The Centre at Salisbury
The Centre at Salisbury is a regional enclosed shopping mall in Salisbury, Maryland, serving as the principal major shopping destination on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The Centre at Salisbury is a one-level enclosed regional shopping mall in northern Salisbury, Maryland. Located near the intersection of U.S. Route 13 and the Salisbury Bypass of U.S. Route 50, the property occupies a strategically accessible position on the Delmarva Peninsula and serves shoppers from a broad area of Maryland's Eastern Shore, as well as traffic traveling toward Ocean City. It is described as the only regional shopping mall within approximately 60 miles and as the largest shopping center on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The mall was conceived during the late 1980s by developer Walter Petrie and the development partnership Petrie, Dierman and Partners, working with the Shopco Group. Developers argued that the existing Salisbury Mall was outdated and that the area needed a more modern center with a stronger selection of department stores and national retailers. The project was approved by the Salisbury Board of Zoning in September 1987. After access-road negotiations and other planning issues, construction began following a groundbreaking ceremony in October 1988. The estimated construction cost was approximately $80 million, and the project employed about 500 construction workers. The Centre officially opened on July 25, 1990, after its initial anchor stores began opening several days earlier. Its original major tenants were Boscov's, JCPenney, and Montgomery Ward, with Hoyt Cinemas also opening a ten-screen theater shortly afterward. The building was designed with marble floors, landscaped interior areas, fountains, pools, domed skylights, and a prominent central water feature. These design elements gave the mall a more elaborate presentation than was typical for a market of Salisbury's size. Approximately 75,000 people attended the grand-opening period. The mall's arrival reshaped retail development in northern Salisbury. Several shopping centers and commercial properties were subsequently developed nearby, while the older Salisbury Mall lost major tenants when Sears and Hecht's announced relocations to the new center. Hecht's opened at The Centre in May 1991, followed by Sears in October of that year. The relocations contributed to community concern about the future of the older mall, but strengthened The Centre's position as the region's dominant retail destination. Ownership changed in August 1995, when original developer Shopco sold the mall to Macerich. At that time, the property was reported to be 89 percent leased and generating more than $150 million in annual sales; these figures relate to the period of the sale rather than current performance. A Wicomico Public Library branch opened inside the mall in 1998, adding a civic and community-service function to the retail complex. The property has undergone several major tenant and format changes. Montgomery Ward closed its store in March 2001 following the retailer's bankruptcy. The former department-store space was later redeveloped into an outdoor pedestrian plaza and a new freestanding cinema building. Regal Cinemas opened a 16-screen stadium theater in December 2005, replacing the older ten-screen theater. Hecht's became Macy's in September 2006 after Federated Department Stores acquired Hecht's parent company. Dick's Sporting Goods opened a 48,000-square-foot store in October 2006, becoming the retailer's first location on the Eastern Shore. A partial renovation in 2008 refreshed the center court, food court, seating, lighting, and guest-services areas. Decorative fountains, bridges, and planters were removed, while new seating, kiosks, a children's play area, and energy-efficient lighting were introduced. The library branch also moved to a larger space in 2007. As of February 2025, The Centre at Salisbury contained approximately 60 operating businesses and 27 vacant storefronts. Its principal anchors and junior anchors included Boscov's, Regal Cinemas, Dick's Sporting Goods, Burlington, H&M, and HomeGoods. Two former anchor spaces, previously occupied by Sears and Macy's, remained vacant. The mall continues to combine department-store retail, specialty shops, entertainment, food service, casual dining, and public services, retaining a central role in the commercial life of Salisbury and the wider Eastern Shore.
History
The Centre at Salisbury emerged from a late-1980s effort to build a modern regional shopping center in northern Salisbury. On September 11, 1987, plans associated with developer Walter Petrie became public. The proposed mall was intended to attract higher-quality retailers and capture shopping demand that local residents were directing outside the Eastern Shore. The project was planned for a 79-acre site near U.S. Route 13 and the future Salisbury Bypass of U.S. Route 50, approximately four miles north of the existing Salisbury Mall. The Salisbury Board of Zoning approved the plans on September 23, 1987. Petrie, Dierman and Partners developed the project with the Shopco Group. Early plans named Boscov's, Leggett, JCPenney, and Montgomery Ward as anchors, with further expansion contemplated. Access to the site became a significant planning issue. Developers initially proposed a flyover ramp from U.S. Route 13, but objections from nearby businesses led to negotiations and delay. The proposed flyover was ultimately withdrawn, and a simpler highway entrance was approved. A groundbreaking ceremony took place on October 26, 1988. Rain delayed the start of physical work, but construction was underway by April 1989. The estimated cost was $80 million. The construction period included several serious accidents. On June 5, 1989, a scaffold collapse injured five workers, and another worker was hurt in a forklift accident later the same day. On November 4, 1989, steelworker John Moore died after falling approximately 30 feet while handling a loose cable. Tenant plans changed before the mall opened. Sears and Hecht's announced that they intended to leave the older Salisbury Mall for new stores at The Centre. Work on the space initially intended for Leggett was halted while the layout was adjusted. Hecht's ultimately took that space, while Sears received a location as part of the mall's second phase. These moves generated local concern that the older Salisbury Mall would be unable to remain viable, despite earlier assurances that both properties could coexist. The initial anchors opened on July 21, 1990, and the mall's official opening followed on July 25. The original complex included Boscov's, JCPenney, and Montgomery Ward, as well as a ten-screen Hoyt Cinema theater and a large food court. Architectural features included marble flooring, landscaped gardens, fountains, pools, domed skylights, and a central bridge spanning cascading water. The opening attracted approximately 75,000 visitors and helped establish northern Salisbury as a new commercial district. Hecht's opened on May 8, 1991, in a 140,000-square-foot store, and Sears opened on October 1 in a 132,300-square-foot store. In August 1995, Shopco sold the property to Macerich. The mall was reported to be 89 percent leased at the time and was averaging more than $150 million in annual sales. A fatal shooting occurred on December 23, 1995, during a crowded Christmas shopping evening. One person died and two others were injured. The shooter was later convicted on lesser homicide-related and reckless-endangerment charges. The Wicomico Public Library opened a branch at the mall in 1998. Montgomery Ward's closure followed the retailer's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing; its Centre store shut in March 2001. The former anchor space was eventually redeveloped. Regal Entertainment Group, which had acquired Hoyt Cinemas in 2003, announced a replacement theater later that year. The old cinema and Montgomery Ward space were reconfigured into an outdoor plaza and a new freestanding cinema building. Regal Salisbury Stadium 16 opened on December 2, 2005, with stadium seating, high-back rocking chairs, and digital surround sound. The mall continued to evolve in 2006. Hecht's became Macy's after the acquisition of May Department Stores by Federated Department Stores. Dick's Sporting Goods opened a 48,000-square-foot store on October 8, becoming the first Dick's location on the Eastern Shore. By the 2006 Christmas season, the property reportedly reached approximately 96 percent occupancy. The library moved to a larger renovated space in 2007. A partial renovation in 2008 concentrated on the center court and related public areas. New seating and kiosks were installed, food-court improvements were made, and energy-efficient lighting and a children's play area were added. The original decorative water features, bridges, and planters were removed. In its later operating form, the mall combined national retail anchors, specialty shops, restaurants, cinema entertainment, a library branch, and community programming. As of February 2025, it contained about 60 operating businesses and 27 vacant storefronts, with Boscov's and Regal Cinemas serving as its principal anchors and former Sears and Macy's spaces remaining vacant.
- 2008
Interior renovation
[1]The mall completed a partial renovation affecting the center court, food court, seating, lighting, and children's areas.
- 2006
Hecht's becomes Macy's
[1]The Hecht's store was converted to Macy's following its parent-company acquisition.
- 2006
Dick's Sporting Goods opens
[1]Dick's opened a 48,000-square-foot store, its first on the Eastern Shore.
