Landover Mall
Landover Mall was a large regional shopping center in Landover, Maryland, that operated from 1972 until its closure in 2002 and demolition in 2006–2007.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Landover Mall was a regional shopping mall in Landover, Maryland, positioned near Maryland Route 202 and the Capital Beltway, and directly across from the site now associated with FedExField. Developed by Lerner Enterprises through Sonny Abramson and Ted Lerner, the mall opened on May 11, 1972. It became an important retail destination in Prince George's County and was one of the Washington-area shopping centers that helped establish the enclosed suburban mall as a major form of regional commerce and entertainment. At its height, Landover Mall combined several department-store anchors with a broad range of smaller retailers and services. Its principal anchors included Hecht's, Garfinckel's, Woodward & Lothrop, Sears, and F. W. Woolworth. The center was notable for having four department-store anchors before the later opening of Fair Oaks Mall, and it also contained a six-screen movie theater in the basement. The mall's interior design included three fountains, including a prominent center-court installation whose circular platforms represented loops in the Capital Beltway interchange near Landover Road. Seasonal displays replaced parts of the fountain presentation during the holiday period. The property entered a prolonged decline as its anchor tenants weakened or departed. Garfinckel's filed for bankruptcy and disappeared in 1990, and its space was not successfully replaced. The six-screen theater closed in 1991. Woodward & Lothrop later ceased operations, after which JCPenney occupied the former location. That store was converted into an outlet format in 1998 but closed in early 2001. Hecht's closed in early 2002 after the chain opened a newer location at Bowie Town Center. Sears remained open because it owned the land beneath its store, but the loss of the other anchors made the enclosed mall commercially unsustainable. Contemporary commentary attributed the mall's poor performance to several overlapping factors, including competition from newer shopping centers such as White Flint Mall, difficulty replacing departed tenants, and negative perceptions concerning crime, drugs, and violence in nearby communities. These perceptions were described as both real and imagined, but they nevertheless affected the property's reputation and customer appeal. After the principal anchors had closed, Ted Lerner decided to shut the mall. The mall's entrances were sealed, while Sears continued operating as a stand-alone store. The enclosed mall was demolished beginning in 2006, with completion reported in early 2007. Debris from the demolition was recycled. Sears continued at the site until announcing in January 2014 that it would not renew its lease and would close in March of that year. Lerner subsequently controlled the former Sears land as well. The broader property later attracted public attention as a possible location for a future FBI headquarters. That possibility did not advance, and although the site was again considered during a federal search restarted in 2022, the Greenbelt site was selected in November 2023. In October 2024, Brightseat Associates announced plans for a data-center complex tentatively named Brightseat Tech Park, with groundbreaking expected in 2026. Landover Mall itself, however, no longer exists as an operating retail brand or physical shopping center.
History
Landover Mall was developed by Lerner Enterprises and opened in Landover, Maryland, on May 11, 1972. Its developers were identified as Sonny Abramson and Ted Lerner. Located near Maryland Route 202 and the Capital Beltway, the mall served Prince George's County and the Washington metropolitan area. Its location also placed it near major transportation routes and, later, directly across from the stadium site associated with FedExField. During its strongest period, Landover Mall operated as a substantial enclosed regional center with five major anchors: Hecht's, Garfinckel's, Woodward & Lothrop, Sears, and F. W. Woolworth. The concentration of department stores made it one of the Washington region's prominent multi-anchor malls. It also contained smaller specialty retailers and a six-screen theater in the basement. The theater had dedicated escalators but closed in 1991. The mall's architectural identity included three fountains. A fountain was located near the Hecht's and Sears areas, another was positioned in the center court, and a third formed part of the mall's interior water features. The center fountain used three circular platforms inspired by loops in the nearby Capital Beltway interchange at Landover Road. The fountain system included programmed water jets, while seasonal displays replaced the usual presentation during the holiday period. These displays used