Washington Mall

Washington Mall opened on October 17, 1968, with a total of 45 stores.^[1] The mall was anchored by J. C. Penney, which had a freestanding auto center. The mall also featured G. C. Murphy, a Thorofare Grocery Store, and Giant Eagle as junior anchors.^[2] There was also a partial lower-level under one end of the building that housed a 2-screen movie theater. Around 1987, a 2-level expansion containing Toys R Us and Jo-Ann Fabrics (upper level) and a new, larger space for Giant Eagle (lower level, also including the old theater) was built. Toys R Us and Giant Eagle were only accessible from outside. The original Giant Eagle space at the opposite end of the mall became Pottery Factory Outlet, and the original lower level movie theater was replaced by a larger freestanding multiplex on the mall periphery.^[3] Staples was under construction in 1996, taking over what was originally the Marianne Shop.^[4] Around this time the mall received light updates such as new flooring and paint, though few other changes were made. Thompson Hardware closed in June 1997, and was later replaced by Dollar General. Pottery Factory Outlet closed its doors in February 1998. Giant Eagle closed its doors in 1999, however the company continued to pay its lease through 2001.^[5] Afterthoughts closed in December 1999, and Altmeyer closed that same year.

In 2001, JCPenney announced a remodel of its store, introducing housewares and custom decorating departments to the location. A REX store was also slated to open in the former Pottery Factory Outlet space, and a D&K Stores was planned to open next to Dollar General. At this time, the mall's Baskin-Robbins store closed and converted to "Pap Pap's" Ice Cream after the owner said he could no longer afford franchise fees.^[5] Plans were announced in 2004 to convert the mall into a more traditional shopping plaza, retaining anchors Staples, JCPenney, and Toys R Us, and adding an 88,000 sq ft space for a new anchor. However, these plans were later delayed, and never came to fruition.^[6] JCPenney closed in February 2007^[7] and relocated to the defunct Foundry shopping center less than a mile away in March 2007; however, due to ground settling problems at the aforementioned retail complex and financial difficulties with the property owner, JCPenney moved back to the Washington Mall in mid-September 2008.^[8][9] On January 15, 2014, it was announced that JCPenney would be closing as part of a plan to close 33 stores nationwide. The store closed in May 2014. From 2014 to 2017, the space was used as a Spirit Halloween before being vacated permanently.^[10] Also, in July 2014, Jo-Ann Fabrics left Washington Mall and moved to the nearby Washington Crown Center. This effectively marked the end of Washington Mall's interior, as Jo-Ann Fabrics was the only shop inside the mall that was left.

Toys R Us closed their Washington Mall location in the company's 2018 bankruptcy. Afterwards, the Washington Mall sign and the Imperial Cleaners sign were both removed, and the area with JCPenney was fenced off all the way up to the end of Staples to prevent trespassing. In 2019, the vacated space was used for a Spirit Halloween before 2022; department store retail chain Gabe's has since used this vacated space as a distribution center up until 2023, after which the Toys R Us retail space was vacated for good. Sometime in February 2024, Staples closed due to the owner's decision not to bring the building up to code. Only two stores, Grand China Buffet and Harbor Freight Tools, both of which have exterior access, remain open.^[11]

The mall was at one time the preeminent place for shopping in Washington. Up until the 1990s, it was holding its own. However, Washington Mall was severely affected by the expansion and remodel of the crosstown rival Franklin Mall (now Washington Crown Center), and later the opening of Tanger Outlets nearby. The mall also lost several tenants to newer power centers opened in the area. By the mid 2000s, the mall was mostly vacant, and maintenance requirements were being neglected. By the turn of the 2010s decade, the structure was visibly deteriorating, and parts of the mall interior had been sealed off. Various outparcels and other stores around the mall remain occupied, and the detached cinema that once was associated with the mall closed in 2013 and was demolished in 2016.^[12][3]

As of February 2025, plans to demolish the mall are in place. The Toys R Us section is planned for renovation and conversion into a car dealership.^[13] Following asbestos removal, demolition began in July 2025, with a Costco planned for the site.^[14] As of late September into early October 2025, a large portion of the mall interior demolition began including the north wall of the mall, by Neiswonger Construction. By December, most of the central structure was gone and demolition of the former JCPenney had begun. On the southeast side, preparation for the new 6000 square foot Harbor Freight is also underway.

• Washington Mall official site-Last known official website page from September 27, 2007 including a lease plan of the time.