Schuylkill Mall

Schuylkill Mall was an enclosed regional shopping center located at the junction of Pennsylvania Route 61 and Interstate 81 in Frackville, Pennsylvania. Developed and opened by Crown American on October 9, 1980, the mall was designed to serve shoppers from communities across Schuylkill County and the surrounding coal-region market. At approximately 800,000 square feet, it was among Pennsylvania's larger shopping malls during its active period and was planned with capacity for roughly 115 stores. The original anchor lineup consisted of Kmart, Hess's, and Sears. The Sears store replaced a long-standing Pottsville location and was substantially larger than its predecessor, while Hess's used a store-within-a-store format that included a major furniture department. Kmart's location incorporated a home-improvement section, an unusual feature for many Kmart stores of the period. The mall also included a prototype McCrory variety store, a Rea & Derick drugstore, food service, entertainment, and two McDonald's locations, one inside the mall and another in the parking area. A proposed fourth anchor relationship with J. C. Penney did not materialize. Schuylkill Mall expanded its anchor roster in 1983 when Pomeroy's relocated from downtown Pottsville. Pomeroy's was acquired by The Bon-Ton in 1987, adding another major regional department-store identity to the property. Phar-Mor opened as a fifth anchor in 1991. Sears expanded its mall store in 1995 by taking over approximately 23,000 square feet of former mall space. Over time, the mall's anchor buildings changed hands and uses as department-store and discount-retail chains declined. Hess's closed in 1995 and its building subsequently housed U.S. Factory Outlets, Black Diamond Antiques, Steve & Barry's, and Famous Labels. The former Phar-Mor space later became a Dunham's Sports store. Ownership and operating conditions changed during the mall's later years. PREIT acquired Crown American's portfolio in 2003 and sold Schuylkill Mall to Empire Realty in 2007. The property then experienced sustained tenant losses amid weakening regional economic conditions, population decline, changing retail habits, and the broader contraction of traditional department stores. Closures included Chick-fil-A, Gap, Kay Jewelers, Liberty Travel, Hallmark Gold Crown, Schuylkill Valley Sports, Littman Jewelers, Auntie Anne's, RadioShack, Black Diamond Antiques, Sears, Kmart, and The Bon-Ton. A number of smaller retailers, restaurants, arcades, and service businesses also departed. By 2017, Dunham's Sports was the principal remaining major anchor. Northpoint Development LLC purchased the property in March 2017 for a reported $2.1 million while assuming leases for many nearby retail spaces. Tenants received notice in May 2017 that the mall would close. Dunham's remained open through December 31, 2017, and later relocated to Fairlane Village Mall in Pottsville. Pearl Stadium 8 Theatres, the mall's final operating tenant, closed on January 15, 2018. Northpoint began demolition eleven days later, and the mall was reportedly fully removed by September 5, 2018. A Clayco industrial warehouse was subsequently constructed on the site, ending Schuylkill Mall's identity as a retail complex.

Crown American opened Schuylkill Mall on October 9, 1980, at the intersection of Pennsylvania Route 61 and Interstate 81 in Frackville. The approximately 800,000-square-foot enclosed mall was built as a major regional retail destination for Schuylkill County. It was planned for approximately 115 storefronts, with 91 occupied at opening. Kmart, Hess's, and Sears served as the original anchors. The center also offered a McCrory variety store, Rea & Derick pharmacy, a Weis Markets grocery store on an outparcel, restaurants, and two McDonald's locations. Crown American considered J. C. Penney for an additional anchor role, but that plan did not come to fruition. Pomeroy's relocated from downtown Pottsville to the mall in 1983, becoming a fourth anchor. The chain was acquired by The Bon-Ton in 1987. Phar-Mor opened in 1991 as a fifth anchor, strengthening the mall's mix of department-store and discount retail. In 1995, Sears expanded by approximately 23,000 square feet. That same year Hess's closed, and the former department-store space passed through several uses, including U.S. Factory Outlets, Black Diamond Antiques, Steve & Barry's, and Famous Labels. The former Phar-Mor building later became the home of Dunham's Sports. The mall's ownership changed in the early twenty-first century. PREIT acquired Crown American's portfolio in 2003 and sold Schuylkill Mall to Empire Realty in 2007. The property then entered a prolonged decline. Retail closures during the 2000s and 2010s included restaurants, apparel stores, jewelry stores, specialty retailers, arcades, and service businesses. The loss of Sears in 2014 and Kmart in 2015 removed two of the center's most important anchors. RadioShack, Black Diamond Antiques, and The Bon-Ton were among the later departures. The deterioration reflected both local economic and demographic pressures and national changes affecting enclosed malls and traditional department stores. The property was listed for a Schuylkill County sheriff's sale in 2016 in connection with a reported judgment of $27,428,876.10. Northpoint Development LLC of Riverside, Missouri completed its acquisition in March 2017 for a reported $2.1 million and assumed leases for many surrounding retail spaces. On May 9, 2017, tenants were told to vacate within 90 days, and the mall moved toward permanent closure. Dunham's Sports, the last major anchor, remained open until December 31, 2017. It later reopened at Fairlane Village Mall in Pottsville on December 7, 2018. Pearl Stadium 8 Theatres was the final tenant. The cinema had developed from an earlier theater operation and was purchased by Kings Theater Circuit after the prior theater closed in 2010. Between 2010 and 2013, the operator upgraded the venue with eight stadium-seated auditoriums, digital projection, larger screens, improved sound, renovated public areas, and a 21-and-over Screening Room featuring luxury seating, food, and alcohol service. Despite those improvements, the theater closed on January 15, 2018. Demolition began on January 26, 2018, less than two weeks after the final closure. Work progressed through the former Sears and Bon-Ton wings and later removed most of the remaining structure. Demolition was reportedly complete by September 5, 2018. The former mall site was subsequently redeveloped with a Clayco industrial warehouse in late 2019 or early 2020. Schuylkill Mall is therefore a defunct retail property whose history traces the rise of large regional enclosed malls, the transformation of department-store retail, and the eventual redevelopment of an underperforming shopping center for industrial use.

