Centre at Glen Burnie
A retail shopping center in Glen Burnie, Maryland, that evolved from an enclosed mall into an outdoor strip-mall format.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Centre at Glen Burnie is a retail shopping center on Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie, Maryland. The property opened in 1963 as Glen Burnie Mall and was the third shopping-mall development associated with Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. Its original tenant mix combined department-store, grocery, variety-store, entertainment, and discount-retail uses. Montgomery Ward served as an early anchor, while the opening-day center also included an A&P grocery store, a G.C. Murphy variety store, and a single-screen movie theater. A Topps Discount City store, operated by Interstate Department Stores, was added as a major second anchor in March 1969. The center’s tenant history reflects the broader transformation of American shopping centers. Topps closed in the mid-1970s, after which its space was used by other large-format retailers, including Toys "R" Us, Epstein’s department store, Best Buy, H.H. Gregg, and later Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. A Dick’s Sporting Goods store also occupied an anchor location before closing in the early 2000s and later reopening across the street. Montgomery Ward remained an important anchor until the retailer ceased operations in 2000. The vacant department-store building was subsequently targeted for redevelopment rather than preservation as a traditional mall anchor. A fire damaged the northern end of the property on October 24, 1981. Most of the mall closed while repairs and renovations were carried out, although the Montgomery Ward store was treated separately. The center reopened in November 1982. In 2002, after a sale to Petrie Ventures, redevelopment plans called for demolishing the vacant Montgomery Ward building and constructing a Target store. The wider project also introduced outward-facing retail bays, beginning the property’s move away from a fully enclosed mall layout. The name changed from Glen Burnie Mall to Centre at Glen Burnie in 2005. Management and ownership arrangements changed over time. Jones Lang LaSalle was appointed leasing agent and manager in 2012. In 2016, the property was transferred from BACM 2006-5 Ritchie Highway LLC to 6711 Glen Burnie Retail LLC at a reported book amount of $15 million. The relevant entities were described as ultimately connected to Starwood Property Trust through its acquisition of LNR Property and related subsidiaries. The property is also identified as owned by Goodman Properties and managed by 6711 Glen Burnie Retail, LLC, a subsidiary associated with LNR Property Inc.; the available reference material does not fully reconcile these ownership and management descriptions. Further redevelopment occurred in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Renovations underway in 2018 aimed to convert the former enclosed mall into an outdoor strip-mall format. By 2022, the outdoor center had opened, and the former Dick’s Sporting Goods space had been demolished. The current anchor mix identified in reference material includes Burlington, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, and Target. The center therefore represents a retail property that has repeatedly adapted its physical format, anchor tenants, and operating model in response to department-store closures, discount-retail growth, and the decline of enclosed regional malls.
History
Centre at Glen Burnie began operations in 1963 as Glen Burnie Mall, a development associated with Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. The original enclosed mall included Montgomery Ward, an A&P grocery store, a G.C. Murphy variety store, and a single-screen cinema. The center expanded its department-store and discount-retail profile when Topps Discount City opened an anchor location in March 1969. Topps closed in late 1974, and its large space was subsequently occupied by several different retailers over the following decades. The property was affected by a fire on October 24, 1981, which damaged the north end of the mall. Except for Montgomery Ward, the center closed while repairs and renovations were completed. It reopened in November 1982. The tenant base later included Dick’s Sporting Goods, Toys "R" Us, Epstein’s department store, Best Buy, H.H. Gregg, Office Depot, and other large-format retailers. Dick’s eventually left the property and later reopened across the street. Toys "R" Us closed in 2018 during the retailer’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Best Buy moved across the street in 2010, while H.H. Gregg occupied part of its former space from 2011 until the chain closed all stores in 2017. Office Depot closed in 2019. Montgomery Ward ceased operations in 2000, leaving a major vacant anchor building. In 2002, Petrie Ventures acquired the mall and announced plans to demolish the vacant Montgomery Ward structure and replace it with a Target discount store. The redevelopment also added retail bays with direct exterior access, reducing the property’s dependence on a conventional enclosed-mall design. The property was renamed Centre at Glen Burnie in 2005. Jones Lang LaSalle became the center’s leasing agent and manager in 2012. On March 14, 2016, the property was transferred between affiliated or related legal entities, moving from BACM 2006-5 Ritchie Highway LLC to 6711 Glen Burnie Retail LLC. The reported book amount was $15 million. Reference material links the entities to Starwood Property Trust through Starwood’s 2013 acquisition of LNR Property and related companies. The property is also described as owned by Goodman Properties and managed by 6711 Glen Burnie Retail, LLC, an entity associated with LNR Property Inc.; the exact present ownership structure should be verified against current property records. Beginning in 2018, the center underwent a more extensive physical transformation into an outdoor strip-mall format. By 2022, the outdoor configuration was open, and the former Dick’s Sporting Goods building had been demolished. The former Topps space was divided among later occupants, including Toys "R" Us, Best Buy, H.H. Gregg, seasonal Spirit Halloween operations, and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. The anchor retailers identified for the current center are Burlington, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, and Target. Its history illustrates the continuing redevelopment of an older enclosed mall into a smaller-format, exterior-access retail property.
