Annapolis Mall

Annapolis Mall is an enclosed regional shopping center in Parole, Maryland, immediately east of the junction of Interstate 97 and U.S. Route 50 and close to the city of Annapolis. The property is one of Maryland's largest enclosed malls, with approximately 1.42 million square feet of gross leasable area, ranking behind Arundel Mills by total size according to the referenced description. Its tenant mix has historically combined department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, entertainment, community services and other destination uses. The mall occupies land with an earlier transportation history. The site was formerly associated with the Best Gate station, an Annapolis terminus of the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railway. The nearby Bestgate Road retains the name linked to that station. Plans for a shopping center were submitted in 1968, and a freestanding Montgomery Ward store opened in 1971 before the enclosed mall was built. Construction began in September 1978, and the mall opened on August 14, 1980, with roughly 600,000 square feet of retail space. Its original department-store anchors included Montgomery Ward, Garfinckel's and Hecht's. The property expanded repeatedly as the regional retail market developed. A JCPenney store was added in 1983. After CenterMark, the successor to May Centers, was acquired by a consortium involving Westfield Group, the mall gained a two-level Nordstrom and an enlarged food court in 1994. Westfield later acquired the remaining CenterMark interests. A two-level Lord & Taylor store and an 11-screen cinema followed in 1998. The mall was subsequently marketed under the Westfield Shoppingtown Annapolis and Westfield Annapolis names. Anchor changes reflected the wider consolidation and disruption of American department-store retail. Garfinckel's left after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1990. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001 and its space was later occupied by Sears. Hecht's became Macy's in September 2006 after the May Department Stores Company was acquired and integrated into Federated Department Stores, now Macy's, Inc. Nordstrom closed its Annapolis store in July 2020, and JCPenney ultimately closed its location in August 2025 after a lease-extension and liquidation process. Other former large-format spaces have been repurposed or targeted for redevelopment. A major physical expansion completed in 2007 added approximately 240,000 square feet and about 60 stores, including retailers such as Pottery Barn and H&M. The former Garfinckel's space later housed Borders Books and Music and then Forever 21. Lord & Taylor's former space became a focus of later redevelopment planning, including a proposed retail district and, subsequently, a planned charter-school conversion. The former Sears site has also been discussed for a mixed retail and residential redevelopment concept. The mall has increasingly incorporated community and experiential uses. Anne Arundel County Public Library opened a temporary branch, Discoveries: the Library at the Mall, in 2018 and moved it to a permanent mall location in 2020. The branch later added a Community Pantry distributing diapers, hygiene products and other supplies. The SPCA of Anne Arundel County opened Paws at the Mall in 2020, an indoor-mall animal shelter. The cinema operation became AMC Annapolis Mall 11 in 2022 after AMC acquired the former Bow Tie Cinemas location. Ownership and branding changed again in 2024. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield pursued the sale of selected American properties, and Centennial Real Estate Management, together with partners including Sandeep Mathrani, Waterfall Asset Management and Lincoln Property Company, was reported to have acquired Annapolis Mall. Westfield branding was removed and the property returned to the Annapolis Mall name. Later plans cited new anchors and additional tenant recruitment, including Dick's House of Sport, Dave & Buster's, Uniqlo, Jack & Jones and a Tesla dealership and service cente…

