Frederick Towne Mall Plan
The FNP Biz Blog is reporting that the redevelopment plan for the Frederick Towne Mall has been approved:
The mall has had it’s master plan approved for redevelopment of the location, Griffin said.
Three main anchor tenants — the Bon Ton, Home Depot and Boscovs — will remain, becoming standalone buildings. The remainder of the mall would be removed completely.
Instead of the long box shape it is now, the redevelopment would be a grid street network; at the rear of the property would be several hundred active adult condos.
The completion date is 2008 sometime.
I wonder what will become of the strip mall (with Ollie’s etc.) behind that area. What do you think? Will getting rid of the “mall” portion of the structure improve the shopping out there?
Interesting…. shame they aren’t keeping the theatres. Every now and then when I don’t feel like dropping $10 on a ticket i”ll catch a movie there on the cheap.
That whole area over there is pretty run down. Suffice it to say, I don’t shop there or try to avoid as much as possible. Crime rate in that area is high and the trafficers are bad
On thing I will agree with you on is that the area seems to be in decline since the state police left their barracks out there. I feel like they turned their back on the area, and it seems to be getting more run down out there since. It’s too bad, as I would much rather shop on that side of the town, than that mess out by FSK. Extremely poor planning, and extremely congested, the FTM side of town would have plenty of shoppers for the ease of getting in and out of the area, but the state or the county or somebody needs to get some police presence back out there.
I only go into boscovs and bonton when I shop there. I have not been in on the inside of that mall for years. The last time I inside it was rundown and nothing else to shop at. I would say it would be a good idea to do what they are saying.
The reason it looks like that in the first place is because of the mall management kicking out the tenants, the tenants didn’t leave due to low sales or something, the management wouldn’t renew their leases. The management is purposely trying to make the mall run down in order to justify their “bright idea” of what they want to do to the public. Other than that, they might also be doing so for a tax write off. But it is not lack of business that drove the stores out, that mall purposely does not advertise anymore, they used to do a good bit of tv and print advertising. The management is doing it on purpose.
Anything would be a huge improvement to what is there now.
Malls appear to be on the decline nation wide.
Growing up, we drove from Berkeley County to the golden mile to shop and always stopped at the mall. It’s sad to see how that entire strip has declined. I’ve lived in Frederick County for two years now and have been surprised to read of the robberies, shootings and carjackings in that area. I don’t think redeveloping the mall will help.
I think this is a great idea. Anybody know if there are plans to renovate the FSK mall? It’s got a dated and tired look in the middle of lots of new development.
The whole area is run down due to the influx of immigrant persons moving into that area. I strictly stay away from that area for that reason. I firmly believe that is the reason that the crime in that area has increased.
Personally, I have always felt it is cowardly to anonymously blame anyone (or any group) for anything).
Fredericktowne Mall is hardly an anomaly, either:
http://www.deadmalls.com/
The problem is one of demographics, not shopping mall design. The decline of Fredericktowne Mall is symptomatic of an disturbing, underlying trend that will only continue. The only hope is to pump enough decent, law-abiding, relatively affluent citizens into the area, and hope they can work miracles, but my bet is against them.
The state police moving out of the area has a lot to do with that, I think.
Ithink it is a great idea and if they do it right, it could be a real success. Rumour has it that it is nearly fully pre leased. Hmmmm…wonder what will go in there?
As for FSK Mall, PREIT says they are always looking for way to imnprove the center, but Value City is there until 2010. They need to go!
Well, in order to start construction an any commercial structure anymore, the building has to be at least 50% leased prior to the banks releasing any money. The buildings are supposed to be at least 80% leased by completion.
And as to FSK, until the roads are improved around there, it will remain what it is. I drive down to Montgomery Mall for my shopping simply because I can find what I am looking for there.
Just out of curiosity, what are “active adult condos”?
Tam, I was wondering the same thing!
~Liz~
I think “active adult” is a euphemism for 50 or 55+ y.o. nowadays.
You are kidding yourself if you think that illegal immigration are not at least “part” of the problem. The crime in that area is a huge issue. Just listen to WFMD and take note of where most (NOT ALL) of the crime occurs. I’ve heard them report, armed robberies, purse snatchings etc. The city needs to prove they can patrol the area, clean it up and reduce the crime. Until that happens the new construction is merely a band aid on a sucking chest wound. However, I’m pulling for them, since that area is still Frederick, I want to see it succeed.
