The Shoppes at Coventry
A redeveloped shopping center in North Coventry Township, Pennsylvania, serving the Pottstown area.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Shoppes at Coventry is a shopping center in North Coventry Township, Pennsylvania, near Pottstown, at the interchange of Pennsylvania Route 100 and Route 724. The property began as the Norco Mall, an open-air retail center that held its grand opening on October 5, 1967. Its original anchor tenants were Sears and Britt's, supported by smaller stores including Thrift Drug and Pantry Pride. The center reflected the automobile-oriented suburban retail model that expanded across southeastern Pennsylvania during the postwar period. In 1974, the property was enclosed and enlarged. The redevelopment added J. M. Fields as an anchor, a two-screen Fox Theatres cinema, and approximately twenty additional retail spaces. The anchor lineup subsequently changed several times. Britt's was replaced by Hess's in 1978, while J. M. Fields was replaced by Jefferson Ward, the discount-store division of Montgomery Ward. Jefferson Ward became Bradlees in 1985. After Bradlees closed in 2001, its space was divided between Ross Dress for Less and Dick's Sporting Goods. The property was acquired by Goodman Properties in 1979 and renamed Coventry Mall. Another expansion followed in 1982. A Pomeroy's department store opened in 1985; after Bon-Ton acquired Pomeroy's, the location became a Bon-Ton in 1987 and then Boscov's in 1993. Boscov's remains one of the center's principal anchors and occupies a two-level building with rooftop parking, although the rooftop parking area was later closed to the public. The former Hess's space passed through JCPenney and Bon-Ton before becoming Kohl's in 2005. The center's ownership and financial circumstances changed repeatedly. Stoltz Real Estate Partners acquired it from The Goodman Company in 2004. Sears closed in April 2012, and the property's owner, Coventry Retail LP, subsequently failed to make required payments. Jones Lang LaSalle was appointed receiver in March 2013. The property was sold at auction in September 2013 to U.S. Bank National Association for $49.5 million, with Jones Lang LaSalle continuing to manage the property as receiver. Pennmark Management Co. acquired the mall in April 2016 and announced plans to address vacancies and attract additional retailers and restaurants. A major repositioning began in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Gabe's opened in March 2017 in part of the former Sears space, and Jo-Ann moved from an adjacent strip center into a larger in-mall location in 2018. In April 2022, the owner disclosed a redevelopment plan that would close much of the enclosed interior and reconfigure the property around exterior entrances, creating a more conventional open-air or strip-center format. The project was branded The Shoppes at Coventry. Boscov's, Dick's Sporting Goods, Gabe's, and Kohl's were identified as continuing anchor tenants during the conversion. Other additions included Big Phil's Bar and Grill in the former TGI Fridays space and Roses Discount Store in another portion of the former Sears area. The transformation continued with a CubeSmart self-storage facility in 2023, occupying former food-court and interior-mall space. In 2024, Dick's Sporting Goods relocated to Upland Square in Pottstown, Anytime Fitness was rebranded as Fit Life Fitness and expanded into adjacent former mall space with pickleball courts, and Piccolo's Italian Market opened in the outdoor shop area. Kohl's, Roses, and Jo-Ann closed in 2025. Later in 2025, Dunham's Sports was announced as a planned tenant for the former Kohl's space, with an expected opening in 2026. The property's current identity therefore represents a shift from a traditional enclosed regional mall toward a mixed-format neighborhood shopping center combining department stores, off-price retail, food and beverage, fitness, specialty retail, and self-storage.
History
The property opened as Norco Mall on October 5, 1967, although individual stores began operating before the formal opening. The original open-air center was anchored by Sears and Britt's and included thirteen smaller stores. In 1974, the center was enclosed and expanded, adding J. M. Fields, a Fox Theatres two-screen cinema, and approximately twenty additional stores. The anchor lineup changed during the late 1970s and 1980s. Hess's replaced Britt's in 1978, while Jefferson Ward replaced J. M. Fields. Jefferson Ward later became Bradlees. Goodman Properties acquired the property in 1979 and renamed it Coventry Mall; a further expansion was completed in 1982. Pomeroy's opened in 1985 and became Bon-Ton in 1987 after the acquisition of Pomeroy's. The store became Boscov's in 1993. The former Hess's location later became JCPenney, then Bon-Ton, and ultimately Kohl's in 2005. An external eight-screen cinema was built in 1987, allowing the earlier theater space to be converted into a food court. After Bradlees closed in 2001, its premises were divided between Ross Dress for Less and Dick's Sporting Goods. Stoltz Real Estate Partners purchased the mall from The Goodman Company in 2004. Sears closed in April 2012. Financial problems followed: Coventry Retail LP failed to make payments, and Jones Lang LaSalle became receiver in March 2013. The property was auctioned in September 2013 and acquired by U.S. Bank National Association for $49.5 million. Jones Lang LaSalle continued in a receiver and management role. Pennmark Management Co. bought the property in April 2016 and sought to reduce vacancies and attract new commercial uses. Gabe's opened in March 2017 in a 45,000-square-foot portion of the former Sears premises. Jo-Ann opened a 14,310-square-foot store in the mall proper in May 2018 after relocating from an adjacent strip center. In April 2022, plans were publicized to redevelop the enclosed mall as The Shoppes at Coventry. The concept emphasized exterior entrances and a strip-center-style layout rather than a conventional enclosed shopping mall. Boscov's, Dick's Sporting Goods, Gabe's, and Kohl's were expected to remain open during the repositioning. Big Phil's Bar and Grill occupied the former TGI Fridays space in early 2022, and Roses Discount Store opened in part of the former Sears space later that year. A CubeSmart self-storage facility was added in 2023 in the former food-court and interior-mall areas. In 2024, Dick's Sporting Goods relocated to Upland Square in Pottstown, Anytime Fitness changed its name to Fit Life Fitness and expanded to include pickleball courts, and Piccolo's Italian Market opened in the outdoor shop area. Kohl's, Roses, and Jo-Ann closed in 2025. Dunham's Sports was subsequently announced for the former Kohl's location, with an anticipated opening in 2026.
