Laurel Mall
Laurel Mall was a two-level enclosed shopping mall in Laurel, Maryland, that operated from 1979 until its permanent closure in 2012.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Laurel Mall was an enclosed shopping mall on the west side of U.S. Route 1 in Laurel, Maryland. Developed by Shopco Inc., it opened on October 11, 1979, as Laurel Centre Mall and connected two earlier retail structures: a freestanding Montgomery Ward store to the south and the pre-existing Laurel Shopping Center to the north. The development initially contained approximately 120 store spaces, with roughly 60 to 70 occupied at opening, and combined department-store anchors with smaller specialty shops, food service, entertainment, and pedestrian links between parts of the broader retail complex. The mall’s original anchors were Montgomery Ward and JCPenney. Montgomery Ward’s 167,000-square-foot store had operated as a standalone location since April 1969, while the 83,000-square-foot JCPenney opened with the enclosed mall in 1979. Hecht’s became a third major anchor in 1981 after relocating from the Laurel Shopping Center. At approximately 662,000 square feet, Laurel Mall was modest in scale compared with many regional malls, but its design included several distinctive features. These included a two-story rotating kiosk structure called the Carousel, a fountain, a stage, a Time Out Tunnel arcade, an enclosed pedestrian bridge, a glass-sided walkway, a food court known first as Inner Circle and later as Circle Eatery, and unusually short escalators serving the mall’s different levels. The property received a substantial physical update in 1991. The renovation replaced wood-finished floors and storefront fascias with pastel Formica panels, installed cream-colored marble flooring, and altered the central kiosk area. The investment did not prevent a longer-term decline. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001, and JCPenney left in 2002. Nearby competition intensified as the Mall in Columbia expanded its restaurants and cinema offerings and larger-format stores developed along U.S. Route 1 and Maryland Route 198. Burlington Coat Factory eventually occupied most of the former Montgomery Ward space, while Macy’s replaced Hecht’s in 2006. The mall also faced physical-maintenance problems, including incidents in which sections of aging parking decks crumbled onto lower parking areas and had to be closed. In 2006, the property entered receivership and was sold to Somera Capital Management for a reported $31 million. General Growth Properties was engaged to pursue a major redevelopment. Public plans presented in 2007 proposed an 80,000-square-foot anchor, a 16-screen Regal cinema, a bookstore, a new food court, restaurants, additional retail, a parking deck, luxury apartments, and a grocery store. The proposed redevelopment would have renamed the property Laurel Commons, but General Growth Properties’ bankruptcy-protection filing prevented construction from beginning. Greenberg Gibbons Commercial took partial ownership and management responsibilities in March 2011 and proposed a different approach: demolishing most of the enclosed mall while retaining selected structures, creating an open-air mixed-use center with retail, restaurants, a movie theater, a health club, and housing. This concept was to be called Laurel Town Center. Macy’s announced in January 2012 that its Laurel store would close, leaving Burlington Coat Factory as the last major anchor. Laurel Mall closed permanently on May 1, 2012, although Burlington and a post-office branch continued temporarily during redevelopment arrangements. Demolition began after a city groundbreaking ceremony on August 14, 2012; the Route 1-side parking garage was removed that autumn, and the former Montgomery Ward/Burlington building was demolished in July 2013. The replacement development, Towne Centre at Laurel, opened in 2014. It incorporated a relocated Burlington Coat Factory and a new open-air mix of stores, restaurants, services, and entertainment venues, including Harris Teeter, Party City, Panera Bread, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Buffalo Wild Wings, Old Navy, Outback Steakhouse, and Regal Cinemas. Sports Authority was also among the tenants but later closed. Laurel Mall therefore survives primarily as the former name of a redevelopment site rather than as an operating shopping center.
