Steeplegate Mall
Steeplegate Mall is a largely shuttered enclosed shopping mall in Concord, New Hampshire, undergoing a proposed transition into a mixed-use retail and residential development.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Steeplegate Mall was an enclosed shopping mall in Concord, New Hampshire, developed by Homart Development Company and opened on August 1, 1990. The approximately 481,722-square-foot complex began with four principal anchors—Sears, JCPenney, Sage-Allen, and Steinbach—along with a food court, a large decorative mosaic, and space for roughly 62 smaller storefronts. It was designed as a regional shopping destination serving Concord and surrounding communities. The property experienced persistent vacancy and tenant turnover over much of its operating life. Sage-Allen closed in 1992, Steinbach left during its 1999 bankruptcy, and the former anchor spaces were subsequently occupied or divided among retailers including The Bon-Ton and Circuit City. Circuit City closed in 2009, while Old Navy, another major tenant, departed in 2015. The Bon-Ton closed both of its mall stores in 2018, and Sears closed its location in February 2020. These departures left JCPenney as the only traditional department-store anchor. The mall nevertheless continued to experiment with nontraditional uses, including a live theater, a charter school, a trampoline park, a health club, and a pickleball facility. Ownership also changed as the property weakened financially. General Growth Properties, Homart's successor, transferred the mall to its Rouse Properties subsidiary in 2011 along with other underperforming properties. Rouse later defaulted on the mall's loan, and lender-controlled ownership followed. Namdar Realty Group acquired Steeplegate Mall in 2016 for $10.4 million. During the Namdar period, the property was repositioned around entertainment, fitness, and experiential tenants, but declining foot traffic and continued vacancies persisted. The mall's interior closed to the public on April 22, 2022. Several businesses with exterior entrances were initially allowed to continue, including JCPenney, Talbots, Chico's, Hatbox Theatre, The Zoo Health Club, and Altitude Trampoline Park. Additional tenants later left, including All-Stars Pickleball Club, whose lease expired in 2024. In January 2024, most remaining tenants other than long-term leaseholders were required to vacate in preparation for redevelopment. The adjacent Regal Cinemas property also became part of the redevelopment area after the cinema closed in April 2024. In 2023, Namdar sold the mall and associated development interests to Onyx Partners Ltd. for a reported $18.18 million. Onyx proposed demolishing most of the mall and replacing it with a mixed-use project featuring hundreds of apartments and new retail space. The proposal encountered planning delays, property disputes, and litigation involving a TD Bank parcel, JCPenney's lease, and The Zoo Health Club. Although partial demolition received municipal approval in 2024, legal proceedings delayed implementation. Later plans described a smaller residential program, removal of JCPenney from the retained portions of the project, and additional standalone retail buildings. By late 2025, leasing activity under the name "Steeplegate Crossing" created uncertainty about whether the original demolition strategy would proceed, although subsequent materials described efforts to resume redevelopment. The former mall is therefore best understood as a closed retail complex whose physical site and remaining leaseholds are being reorganized rather than as an operating conventional shopping mall.