• 2020

  Industrial redevelopment replaces the mall

  [1]Schuylkill Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A Clayco industrial warehouse was built on the former mall site in the late 2019 to early 2020 period.

• 2018

  Mall closes and demolition begins

  [1]Schuylkill Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The final tenant closed on January 15, demolition began on January 26, and removal was reportedly completed on September 5.

• 2017

  Northpoint Development acquires the property

  [1]Schuylkill Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Northpoint Development completed a reported $2.1 million acquisition in March and later announced the mall's permanent closure.

• 2015

  Kmart closes

  [1]Schuylkill Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Kmart followed Sears in leaving the property.

• 2014

  Sears announces closure

  [1]Schuylkill Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Sears announced the closure of its large anchor store, a significant setback for the mall.

• 2012

  Dunham's Sports opens

  [1]Schuylkill Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Dunham's Sports opened in the former Phar-Mor building in September after signing a lease in 2011.

• 2007

  Empire Realty becomes owner

  [1]Schuylkill Mallen.wikipedia.org

  PREIT sold the mall to Empire Realty.

• 2003

  PREIT acquires Crown American's portfolio

  [1]Schuylkill Mallen.wikipedia.org

  PREIT acquired the Crown American portfolio, including Schuylkill Mall.

• 1995

  Sears expands while Hess's closes

  [1]Schuylkill Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Sears added approximately 23,000 square feet, while Hess's ended its operation at the mall.

• 1991

  Phar-Mor opens

  [1]Schuylkill Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Phar-Mor opened as the mall's fifth anchor.

• 1987

  Pomeroy's is acquired by The Bon-Ton

  [1]Schuylkill Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Bon-Ton acquired the Pomeroy's chain, eventually operating the Schuylkill Mall anchor under The Bon-Ton name.

• 1983

  Pomeroy's becomes a fourth anchor

  [1]Schuylkill Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Pomeroy's moved from downtown Pottsville into the mall, adding another regional department-store anchor.

• 1980

  Schuylkill Mall opens

  [1]Schuylkill Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Crown American opened the approximately 800,000-square-foot mall on October 9 with Kmart, Hess's, and Sears as its principal anchors.

A large enclosed regional shopping mall serving Frackville, Pottsville, and the wider Schuylkill County market. During its peak, it combined several department-store anchors with discount retail, specialty shops, food outlets, and cinema entertainment; in its later years, it became a declining and increasingly vacant retail property before closure and redevelopment.

• Shopping mall · 1980

  Regional enclosed shopping center

  The core offering was a large enclosed retail environment containing department stores, specialty shops, restaurants, services, and entertainment. At opening, the property was designed for approximately 115 stores and served as a regional destination rather than a single-category retailer.

• Cinema entertainment

  Pearl Stadium 8 Theatres

  The mall's cinema operation evolved into an eight-auditorium venue with stadium seating, digital projection, upgraded sound, larger screens, renovated concessions and public areas, and a premium Screening Room with food, alcohol service, and luxury seating.

• Sporting goods · 2012

  Dunham's Sports

  Dunham's Sports occupied the former Phar-Mor anchor building and became the mall's last major anchor. It operated at Schuylkill Mall until December 31, 2017, then later reopened at Fairlane Village Mall in Pottsville.

• 2018

  Retail property is replaced with industrial developmentStrategy

  Background

  After the final tenant departed, the severely underoccupied enclosed mall no longer operated as a viable regional shopping center.

  Action taken

  Northpoint demolished the mall beginning January 26 and redeveloped the site for a Clayco industrial warehouse.

  Aftermath

  The former shopping mall site transitioned from retail use to industrial logistics and warehouse use.

  Source

• 2017

  Northpoint Development purchases Schuylkill MallM&A

  Background

  The mall had experienced prolonged vacancy and the loss of major department-store anchors. It had also been listed in a county sheriff's sale process in 2016.

  Action taken

  Northpoint Development LLC acquired the property in March 2017 and assumed leases for many surrounding retail spaces.

  Aftermath

  The new owner gave tenants notice to vacate, closed the mall, demolished the structure, and pursued industrial redevelopment of the site.

  Reported acquisition price. $2.1 million (March 2017)

  Source

• 2010

  Kings Theater Circuit acquires and renovates the cinemaProduct launch

  Background

  The prior theater operation had closed, leaving an opportunity to restore the mall's entertainment component.

  Action taken

  Kings Theater Circuit acquired the former theater and carried out upgrades between 2010 and 2013, ultimately operating an eight-screen venue with premium amenities.

  Aftermath

  The renovated Pearl Stadium 8 Theatres became the mall's final tenant but closed in January 2018.

  Source

1. 1Schuylkill Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Schuylkill Mall official website, archived referenceshopschuylkillmall.com