secular imagery such as gingerbread houses, fairies, candy canes, snowmen, reindeer, sleighs, doves, and a themed boat ride. The property's decline reflected both internal tenant problems and broader changes in suburban retail competition. Garfinckel's filed for bankruptcy in 1990 and went out of business. Its former anchor space was not successfully replaced. Woodward & Lothrop later also failed, and JCPenney moved into its former location. JCPenney subsequently converted the store to an outlet in fall 1998, but the business remained unprofitable and closed in early 2001. Hecht's departed in early 2002 after opening a store at Bowie Town Center. Sears was the only anchor that remained operating after the enclosed mall shut down because it owned the land beneath its building. Public perceptions also affected the mall's reputation. A 1998 Washington Business Journal account described the center as having been burdened since the mid-1980s by perceptions, whether real or imagined, of crime, drugs, and violence in nearby communities, including Palmer Park and Seat Pleasant. The same account cited competition from newer destinations such as White Flint Mall and the inability to replace empty anchor spaces. These conditions reduced the mall's appeal and contributed to the loss of its retail ecosystem. After the major anchors had departed, Ted Lerner decided to close the mall. The entrances were blocked with cinder blocks, although Sears continued operating independently. Demolition began in 2006 and was completed in early 2007. The mall was fully removed, and the demolition debris was recycled. Sears later sold the land under its building to Lerner. In January 2014, Sears announced that it would not renew its lease and closed the store in March. The cleared property subsequently became the subject of redevelopment and public-sector speculation. In 2014, the FBI examined the site as a possible location for a future headquarters. Political complications in 2017 halted progress. Lerner placed the entire site on the market in October 2018. When the General Services Administration restarted the headquarters search in 2022, the former Landover Mall site was again one of three candidates. The Greenbelt site was selected in November 2023. On October 24, 2024, Brightseat Associates announced plans for a data-center development tentatively known as Brightseat Tech Park, with construction expected to begin in 2026. Thus, Landover Mall's continuing significance is historical and redevelopment-related rather than retail: the original enclosed mall is defunct and has been demolished.
- 2024
Brightseat Tech Park proposal announced
[1]Brightseat Associates announced a proposed data-center complex for the former mall property.
- 2023
Greenbelt chosen for FBI headquarters
[1]The former Landover Mall site was not selected when the federal government chose Greenbelt for the proposed FBI headquarters.
- 2014
Sears closes
[1]The last operating store at the former mall announced its closure and shut down in March.
- 2006
Demolition begins
[1]The vacant mall was dismantled; demolition was completed in early 2007.
- 2002
Enclosed mall closes
[1]Hecht's closed early in the year, and Lerner Enterprises subsequently shut the enclosed mall while Sears continued as a separate operation.
- 2001
JCPenney closes
[1]The JCPenney outlet closed after an unsuccessful attempt to sustain the location.
- 1998
JCPenney outlet conversion
[1]JCPenney changed its store in the former Woodward & Lothrop space to an outlet format.
- 1991
Six-screen theater closes
[1]The mall's basement movie theater ceased operating.
- 1990
Garfinckel's exits
[1]Garfinckel's entered bankruptcy and closed, leaving an anchor space that was never successfully restored to its former role.
- 1972
Mall opens
[1]Landover Mall opened on May 11 with a large collection of department-store anchors, specialty tenants, entertainment, and distinctive fountain features.
Products and positioning
A large suburban regional shopping center serving Prince George's County and the wider Washington metropolitan area during the peak era of enclosed malls.
Retail destination · 1972
Enclosed regional shopping mall
Landover Mall's principal offering was an enclosed regional shopping environment serving Prince George's County and the Washington metropolitan area. It combined department stores, specialty retailers, services, food-related tenants, and interior public spaces under one roof. Its scale and anchor lineup made it a major suburban retail destination during the 1970s and subsequent decades.
Department-store retail · 1972
Department-store anchor cluster
The mall was distinguished by a multi-anchor format that included Hecht's, Garfinckel's, Woodward & Lothrop, Sears, and F. W. Woolworth. These stores supplied apparel, home goods, general merchandise, and other high-volume categories that drew customers to the center and supported smaller tenants.