- 2025
Dunham's Sports announced as a future tenant
[1]Dunham's Sports is announced for the former Kohl's anchor space, with an expected 2026 opening.
- 2023
CubeSmart facility added
[1]Former interior mall and food-court space is converted for self-storage use.
- 2022
Redevelopment becomes The Shoppes at Coventry
[1]Plans are announced to close much of the enclosed interior and create an exterior-access shopping-center format.
- 2017
Gabe's opens
[1]Gabe's opens in a substantial portion of the former Sears space.
- 2016
Pennmark Management acquires the mall
[1]Pennmark Management Co. purchases the property and announces efforts to fill vacancies and improve the center.
- 2013
Property is sold at auction
[1]Following payment problems by Coventry Retail LP and the appointment of a receiver, U.S. Bank National Association acquires the mall at auction.
- 2004
Stoltz Real Estate Partners acquires the property
[1]Stoltz Real Estate Partners purchases the mall from The Goodman Company.
- 1993
Boscov's takes over the Pomeroy's location
[1]The department-store space becomes a Boscov's after Bon-Ton's earlier acquisition of Pomeroy's.
- 1985
Pomeroy's opens
[1]A Pomeroy's department store is added to the center.
- 1979
Goodman Properties acquires and renames the mall
[1]Goodman Properties acquires the property and changes its name to Coventry Mall.
Products and positioning
A community-oriented, redeveloped shopping center serving North Coventry Township, Pottstown, and surrounding communities through a mix of anchor retail, value-oriented stores, restaurants, services, and outdoor-access shopping.
Department store · 1993
Boscov's
A major department-store anchor at the property since 1993, occupying the former Pomeroy's and Bon-Ton location. Its two-level building remains one of the center's principal retail destinations.
Off-price retail · 2017
Gabe's
An off-price retailer that opened in 2017 in approximately 45,000 square feet of the former Sears premises, adding value-oriented apparel and general merchandise to the tenant mix.
Fitness and recreation · 2024
Fit Life Fitness
The rebranded fitness operation expanded in 2024 into adjacent former mall space and added pickleball courts, illustrating the property's shift toward service and experience-oriented uses.
Self-storage · 2023
CubeSmart
A self-storage facility occupying former food-court and interior-mall areas. Its addition reflects the conversion of underused enclosed retail space into non-retail commercial use.
Specialty grocery · 2024
Piccolo's Italian Market
A specialty food and grocery business opened in the outdoor shop area in 2024, broadening the center's offer beyond traditional department-store retail.
Sporting goods · 2026
Dunham's Sports
A sporting-goods retailer announced for the former Kohl's anchor space. The store is planned to open in 2026, subject to completion of the announced project.
Brand decisions
2025
Dunham's Sports selected for former Kohl's spaceProduct launchBackground
Kohl's closed its location as the center continued to replace traditional mall uses and manage anchor vacancies.
Action taken
Dunham's Sports was announced as the planned occupant of the former Kohl's anchor space, with an expected 2026 opening.
Aftermath
If completed, the store would restore a large sporting-goods presence after Dick's Sporting Goods relocated in 2024.
2022
Conversion to The Shoppes at CoventryStrategyBackground
The enclosed mall had experienced tenant turnover and vacant interior space, creating pressure to adopt a more flexible commercial format.
Action taken
Redevelopment plans called for closing the interior mall and giving stores exterior entrances in a strip-center-style arrangement.
Aftermath
The property began transitioning toward a mixed-use shopping center with retail anchors, restaurants, fitness, specialty food, and self-storage.
1974
Enclosure and expansion of the open-air mallStrategyBackground
The original open-air center required a larger and more conventional mall format to support additional anchors, entertainment, and retail space.
Action taken
The property was enclosed and expanded, adding J. M. Fields, a two-screen theater, and new retail units.
Aftermath
The project established the property as an enclosed shopping mall and enabled subsequent anchor changes and expansions.
Sources1 sources
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