Harundale Mall
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedA pioneering enclosed, air-conditioned shopping mall in Glen Burnie, Maryland, that operated from 1958 until 1997.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Harundale Mall was a historic shopping center in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, at the intersection of Ritchie Highway and Aquahart Road. Developed by Baltimore-based real-estate entrepreneur James W. Rouse through Community Research & Development, Inc., the predecessor to The Rouse Company, it opened on October 1, 1958. The project is remembered as the first enclosed and air-conditioned shopping mall built east of the Mississippi River, and contemporary descriptions presented it as one of the earliest fully enclosed, climate-controlled retail centers on the American East Coast. The approximately 350,000-square-foot center was designed by Rogers, Taliaferro, & Lamb, the architectural practice later associated with RTKL Associates. Construction reportedly cost $10 million. Rather than being created on an entirely undeveloped site, the mall incorporated an existing group of six stores. Its design emphasized an interior retail environment, with fountains, extensive plantings, seating areas, and a principal Garden Court. One of the court's distinctive features was a 35-foot cage containing mynah birds, complemented by a staircase leading to a balcony restaurant positioned above a fountain. These elements made the mall an attraction as well as a collection of stores, reflecting the experiential suburban retail concepts associated with Rouse's early development work. At opening, Harundale Mall included department stores Hochschild, Kohn & Co. and Brager's, a substantial Oppenheim Collins location, variety stores operated by S.S. Kresge and G.C. Murphy, and a Food Fair supermarket. The grand-opening program included Maryland Governor Theodore McKeldin, James W. Rouse, Hochschild, Kohn & Co. president Martin Kohn, and other political figures, including then-Senator John F. Kennedy. Brager's became Brager-Gutman following a 1959 merger, while Food Fair was converted to the Pantry Pride name in 1971. General Cinemas opened a single-screen theater across from the mall in 1964. The property underwent a modest renovation beginning in 1980. The work included repainting and retiling, a new picnic area in the south court, redesigned kiosks, and enlarged planters and seating areas. Retail turnover increased during the following decade. Pantry Pride's location was sold at auction in 1981 and later closed. Hutzler's acquired the former Hochschild, Kohn & Co. space in 1984, announced a possible Value Way conversion in 1988, and ultimately left the center that year. Value City occupied the former department-store space in 1989. Harundale Mall eventually faced the broader challenges affecting older enclosed malls, including changing retail patterns and competition from newer regional centers. The opening and growth of Marley Station Mall weakened its competitive position. By 1995, occupancy had fallen to about 80 percent, and The Rouse Company placed the property on the market. McCrory also announced that it would leave at the end of its lease, as part of a wider closure program connected to the company's bankruptcy-related restructuring. The mall quietly ceased operating in 1997, although Value City and two exterior tenants remained for a time. Manekin Corporation acquired the property and pursued a redevelopment rather than another enclosed-mall renovation. Demolition began in March 1998 and was completed the following year. The site was rebuilt as Harundale Plaza, an open-air shopping center. Early redevelopment plans included Superfresh, an enlarged Value City, and new or relocated bank tenants. Later changes brought Burlington Coat Factory, HomeGoods, Regency Furniture, and other occupants. Lidl opened at the redeveloped center in 2020, and Urban Air Trampoline & Adventure Park opened in the former Burlington space in 2024. The original mall no longer exists, but its site remains part of Glen Burnie's retail landscape and its pioneering enclosed, air-conditioned design gives it a notable place in the history of American shopping centers.