History
Laurel Mall originated in the expansion of Laurel’s existing retail district along U.S. Route 1. Montgomery Ward opened a 167,000-square-foot standalone store in 1969. A decade later, Shopco Inc. connected that building with the Laurel Shopping Center and added an enclosed 265,000-square-foot mall, creating Laurel Centre Mall. The new center opened on October 11, 1979, with Montgomery Ward and JCPenney as anchors and approximately half of its planned store spaces occupied. Hecht’s joined the anchor lineup in 1981 after moving from the neighboring shopping center. The two-level mall was designed as a compact but elaborate community shopping destination. Its features included the Carousel, a slowly rotating two-story island with kiosks and a stage positioned beside a fountain; the Time Out Tunnel arcade; an enclosed bridge; a glass-sided walkway; the Inner Circle food court; and a mezzanine arrangement accommodating Montgomery Ward’s single-level building. A 1991 renovation modernized the interiors with pastel Formica panels and cream-colored marble flooring and replaced the original central retail arrangement. During the 2000s, the property lost key anchors and faced stronger competition. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001, JCPenney departed in 2002, Hecht’s was converted to Macy’s in 2006, and Burlington Coat Factory occupied much of the former Montgomery Ward space. Regional competition from the Mall in Columbia and expanding big-box retail corridors reduced Laurel Mall’s customer traffic. Deteriorating parking decks also suffered partial collapses, requiring closures and adding to the property’s difficulties. A major redevelopment attempt followed the 2006 receivership sale to Somera Capital Management. General Growth Properties proposed Laurel Commons, a new complex with a cinema, expanded retail, restaurants, a bookstore, a grocery store, apartments, and parking improvements. The plans did not advance after General Growth Properties sought bankruptcy protection. In 2011, Greenberg Gibbons Commercial became a partial owner and manager and proposed demolishing most of the mall for an open-air mixed-use project called Laurel Town Center. Macy’s announced its closure in January 2012, and the mall permanently closed on May 1. Burlington Coat Factory and a post-office branch remained temporarily while redevelopment arrangements were completed. The city held a groundbreaking ceremony on August 14, 2012. Demolition removed the parking garage and most of the enclosed mall, followed by demolition of the former Montgomery Ward/Burlington building in July 2013. The successor project, Towne Centre at Laurel, opened in 2014 as an open-air shopping and dining center with retail, restaurants, services, and Regal Cinemas. The original Laurel Mall is therefore defunct, with its site transformed rather than simply renovated.
- 2014
Towne Centre at Laurel opens
[1]The replacement open-air center began operations with retail, dining, and entertainment tenants.
- 2012
Mall closes and demolition starts
[1]The mall closed in May, and demolition began later that year.
- 2011
Open-air redevelopment plan announced
[1]Greenberg Gibbons Commercial introduced plans for an open-air mixed-use replacement called Laurel Town Center.
- 2006
Somera Capital acquires property
[1]After receivership, Somera Capital Management acquired the property and commissioned redevelopment planning by General Growth Properties.
- 2002
JCPenney departs
[1]JCPenney vacated the mall amid broader traffic and competitive pressures.
- 2001
Montgomery Ward closes
[1]Montgomery Ward ceased operations, weakening the mall’s anchor lineup.
- 1991
Major interior renovation
[1]The mall received a reported $2 million facelift, including new flooring, storefront treatments, and changes to the central kiosk area.
- 1981
Hecht’s becomes third anchor
[1]Hecht’s relocated from Laurel Shopping Center into the mall as a third department-store anchor.
- 1979
Laurel Centre Mall opens
[1]Shopco Inc. opened the enclosed mall on October 11, connecting Montgomery Ward with the Laurel Shopping Center and adding JCPenney.
- 1969
Montgomery Ward opens standalone store
[1]A 167,000-square-foot Montgomery Ward store opened as a freestanding retail location on the future mall site.
Products and positioning
A local and regional enclosed shopping center serving Laurel and surrounding communities through department stores, specialty retailers, dining, and entertainment. Its later identity was shaped by decline, attempted repositioning, and eventual replacement by an open-air mixed-use center.