Entertainment · 1972
Six-screen cinema
A six-screen movie theater operated in the mall's basement and was accessed through dedicated escalators. It added an entertainment component to the retail destination but closed in 1991 as the property began losing parts of its commercial mix.
Mall amenity · 1972
Fountain court and seasonal displays
The interior included three fountains, with the principal center-court feature built around three circular platforms inspired by nearby Capital Beltway interchange loops. Programmed water jets formed part of the mall's visual identity. During the holiday season, portions of the fountain area were replaced by secular decorative displays featuring items such as gingerbread houses, snowmen, reindeer, and other themed figures.
Brand decisions
2024
Propose Brightseat Tech ParkStrategyBackground
After the former mall site was not selected for the FBI headquarters project, a private redevelopment concept emerged.
Action taken
Brightseat Associates announced plans for a data-center complex tentatively named Brightseat Tech Park.
Aftermath
The project was reported as scheduled to break ground in 2026; no completed development is established in the available material.
2014
End remaining Sears operationOtherBackground
Sears was the only store to remain after the enclosed mall closed because it owned the land beneath its building.
Action taken
Sears announced that it would not renew its lease and closed the store in March 2014.
Aftermath
The entire former mall property was left without the original site's retail operations.
2006
Demolish the mallOtherBackground
The closed mall no longer had a viable anchor-based retail operation, although Sears continued on separately owned underlying land.
Action taken
Lerner proceeded with demolition of the enclosed mall, and the resulting debris was recycled.
Aftermath
The former mall site became available for later redevelopment and public-sector proposals.
2002
Close the enclosed mallStrategyBackground
The property had lost most of its major department-store anchors, including Garfinckel's, Woodward & Lothrop, JCPenney, and Hecht's.
Action taken
Ted Lerner decided to close the mall and its entrances were sealed, while Sears remained open as an independently operating store.
Aftermath
The enclosed structure was demolished beginning in 2006, with completion reported in early 2007.
1998
Convert JCPenney store to outlet formatStrategyBackground
JCPenney occupied the former Woodward & Lothrop anchor location, but the store struggled amid the mall's declining traffic and increasing competition.
Action taken
JCPenney converted the location into an outlet store during fall 1998.
Aftermath
The change did not restore the location's long-term viability, and JCPenney closed the store in early 2001.
Recent events
- 2024
Brightseat Tech Park proposal announced for former mall property[1]
Other
Brightseat Associates announced plans for a data-center complex tentatively called Brightseat Tech Park, with groundbreaking expected in 2026.
- 2023
Greenbelt selected instead of former Landover Mall site for FBI headquarters[1]
Regulation
In November, the Greenbelt site was selected, ending the former Landover Mall property's prospects for the project.
- 2022
Federal government restarts search that includes former Landover Mall site[1]
Regulation
The General Services Administration again considered the former mall property as one of three potential sites for an FBI headquarters.
- 2018
Lerner places the former mall site on the market[1]
Other
After political complications ended progress on the FBI headquarters proposal, Lerner put the full site up for sale.
- 2014
Sears announces closure of its Landover store[1]
Other
Sears announced in January that it would not renew its lease and would close the remaining store in March.
- 2014
Former Landover Mall site considered for FBI headquarters[1]
Regulation · Other
The federal government examined the former mall property as a possible location for a future FBI headquarters.
- 2006
Demolition of Landover Mall begins[1]
Other
Demolition began on the vacant mall, with the work completed in early 2007 and the building materials recycled.
- 2002
Hecht's closes at Landover Mall[1]
Other
Hecht's closed its Landover Mall store after opening a newer location at Bowie Town Center, leaving the mall without another major anchor.
- 2002
Landover Mall closes to the public[1]
Other
Following the departure of its principal anchors, Lerner Enterprises closed the enclosed mall and sealed its entrances. Sears continued to operate separately.
- 2001
JCPenney closes its Landover Mall location[1]
Other
JCPenney shut the former Woodward & Lothrop space after the outlet operation failed to remain profitable.
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