Silver City Galleria
A former two-level enclosed regional shopping mall in East Taunton, Massachusetts, that operated from 1992 until its permanent closure in 2020 and demolition in 2021.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Silver City Galleria was a regional enclosed shopping mall in East Taunton, Massachusetts, near the junction of Massachusetts Route 24 and Route 140 and with access to Interstate 495. Developed by Pyramid Management Group and designed by ADD, the mall was conceived during a period of regional-mall construction in southeastern Massachusetts. Construction began in July 1990, and the center opened on March 1, 1992, after being built in a comparatively rural and lightly developed setting. Its highway accessibility was intended to draw shoppers from Taunton, Raynham, Fall River, New Bedford, Middleborough, and other communities in the South Coast region. At its height during the 1990s, Silver City Galleria contained more than one million square feet of leasable space and accommodated roughly 120 retail stores, numerous customer-service businesses, a ten-screen cinema, sit-down and specialty restaurants, an arcade, a food court, a central court, and a children's play area. Its initial anchor lineup included Sears, JCPenney, Macy's, Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, Regal Cinemas, Lechmere, and Steve & Barry's. A proposed Jordan Marsh store was never built after the planned department-store combination became unnecessary following Macy's acquisition of Jordan Marsh. The mall attracted regional attention in 1999 when television personality Richard Simmons filmed a Farewell to Fat infomercial in the central court. In 2002, General Growth Properties and the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois acquired the property through a joint venture connected to a transaction involving several shopping centers. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, however, the center had begun to stagnate. Its dependence on automobile traffic, remote location, limited surrounding development, and lack of significant outparcel development made it increasingly difficult to compete with newer retail formats and better-positioned shopping destinations. The 2008 financial crisis intensified the mall's problems. Retail departures reduced occupancy, which had fallen to approximately 75 percent by March 2010, and the property's mortgage entered default in November 2009. Midland Loan Services took control in 2011 after an attempted sale failed, and Cushman & Wakefield assumed management later that year. Ownership changed again in 2013, when the property was sold to MGHerring Group in partnership with Tricom Real Estate Group. New owners announced renovation and repositioning plans in 2014, and the former Steve & Barry's and Lechmere space was later redeveloped for Round One Entertainment. Regal Cinemas also received planned upgrades. The mall's decline continued as major anchors departed. JCPenney closed in April 2015, Macy's closed in April 2017, Best Buy closed in October 2017, and Sears closed in November 2018. The property was foreclosed on in May 2019 and sold at auction for $7.5 million. Bristol Community College, which had occupied part of a former Old Navy location, also planned to leave. After tenant terminations and entrance restrictions in early 2020, the mall closed permanently on February 29, 2020. Remaining operations, including Round One and Dick's Sporting Goods, ended during the following year. The site was sold to Portman Industrial in June 2021. The former mall buildings were demolished by May 9, 2021. A proposed FedEx distribution center received local planning approval in 2022 but was withdrawn in January 2023 because of changing costs and corporate expansion priorities. Portman subsequently advanced plans for the Silver City Business Park, an industrial redevelopment projected to contain approximately 1.1 million square feet and to be developed in phases. The former mall therefore illustrates the lifecycle of a highway-oriented regional shopping center: rapid early growth, prolonged tenant erosion, financial distress, closure, demolition, and conversion to industrial use.
History
Development began in 1989, following the opening of Emerald Square Mall in North Attleborough and amid a wave of regional-mall construction in Massachusetts. Pyramid Management Group planned and developed the project, while ADD designed the building. The selected East Taunton site was surrounded initially by forest and undeveloped land, but its location near Routes 24 and 140 and Interstate 495 offered access to a broad automobile-dependent trade area. Construction started in July 1990, was completed in February 1992, and the mall opened on March 1, 1992. Silver City Galleria was a two-level enclosed center with more than one million square feet of leasable area. Its original retail and entertainment mix included Sears, JCPenney, Macy's, Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, Regal Cinemas, Lechmere, and Steve & Barry's, along with restaurants, specialty food, an arcade, and a food court. A planned Jordan Marsh anchor was canceled after Macy's acquisition of Jordan Marsh. In 1999, Richard Simmons filmed a Farewell to Fat infomercial in the center court, one of the property's more distinctive publicity events. The mall performed relatively well during its early years but began losing momentum by the late 1990s and early 2000s. Its original strategy depended heavily on highway traffic rather than a dense surrounding community. Limited residential and commercial development near the site, few outparcels, and competition from other shopping destinations constrained its ability to replace departing retailers or create additional reasons to visit. In 2002, General Growth Properties and the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois acquired the property through a joint venture. The Great Recession accelerated the mall's deterioration. Retailers departed, foot traffic declined, and occupancy was reported at approximately 75 percent by March 2010. The mortgage entered default in November 2009. An attempted sale failed in 2011, after which Midland Loan Services acquired the mall in November. Management shifted to Cushman & Wakefield in December. In 2013, MGHerring Group and Tricom Real Estate Group became the new owners. The property was also mentioned in connection with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's proposed First Light Resort & Casino, although the mall remained separately owned and was not placed into federal trust for the casino project. New ownership announced renovation plans in 2014. In 2015, JCPenney closed, while Round One Entertainment was selected for a former Steve & Barry's and Lechmere space. Regal Cinemas was also upgraded with plans for expanded food and beverage service, recliner seating, and a redesigned entrance. These initiatives could not reverse the broader decline. Macy's closed in 2017, Best Buy closed later that year, and Sears closed in 2018, leaving Dick's Sporting Goods as the last traditional anchor. The property was foreclosed on in May 2019 by Branch Banking and Trust Company and sold at auction on May 17 for $7.5 million. Management continued during the ownership transition under Thibeault Developments. Bristol Community College, which had occupied part of a former Old Navy store since 2016, announced plans to leave in 2020. Six tenants received termination notices in February 2020, and the mall's main entrance was closed. The center permanently shut on February 29, 2020. Regal's operations were also affected by the COVID-19 theater shutdowns, while Round One and Dick's Sporting Goods closed in early 2021. The buildings were demolished beginning in February 2021 and were gone by May 9. Portman Industrial bought the 146-acre property in June 2021 for industrial redevelopment. FedEx explored a distribution center, and the Taunton Planning Board approved a proposed project in 2022, but FedEx withdrew in January 2023. Portman subsequently moved forward with plans for the Silver City Business Park, a phased industrial project intended to replace the former retail complex. The site represents a broader transition from enclosed regional retail toward logistics and industrial real estate.