History
Steeplegate Mall was developed by Homart Development Company and opened in Concord, New Hampshire, on August 1, 1990. The enclosed shopping center measured approximately 481,722 square feet and was planned as a regional retail destination. Its original anchor lineup consisted of Sears, JCPenney, Sage-Allen, and Steinbach. The center also included a food court featuring a 630-square-foot mosaic and capacity for approximately 62 smaller storefronts, depending on the configuration. The mall's tenant base weakened relatively early. Sage-Allen closed in 1992 and remained vacant for several years before its space was converted to The Bon-Ton in 1999. Steinbach closed during its 1999 bankruptcy; its former location was later divided between another Bon-Ton store and Circuit City. Circuit City liquidated its location in 2009. Despite the departures, the mall was assessed at $72 million in 2010 and was then Concord's largest taxpayer. In 2011, General Growth Properties, Homart's successor, transferred Steeplegate and 29 other underperforming malls to Rouse Properties. Rouse announced in 2014 that it had defaulted on the property's loan and was surrendering the asset to lenders. By 2015, a lender consortium that included Wells Fargo Bank and Midland Loan Servicing controlled the property, with Colliers International providing management. Old Navy, one of the mall's principal remaining anchors, closed in January 2015. Namdar Realty Group acquired the mall in May 2016 for $10.4 million. Under Namdar, the property experimented with nontraditional uses intended to compensate for declining department-store and specialty-retail demand. Hatbox Theatre opened in 2016 in former Coldwater Creek space, while a bounce-house and laser-tag venue occupied the former Old Navy location. The Bon-Ton closed both of its stores in 2018. A charter school briefly occupied part of the former Bon-Ton men's and housewares space, operating from 2018 until its closure and bankruptcy proceedings. Altitude Trampoline Park opened in the former Circuit City space in November 2018. The Zoo Health Club opened in 2019 in the former Bon-Ton women's and children's area, temporarily giving all five anchor spaces an active permanent occupant. That same year, longtime confectionery tenant True Confections cited declining traffic and rent concerns when it left the mall. Sears closed its store on February 6, 2020, as part of a nationwide closure program. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the former Sears location served as a state vaccination site. By early 2022, the owners were preparing unspecified changes to the mall's interior and asked interior-only tenants to leave. After those businesses vacated, the enclosed interior closed permanently to ordinary visitors on April 22, 2022. Businesses with exterior entrances were initially permitted to continue, including JCPenney, Talbots, Chico's, Hatbox Theatre, The Zoo Health Club, and Altitude Trampoline Park. All-Stars Pickleball Club later opened in December 2022 in the former Old Navy space, but relocated after its lease expired in 2024. Onyx Partners Ltd. acquired the mall and adjacent development interests from Namdar in 2023 for $18.18 million. The buyer proposed demolishing most of the mall and the adjacent Regal Cinemas building to create a mixed-use project with apartments and retail. The initial concept called for approximately 625 apartments. Notices issued in late 2023 required most remaining tenants to leave by the end of January 2024, while JCPenney, The Zoo Health Club, and Altitude Trampoline Park were treated as long-term leaseholders. Regal Cinemas closed on April 18, 2024. The redevelopment encountered several legal and administrative obstacles. Urban explorers entered closed sections of the property in 2024, and vandalism led to arrests and additional perimeter security. Concord approved partial demolition in July 2024, but disputes involving a TD Bank parcel and JCPenney's lease delayed the work. The TD Bank dispute was resolved after Onyx acquired the affected parcel. JCPenney's franchise holder separately sought injunctive relief, asserting that the proposed demolition violated its lease. Later redevelopment concepts reduced the apartment count to approximately 600, removed JCPenney from the retained mall components, and added two smaller retail buildings. A separate dispute with The Zoo Health Club concerned proposed relocation, rent, subletting, and eviction. The mall's future consequently remained dependent on litigation, lease negotiations, and municipal approvals.
- 2024
Partial demolition approved
[1]The Concord Planning Board approves partial demolition, though legal disputes prevent immediate execution.
- 2023
Onyx Partners acquires the property
[1]Onyx Partners purchases the mall and announces a major mixed-use redevelopment concept.
- 2022
Interior closes to visitors
[1]The enclosed interior closes on April 22 after interior-access tenants leave.
- 2020
Sears closes
[1]Sears shuts its store, leaving JCPenney as the only traditional department-store anchor.
- 2018
Bon-Ton closes and trampoline park opens
[1]Both Bon-Ton stores close, while Altitude Trampoline Park opens in the former Circuit City space.
- 2016
Namdar acquisition and experiential repositioning
[1]Namdar Realty Group acquires the property, followed by additions such as Hatbox Theatre and a recreation venue.
- 2011
Transferred to Rouse Properties
[1]General Growth Properties transfers the mall to its Rouse Properties subsidiary.
- 2009
Circuit City closes
[1]Circuit City's liquidation removes another major occupant from the mall.
- 1999
Steinbach exits; Bon-Ton enters
[1]Steinbach closes during bankruptcy, while a former Sage-Allen space becomes a Bon-Ton location.
- 1992
Sage-Allen closes
[1]Sage-Allen leaves the mall, beginning a sequence of anchor changes and prolonged vacancies.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping center that evolved from conventional department-store retail toward entertainment, fitness, recreation, and mixed-use redevelopment as vacancy and anchor departures reduced its traditional retail role.
