Westfield Wheaton
A two-level regional shopping mall in Wheaton, Maryland, formerly known as Wheaton Plaza.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Westfield Wheaton is a large indoor regional shopping mall in Wheaton, Montgomery County, Maryland, north of Washington, D.C. Formerly called Wheaton Plaza, the property occupies approximately 1.7 million square feet across two levels and combines department stores, warehouse retail, specialty shops, restaurants, services, and entertainment-oriented uses. Its principal anchors have included Macy's, Target, JCPenney, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Costco. The center is owned and managed by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, although the owner began exploring a sale or change of operating arrangements in 2025. The mall originated in a major postwar suburban development project assembled by real-estate developer Simon Sherman. In 1954, Sherman acquired about 80 acres in Wheaton from farmer and wholesale fruit dealer Charles Heitmuller. He subsequently secured a zoning change for part of the property, allowing a commercial development in an area that had previously been largely residential. In February 1955, he announced plans for a shopping center with approximately 50 stores in eight buildings, supported by extensive parking and access roads. Construction began with an official groundbreaking in January 1956. Giant Food became the first retailer to open on the site in September of that year, and a Shell service station followed in 1957. Development and ownership arrangements later involved Isadore M. Gudelsky and Theodore N. Lerner. The project generated local debate over zoning, traffic, parking, and the relationship between the new suburban center and established downtown retail districts. Montgomery County approved a parking-related zoning exception with restrictions on the location of entrances and exits. Wheaton Plaza opened formally on February 5, 1960, as an open-air, single-level shopping center. Its initial anchors were Woodward & Lothrop and Montgomery Ward, with thirteen additional stores opening at the same time. A larger grand-opening celebration followed in March. The center was designed in a modified Georgian style featuring decorative bubbles, globes, hemispheres, Italian marble, exotic woods, Florentine glass mosaics, and a sculptural fountain by artist Barbara Chase-Riboud. Its first-week attendance was reported at approximately 411,000 visitors, and it was described at the time as the largest shopping center in the Washington metropolitan area and one of the largest in the United States. The property evolved as retail formats and anchor companies changed. It added office development and a Hechinger home-improvement store in the 1960s, while a self-service post office opened on the site in 1964. Plans to enclose and expand the mall began in the 1970s, but disagreements and delays among development partners contributed to litigation. A new wing anchored by Hecht's opened in 1987. Montgomery Ward was eventually replaced by Target, while later department-store consolidation led to Macy's replacing or following earlier department-store operations. The former Hecht's location subsequently hosted IFL Furniture and was later redeveloped for Costco and Dick's Sporting Goods. A service tunnel was converted into retail space in 2005, and DSW Shoe Warehouse opened in 2008. Costco opened in a newly constructed building on the former Hecht's site in April 2013, alongside Dick's Sporting Goods. The mall remains an important retail destination for Wheaton and surrounding communities, but like many traditional regional malls it faces pressure from changing shopping habits, competition from newer mixed-use districts, anchor-store restructuring, and property-finance challenges. In 2025, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield disclosed a default involving a $235 million loan connected with the mall and confirmed that it was seeking new owners or operators, with the stated intention of exiting the property during that year.