As a kid I lived in the apartments behind the Frederick Towne Mall. Even back then it wasn’t a great neighborhood AND there were lots of white faces calling those apartments home. So that area has always been less than desirable even before the influx of immigrants. So you can’t blame them for all the woes of the Golden Mile.
One problem is the dispersel of Frederick retail to all corners of the City/County. People have more of a choice of where they can shop now. So before when they may have put up with a little shadyness now they don’t have to. They can go to the other side of town and shop.
Hopefully there plan to re-vamp the area will work and spread all over the Golden Mile.
I lived back there about 20 years ago, and it’s much worse today than it was then. Much worse, not a little. True, it was never Holly Hills, but the difference is night and day. Instead of a “white face”-”brown face”-”black face” issue, however, the general lawlessness we read about in police reports is part of a systemic, self-reinforcing culture that won’t be solved by gilding a nearby mall, or importing 200 active adults.
I see two things at work: 1) Fred.TowneMall is a throwback design that’s worn down, not attractive to shoppers who have so much higher quality shopping within 30-40 minutes. 2) The rise of the working-class Hispanic population is temporarily causing some greater tension, but it’s short-sighted to blame immigrants in general. It’s the American dream being played out, just as it has been for generations (the Irish were the targets 100 years ago). Most Hispanics are terrific, hard-working people who are working 2 and sometimes 3 jobs per day just to make a go of it. I think a sincere effort to make a sharp shopping area will be a good start, coupled with a broader mindset toward the new American community.
Yes, but Liz and I still want to know what “active adult condos” are…
I believe active adult condo is for adults who need no assistance. There seem to be two types of adult only communities. . . assisted living or active adult.
So, if I understand correctly, in this case “adult “= “senior”.
Well, that’s an interesting idea. If the crime in that neighborhood is as bad as this discussion would indicate, is it really an appropriate place in which to build homes for senior citizens (active or otherwise)?
Another way of looking at it: There will be dozens of new homes to rob.
This seems to be Frederick Towne Mall version Umpteen.0. The only thing keeping it afloat right now is Boscov’s. I doubt it’ll work, mainly because of the crime and the traffic.
I find it interesting that malls have come full circle, from being open air to enclosed and then back now to open-air “town centers.”
Jim: the Irish came LEGALLY. Why are we as a country throwing open our borders and begging people to come into our country whom, for example, Mexico would never accept? I don’t share your optimism.
Cygnus, I hear you about the illegal immigration problem . . . and I’m concerned about that, too. Clearly a major overhaul is needed in our national policy and enforcement. My main concern has to do with unfairly lumping all immigrants into one heap of problem people, which the vast majority aren’t. My reference to the Irish had to do with their perception from the Anglo community of the time–that they were problem people and could never assimilate. Soon that perception subsided as Irish-Americans found their place in the American dream. I think we’re seeing a similar thing now, not just with Hispanics but also Asians and Africans.
The real problem is this: What happens to the Golden Mile if and when the Frederick Towne Mall renovation concept does not work? I think city officials believe this is the last, best hope for the Golden Mile.
If present trends continue, this area is going to resemble Prince George’s County in 10 years, and perhaps Southeast Washington in 20. Yes, you may disbelieve this, but spend a couple of hours walking through some of the key neighborhoods. Read the crime reports. Better yet, talk to some of the city’s police. Once crime, low income and general unpleasantness take hold, these things tend to have a snowballing effect.
“The problem is one of demographics, not shopping mall design. The decline of Fredericktowne Mall is symptomatic of an disturbing, underlying trend that will only continue.”
It most certianly is shopping mall design. Design is much more important that people think in shaping communities and lifestyles. (Part of the reason why artists can make a yucky neighborhood hip.) Shopping malls are terrible places to be and I advoid them at all costs, exept to go to Macy’s for denim.
The Golden Mile is a major PIA to drive through. I hate shopping there, even though I enjoy some of the individual places. I hope that these improvements can help. I, for one, think that there is too much shopping and too many restaurants in Frederick. It’s mind boggling. We can never decide, so we just go to the same place over and over and over again. (That place would be Clay Oven- most delicious.)
While they’re at it, they should knock down all of the run down apartment complexes behind the mall and shopping centers along the golden mile.
Sure, make people homeless. That’ll definetly help.
I was surprised to read this thread. There is a lot of bigotry here.
