and Hess's becomes Hecht's

  [1]Capital City Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The former Ames space reopens as an expanded JCPenney, while Hess's is converted to Hecht's after its acquisition by May Department Stores.

• 1987

  Ames occupies the former Murphy's space

  [1]Capital City Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The vacant G.C. Murphy store reopens as an Ames location.

• 1985

  Garden Grove food court is added

  [1]Capital City Mallen.wikipedia.org

  G.C. Murphy closes and the mall adds the Garden Grove food court.

• 1979

  Bowman's is replaced by Hess's

  [1]Capital City Mallen.wikipedia.org

  After Bowman's closes, its location is expanded and reopens as the Harrisburg area's first Hess's store.

• 1974

  Capital City Mall opens

  [1]Capital City Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Crown American Corporation opens the enclosed regional mall with Bowman's, Murphy's Mart, Sears, and a movie theater as principal components.

A regional enclosed shopping and entertainment destination serving the Harrisburg metropolitan area, with a tenant mix spanning department stores, apparel, sporting goods, outdoor retail, dining, and family entertainment.

• Shopping center · 1974

  Regional enclosed shopping mall

  Capital City Mall provides an enclosed regional retail environment of approximately 608,911 square feet. Its offering includes department stores, apparel retailers, sporting-goods and outdoor merchants, dining, entertainment, and personal services. The property functions as a multi-tenant destination rather than a single-product brand.

• Food and beverage · 1985

  Food court and dining

  The mall has operated food-and-beverage facilities since the addition of the Garden Grove food court in 1985. A later redevelopment relocated and expanded the food court and added full-service restaurant space, supporting the center's role as both a shopping and dining destination.

• Entertainment · 2018

  Entertainment and leisure

  Dave & Buster's became a major entertainment component of the property after opening in the former Old Navy space in 2018. The venue complements the mall's retail and dining uses and represents the property's shift toward experience-oriented tenancy.

• 2017

  PREIT redevelops the former Sears siteStrategy

  Background

  Sears announced the closure of its Capital City Mall store, creating a large vacant anchor location.

  Action taken

  The Sears building was demolished and the site was reconfigured for Dick's Sporting Goods, Fine Wine & Good Spirits, and a smaller Sears Appliances & Mattress store.

  Aftermath

  The redevelopment replaced a traditional department-store anchor with a more diversified combination of specialty retail and consumer services.

  Source

• 2017

  Dave & Buster's is selected for the former Old Navy spaceProduct launch

  Background

  The property sought additional entertainment-oriented uses as part of its evolving tenant mix.

  Action taken

  Dave & Buster's announced plans to occupy the former Old Navy location and opened there in 2018.

  Aftermath

  The venue added a major dining and entertainment use to the shopping center.

  Source

• 2006

  Redevelopment expands food, dining, and retail capacityStrategy

  Background

  The mall needed to modernize its interior environment and broaden its tenant mix beyond traditional department stores.

  Action taken

  The food court was relocated and expanded, approximately 30,000 square feet of retail space was added, and two full-service restaurants were introduced.

  Aftermath

  The project increased the property's dining and retail capacity and provided a foundation for later tenant repositioning.

  Source

1. 1Capital City Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Capital City Mall official websiteshopcapitalcitymall.com