History
Westfield Wheaton developed from one of Montgomery County's earliest large-scale postwar suburban retail projects. In March 1954, developer Simon Sherman announced the purchase of approximately 80 acres in Wheaton from Charles Heitmuller, a farmer involved in wholesale fruit distribution. Sherman initially did not disclose his plans, but later obtained a zoning change permitting commercial use on part of the property. He announced a shopping-center proposal in February 1955, envisioning roughly 50 stores in eight buildings, together with a large area for parking and access roads. The project encountered questions about land use, traffic, and the effect of suburban retailing on established commercial districts. A proposed parking area required a zoning exception because some of the land remained zoned for residential use. Nearby residents objected to the proposed screening and fencing, while Montgomery County ultimately approved the exception subject to limitations on the placement of entrances and exits. Isadore M. Gudelsky and Theodore N. Lerner became involved as developers toward the end of 1957. Giant Food opened on the site in September 1956, before the shopping center itself was completed, and a Shell station opened in 1957. The official groundbreaking for Wheaton Plaza took place on January 21, 1956. The center opened on February 5, 1960, as a one-level open-air mall. Woodward & Lothrop and Montgomery Ward were the original anchor stores, and thirteen other retailers opened with them. The formal grand opening was held on March 31. The design used a modified Georgian vocabulary but incorporated highly stylized decorative elements, including globes, bubbles, hemispheres, Italian marble, exotic woods, and Florentine glass mosaics. A fountain was sculpted by Barbara Chase-Riboud, then associated with Yale's art program. The central pedestrian route was landscaped with boxed evergreen trees. At opening, Wheaton Plaza was promoted as a major innovation in suburban shopping. It was reported to be the largest shopping center in the Washington metropolitan area and among the largest in the country, with approximately 411,000 visitors during its first week. Its tenant mix included apparel, shoes, jewelry, records, candy, hardware, carpets, banking, pharmacy, restaurants, and other everyday services. The developers exercised unusually strong control over store placement and charged comparatively high rents. Lerner described the concept as a suburban downtown combining retail concentration with free parking. The center also attracted political events: John F. Kennedy visited in May 1960 during his presidential campaign, and Eleanor Roosevelt appeared at a Kennedy campaign rally there later that year. The development expanded beyond retail. Construction began on a second office building in 1962, and the resulting ten-story structure was described as Montgomery County's largest office building at the time. Hechinger opened at the center in December 1963. In 1964, a self-service post office opened in a temporary structure in the parking area, using vending machines for stamps and envelopes and customer-operated scales. Wheaton Plaza remained the area's leading shopping center until the opening of Tysons Corner Center in 1968. The center's later history was shaped by enclosure, expansion, anchor turnover, and redevelopment. A plan to enclose the mall began in 1974, but disagreements between business partners and delays associated with expansion contributed to a reported $30 million lawsuit. A new wing anchored by Hecht's opened in 1987. Montgomery Ward was eventually replaced by Target after Montgomery Ward left the retail market. Macy's later opened a new store around the period when Federated Department Stores acquired May Department Stores, Hecht's former corporate owner. Following the merger, Hecht's closed. IFL Furniture temporarily occupied the former Hecht's space from 2006 until 2008. The property continued to adapt its physical footprint. A service tunnel beneath the mall was converted into retail space in 2005, and DSW Shoe Warehouse opened in November 2008. In 2010, Costco announced plans for a new store on the vacant Hecht's site. The resulting building opened in April 2013 and also housed Dick's Sporting Goods, creating a large-format retail cluster alongside the enclosed mall. The mall has also been associated with significant local history beyond commerce. The 1975 disappearance of the Lyon sisters occurred at Wheaton Plaza; the case remained unresolved until 2015. In the commercial sphere, the property has faced the broader challenges affecting older regional malls, including shifting consumer behavior, anchor consolidation, competition from newer retail environments, and the financial demands of maintaining a very large shopping complex. In April 2025, reports stated that Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield had defaulted on a $235 million loan tied to the mall. In June 2025, the company confirmed that it was seeking new owners or operators and that it intended to exit the property at some point during the year.
- 2025
Owner reports financing difficulties and seeks exit
[1]Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield was reported to have defaulted on a $235 million mall-related loan and later confirmed that it was seeking new owners or operators.
- 2013
Costco and Dick's Sporting Goods open
[1]A newly constructed building on the former Hecht's site opened with Costco and Dick's Sporting Goods.
- 2008
DSW Shoe Warehouse opens
[1]DSW Shoe Warehouse opened at the mall, adding a major specialty footwear tenant.
- 2005
Service tunnel converted to retail space
[1]The mall repurposed an underground service tunnel as additional retail space.
- 1987
Hecht's wing opens
[1]A new wing anchored by Hecht's expanded the mall's enclosed retail footprint.
- 1974
Enclosure and expansion planning begins
[1]Plans were initiated to enclose the previously open-air center and expand its anchor-store capacity.
- 1964
Self-service post office opens
[1]A self-service postal facility using vending machines and customer-operated equipment opened at the center.
- 1962
Office expansion begins
[1]Construction began on a ten-story office building associated with the development.