- 2024
Industrial redevelopment financing announced
[1]Portman announced financing for the first phase of the Silver City Business Park on the former mall site.
- 2021
Demolition completed
[1]The mall buildings were demolished by May 9.
- 2020
Permanent closure
[1]The shopping mall closed permanently on February 29.
- 2019
Foreclosure and auction sale
[1]The mall was foreclosed on and sold at auction for $7.5 million on May 17.
- 2016
Fatal attack at the mall
[1]A stabbing and vehicle attack on May 10 resulted in two victim deaths and the death of the attacker.
- 2015
Round One and Regal improvements completed
[1]Round One opened in a former anchor space, and Regal Cinemas completed planned facility improvements.
- 2013
MGHerring and Tricom acquisition
[1]The property was sold to MGHerring Group in partnership with Tricom Real Estate Group.
- 2011
Midland Loan Services takes control
[1]After a failed sale attempt, Midland Loan Services acquired the property in November.
- 2009
Mortgage enters default
[1]The mall's mortgage went into default in November during a period of declining occupancy and retailer departures.
- 2002
General Growth Properties joint-venture acquisition
[1]General Growth Properties and the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois acquired the mall through a joint venture.
Products and positioning
A highway-accessible regional shopping destination serving southeastern Massachusetts and the South Coast, positioned around department stores, national retailers, dining, and entertainment.
Shopping center · 1992
Regional enclosed shopping mall
The core offering was a two-level enclosed regional mall serving communities across southeastern Massachusetts. At its peak it combined department stores, national specialty retailers, dining, customer services, and entertainment in a climate-controlled indoor environment. Its location near major highways made automobile access central to the operating model.
Department stores and big-box retail · 1992
Retail anchor stores
The mall's anchor strategy included Sears, JCPenney, Macy's, Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, Lechmere, and Steve & Barry's at different points in its history. These stores provided destination shopping in categories such as apparel, appliances, electronics, home goods, and sporting merchandise, but most eventually closed as the center declined.
Cinema · 1992
Regal Cinemas
The mall included a ten-screen Regal cinema that operated as one of its principal entertainment anchors. In 2015, plans were announced for an improved entrance, recliner seating, and expanded restaurant and bar features. The theater later ceased operations amid the mall's closure and the wider temporary shutdown of Regal locations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Family entertainment · 2015
Round One Entertainment
Round One occupied space formerly associated with Steve & Barry's and Lechmere after being announced as a replacement anchor in 2015. The entertainment concept was intended to diversify the mall beyond conventional retail. Round One announced its departure in December 2020 and closed in January 2021.
Marketing campaigns
- 1999Farewell to Fat filming
United States
Richard Simmons filmed a Farewell to Fat infomercial in the mall's central court, producing a notable promotional and media event for the property.
Outcome. The filming gave the mall distinctive regional publicity, although no continuing partnership is documented.
Brand decisions
2021
Conversion from retail property to industrial siteStrategyBackground
The enclosed mall model had failed to support continued operations, and the site was being marketed for alternative uses.
Action taken
Portman Industrial purchased the former mall property and pursued warehousing and later industrial-park development.
Aftermath
A proposed FedEx distribution center was later withdrawn, while Portman continued planning the Silver City Business Park.
Purchase price for former mall site. 75000000 USD (June 2021)
2020
Permanent shutdown of the shopping centerStrategyBackground
Years of declining occupancy, anchor departures, foreclosure, and tenant terminations left the property with insufficient retail activity.
Action taken
The mall closed permanently on February 29, 2020.
Aftermath
The remaining retail and entertainment operations ended during the following year, and the buildings were demolished in 2021.
2015
Round One selected as a replacement anchorProduct launchBackground
The mall needed new traffic drivers as older anchor tenants and specialty retailers departed.
Action taken
Management announced that Round One Entertainment would occupy space formerly used by Steve & Barry's and Lechmere.
Aftermath
The venue opened as part of a repositioning effort, but the wider mall decline continued and Round One later closed in January 2021.
2015
Regal Cinemas modernizationGeneration changeBackground
The mall sought to strengthen entertainment and dining traffic while its conventional retail base weakened.
Action taken
Plans were announced for a redesigned cinema entrance, restaurant and bar facilities, and recliner seating.
Aftermath
The improvements were completed by December 2015, but they did not prevent later closure of the mall.
Sources1 sources
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