St. Charles Towne Center

St. Charles Towne Center is a two-level enclosed shopping mall in Waldorf, Maryland, located within the planned community of St. Charles. It opened on March 30, 1990, and was developed by Melvin Simon & Associates, the company now known as Simon Property Group. The mall was introduced as a regional retail destination for Charles County and surrounding parts of Southern Maryland, including communities connected to the southern suburbs of Washington, D.C. The center occupies approximately 980,418 square feet and has been described as the only regional mall in Southern Maryland. Its trade area has been estimated at 338,502 people. The property combines department-store anchors, specialty retail, food-service space, family amenities, and nearby entertainment. The anchor lineup has changed substantially over time. At opening, the principal anchors were J. C. Penney, Hecht's, Montgomery Ward, and Sears. Kohl's joined the property in 1997. Montgomery Ward's former space was later divided between a second Hecht's location and Dick's Sporting Goods in 2002. Both Hecht's stores converted to Macy's in September 2006, reflecting the broader consolidation of the Hecht's and Macy's department-store businesses. A major renovation began in 2007 and was completed by 2008. The project repositioned the mall with a more family-oriented presentation. Work included redesigned exterior entrances and interior areas, expanded bathrooms intended to improve access for families with young children, a children's play area, and an updated food court. The changes were intended to improve the visitor experience rather than alter the center's basic role as a regional enclosed mall. Sears operated at the property for approximately three decades before closing in April 2020. The closure followed Sears Holdings' February 2020 announcement that the location would be among 31 stores being shut nationally. The former Sears space remained vacant for several years. In July 2024, Charles County Government announced plans to introduce a Sports and Wellness Complex in the space, with an estimated conversion cost of $7.5 million. As of 2025, the opening date had not been determined. The mall's current anchor mix includes Dick's Sporting Goods, J. C. Penney, Kohl's, Macy's, and Macy's Home Store. A movie theater operates across the street rather than as an in-mall anchor; the venue has operated under the names Cineplex Odeon Cinemas, Loews Cineplex Entertainment, and AMC Theatres at different times. St. Charles Towne Center therefore remains a significant retail and community destination in Southern Maryland, while its tenant changes and proposed sports complex illustrate the continuing adaptation of traditional regional malls to changing retail and recreational demand.

St. Charles Towne Center opened on March 30, 1990, in Waldorf, Maryland, as a major enclosed retail development for the planned community of St. Charles and the wider Southern Maryland region. The project was built by Melvin Simon & Associates, which subsequently became known as Simon Property Group. Its initial anchor lineup consisted of J. C. Penney, Hecht's, Montgomery Ward, and Sears. The mall was designed to serve local residents as well as shoppers from communities south of Washington, D.C. Kohl's became an additional anchor in 1997. In 2002, the former Montgomery Ward space was divided between a second Hecht's store and Dick's Sporting Goods. The two Hecht's locations were converted to Macy's in September 2006 as part of the wider integration of the Hecht's chain into Macy's. These changes gave the property a diversified anchor mix spanning department stores, apparel, home merchandise, and sporting goods. The mall underwent a major renovation beginning in 2007, with completion reported in 2008. The project redesigned entrances and interior spaces, enlarged bathrooms to improve family accessibility, added a children's play area, and renovated the food court. The stated direction of the renovation was to create a more family-oriented shopping environment while preserving the property's role as a regional mall. Sears remained at the property for roughly 30 years. In February 2020, its closure was announced as part of a national program to shut 31 Sears stores. The location closed in April 2020 and subsequently remained vacant. In July 2024, Charles County Government announced a proposal to repurpose the former department-store space as a Sports and Wellness Complex. The proposed project was expected to require approximately $7.5 million in conversion costs, but no opening date had been established as of 2025. The center is approximately 980,418 square feet and is described as Southern Maryland's only regional mall. Its current anchor stores are Dick's Sporting Goods, J. C. Penney, Kohl's, Macy's, and Macy's Home Store. A cinema across the street has operated under several corporate and venue names, including Cineplex Odeon Cinemas, Loews Cineplex Entertainment, and AMC Theatres. The mall continues to function as a retail, dining, and community destination, with the proposed sports and wellness redevelopment reflecting the broader adaptation of established shopping centers to non-retail uses.

• 2024

  Sports and Wellness Complex proposed

  [1]St. Charles Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Charles County Government announced a proposal to convert the former Sears space into a Sports and Wellness Complex.

• 2020

  Sears closes

  [1]St. Charles Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Sears anchor closed in April following a nationwide store-closure announcement.

• 2008

  Renovation completed

  [1]St. Charles Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The mall's family-oriented renovation was completed.

• 2007

  Major family-oriented renovation begins

  [1]St. Charles Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The mall began a major renovation involving redesigned entrances and interiors, expanded bathrooms, a children's play area, and food-court improvements.

• 2006

  Hecht's stores become Macy's

  [1]St. Charles Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Both Hecht's locations at the mall were converted to Macy's in September.

• 2002

  Montgomery Ward space redeveloped

  [1]St. Charles Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The former Montgomery Ward location was divided between a second Hecht's store and Dick's Sporting Goods.

• 1997

  Kohl's added as an anchor

  [1]St. Charles Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Kohl's joined the mall's anchor lineup.

• 1990

  Mall opens

  [1]St. Charles Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  St. Charles Towne Center opened on March 30 with J. C. Penney, Hecht's, Montgomery Ward, and Sears as its initial anchor stores.

Regional enclosed shopping mall serving Southern Maryland, with a broad department-store anchor base and family-oriented retail and leisure amenities.

• Shopping mall · 1990

  Regional enclosed shopping center

  The core offering is an enclosed, two-level regional mall providing concentrated access to department stores, specialty retailers, food services, and family amenities. The property serves Waldorf, the St. Charles community, and a broader Southern Maryland trade area.

• Retail · 1990

  Department-store and specialty retail anchors

  The current anchor mix includes Dick's Sporting Goods, J. C. Penney, Kohl's, Macy's, and Macy's Home Store. Together, these stores provide apparel, sporting goods, home merchandise, beauty products, and general department-store retail.

• Leisure and dining · 2008

  Family amenities and food court

  The property includes food-service space and family-oriented amenities. The 2007–2008 renovation added a children's play area, enlarged bathrooms, and an updated food court as part of a broader effort to make the mall more accessible to families.

• Community recreation · 2024

  Sports and Wellness Complex

  A proposed community recreation complex is intended to occupy the former Sears space. Charles County Government announced the concept in 2024, but the project had no confirmed opening date as of 2025.

• 2024

  Proposed conversion of former Sears spaceStrategy

  Background

  The Sears location had remained vacant since its closure in April 2020, creating an opportunity for a non-retail use within the mall.

  Action taken

  Charles County Government announced plans for a Sports and Wellness Complex in the former Sears space.

  Aftermath

  The proposed conversion was estimated to cost $7.5 million, but the opening date remained undetermined as of 2025.

  Estimated conversion cost. $7.5 million (2024 proposal)

  Source

• 2007

  Repositioning toward a family-oriented mallStrategy

  Background

  The mall undertook a major renovation to refresh its physical environment and strengthen its appeal to families with young children.

  Action taken

  Entrances and interior areas were redesigned, bathrooms were enlarged, a children's play area was added, and the food court was renovated.

  Aftermath

  The renovation was completed in 2008 and reinforced the center's positioning as a family-oriented regional mall.

  Source

1. 1St. Charles Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org
2. 2St. Charles Towne Center official sitesimon.com