Retail property · 1990
Enclosed shopping mall
The core offering was a regional enclosed shopping environment combining department stores, specialty shops, food-court dining, and customer parking. Its original format was anchored by Sears, JCPenney, Sage-Allen, and Steinbach, but the property later shifted toward a smaller number of exterior-access businesses and alternative uses.
Leisure services · 2016
Entertainment and recreation spaces
As conventional retail declined, former store units were adapted for Hatbox Theatre, bounce houses and laser tag, Altitude Trampoline Park, The Zoo Health Club, and All-Stars Pickleball Club. These uses represented attempts to maintain activity through services less dependent on traditional merchandise shopping.
Mixed-use development · 2023
Steeplegate redevelopment
Onyx Partners proposed replacing most of the former mall and adjacent cinema with apartments and retail. Later versions reduced the residential component from approximately 625 to 600 apartments, added two smaller retail buildings, and contemplated retaining or relocating selected recreation and fitness tenants.
Brand decisions
2024
Seek approval for partial demolitionStrategyBackground
Most traditional mall tenants had departed, and Onyx sought to advance its redevelopment plan.
Action taken
Onyx filed for partial demolition, which the Concord Planning Board approved in July.
Aftermath
Work was delayed by disputes involving a TD Bank parcel and JCPenney's lease.
2023
Propose mixed-use redevelopmentStrategyBackground
Onyx Partners acquired a largely vacant mall and adjacent cinema site.
Action taken
Onyx proposed demolishing most of the mall and cinema and constructing apartments together with new retail space.
Aftermath
The project entered municipal review but faced delays and lawsuits involving parcels and tenant leases.
Acquisition price. $18.18 million (2023)
2022
Close the mall interiorStrategyBackground
Interior-only tenants were asked to leave while the owners considered changes to the building.
Action taken
The owners closed interior public access on April 22, retaining a limited set of businesses with exterior entrances.
Aftermath
Steeplegate ceased functioning as a conventional enclosed shopping mall, although several businesses continued operating from the building.
2016
Namdar acquires Steeplegate MallM&ABackground
The property had experienced anchor departures, vacancy, and lender control after a loan default.
Action taken
Namdar Realty Group purchased the mall for $10.4 million and pursued a tenant mix that included entertainment and fitness uses.
Aftermath
The mall continued operating but remained characterized by vacancies and declining traditional retail activity.
Acquisition price. $10.4 million (2016)
Recent events
- 2025
Former mall spaces marketed as Steeplegate Crossing[1]
Other
Leasing activity under the Steeplegate Crossing name prompted speculation that redevelopment might shift from broad demolition toward reuse of existing mall space.
- 2024
Municipal approval granted for partial demolition[1]
Regulation
The Concord Planning Board approved a partial-demolition permit in July, but litigation and lease disputes delayed the work.
- 2024
JCPenney lease dispute delays redevelopment[1]
Lawsuit
The JCPenney franchise holder sought to block demolition, arguing that the redevelopment conflicted with its lease, which had been extended through July 2030.
- 2023
Onyx Partners acquires mall and announces redevelopment[1]
M&A
Onyx Partners bought the mall and proposed replacing most of it and the adjacent cinema with a mixed-use development containing apartments and retail.
- 2022
Steeplegate Mall interior closes[1]
Other
After remaining interior tenants vacated, the mall closed its interior on April 22. A limited group of businesses with exterior access continued operating.
- 2020
Bon-Ton and Sears departures leave JCPenney as sole traditional anchor[1]
Other
Bon-Ton's two stores had closed in 2018, and Sears shut its location on February 6, 2020, leaving JCPenney as the mall's only conventional department-store anchor.
- 2016
Namdar Realty Group acquires Steeplegate Mall[1]
M&A
Namdar Realty Group purchased the mall from lender-controlled ownership for $10.4 million.
- 2016
Mall adds theater and recreation uses[1]
Product launch
Hatbox Theatre and VIP Bounce Houses and Laser Tag opened in former retail spaces as the mall sought alternatives to conventional shopping tenants.
- 2014
Rouse defaults on Steeplegate Mall loan[1]
Bankruptcy
Rouse Properties disclosed a loan default and began transferring the property to lenders.
- 2011
General Growth transfers mall to Rouse Properties[1]
M&A
The mall was moved into General Growth Properties' Rouse Properties subsidiary as part of a portfolio transfer involving underperforming shopping centers.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/steeplegate-mall · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled