The Mall of New Hampshire
A major regional shopping mall in Manchester, New Hampshire, serving southern New Hampshire and nearby parts of northern New England.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Mall of New Hampshire is a regional shopping mall in the Lower South Willow neighborhood of Manchester, New Hampshire. It is positioned near Interstate 293 at the South Willow Street interchange, giving it access to Manchester, the wider southern New Hampshire market, and parts of northeastern Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont. The property benefits from New Hampshire's absence of a general sales tax, which has historically helped attract shoppers from neighboring states. The mall opened in August 1977 and was the first large-scale shopping mall in New Hampshire. Its original anchor lineup consisted of Sears, Filene's, and Lechmere. The property was subsequently enlarged and substantially reconfigured, particularly during a major expansion and remodeling program carried out from the latter part of 1996 through early 1998. That project expanded Sears, moved Filene's into a newly constructed and considerably larger store, replaced the original Filene's building with a two-level JCPenney, converted the former Lechmere space into Best Buy and Kitchen ETC locations, and renovated the food court. The food court reopened with approximately 550 seats. The mall's department-store mix changed as the United States retail sector consolidated. Following the 2005 Federated Department Stores and May Department Stores merger, Filene's stores were closed or converted; the Mall of New Hampshire location became Macy's in 2006. JCPenney later underwent a substantial two-level renovation in 2013, including the addition of a Sephora shop-in-shop. Sears remained part of the mall's anchor history until its closure in November 2018. In 2019, Dick's Sporting Goods opened in approximately half of the former Sears space. Dave & Buster's was planned for the other half; its opening, initially scheduled for March 2020, was postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic and ultimately took place in August 2020. The former Sears Auto Center site was demolished and converted to additional parking. The property encompasses approximately 798,881 square feet and has about 125 stores, together with a large food court and entertainment-oriented offerings. Its principal anchors and major tenants identified in reference material include Macy's, Old Navy, JCPenney, Dick's Sporting Goods, Best Buy, and Dave & Buster's. The current tenant mix combines department-store shopping, apparel, electronics, sporting goods, dining, and family entertainment rather than relying solely on traditional department stores. Simon Property Group manages the mall and owns a 56.4 percent interest. CPP Investments, which manages assets for Canada's national pension plan, owns approximately 44 percent. The center remains an active retail and entertainment destination, although its precise tenant roster can change over time. The mall's long operating history, highway accessibility, large physical footprint, and cross-border customer draw make it one of the principal enclosed shopping centers in New Hampshire.
History
The Mall of New Hampshire opened in August 1977 in Manchester's Lower South Willow neighborhood. Its arrival marked the development of the state's first large-scale shopping mall. Sears, Filene's, and Lechmere served as the original anchor stores, establishing a traditional department-store-led format. The center was substantially expanded and remodeled between late 1996 and early 1998. Sears received an expansion and remodeling in 1997. Filene's moved from its original approximately 60,000-square-foot location to a newly built store of approximately 160,000 square feet in early 1997. The original Filene's structure was then demolished and replaced by a two-level JCPenney, completed in early 1998. Lechmere closed in 1997, and its former space was redeveloped for Best Buy and Kitchen ETC. The food court was also renovated and reopened with roughly 550 seats. The mall's department-store identity changed again after the Federated Department Stores and May Department Stores merger. Filene's stores were closed in 2006, and the mall's location was converted to Macy's. JCPenney carried out another major renovation in April 2013, improving both floors and adding a Sephora shop-in-shop. In 2015, Sears Holdings transferred 235 properties, including the Mall of New Hampshire Sears location, into Seritage Growth Properties. Sears later announced in August 2018 that the mall store would close. The store ceased operations in November 2018, creating a large redevelopment opportunity within the property. The former Sears building was divided for new uses. Dick's Sporting Goods took approximately half of the space and opened on October 30, 2019. Dave & Buster's was selected for the remaining portion. Its planned March 30, 2020 opening was postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the venue ultimately opened on August 24, 2020. The former Sears Auto Center was demolished to provide additional parking. The mall now has approximately 798,881 square feet and around 125 stores, including Macy's, Old Navy, JCPenney, Dick's Sporting Goods, Best Buy, and Dave & Buster's. Simon Property Group manages the property and owns 56.4 percent, while CPP Investments owns approximately 44 percent. Its location near Interstate 293 and New Hampshire's lack of a general sales tax support a broad trade area extending beyond Manchester into neighboring states.
- 2020
Dave & Buster's opens after pandemic delay
[1]Dave & Buster's opened on August 24 after its originally planned March opening was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2019
Dick's Sporting Goods opens
[1]Dick's Sporting Goods opened in part of the former Sears store on October 30.
- 2018
Sears closes
[1]Sears announced the store's closure in August, and the location closed in November.
- 2015
Sears property transferred to Seritage
[1]The Sears Holdings real-estate transaction transferred the mall's Sears property into Seritage Growth Properties.
- 2013
JCPenney renovation
[1]JCPenney renovated both levels of its store and added a Sephora shop-in-shop.
- 2006
Filene's converted to Macy's
[1]The mall's Filene's location was among the stores converted to Macy's following the Federated-May merger.
- 1998
JCPenney and renovated food court completed
[1]The former Filene's site became a two-level JCPenney, while the former Lechmere space was adapted for Best Buy and Kitchen ETC and the food court was renovated.
- 1997
Expansion and anchor relocation
[1]The mall's major redevelopment continued with an expanded Sears and the relocation of Filene's into a much larger new building.
- 1977
Mall opens with three anchor stores
[1]The Mall of New Hampshire opened in August with Sears, Filene's, and Lechmere as its original anchors.
Products and positioning
A large, highway-accessible regional shopping and entertainment center serving southern New Hampshire and attracting shoppers from nearby states, including Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont.
Department store · 2006
Macy's
Macy's is the mall's department-store anchor, occupying the former Filene's location after the 2006 conversion associated with the Federated-May merger. Its presence provides broad apparel, accessories, beauty, home, and other department-store merchandise.
Department store · 1998
JCPenney
JCPenney occupies a purpose-built two-level space created during the mall's late-1990s redevelopment. The store received a major renovation in 2013, including improvements on both levels and the addition of a Sephora shop-in-shop.
Sporting-goods retailer · 2019
Dick's Sporting Goods
Dick's Sporting Goods replaced part of the former Sears anchor after Sears closed. The store broadened the mall's destination retail offer with sporting equipment, apparel, footwear, and related outdoor and fitness merchandise.
Entertainment venue · 2020
Dave & Buster's
Dave & Buster's occupies the remaining portion of the former Sears space and adds arcade entertainment, games, dining, and event-oriented activity to the mall's tenant mix. Its opening was delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dining facility · 1998
Food court
The mall's food court was rebuilt during the 1996–1998 redevelopment and reopened with approximately 550 seats. It functions as a central dining amenity for shoppers and visitors, although individual food vendors may change.
Brand decisions
2018
Redevelopment of the former Sears anchorStrategyBackground
Sears announced the closure of its Mall of New Hampshire store as part of a nationwide reduction in its store base.
Action taken
After Sears closed in November, the former anchor was divided between Dick's Sporting Goods and Dave & Buster's. The former auto center was removed for parking.
Aftermath
Dick's opened in October 2019, while Dave & Buster's opened in August 2020 after a pandemic-related delay, adding sporting goods and entertainment uses to the property.
2006
Conversion of Filene's to Macy'sM&ABackground
The Federated Department Stores and May Department Stores merger led to the closure or conversion of Filene's stores.
Action taken
The Mall of New Hampshire Filene's location was converted to Macy's.
Aftermath
Macy's became the successor department-store anchor at the site.
1996
Major expansion and remodeling programStrategyBackground
The mall required a substantial modernization and expansion of its anchor, circulation, and dining facilities as regional enclosed retail competition developed.
Action taken
Management expanded Sears, relocated Filene's to a larger new building, redeveloped the original Filene's and Lechmere spaces, and renovated the food court. Work continued through early 1998.
Aftermath
The project produced the mall's two-level JCPenney, Best Buy and Kitchen ETC spaces, a larger Filene's, and a 550-seat food court.
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