The Harrisburg Mall is is the largest mall in the Harrisburg area. The mall, formerly known as the Harrisburg East Mall, opened in 1969 with JCPenney, John Wannamaker, and Gimbels anchoring it. Over the years the mall’s lineup changed, with Gimbels being replaced by Hess’s, then Hecht’s, and currently Macy*s; Wannamakers having been replaced by Lord and Taylor, and currently, Bass Pro Shops; and JCPenney having been replaced by Boscov’s.
A $77 million revitalization of the mall was completed in 2008 with a brand new “streetscape” look on the north side of the mall. Tenants were to include Barnes & Noble, Panera Bread and Sega Sports Grill among others. However, the addition currently (as of January 2009) remains uncompleted, due in part to changing market conditions, as well financial difficulties with the mall’s owner, Feldman Mall Properties. Panera Bread and Sega’s Sports Grill decided to abandon their plans, and most recently, Barnes & Noble indicated that they would not be opening a location at the mall until June 2010.
On July 9, 2009, the Harrisburg Mall was sold at sheriffs sale to three financial groups after the previous owner, Feldman Lubert Adler defaulted on a 52.5 million dollar mortgage.