The Golden Mile is just going to get more congested when condos will be built. I definately agree with the idea of a new mall because we need a good one on this part of town!!! Hopefully there will be a Chipotle coming also?!
Well, I am hopin gthat the plan for Fredericktowne Mall will work. Open air, town centers are the current wave of shopping. Hopefully they can draw in some good, strong tenants to make the mix enticing and a bit upscale. Who knows? Maybe they will put a Chipotle there or a Baja Fresh.
Knock it down and build a day labor center
Echoing Cygnus’ earlier comment, I am old enough to have witnessed the major changes in retail mindset–going back to the pre-mall days of non-chain individual businesses forming the core of “real” downtowns, followed by the rise of the covered mall concept in outlying suburbia, then a move to in effect “uncover” the malls and provide open-air shopping, and now the return to the idea of individual stores but standing alone, often as “big boxes” surrounded by huge parking areas, on the perimeter of the old downtowns. The question of what drives these changes (what was once “good design, new and desirable” becomes “bad design and tired”) sort of fascinates me. Somehow, the current move to stand-alone stores situated among huge expanses of asphalt–apparently now considered the right approach to re-vitalize a sagging area–seems bass-ackwards to me in today’s world.
“knock is down and build a day labor center”
Are you kidding me? That is the LAST thing that Frederick County needs right now. Lets go ahead and open up the flood gates for MORE illegals to come take up roots in our city.
It just amazes me that some people refuse to look at the real problem in order to not seem like they are being racist. Lets face it folks, the Golden Mile is not what it used to be. I have been living in Frederick my entire life and I have watched it change from a nice place to live, to little Mexico.
I have nothing against hard working LEGALS working and living in Frederick. However, I have a huge problem with these living situations that allow 2, 3…even 4 FAMILIES of ILLEGALS living in one house. They have completely taken over every square inch of living space on the Golden Mile. Not only have they taken over, but the crime rate has absolutely SOARED in that area over the past 7 years. Whats next? MS-13?
I hate to say it, but how long can we look past the truth to make us feel like we arent being prejudice towards a group of people who are not even supposed to be here.
Frederick is dire need of a good mall period. As a female, who loathes shopping, I do like to have the convenience of a variety of shops when shopping is necessary.
The immigration issue is not the problem, as Jim Eaton has so poignantly pointed out.
This is a greed issue! Frederick Commissioners obviously either hired poor town planners or there are none. Look at the growth the Frederick area has endured in recent years, all to tout the honor of “Second biggest city” in Maryland. The planner, whose eyes were on government funding for 2-biggest-city-status, forgot to look at what all this mess would do to the people who reside here. Poors public services, roads, and shopping areas. Shame on those officials who delegate with greed.
That end of Frederick has gone down the tubes in the past decade. I lived in Elmwood Terrace when I was just out of college (1993)– you couldn’t pay me a million dollars to live there now. Revamping the mall is not going to make a difference. I agree with the poster who said that in 10 years, it will be like PG County if it doesn’t start to turn around soon. Unfortunately, I don’t know what the solution is. Am I a racist for saying that I don’t want my county to turn into the crime-infested disaster that is PG County? Anyone who thinks we don’t have a serious crime problem brewing in the area of the Golden Mile needs to take a serious second look– because it’s bad.
For builders and residential zoning purposes, “active adults” are considered to be empty-nesters whose presence will NOT increase the number of school-age children in the area. Builders have gotten this workaround to avoid having to pay impact fees for infrastructure expenses, for roads and public schools.
Frederick towne mall rules,
yea it could have some more stores, but the inside is awesome, i dont want anyone tearing it down, it has so much potential
I strongly agree with the other comment
I agree
the frederick towne mall is historical, it does need some renovations, but when you walk inside it isnt falling apart, its pretty clean and the auntie anne pretzels are delicious
It would break my heart if the mall was torn down, there is so much potential
the outdoor shopping is miserable and cold/hot depending on what the weather is and adding condos could increase the crime rate.
the mall is heavily gaurded with security,
it needs a better manager(s) who can get popular stores to coem like HOllister Co, Aeropostale, Old Navy, Ameagle. Theres lots of stores, just not the right ones
And now they closed Walden Books and Long John Silvers. Doors to the mall will only be open from 8:00 am to 9:30 pm. A window has been smashed. It’s in decline. I think Boscov’s regrets it moved into the old JC Penny store. But for some reason it’s still kept spotless, no dust bunnies in the corners. And the bathrooms are so much better and cleaner than at FSK Mall, suplied with ample tissues and towels. Sort of sends double signals.