Retail property · 1979
Enclosed shopping mall
The core offering was a two-level enclosed shopping center containing department stores, specialty shops, services, dining, and entertainment. The mall connected several previously separate retail structures and used bridges, walkways, a mezzanine, escalators, and an elevator to link its components.
Food court · 1979
Inner Circle / Circle Eatery
The mall’s food-court area occupied the southern end of the complex. It was initially known as Inner Circle and later renamed Circle Eatery, serving as a communal dining area within the enclosed mall.
Mall attraction and kiosk area · 1979
Carousel
The Carousel was a distinctive slowly rotating two-story island positioned in a fountain. Its lower level provided space for seven kiosks, while the upper level included a stage, making it both a retail feature and a visual centerpiece.
Marketing campaigns
- 2012Transformation storefront messaging
Laurel, Maryland, United States
During the mall’s final closure and redevelopment phase, shuttered storefronts carried cryptic messages such as “Don’t judge a book by its cover” and “If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies,” presenting the planned transformation as a positive change rather than simply a demolition.
Outcome. The enclosed mall closed and was subsequently demolished for the Towne Centre at Laurel redevelopment.
Brand decisions
2011
Laurel Town Center replacement strategyStrategyBackground
The earlier enclosed-mall redevelopment had stalled and the property’s anchor base had deteriorated.
Action taken
Greenberg Gibbons Commercial proposed demolishing most of the mall and replacing it with an open-air mixed-use center featuring retail, dining, entertainment, health, and residential uses.
Aftermath
The mall closed in 2012 and the site was redeveloped as Towne Centre at Laurel, which opened in 2014.
2007
Laurel Commons redevelopment proposalStrategyBackground
The mall needed a new tenant mix and physical format to respond to stronger regional competition and declining traffic.
Action taken
General Growth Properties proposed a new anchor, a 16-screen Regal theater, bookstore, food court, restaurants, shops, parking, apartments, and a grocery store.
Aftermath
The project was never constructed after General Growth Properties entered bankruptcy protection.
2006
Sale following receivershipM&ABackground
The aging and declining mall entered receivership amid operational and competitive problems.
Action taken
Somera Capital Management acquired the property for a reported $31 million and engaged General Growth Properties to pursue redevelopment.
Aftermath
A major Laurel Commons plan was announced, but construction did not begin after General Growth Properties filed for bankruptcy protection.
Reported acquisition price. $31 million (2006)
Recent events
- 2014
Towne Centre at Laurel opens[1]
Product launch
The replacement open-air retail development opened with Burlington Coat Factory, Harris Teeter, restaurants, specialty retailers, and Regal Cinemas.
- 2012
Macy’s announces closure of Laurel Mall store[1]
Leadership change · Other
Macy’s identified its Laurel location among five underperforming stores scheduled for closure, making Burlington Coat Factory the mall’s last remaining major anchor.
- 2012
Laurel Mall closes permanently[1]
Other
The enclosed mall ceased operations on May 1, 2012, while limited occupants remained temporarily during negotiations and site redevelopment.
- 2012
Demolition begins for replacement development[1]
Other
Laurel began demolishing the former mall after a city groundbreaking ceremony, starting with the Route 1-side parking structure and continuing with interior demolition.
- 2009
General Growth Properties redevelopment plan stalls after bankruptcy filing[1]
Bankruptcy
A planned Laurel Commons redevelopment did not proceed after General Growth Properties filed for bankruptcy protection, leaving the proposed construction unfinished.
- 2006
Laurel Mall enters receivership and is sold to Somera Capital Management[1]
M&A
The financially troubled mall entered receivership and was sold to Somera Capital Management for a reported $31 million, with General Growth Properties engaged for redevelopment planning.
- 1980
Congresswoman Gladys Noon Spellman collapses at campaign appearance[1]
Other
Maryland congresswoman Gladys Noon Spellman suffered an incapacitating heart attack after collapsing during a campaign appearance at Laurel Mall.
Sources2 sources
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