Valley Mall
A super-regional enclosed shopping mall in Halfway, Maryland, serving the Hagerstown area and nearby communities in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Valley Mall is a super-regional shopping mall located in Halfway, Maryland, near Hagerstown. It serves consumers across western Maryland and nearby parts of West Virginia and Pennsylvania, making it a significant retail destination for the Hagerstown metropolitan area. The mall is the area's only remaining enclosed shopping mall following the closure of Martinsburg Mall in West Virginia. Developed by Shopco Development Company of New York City, Valley Mall opened on August 15, 1974, with approximately 90 stores. Its original anchor lineup included Montgomery Ward, Eyerly's, JCPenney, Peoples Drug, and a three-screen Carmike Cinemas complex, while Pantry Pride operated as an outparcel grocery tenant. Eyerly's was subsequently converted to The Bon-Ton, and the property later acquired additional retail space, including a partial second level focused largely on small craft-oriented shops. The property underwent a major interior renovation in 1995. That work removed the partial second floor and reconfigured the mall's internal layout. During the same general period, several original tenants disappeared or changed form. Peoples Drug and McCrory's closed, Martin's occupied the former Pantry Pride location before later moving, and Toys R Us subsequently used that space. The mall's tenant mix therefore evolved from a traditional department-store and variety-retail format toward a broader combination of national chains, entertainment, dining, services, and specialty stores. A substantial expansion completed around 1999–2000 added a new wing with Old Navy, a food court, a Hecht's department store, a 16-screen Regal Cinemas multiplex, and additional smaller stores. The expansion strengthened Valley Mall's role as a regional destination rather than merely a local neighborhood shopping center. In 2003, Sears relocated from Long Meadow shopping center into the former Montgomery Ward space after Montgomery Ward exited its remaining stores in 2001. Hecht's was converted to Macy's in 2006 as the Hecht's nameplate was retired nationally. The mall later experienced several anchor-store departures and replacements. Macy's closed its Valley Mall location in April 2016, and Sears announced a closure in 2017 before leaving the property in September of that year. The Bon-Ton was also scheduled to close when its lease expired and ultimately departed in 2018. Belk opened in the former Bon-Ton location on October 18, 2018, restoring a department-store anchor presence. The former Macy's space was redeveloped for entertainment and fitness uses: Tilt Studio opened in September 2018, followed by Onelife Fitness in January 2019. Dick's Sporting Goods opened in the former Sears space in 2020. Valley Mall has continued to adjust its tenant mix as retail patterns changed. Old Navy moved out of the enclosed mall on January 22, 2023, relocating to a nearby shopping center. Meritus Urgent Care opened at the mall on July 1, 2024, illustrating the property's continuing shift toward service, wellness, and experiential tenants alongside conventional retail. Its current anchor and major-use lineup includes Belk, Dick's Sporting Goods, JCPenney, Onelife Fitness, Meritus Urgent Care, and Tilt Studio. The mall remains an active regional commercial center, although its exact ownership, management structure, and complete current tenant roster are not established by the supplied reference material.
