Frederick Towne Mall
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedA former enclosed shopping mall in Frederick, Maryland, now being repositioned as the mixed-use entertainment center District 40.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Frederick Towne Mall is a former enclosed shopping mall on U.S. Route 40, along Frederick, Maryland's Golden Mile. The property opened in 1972 after plans for a regional shopping center were expanded from an initially proposed 350,000–400,000 square feet to approximately 630,000 square feet. Its original tenant strategy combined several department-store anchors with a broad collection of national and local specialty retailers. Announced or early tenants included Montgomery Ward, J.C. Penney, Eyerly's, McCrory's, Peoples Drug, Thom McAn, RadioShack, Foxwood Casuals, Chess King, General Nutrition Centers, Kay Jewelers, and Waldenbooks. For much of its earlier life, the mall served as one of Frederick's principal enclosed retail destinations. Its competitive position weakened over time, particularly after Francis Scott Key Mall opened elsewhere in the city in 1978. The surrounding area also experienced increased concentrations of lower-income housing and a deterioration in the property's public reputation following reports of fights, robberies, and other violent incidents. These factors contributed to tenant departures and a shift in consumer traffic toward competing retail areas. The mall's anchor structure changed substantially in the 2000s. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001 after the retailer entered bankruptcy proceedings, and its building was later converted for The Home Depot, which opened in 2004. Boscov's took over the former J.C. Penney location in 2003. The Bon-Ton subsequently became another major occupant, but closed its store and furniture gallery in January 2011. The mall's cinema operation, Hoyts Cinemas 10, closed in 2009 after a fatal stabbing inside the theater. By April 2013, the enclosed retail portion had closed to the public; John's Hallmark, described as the last interior tenant, left at roughly the same time. Boscov's and Home Depot remained at the site as separately functioning anchor-style stores. Several redevelopment concepts followed the closure. A mixed-use proposal discussed in 2006 was abandoned amid economic conditions associated with the Great Recession. A later plan, called Frederick Towne Center, contemplated demolishing much of the enclosed mall while retaining Boscov's and Home Depot and adding a 155,000-square-foot Walmart. Walmart cancelled its participation in 2016. The property was offered through an auction process in late 2016 and was sold in February 2017 to West Frederick Center LLLP, a private investment company headed by Mohammed Mohiuddin. In November 2019, the site was publicly repositioned under the name District 40. The proposed concept emphasized entertainment, food, and experiential uses rather than conventional department-store retail, with possible go-karts, bowling, arcade attractions, restaurants, and a trampoline park. Warehouse Cinemas became the first announced major tenant and opened in the former Hoyts space in 2020. Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant and Frederick Furniture also occupied portions of the former mall complex during 2020. In 2022, Big Country Lanes was announced for the former Bon-Ton space, although later plans described difficulties obtaining final approval and a relocation of that bowling concept. As reported in the reference material, Spinners Pinball Arcade was planned for a large northern-side space, while a trampoline-park concept called Sky Jump Adventure Park remained under development. Boscov's and Home Depot continue to operate at the site, making them the principal surviving occupants associated with the former mall.
History
Frederick Towne Mall was developed on U.S. Route 40 in Frederick, Maryland, in the commercial corridor known as the Golden Mile. The project was first announced in 1970. Early plans called for a center of roughly 350,000 to 400,000 square feet, but the proposal expanded to about 630,000 square feet and incorporated a central second floor for service-oriented tenants. An opening was initially targeted for April 1971. By March of that year, Montgomery Ward, J.C. Penney, and Eyerly's had been identified as anchor tenants, with additional retailers including McCrory's, Peoples Drug, Thom McAn, RadioShack, Foxwood Casuals, Chess King, General Nutrition Centers, Kay Jewelers, and Waldenbooks. The mall ultimately opened in 1972. The property was initially an important enclosed retail destination for the Frederick area. Its competitive standing weakened after Francis Scott Key Mall opened in 1978. During the following decades, the neighborhood around Frederick Towne Mall saw greater concentrations of lower-income housing and a rise in reported crime. Publicized fights, robberies, and other violent incidents damaged the mall's reputation and encouraged shoppers and tenants to favor other retail districts. A robbery and assault involving a woman leaving The Bon-Ton in 2007 became one of the incidents associated with that reputation. In 2009, Hoyts Cinemas 10 closed after a fatal stabbing inside the theater. Anchor turnover accelerated in the 2000s. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001 during the retailer's bankruptcy, and the vacant building was converted into The Home Depot in 2004. Boscov's replaced J.C. Penney in 2003. The final original tenant, Gentlemen's Choice Barber Shop, left in 2005. The Bon-Ton later announced the closure of its store and furniture gallery in 2010; both closed in January 2011. By that point the mall no longer had any of its original anchor stores. Redevelopment was considered repeatedly. Plans for a mixed-use conversion were discussed in 2006 but did not proceed, with the economic effects of the Great Recession undermining the proposal by 2009. The interior mall was ultimately closed in April 2013, and John's Hallmark, described as the final interior tenant, ceased operating there. Boscov's and Home Depot survived as continuing occupants. A Walmart-led redevelopment was later proposed under the Frederick Towne Center name. The concept would have removed much of the enclosed mall while retaining the two surviving anchors and adding a 155,000-square-foot Walmart. Walmart cancelled its plans in September 2016. The owner subsequently considered selling the property. An auction process was announced in November 2016, and the site was sold in February 2017 to West Frederick Center LLLP, a private investment company headed by urologist Mohammed Mohiuddin. In November 2019, the property was publicly rebranded District 40. The new direction focused on entertainment, dining, and experiential uses, including proposed go-karts, bowling, arcade attractions, restaurants, and a trampoline park. Warehouse Cinemas was selected as the first major tenant and renovated the former cinema wing before opening in 2020. Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant and Frederick Furniture also opened that summer. Further plans attempted to fill former anchor and department-store space with leisure tenants. Big Country Lanes was announced in 2022 for the former Bon-Ton location, using assets from the recently closed Terrace Lanes. Later reference material states that the bowling project encountered final-approval difficulties and that its plans were moved to a former Big Lots building across the street. The same material describes a planned Spinners Pinball Arcade, with leasing in 2023 and renovation beginning in 2024, as well as a proposed Sky Jump Adventure Park for the former Bon-Ton area. Because the supplied reference describes some of these developments in future or ongoing terms, their final operating status should be independently verified. Boscov's and Home Depot remain the principal surviving anchor occupants associated with the former mall site.