- 2022
Redeveloped outdoor center opens
[1]The converted strip-mall format is open, and the former Dick’s Sporting Goods building has been demolished.
- 2018
Outdoor-format redevelopment begins
[1]Renovations begin to convert the enclosed mall into an exterior-access strip-mall format.
- 2016
Property transferred to 6711 Glen Burnie Retail LLC
[1]The property changes legal ownership between affiliated entities on March 14.
- 2012
Jones Lang LaSalle takes on leasing and management
[1]Jones Lang LaSalle is named leasing agent and manager.
- 2010
Best Buy moves across the street
[1]Best Buy leaves its former mall location and relocates across the street.
- 2005
Property renamed Centre at Glen Burnie
[1]The center receives its current name during the redevelopment of the former enclosed mall.
- 2002
Target redevelopment is announced
[1]Petrie Ventures announces plans to replace the vacant Montgomery Ward building with Target and add exterior-facing retail bays.
- 2000
Montgomery Ward closes
[1]Montgomery Ward leaves the property after the retailer goes out of business.
- 1982
Mall reopens after renovation
[1]The center reopens in November after fire-related repairs and renovations.
- 1981
North end damaged by fire
[1]A fire damages the north end of the mall on October 24, leading to a substantial closure and renovation period.
Products and positioning
A community-oriented retail center serving Glen Burnie and surrounding Anne Arundel County customers through large-format discount, department-store, general-merchandise, and everyday-needs retailers.
Off-price department store
Burlington
Burlington is identified as one of the center’s current anchor retailers. Its off-price department-store model typically provides apparel, footwear, home products, and related general merchandise, giving the property a value-oriented shopping offer.
Closeout and discount retail · 2018
Ollie's Bargain Outlet
Ollie's Bargain Outlet occupies part of the former Topps and Toys "R" Us anchor space. The retailer contributes closeout, surplus, discount, home-improvement, household, and general-merchandise offerings to the center.
General merchandise
Target
Target replaced the vacant Montgomery Ward anchor as part of the early-2000s redevelopment. Its broad general-merchandise format added apparel, household products, groceries, electronics, and everyday consumer goods to the property.
Shopping-center retail and entertainment · 1963
Former enclosed-mall retail program
The original center combined department stores, grocery retail, variety merchandise, sporting goods, toys, electronics, furniture, office supplies, and cinema entertainment. The tenant roster changed repeatedly as national chains entered, relocated, or ceased operations.
Brand decisions
2018
Convert the enclosed mall into an outdoor strip centerStrategyBackground
The center had experienced repeated anchor departures, including the closure of Toys "R" Us and H.H. Gregg.
Action taken
Renovations were undertaken to create an outdoor, exterior-access retail configuration.
Aftermath
The outdoor center was open by 2022, with the former Dick’s Sporting Goods building demolished and discount-oriented anchors including Ollie's Bargain Outlet retained or added.
2005
Adopt the Centre at Glen Burnie nameStrategyBackground
The property was being repositioned after the loss of its former Montgomery Ward anchor and the addition of exterior-facing retail space.
Action taken
The shopping property was renamed Centre at Glen Burnie.
Aftermath
The new name reflected a broader retail-center identity rather than the traditional enclosed Glen Burnie Mall format.
2002
Redevelop the vacant Montgomery Ward anchorStrategyBackground
Montgomery Ward had closed, leaving a large vacant anchor building at the mall.
Action taken
Petrie Ventures planned to demolish the former Ward store, construct a Target location, and add retail bays with outward-facing entrances.
Aftermath
The project began the property’s transition away from a fully enclosed mall format and supported the later Centre at Glen Burnie identity.
Recent events
- 2022
Outdoor strip-mall redevelopment opens[1]
Product generation
The redeveloped outdoor retail format was open by 2022, with the former Dick's Sporting Goods building demolished.
- 2018
Centre at Glen Burnie begins conversion to an outdoor retail format[1]
Product launch
Renovations began to convert the former enclosed mall into an outdoor strip-mall configuration. Ollie's Bargain Outlet also occupied part of the former Topps and Toys "R" Us space.
- 2016
Retail property transferred to 6711 Glen Burnie Retail LLC[1]
M&A
The property was transferred on March 14 from BACM 2006-5 Ritchie Highway LLC to 6711 Glen Burnie Retail LLC at a reported book amount of $15 million.
- 2012
Jones Lang LaSalle appointed leasing agent and manager[1]
Leadership change
Jones Lang LaSalle was selected to handle leasing and management for the retail center.
- 2005
Glen Burnie Mall renamed Centre at Glen Burnie[1]
Other
The property adopted the Centre at Glen Burnie name as its redevelopment program changed the character of the former enclosed mall.
- 2002
Petrie Ventures announces redevelopment of former Montgomery Ward site[1]
Product launch
Following the sale of the mall, plans were announced to remove the vacant Montgomery Ward building, build a Target store, and add outward-facing retail space.
- 1982
Mall reopens after fire-related renovations[1]
Other
The center reopened in November following reconstruction and renovation work after the 1981 fire.
- 1981
Fire damages the north end of Glen Burnie Mall[1]
Other
A fire damaged the northern portion of the enclosed mall on October 24. Most of the center closed while repairs and renovations were completed.
Sources1 sources
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