History
Valley Mall was developed by Shopco Development Company of New York City and opened on August 15, 1974, in Halfway, Maryland. It was described as the second mall to open in western Maryland and the surrounding tri-state area, following the opening of the related Frederick Towne Mall in Frederick, Maryland, in 1972. At opening, Valley Mall contained approximately 90 stores. Its initial major tenants included Montgomery Ward, Eyerly's, JCPenney, Peoples Drug, and Carmike Cinemas 3, while Pantry Pride operated from an outparcel location. The original tenant configuration changed soon after opening. Eyerly's became The Bon-Ton, and a partial second floor containing mostly small craft stores was added. Over time, Peoples Drug and McCrory's closed, while the former Pantry Pride site was occupied by Martin's and later Toys R Us. These changes reflected the gradual replacement of some original variety, drug, and grocery tenants with newer specialty and family-oriented retail concepts. A major interior renovation took place in 1995. The project removed the partial second floor and reworked the mall's internal design. Around 1999–2000, Valley Mall expanded with a new wing. The expansion introduced Old Navy, a food court, Hecht's, a 16-screen Regal Cinemas multiplex, and additional smaller stores. This work increased the mall's regional appeal by combining conventional shopping with dining and entertainment. Montgomery Ward closed its remaining stores in 2001. In 2003, Sears moved from Long Meadow shopping center in northern Hagerstown into Montgomery Ward's former Valley Mall space. Hecht's was converted to Macy's in 2006 during the broader retirement of the Hecht's nameplate. Macy's later closed its Valley Mall store in April 2016. The mall's anchor portfolio underwent another period of change in 2017 and 2018. Sears announced in June 2017 that its store would close as part of a national closure plan, and the location shut in September 2017. The Bon-Ton was also announced for closure as its lease approached expiration and departed in 2018. Belk opened in the former Bon-Ton space on October 18, 2018, giving Valley Mall another department-store anchor. The vacant former Macy's space was divided or repurposed for nontraditional mall uses: Tilt Studio opened there in September 2018, and Onelife Fitness began operating there in January 2019. Dick's Sporting Goods opened in the former Sears space in 2020. The mall later continued to diversify beyond enclosed apparel and department-store retail. Old Navy moved from the mall on January 22, 2023, to a nearby shopping center near DSW and Kohl's. Meritus Urgent Care opened at Valley Mall on July 1, 2024. The resulting tenant mix combines department stores, sporting goods, entertainment, fitness, healthcare, food, and specialty retail. Valley Mall serves Hagerstown and a broader area extending into western Maryland, eastern West Virginia, and nearby Pennsylvania. It is the only indoor mall remaining in the Hagerstown metropolitan area after Martinsburg Mall closed. The supplied sources do not establish the mall's current ownership, management company, revenue, or a complete inventory of tenants.
- 2024
Meritus Urgent Care opens
[1]Meritus Urgent Care opens at the mall on July 1, adding a healthcare service use.
- 2020
Dick's Sporting Goods opens
[1]Dick's Sporting Goods occupies the former Sears location.
- 2018
Belk opens
[1]Belk opens in the former Bon-Ton location on October 18, 2018.
- 2006
Hecht's is converted to Macy's
[1]The Hecht's anchor adopts the Macy's name as the former regional department-store brand is retired.
- 2003
Sears replaces Montgomery Ward
[1]Sears relocates from Long Meadow shopping center into the former Montgomery Ward space.
- 2000
Expansion adds retail, dining, and entertainment space
[1]The late-1990s/around-2000 expansion adds a wing, food court, Old Navy, Hecht's, and a 16-screen Regal Cinemas complex.
- 1995
Interior renovation removes partial second floor
[1]A major renovation changes the mall's layout and removes the partial second level.
- 1974
Valley Mall opens
[1]The mall officially opens in Halfway, Maryland, with approximately 90 stores and original anchors including Montgomery Ward, Eyerly's, and JCPenney.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping and services destination for western Maryland and adjacent communities in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, combining department stores, specialty retail, entertainment, fitness, dining, and healthcare uses.
Department stores · 1974
Department-store retail
Valley Mall's department-store component has changed repeatedly over its history. Original and successor anchors included Montgomery Ward, Eyerly's, The Bon-Ton, Hecht's, Macy's, Sears, Belk, and JCPenney. The department-store format provides apparel, footwear, cosmetics, home goods, accessories, and seasonal merchandise, although individual banners have changed as national retail conditions evolved.
Sporting goods retail · 2020
Sporting goods
Dick's Sporting Goods opened in the former Sears space in 2020. The store broadens the mall's offer beyond traditional department-store categories with equipment, clothing, footwear, and accessories for fitness, team sports, outdoor activities, and recreation.
