Assembly Square Marketplace is currently a power centre and mixed-use development located in Somerville, Massachusetts. From the 1980s until the mid-2000s, it was an enclosed shopping mall called Assembly Square Mall. Scheduled plans for the facility call for a six phased expansion, thus changing its classification into super regional mall. 66.5 acres (269,000 m2) of office, retail, residential, research and development, hospitality and entertainment space are envisioned by project completion in 2011.
Assembly Square Mall opened in 1980. The mall building was previously occupied by a Ford Motors factory, and was later used as a supermarket distribution center before its conversion to a mall.
The 322,000-square-foot (29,900 m2) mall was originally anchored by a 79,000 sq ft (7,300 m2). Jordan Marsh and a 95,637 sq ft (8,885.0 m2). Kmart; these anchor stores remained the same until 1996, when Macy’s acquired Jordan Marsh. Macy’s closed the store in 1997, and by 1999, it was replaced with Building #19.
Shortly after Building 19 opened, the mall was closed off except for Building 19 and Kmart. The vacant mall and Building 19 spaces were gutted and reconfigured in 2005. The Kmart store remained in place.
The new Assembly Square Marketplace was completed in early 2006 and contains stores including Staples (in the former Building 19), AC Moore, Bed Bath & Beyond, TJ Maxx & More, HomeGoods, Sports Authority, Home Depot and Christmas Tree Shops. The area around the mall will be redeveloped as an “urban village”-style development .
