Lehigh Valley Mall

Lehigh Valley Mall is an enclosed super-regional shopping center in Fullerton, an unincorporated community within Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania. It is located north of Allentown along MacArthur Road, between U.S. Route 22 and Grape Street, and serves shoppers from the broader Lehigh Valley and eastern Pennsylvania. The property is recognized as the largest shopping mall in the Lehigh Valley and, according to the referenced description, ranks among Pennsylvania's largest malls. The mall opened in 1976 with a department-store-led format typical of major American suburban shopping centers. Its original and successor anchors have included Bamberger's, Wanamaker's, Hecht's, Strawbridge's, Boscov's, JCPenney, and Macy's. Boscov's, JCPenney, and Macy's are the principal current department-store anchors, while Barnes & Noble operates as a junior anchor. The succession of department-store brands reflects broader consolidation and rebranding in the American department-store sector rather than a change in the mall's basic role as a regional retail destination. A substantial renovation in 1995 modernized both the interior and exterior. The project removed the spiral ramp that connected the mall's two levels, replaced it with a glass elevator, removed fountains, and refreshed the appearance of the common areas and exterior. In October 2007, the property expanded with a roughly 110,000-square-foot lifestyle-center component. That addition broadened the tenant mix beyond traditional enclosed-mall stores and included retailers such as Apple, Sephora, and Barnes & Noble. The mall also includes the separately identified Lehigh Valley Convenience Center, an outdoor strip-center component on the eastern side of the property. The convenience center has approximately 87,280 square feet, while additional restaurants operate inside the mall and along the surrounding beltway road. This combination of enclosed retail, lifestyle-oriented space, restaurants, entertainment, and adjacent convenience retail gives the complex a wider commercial function than a conventional two-level mall. Simon Property Group acquired the mall in 2003 as part of its purchase of The Kravco Company. The property's ownership structure later changed when a majority interest was sold to PREIT, while Simon continued to manage the mall. In 2020, the complex added a Dave & Buster's restaurant and video arcade, reinforcing its shift toward dining and entertainment as complements to department stores and specialty retail. The mall's current identity is therefore based on a mix of established department-store anchors, national specialty retailers, restaurants, entertainment, and adjacent open-air retail. Its principal competitive role is as a large regional destination for the Lehigh Valley rather than as a narrowly focused luxury or outlet center.

Lehigh Valley Mall opened in 1976 in Fullerton, within Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania. Its location on MacArthur Road, north of Allentown and close to U.S. Route 22, positioned it as a major regional retail destination for the Lehigh Valley. From its beginning, the center followed the enclosed suburban-mall model, with department stores serving as anchors and smaller specialty retailers occupying the interior concourses. The anchor roster changed over time as department-store companies consolidated, rebranded, or exited markets. Bamberger's was associated with the mall from its opening period and was later succeeded by Macy's. Other historical anchor names included Wanamaker's, Hecht's, and Strawbridge's. Boscov's became one of the continuing major anchors, alongside JCPenney and Macy's. Barnes & Noble later served as a junior anchor, adding a large-format bookstore use to the center. The mall underwent its first major renovation in 1995. The work altered the circulation and appearance of the property: the spiral ramp between the two levels was removed and replaced with a glass elevator, fountains were taken out, and interior and exterior finishes were updated. These changes reflected the period's effort to modernize established enclosed malls and improve accessibility and visual presentation. In 2003, Simon Property Group acquired The Kravco Company and consequently acquired the mall. Simon continued to manage the property after a majority stake was later sold to PREIT. This created a distinction between ownership and day-to-day management, with PREIT holding the majority interest described in the reference material and Simon retaining the management role. The property expanded beyond its original enclosed-mall footprint in October 2007, when a roughly 110,000-square-foot lifestyle-center addition opened. The project introduced a more open, mixed-format retail environment and added tenants such as Apple, Sephora, and Barnes & Noble. The complex also includes the Lehigh Valley Convenience Center, an outdoor strip-center component on the eastern side of the site, with approximately 87,280 square feet. Restaurants are located both within the mall and along the surrounding beltway road. In 2020, Dave & Buster's opened at the mall as a restaurant and video-arcade venue. Its arrival represented the continuing diversification of the property toward entertainment and dining, categories that complement traditional department stores and help regional malls function as broader leisure destinations. Today, Lehigh Valley Mall remains an active regional shopping complex with a mixture of department stores, specialty retail, books, beauty, dining, entertainment, and adjacent open-air retail. Its history illustrates the evolution of a large American enclosed mall from a department-store-centered format into a multi-use retail and entertainment destination.