The site of Annapolis Mall has roots in regional transportation infrastructure. It once hosted the Best Gate station, the Annapolis terminus of the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railway. The station included sidings used to move rail cars on and off the line, and its name survives in Bestgate Road along the mall's northern edge. Commercial development proposals for the site appeared in 1968. A freestanding Montgomery Ward store opened in 1971 while plans for a larger center progressed. Construction of the enclosed mall began on September 24, 1978, and the project opened on August 14, 1980. Developed by May Centers, a division of The May Department Stores Company, the original center had approximately 600,000 square feet of gross leasable area. Its initial anchors were Montgomery Ward, Garfinckel's and Hecht's, with the latter connected to the May department-store organization. The mall expanded in 1983 with a JCPenney store. Garfinckel's departed in 1990 following the company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy. May Centers, later known as CenterMark, was acquired in 1993 by a consortium that included Westfield Group. A 1994 expansion added a two-level Nordstrom and enlarged the food court. Westfield acquired the remaining CenterMark interests in 1996, consolidating control of the property. Further development followed in 1998 with a two-level Lord & Taylor and an 11-screen movie theater. The mall was at different times branded Westfield Shoppingtown Annapolis and Westfield Annapolis. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001, and Sears occupied the space from 2002. Hecht's became Macy's in September 2006 after the May Department Stores Company was acquired by Federated Department Stores, now Macy's, Inc. A major $150 million expansion completed in 2007 added approximately 240,000 square feet and 60 stores. New tenants included Pottery Barn and H&M. The former Garfinckel's location subsequently housed Borders Books and Music before Borders closed in 2011; Forever 21 opened in the space in 2013. Forever 21 later announced its closure in connection with Chapter 11 proceedings, with the store closing in April 2025. Lord & Taylor announced its closure in 2017. In the same year, Westfield Group was acquired by Unibail-Rodamco, creating Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. URW later announced a plan to convert the ground floor of the former Lord & Taylor property into a retail district. The space also became associated with a proposed New Village Academy charter-school project. The mall broadened its community role during the late 2010s and early 2020s. Anne Arundel County Public Library launched a temporary mall branch in 2018 and moved it into a permanent space in 2020. The branch later added a Community Pantry for distributing essential supplies. In September 2020, the county SPCA opened Paws at the Mall. Nordstrom closed its store in July 2020. In 2022, AMC acquired the local Bow Tie Cinemas operation and reopened it as AMC Annapolis Mall 11. Ownership changed in 2024 when a Centennial-led consortium was reported to have acquired the mall from URW. The Westfield name was removed. The new ownership group announced plans for Dick's House of Sport and Dave & Buster's, while later announcements identified additional prospective tenants and redevelopment concepts. These included a Tesla dealership and service center, Uniqlo, Jack & Jones, and a mixed retail and apartment plan for the former Sears site. The supplied reference material also reports a subsequent Macerich acquisition announcement involving the mall and adjacent Sears parcel, but the ownership sequence and effective date require verification.

1. 2025JCPenney and Forever 21 depart

   Forever 21 closed in April and JCPenney closed in August after a lease-extension process.

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2. 2024Westfield branding removed

   Following a reported sale to a Centennial-led consortium, the mall returned to the Annapolis Mall name.

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3. 2022AMC Annapolis Mall 11 opens

   AMC reopened the former Bow Tie Cinemas site as AMC Annapolis Mall 11.

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4. 2020Community uses expand

   The library moved to a permanent mall location, Nordstrom closed, and the SPCA opened Paws at the Mall.

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5. 2018Temporary library branch opens

   Anne Arundel County Public Library opened Discoveries: the Library at the Mall.

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6. 2007Major expansion completed

   The mall completed a major expansion adding approximately 240,000 square feet and 60 stores.

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7. 1998Lord & Taylor and cinema open

   A two-level Lord & Taylor and an 11-screen movie theater opened.

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8. 1994Nordstrom expansion

   A two-level Nordstrom and an enlarged food court were added.

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9. 1983JCPenney added

   The center expanded with a single-level JCPenney store.

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10. 1980Mall opens

    Annapolis Mall opened on August 14 with approximately 600,000 square feet and anchors including Montgomery Ward, Garfinckel's and Hecht's.

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11. 1971Montgomery Ward opens

    A freestanding Montgomery Ward store opened before the enclosed mall was constructed.

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12. 1968Shopping-center plans submitted

    Initial plans for a shopping mall on the former Best Gate railway site were submitted.

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A large regional enclosed shopping center serving Annapolis, Anne Arundel County and surrounding Maryland communities, combining conventional retail with entertainment, dining, community services and planned mixed-use redevelopment.

• Regional enclosed shopping centerShopping mall1980

  The core offering is a large enclosed retail environment serving regional shoppers. It combines department stores, specialty shops, apparel, home goods, food and beverage operators, services and entertainment in a climate-controlled setting.