Entertainment · 2018
Tilt Studio
Tilt Studio is an entertainment and arcade-oriented use that opened in the former Macy's space in September 2018. Its presence represents the mall's move toward experiential tenants capable of attracting families and visitors for activities rather than only merchandise purchases.
Fitness services · 2019
Onelife Fitness
Onelife Fitness opened in the former Macy's space in January 2019. The fitness club adds recurring service-based traffic and uses a large-format anchor space for exercise, training, and wellness activities.
Healthcare services · 2024
Meritus Urgent Care
Meritus Urgent Care opened at Valley Mall on July 1, 2024. Its arrival adds an outpatient healthcare service to the mall's increasingly mixed-use tenant base.
Food and beverage · 2000
Food court and dining
A food court was added during the mall's late-1990s expansion, complementing the retail and entertainment offer. The supplied reference does not provide a current restaurant list or details of individual food operators.
Brand decisions
2020
Replace former Sears use with Dick's Sporting GoodsStrategyBackground
Sears closed its Valley Mall store in September 2017, leaving another large anchor space available.
Action taken
Dick's Sporting Goods opened in the former Sears location.
Aftermath
The replacement preserved a major-format retail use while shifting the category toward sporting goods and outdoor recreation.
2018
Repurpose former department-store spaceStrategyBackground
The closure of Macy's created a large vacant anchor location.
Action taken
The former Macy's space was used for Tilt Studio and Onelife Fitness.
Aftermath
The property added entertainment and fitness uses to its tenant mix instead of replacing the space with another traditional department store.
2000
Expand into retail, dining, and entertainmentStrategyBackground
Valley Mall pursued a larger regional-destination role through a substantial expansion.
Action taken
A new wing, food court, Old Navy, Hecht's, Regal Cinemas multiplex, and additional stores were added.
Aftermath
The expansion increased the mall's combination of shopping, dining, and entertainment uses.
1995
Reconfigure the mall interiorStrategyBackground
The property undertook a major renovation as its original interior format evolved.
Action taken
The partial second floor was removed and the interior layout was redesigned.
Aftermath
The renovation established a more open, single-level configuration for the mall.
Recent events
- 2024
Meritus Urgent Care opens at Valley Mall[1]
Product launch
Meritus Urgent Care opened at the mall on July 1, 2024, expanding the property's service and healthcare component.
- 2023
Old Navy relocates outside the enclosed mall[1]
Other
Old Navy left the enclosed mall on January 22, 2023, and opened in a nearby shopping center close to DSW and Kohl's.
- 2020
Dick's Sporting Goods opens in former Sears location[1]
Product launch
Dick's Sporting Goods took over the former Sears space, adding a major sporting-goods tenant to the mall.
- 2019
Tilt Studio and Onelife Fitness occupy former Macy's space[1]
Product launch
Tilt Studio opened in September 2018 and Onelife Fitness opened in January 2019 in the former Macy's location.
- 2018
Belk opens in the former Bon-Ton space[1]
Product launch
Belk opened on October 18, 2018, in the former Bon-Ton location, restoring a major department-store anchor to the mall.
- 2017
Sears announces Valley Mall closure[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
Sears announced that its Valley Mall store would close as part of a nationwide plan to shut 20 stores; the location closed in September 2017.
- 2016
Macy's closes its Valley Mall location[1]
Other
Macy's closed its Valley Mall store in April 2016, leaving a large former department-store space available for redevelopment.
- 2006
Hecht's becomes Macy's at Valley Mall[1]
Other
The Hecht's department store was converted to Macy's as the Hecht's brand was retired.
- 2003
Sears relocates to Valley Mall[1]
Other
Sears moved from Hagerstown's Long Meadow shopping center into the former Montgomery Ward location at Valley Mall.
- 2000
Valley Mall adds an expansion wing and multiplex[1]
Product generation · Other
An expansion completed around 1999–2000 added Old Navy, a food court, Hecht's, a 16-screen Regal Cinemas complex, and additional stores.
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