- 1960
Wheaton Plaza officially opens
[1]The open-air shopping center opened with Woodward & Lothrop, Montgomery Ward, and thirteen other stores. Its grand-opening celebration followed in March.
- 1956
Groundbreaking and first retailer opening
[1]The project held its official groundbreaking in January, and Giant Food became the first store to open on the site in September.
Products and positioning
A large suburban regional shopping center serving Wheaton and the northern Washington metropolitan area through a combination of department stores, value-oriented big-box retailers, specialty retail, food, and services.
Retail · 1960
Department-store retail
The mall's department-store role has changed over time as Woodward & Lothrop, Montgomery Ward, Hecht's, Macy's, JCPenney, and Target occupied major anchor positions. These stores have provided broad assortments of apparel, accessories, home goods, cosmetics, and general merchandise.
Retail · 2013
Warehouse and big-box retail
Large-format tenants form an important part of the center's current and recent offer. Target, Costco, and Dick's Sporting Goods provide value-oriented general merchandise, groceries and bulk goods, sporting equipment, apparel, and related household products.
Retail · 1960
Specialty retail
Wheaton Plaza historically included specialty merchants in shoes, jewelry, records, apparel, hardware, carpets, candy, pharmacy, and financial services. Later specialty occupants included DSW Shoe Warehouse and other stores serving fashion, footwear, home, and personal-consumption needs.
Food and services · 1956
Food, restaurants, and services
Food and service uses have accompanied the mall throughout its history, beginning with Giant Food and early restaurants and extending to contemporary dining, grocery, personal services, and convenience-oriented retail. The mix supports both destination shopping and routine neighborhood visits.
Brand decisions
2025
Pursue a sale or transfer of operating responsibilityStrategyBackground
The owner faced financing pressure associated with the property and described Wheaton as one of its remaining regional malls in the United States.
Action taken
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield confirmed that it was looking for new owners or operators and intended to exit the property during 2025.
Aftermath
The eventual ownership and operating outcome was not established in the supplied reference material.
Loan connected with the mall. Default reported (2025)
2010
Redevelop the former Hecht's site for CostcoProduct launchBackground
After Hecht's closed and the interim IFL Furniture occupancy ended, the mall needed a new use for a major vacant anchor location.
Action taken
Costco announced plans for a new store on the site, ultimately sharing a newly constructed building with Dick's Sporting Goods.
Aftermath
The building opened in 2013 and added large-format value retail and sporting goods to the mall's tenant mix.
1974
Move from open-air center toward an enclosed mallGeneration changeBackground
Changing retail expectations and competition among regional shopping centers led the owners to consider enclosure and anchor expansion.
Action taken
A plan was initiated to enclose and enlarge the center, although implementation was delayed by disputes among development partners.
Aftermath
The later expansion included a new Hecht's wing, substantially changing the property's format and footprint.
1955
Develop a suburban downtown shopping centerStrategyBackground
The developers sought to create a concentrated suburban retail destination rather than a conventional downtown street market, using multiple buildings, major anchors, and extensive free parking.
Action taken
Sherman announced plans for a multi-building shopping center with approximately 50 stores and large parking and circulation areas.
Aftermath
The project became one of the Washington area's largest shopping centers and helped establish Wheaton as a significant suburban retail location.
Recent events
- 2025
Loan default connected with Westfield Wheaton reported[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
Reports stated that Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield had defaulted on a $235 million loan associated with the mall, highlighting the financial pressure facing the property and the wider regional-mall sector.
- 2025
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield seeks a new owner or operator[1]
M&A
The owner confirmed that it was searching for new ownership or operating arrangements and intended to exit the mall during the year.
- 2013
Costco and Dick's Sporting Goods development opens[1]
Product launch
Costco opened in a newly built structure on the former Hecht's site, with Dick's Sporting Goods also occupying the building.
- 1987
Hecht's wing added to the mall[1]
Product generation
A new mall wing anchored by Hecht's expanded the center and strengthened its department-store offering.
- 1960
Wheaton Plaza opens as a major Washington-area shopping center[1]
Other
The newly opened Wheaton Plaza introduced an open-air suburban shopping-center format with department-store anchors and extensive parking. Contemporary accounts emphasized its unusually large scale and distinctive architectural decoration.
Sources2 sources
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