History
Harundale Mall was developed in Glen Burnie, Maryland, by James W. Rouse's Community Research & Development, Inc., later the predecessor to The Rouse Company. The mall opened on October 1, 1958, at Ritchie Highway and Aquahart Road. It was built around six existing stores and contained approximately 350,000 square feet of retail space. Its fully enclosed and air-conditioned design made it an important early example of the modern American shopping mall and is commonly described as the first such mall east of the Mississippi River. Rogers, Taliaferro, & Lamb designed the center. The interior used fountains, plants, courts, seating, and other features intended to make shopping an attractive leisure activity. The main Garden Court included a 35-foot mynah-bird cage and a balcony restaurant above a fountain. Original or early tenants included Hochschild, Kohn & Co., Brager's, Oppenheim Collins, S.S. Kresge, G.C. Murphy, and Food Fair. Brager's became Brager-Gutman in 1959, and Food Fair later changed to Pantry Pride. General Cinemas added a nearby single-screen theater in 1964. The property was renovated in 1980 with new paint and tile, redesigned kiosks, a south-court picnic area, and expanded planters and seating. Retail changes continued as Pantry Pride left after its store was sold at auction, Hutzler's replaced Hochschild, Kohn & Co. in 1984, and Value City took over the former department-store location in 1989. By the 1990s, the center faced pressure from newer retail developments, particularly Marley Station Mall. The Rouse Company placed Harundale Mall on the market in 1995, when occupancy was reported at about 80 percent. McCrory later announced that it would close its store at lease expiration as part of a broader corporate closure program. Harundale Mall quietly closed in 1997, with only a small number of exterior tenants continuing temporarily. Manekin Corporation acquired the property and decided to demolish the enclosed structure rather than undertake a major renovation. Demolition began in March 1998 and was completed the following year. The replacement, Harundale Plaza, was an open-air shopping center initially planned around Superfresh, an expanded Value City, and potential bank relocations. Subsequent tenant changes included the conversion of Value City to Burlington, the conversion of AJWright to HomeGoods, the arrival of Regency Furniture, Lidl's opening in 2020, and Urban Air's opening in 2024. The original Harundale Mall is therefore defunct, while its former property continues to operate as a different retail development.
- 2024
Urban Air opens
[1]Urban Air Trampoline & Adventure Park opens in the former Burlington space.
- 2020
Lidl opens at Harundale Plaza
[1]Lidl becomes a tenant at the redeveloped property.
- 2011
AJWright space becomes HomeGoods
[1]The AJWright store is converted to HomeGoods, while Superfresh later closes and its space is subsequently used by Regency Furniture.
- 2008
Value City space becomes Burlington
[1]The former Value City location is converted to a Burlington Coat Factory store.
- 1999
Harundale Plaza redevelopment is completed
[1]The former mall site is rebuilt as an open-air shopping center.
- 1998
Demolition begins
[1]Manekin Corporation begins demolishing the enclosed mall for redevelopment.
- 1997
Original mall permanently closes
[1]The enclosed mall ceases operations, with limited exterior tenants remaining temporarily.
- 1995
Property is offered for sale
[1]The Rouse Company puts the mall on the market amid declining competitiveness and approximately 80 percent occupancy.
- 1989
Value City enters the mall
[1]Value City occupies the former Hutzler's department-store space.
- 1984
Hutzler's acquires the former Hochschild, Kohn location
[1]Hutzler's takes over the mall location previously operated by Hochschild, Kohn & Co.
Products and positioning
A pioneering suburban enclosed shopping center that combined climate-controlled retailing with landscaped, attraction-oriented interior design. In its later years, it was an aging neighborhood mall competing with newer regional shopping centers before being replaced by an open-air retail plaza.
Retail real estate · 1958
Enclosed shopping mall
The original Harundale Mall was a roughly 350,000-square-foot enclosed and air-conditioned shopping center. Its significance came from combining multiple retailers under a climate-controlled roof with landscaped courts, fountains, seating, and themed attractions. The format represented an early version of the suburban regional shopping mall and was designed to make the interior environment part of the customer experience.
Open-air shopping center · 1999
Harundale Plaza
Harundale Plaza is the open-air retail development that replaced the original mall after its closure and demolition. Its tenant mix evolved over time and has included supermarket, discount apparel, home-furnishings, banking, and family-entertainment uses. It is a successor property rather than a continuation of the enclosed mall's operating format.
Brand decisions
1998
Replacement of the enclosed mall with Harundale PlazaStrategyBackground
The original enclosed center had closed in 1997 and retained only limited exterior tenancy.
Action taken
Manekin Corporation demolished the mall and redeveloped the property as an open-air shopping center.
Aftermath
The redevelopment became Harundale Plaza, with later tenant changes including Lidl and Urban Air Trampoline & Adventure Park.
1995
The Rouse Company markets the mall for saleStrategyBackground
The aging mall faced competition from newer retail development, including Marley Station Mall, and was reported to be operating at approximately 80 percent occupancy.
Action taken
The Rouse Company placed Harundale Mall on the market.
Aftermath
Manekin Corporation subsequently acquired the property and pursued demolition and open-air redevelopment.
Sources1 sources
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