The Shops at Iverson

The Shops at Iverson

original logo
Opening date 1967
Management H&R Retail, Inc.
No. of anchor tenants 3
No. of floors 2
Website The Shops at Iverson

The The Shops at Iverson is a shopping mall located at the intersection of Branch Avenue (Maryland Route 5) and Iverson Street (Maryland Route 458), in Hillcrest Heights, Maryland, just north of the Marlow Heights Shopping Center. It was the first shopping mall in the Washington D.C. area to be built fully enclosed and climate controlled. It was originally named Iverson Mall.

History

The Montgomery Ward (165,000 sq ft.) store opened on April 20, 1967, when Maryland Gov. J. Millard Tawes cut the ceremonial ribbon.[1][2] The second anchor of the two anchor mall, Woodward & Lothrop, opened its store in the Spring of 1967.[3] With both anchors in place and 60 stores, the grand opening of the $10 million, 500,000-square-foot (46,000 m2) center occurred September 21, 1967.[4] The mall's original pylon featured a Cuboctahedron welcoming visitors.[5]

A unique design feature of the mall is that it straddles Iverson Street, which bisects the structure. Also attached at the front of the mall is a four story office building. Originally built as a regional shopping center, it faded after the opening of nearby Landover Mall in 1972.

All fountains were removed during the 1985 remodeling.[6] By the mid-1990s the two anchor stores closed and were replaced with discount department stores. In 2008, the mall is undergoing something of a revitalization with the adoption of a new slogan and advertising campaign, "You Can Find it All --- at Iverson Mall."[7]

In 2016, the mall's new owners drew up plans for a $30 million renovation, funded partly by a loan from the County's Economic Development Incentive Fund. The mall will be more outward facing, with a "main street" atmosphere, and with outside access to some restaurants. Completion of the renovation is expected by the 3rd quarter of 2017. The mall will have a new wood and glass facade, energy efficient upgrades, new lighting, new security system, and all new restrooms. There will also be 75,000 square feet of office space.[8]

Anchors and major retailers

Former anchors

References

  1. ↑ "Ward Signs for New Store," The Washington Post, Times Herald, Apr 8, 1965, p. B9.
  2. ↑ "WARD OPENING", The Washington Post, Times Herald, Apr 21, 1966, p. C8.
  3. ↑ "Four More Stores in the Making As Woodies Strives to Keep Lead," by S. Oliver Goodman, The Washington Post, Times Herald, Jun 19, 1966, p. L3.
  4. ↑ Article, The Washington Post, Times Herald, Sep 22, 1967, p. D9.
  5. ↑ http://www.iversonmall.com/images/iverson_original_sign.jpg
  6. ↑ http://www.marlowheights60sand70s.com/html/history_continued_3.html
  7. ↑ http://www.iversonmall.com/
  8. ↑ http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2016/09/23/iverson-mall-owners-plan-30m-overhaul-in-talks.html

Coordinates: 38°50′19″N 76°56′55″W / 38.83861°N 76.94861°W / 38.83861; -76.94861

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