• 2020

  Dave & Buster's opens

  [1]Lehigh Valley Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Dave & Buster's opens a restaurant and video arcade at the mall, strengthening its entertainment offer.

• 2007

  Lifestyle-center expansion opens

  [1]Lehigh Valley Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A roughly 110,000-square-foot lifestyle-center addition opens in October with retailers including Apple, Sephora, and Barnes & Noble.

• 2003

  Simon acquires The Kravco Company

  [1]Lehigh Valley Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Simon Property Group acquires The Kravco Company, including Lehigh Valley Mall, and becomes its manager.

• 1995

  First major renovation

  [1]Lehigh Valley Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The mall modernizes its interior and exterior, removes the spiral circulation ramp and fountains, and installs a glass elevator between levels.

• 1976

  Mall opens

  [1]Lehigh Valley Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Lehigh Valley Mall opens in Fullerton, Whitehall Township, as an enclosed regional shopping center serving the Lehigh Valley.

A large regional shopping and entertainment destination combining traditional department-store anchors, national specialty retailers, restaurants, lifestyle-center space, and adjacent convenience retail.

• Anchor retail · 1976

  Department-store retail

  The mall's principal anchor offer consists of Boscov's, JCPenney, and Macy's. These stores provide broad assortments such as apparel, accessories, home merchandise, beauty products, and seasonal goods, and remain central to the mall's regional-shopping positioning.

• Open-air specialty retail · 2007

  Lifestyle-center retail

  The lifestyle-center addition introduced a more open retail format alongside the enclosed mall. The expansion has been associated with national specialty retailers including Apple, Sephora, and Barnes & Noble, broadening the tenant mix and creating additional reasons to visit beyond department-store shopping.

• Books and media · 2007

  Barnes & Noble

  Barnes & Noble serves as a junior anchor in the complex. Its large-format bookstore role adds books, media, gifts, and related merchandise to the mall's assortment and connects the enclosed center with the later lifestyle-center expansion.

• Dining and entertainment · 2020

  Dave & Buster's

  Dave & Buster's combines restaurant service with arcade and video-game entertainment. The location, opened in 2020, adds a destination-oriented leisure use that complements the mall's retail and restaurant tenants.

• Outdoor strip-center retail

  Lehigh Valley Convenience Center

  The Lehigh Valley Convenience Center is an outdoor strip-center component on the east side of the mall property. It provides approximately 87,280 square feet of additional retail space and is part of the broader commercial complex surrounding the enclosed mall.

• 2020

  Addition of Dave & Buster'sProduct launch

  Background

  Regional malls increasingly incorporated dining and entertainment to supplement conventional retail and encourage longer visits.

  Action taken

  Dave & Buster's opened a restaurant and video arcade at Lehigh Valley Mall.

  Aftermath

  The venue expanded the mall's entertainment and dining mix.

  Source

• 2007

  Lifestyle-center expansionStrategy

  Background

  The mall sought to broaden its format beyond traditional enclosed-mall retail and add newer specialty and lifestyle tenants.

  Action taken

  A roughly 110,000-square-foot lifestyle-center addition opened in October, accommodating retailers such as Apple, Sephora, and Barnes & Noble.

  Aftermath

  The expansion diversified the property and connected its traditional mall offer with a more open-air retail format.

  Source

• 1995

  Modernization renovationStrategy

  Background

  The established enclosed mall required an updated physical environment and improved vertical circulation.

  Action taken

  The property removed its spiral ramp, installed a glass elevator, removed fountains, and renovated interior and exterior areas.

  Aftermath

  The work refreshed the center and altered its two-level circulation and common-area presentation.

  Source

• 2020

  Lehigh Valley Mall adds Dave & Buster's entertainment venue[1]Lehigh Valley Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  A Dave & Buster's restaurant and video arcade opened at the mall, expanding its food-and-entertainment offer beyond conventional retail.

• 2007

  Lehigh Valley Mall opens lifestyle-center expansion[1]Lehigh Valley Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  A roughly 110,000-square-foot lifestyle-center addition opened in October, adding retailers including Apple, Sephora, and Barnes & Noble.

• 2003

  Simon Property Group acquires The Kravco Company and the mall[1]Lehigh Valley Mallen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Simon Property Group acquired The Kravco Company, bringing Lehigh Valley Mall into Simon's portfolio and management platform.

1. 1Lehigh Valley Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Lehigh Valley Mall official sitesimon.com