- 2022
Big Country Lanes announced
[1]A bowling alley was announced for the former Bon-Ton location, although later project plans changed.
- 2020
Warehouse Cinemas opens
[1]Warehouse Cinemas opened in the renovated former Hoyts space, becoming the first major District 40 tenant.
- 2019
District 40 rebranding announced
[1]The property was given the District 40 name as part of an entertainment-focused repositioning.
- 2017
Property sold to West Frederick Center LLLP
[1]The property changed hands after an auction process and was acquired by West Frederick Center LLLP.
- 2016
Walmart redevelopment cancelled
[1]Walmart cancelled its planned participation in the Frederick Towne Center redevelopment.
- 2013
Enclosed mall closes
[1]The interior shopping portion closed to the public in April, leaving Boscov's and Home Depot operating at the site.
- 2011
Bon-Ton closes
[1]Bon-Ton and its furniture gallery shut after the retailer announced their closure in 2010.
- 2009
Hoyts Cinemas 10 closes
[1]The cinema closed following a fatal stabbing inside the theater.
- 2004
Home Depot opens
[1]The Home Depot occupied the former Montgomery Ward building.
- 2003
Boscov's replaces J.C. Penney
[1]Boscov's took over the former J.C. Penney anchor location.
Products and positioning
A former regional enclosed shopping mall being repositioned from conventional retail toward a local entertainment, dining, and experiential-use destination.
Department store · 2003
Boscov's
Boscov's occupies the former J.C. Penney anchor space and is one of the two major anchor-style occupants that remained after the enclosed mall closed. Its department-store assortment includes apparel, accessories, home merchandise, cosmetics, and related retail categories.
Home improvement retailer · 2004
The Home Depot
The Home Depot opened in the former Montgomery Ward building in 2004. The store is connected with the former mall site but is described as technically outside the District 40 property under the redevelopment arrangement.
Cinema and entertainment · 2020
Warehouse Cinemas
Warehouse Cinemas converted and renovated the former Hoyts Cinemas 10 wing. It was announced as the first major tenant for the District 40 concept and opened in 2020, restoring a cinema and entertainment use to part of the former mall.
Restaurant · 2020
Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant
Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant opened in the former Ground Round space in 2020 as part of District 40's shift toward dining and entertainment uses. The supplied reference material later describes a proposed rebranding to Saffron Grill & Bar, but does not establish the final status.
Furniture retailer · 2020
Frederick Furniture
Frederick Furniture opened at the property during the 2020 redevelopment period, adding a home-furnishings use to the post-mall tenant mix.
Arcade and leisure entertainment
Spinners Pinball Arcade
Spinners Pinball Arcade was announced for a large space on the northern side of the former mall near Warehouse Cinemas. The supplied reference says the location was leased in 2023 and renovated in 2024, but gives an opening date in 2026 that requires verification.
Brand decisions
2022
Plan a bowling-entertainment tenant for the former Bon-Ton spaceProduct launchBackground
District 40 sought to replace vacant department-store space with experiential uses.
Action taken
Big Country Lanes was announced as a planned bowling alley using assets from the closed Terrace Lanes.
Aftermath
The supplied reference later states that the project could not obtain final approval and that its plans moved to a former Big Lots building across the street.
2019
Rebrand the property as District 40StrategyBackground
The traditional enclosed-mall model had largely failed, while the site retained substantial buildings and surviving anchor tenants.
Action taken
The owner announced a new identity and an entertainment-centered tenant strategy featuring possible bowling, go-karts, arcade attractions, restaurants, and a trampoline park.
Aftermath
Warehouse Cinemas, a restaurant, and a furniture retailer joined the property during the 2020 repositioning period.
2016
Pursue Frederick Towne Center redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The property had lost most of its traditional tenants and the interior mall had become increasingly difficult to sustain.
Action taken
A plan was advanced to demolish much of the enclosed mall, retain Boscov's and Home Depot, and build a 155,000-square-foot Walmart.
Aftermath
Walmart cancelled its plans in September 2016, and the property was subsequently offered for sale.
2004
Convert former Montgomery Ward building for Home DepotOtherBackground
Montgomery Ward's 2001 closure left a major anchor building vacant during a period of weakening mall performance.
Action taken
The former department-store building was repurposed for The Home Depot.
Aftermath
Home Depot remained one of the principal surviving occupants after the enclosed mall later closed.
Sources1 sources
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