• AMC Annapolis Mall 11Entertainment2022

  The mall's multiplex entertainment component operates as AMC Annapolis Mall 11. AMC assumed the former Bow Tie Cinemas location in 2022 and reopened it under the AMC brand.

• Discoveries: the Library at the MallCommunity service2018

  The Anne Arundel County Public Library branch provides library services within the mall. It began as a temporary location in 2018, moved to a permanent space in 2020 and later added a Community Pantry.

• Paws at the MallAnimal welfare service2020

  Paws at the Mall is an SPCA of Anne Arundel County animal shelter established inside the shopping center in 2020.

• 2025JCPenney lease and closure processOther

  JCPenney included the store in a nationwide closure plan.

  What changed. The store's liquidation was paused after a lease extension, but the location ultimately closed on August 17, 2025.

  Aftermath. The departure created another large-format space for possible replacement tenants or redevelopment.

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• 2024Property ownership transitionM&A

  URW pursued the sale of selected American shopping centers, including non-flagship properties.

  What changed. A Centennial-led consortium was reported to have acquired the mall, after which Westfield branding was removed.

  Aftermath. The property resumed the Annapolis Mall name and announced new anchor and redevelopment initiatives.

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• 2022Cinema operator transitionM&A

  Bow Tie Cinemas operated the mall's multiplex before AMC expanded through an acquisition of seven Bow Tie locations.

  What changed. AMC acquired the location and reopened it as AMC Annapolis Mall 11.

  Aftermath. The mall retained a multiplex while changing its cinema operator and brand.

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• 2007Major expansionStrategy

  The property sought to enlarge its regional retail offer and add new national tenants.

  What changed. The mall invested in an expansion of approximately 240,000 square feet and added about 60 stores.

  Aftermath. The expanded center added retailers including Pottery Barn and H&M and increased the mall's overall scale.

  Expansion investment. (2007)

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• 2006Food-court shootingControversy

  On November 18, 2006, an off-duty Secret Service agent intervened in a food-court fight and was shot. The agent returned fire, striking the shooter, while a third person was also wounded. The mall closed temporarily after the incident. The shooter was later sentenced to 65 years in prison.

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• 2025JCPenney announces store closure and later lease extension

  JCPenney initially planned to close its Annapolis Mall store, extended its lease during liquidation preparations, and ultimately closed the location on August 17, 2025.

  BankruptcyOther
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• 2025Forever 21 closes Annapolis Mall location

  Forever 21 announced the closure of its mall store as part of Chapter 11 proceedings; the location closed on April 29.

  BankruptcyOther
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• 2024Annapolis Mall sale negotiations reported

  URW was reported to be negotiating a sale of the property after pursuing disposals of selected American malls.

  M&A
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• 2024Centennial-led consortium acquires Annapolis Mall

  Centennial Real Estate Management and partners, including Sandeep Mathrani, Waterfall Asset Management and Lincoln Property Company, were reported to have acquired the mall. Westfield branding was removed.

  M&A
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• 2022AMC reopens former Bow Tie cinema as AMC Annapolis Mall 11

  AMC Theatres acquired the mall's Bow Tie Cinemas location and reopened it as AMC Annapolis Mall 11.

  M&AProduct launch
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• 2020URW plans redevelopment of former Lord & Taylor space

  Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield announced plans to reconstruct the ground level of the former Lord & Taylor space as a retail district.

  Other
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• 2020Nordstrom closes Annapolis location

  Nordstrom closed its Annapolis Mall store on July 15 during a broader round of secondary-store closures.

  Other
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• 2020SPCA opens Paws at the Mall

  The SPCA of Anne Arundel County opened Paws at the Mall, described as the first animal shelter of its kind inside an enclosed shopping mall.

  Other
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• 2017Lord & Taylor announces Annapolis closure

  Lord & Taylor announced that it would close its store at the mall, creating a substantial redevelopment opportunity.

  Other
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• 2007Annapolis Mall opens major expansion

  A $150 million expansion added approximately 240,000 square feet of retail space and around 60 stores, including Pottery Barn and H&M.

  Other
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1. Annapolis Mall
2. Westfield Annapolis official website