- 2005
Regal Salisbury Stadium 16 opens
[1]A new 16-screen freestanding Regal theater opened after redevelopment of the former Montgomery Ward and cinema areas.
- 2001
Montgomery Ward closes
[1]The Montgomery Ward anchor closed after the retailer entered bankruptcy.
- 1998
Library branch opens
[1]A Wicomico Public Library branch opened inside the mall.
- 1995
Ownership transfers to Macerich
[1]Original developer Shopco sold the mall to Macerich.
- 1991
Hecht's and Sears open
[1]Hecht's opened in May and Sears opened in October as part of the mall's expansion.
- 1990
Official opening
[1]The mall officially opened on July 25, 1990, with Boscov's, JCPenney, and Montgomery Ward as original anchors.
- 1988
Groundbreaking
[1]A groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 26, 1988.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping and entertainment center serving Salisbury, Wicomico County, and the wider Eastern Shore of Maryland. The mall positions itself as the area's principal destination for department stores, national specialty retailers, cinema entertainment, dining, and community-oriented services.
Retail property · 1990
Regional shopping mall
The Centre at Salisbury is an 856,895-square-foot, one-level enclosed shopping center offering department stores, specialty retail, dining, entertainment, and community services. Its location at major highway junctions enables it to serve Salisbury and a large portion of Maryland's Eastern Shore.
Cinema · 2005
Regal Salisbury Stadium 16
The mall's freestanding Regal cinema contains 16 screens and replaced the original ten-screen Hoyt Cinema. It introduced stadium seating and upgraded audio and seating amenities to the property.
Community service · 1998
Wicomico Public Library Centre branch
The library branch provides public-library services within the mall and moved to a larger space in 2007. Its presence gives the property a civic and community-use dimension in addition to its commercial functions.
Controversies
1995
Fatal Christmas-season shooting
A shooting during a crowded December 23 shopping evening killed one person and injured two others. The incident resulted in criminal prosecution and a later conviction of the identified shooter on manslaughter-related and reckless-endangerment charges.
Marketing campaigns
- 1990Grand opening celebration
Salisbury · Eastern Shore of Maryland
The opening program used live music, local radio broadcasts, kite-making workshops, and kite-flying demonstrations to introduce the new mall to the regional public.
Outcome. The grand-opening period attracted an estimated 75,000 visitors and established the property as a major regional destination.
Brand decisions
2008
Partial interior renovationStrategyBackground
The mall updated common areas and public amenities after years of tenant and property evolution.
Action taken
Renovations added seating, kiosks, energy-efficient lighting, a children's play area, and guest-services facilities while removing the original fountains, bridges, and planters.
Aftermath
The interior adopted a more contemporary, service-oriented layout, although the original decorative water features were no longer present.
2003
Replacement of the original cinemaGeneration changeBackground
After Regal Entertainment Group acquired Hoyt Cinemas, the existing ten-screen theater was considered suitable for replacement with a larger modern facility.
Action taken
Regal announced a new 16-screen theater using land associated with the former Montgomery Ward space and the existing cinema.
Aftermath
The replacement Regal Salisbury Stadium 16 opened in December 2005 with upgraded seating and sound.
1990
Anchor-plan revisionStrategyBackground
The original plans included Leggett, but the retailer's commitment stalled while the mall layout was being adjusted for Sears and Hecht's.
Action taken
Developers stopped work on the Leggett space and reassigned it to Hecht's, while Sears was added in the second phase.
Aftermath
The revised anchor lineup strengthened The Centre's competitive position against the older Salisbury Mall.
1989
Mall access plan changedStrategyBackground
The original plan called for a flyover ramp connecting the mall to U.S. Route 13, but nearby businesses objected to the potential effect on their properties.
Action taken
The State Highway Administration withdrew the flyover proposal, and local authorities approved a simpler highway entrance.
Aftermath
Construction proceeded with a revised access arrangement serving the new regional mall.
Sources1 sources
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