Opened in 1973, the mall was developed by Associates of the Eighties. It initially featured two anchor stores: Zayre at the west end, and "Fowler, Dick, and Walker, the Boston Store" at the east end. Original tenants included GNC, Hickory Farms, Karmelkorn, Waldenbooks, Rea & Derrick Drugstore, and an A&P supermarket,[1] of which only GNC remains and moved within the mall in 2016.[3] Boscov's took over the Fowler, Dick & Walker store in 1981,[4] and Zayre sold to Ames in 1989.[5]
Construction of a new wing anchored by JCPenney began in 1993.[6] Also that year, the Ames store closed and began conversion to a Kmart,[7] which opened in September 1994.[8]
Boscov's expanded by 52,800 square feet (4,910 m2) in 1994,[4] and the mall interior was renovated with skylights and new flooring.[8] McCrory Stores closed at the mall in 1995.[9] One year later, Ben Franklin Crafts replaced it.[10] The space is now Old Navy. A Hoyts movie theater opened next to the mall in 1998.[11]
In July 2005, the mall was sold by PREIT to Laurel Mall, LLC for $33.5 million, including assumed debt of $22.6 million.[12] In August 2008, radio station WBHT sponsored a performance by the boy band Menudo at Laurel Mall.[13]
On January 15, 2014, it was announced that the JCPenney store would be closing as part of a plan to close 33 locations nationwide.[14]
In 2014, Laurel Mall, LLC changed management companies from LMS Realty to Lexington Realty International.[15] On May 6, 2015, it was announced that Dunham's Sports would be opening in the former JCPenney space. It opened on October 16, 2015.[16] In August 2016, a marketing manager claimed 96.6 percent capacity, and construction was underway for TJ Maxx to "take up almost the entire northwest corner of the mall" in November.[3] Sears Holdings announced in January 2018 that it would be closing 64 Kmart stores, including the one at Laurel Mall in early April 2018.[17]
A Planet Fitness location was announced for 2020; construction was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and not completed until the end of the year, with the exercise equipment being put into place just before its early 2021 opening. A Hobby Lobby franchise opened in January 2021.[18]
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