Well the new plan for the center looks really great. It is all open air with a multi-level parking deck where Bon Ton Home Store is. The Bon ton, Boscov’s and Home Depot will stay. On the Rte 40 side in between Boscov’s and Bon ton and then in between bon Ton and Home Depot will be be two level open air retail. A sky walk will connect Bon Ton to the multi levle parking deck. In addition Ollie’s will stay , but the rest of that strip center will go. Condos and other housding will cculpy the back mall parking lot and a swimmming pool is to go in back there as well for the residents. Along Rte 40 will be several out pacels for restaurants and such. It will be renamed the Fredeick Towne Center.
Druss,
Those plans for the mall sound pretty nice. Is there a website where we can view the plans?
Hopefully the rest of Rt 40 businesses will follow their example and maybe in a few years that area will be rejuvenated.
Oh snap:
I recieved an email from NYC with the PDF file attachement of the plan as the property was for sale with the approved plan. with this in mind and the actions that are happening there it is safe to say that it has been sold.
I will look for that PDF and try and get it in here for you.
http://md-frederickcounty.civicplus.com/DocumentCenterii.asp?FID=168
Look on this site as well as this has it as well. Look under May, 06.
It looks pretty impressive.
hmmmm…
frederick towne mall is the best but the mall needs work on it. I believe that if they r going to tear it down than they should keep the name frederick towne mall, not frederick towne centre
I spend a lot of time there, hanging with friends and i always find it enjoyable; i just wanted to know if the movie theatre (HOYTS cinemas 10) is going to be torn down???
For the ladies, the BON TON will get torn down, but the store is moving to FRANCIS SCOTT KEY MALL, theres also one at Hagerstown valley mall
ANOTHER COMMENT provided by the ftm info guy.
the people who owned the mall, built it cheaply, they didnt even level the floor, but i have to say, theres nothing wrong with the actual building, its very open, clean and still in good shape, for how long its been around. fsk doesnt have a movie theatre, and regal is always crowded. HOYTS is nice, cheap, and they really do clean it! Theres no food or drinks on the floor. the mall is a place for people to walk in the morning. Now that there a lot of stores are gone, i do find it boring to shop there but if they had stores that were like Hollister co, AMeagle, Aeropostal, more food, then the mall would be great, but the remaining stores are good, they just need to fill the other stores with good ones. If you dont want the ftm to get torn down please leave a comment.
the malls unique, there used to be a nice restaurant called the ground round, but just b/c a mall doesnt have any stores doesnt mean it should be torn down, thats a lot of brick and stone to get thrown away, and who knows what their putting in there.
Compared to other stores and shopping centers on the golden mile, the frederick towne mall is beautiful. So why should the ftm get demolished???
If they could scrap Frederick Towne Mall and build a 3-story mall in its place–one that could accommodate the hip, premier retail chains and offer a food court–the New Frederick Towne Mall could come roaring back, and blow FSK right out of the water.
“All” it takes is someone with a big vision, bigger bucks, and the you know whats to make it happen.
I agree with you Matthew, but I doubt that will happen. The new plan could really be nice though…if it is marketed right!
FSK mall isnt really that nice of a mall, its on the small side compared to Hagerstown, and its not as clean. The F*T*M used to be awesome, but in the past 5 years, its gone down!!!
so sad.
Random, I agree. That is why I keep badgering PREIT to do something big with the mall.
Hey, does anyone know if the Home Depot opens into the mall (or just “bolted on” with no interior exit)?
I haven’t been, but I seem to remember reading, when it was being built, that it would not have a mall entrance.
With the deepening mortgage meltdown and credit crunch–and the already identified trend toward open-air malls–it’s doubtful anyone is going to sink tens of millions into FSK in the near future.
Especially PREIT, which is a 200-pound gorilla in the global scheme of things. Look at their stock performance over the last 12 months–egad that’s bad!
My guess is PREIT thinks FSK is good enough. It’s certainly no showcase, but showcases cost lots of moola, and PREIT isn’t willing to ante up because all the profitable retailers are locating elsewhere. Ultimately, it could be that FSK’s fate is emblematic of uncertainly regarding malls (most) everywhere.
Home Depot is indeed “bolted” on!! No mall entrance.
I think the spot that HD took over did have a mall entrance, but they walled it up when they built it.
Does anyone know if the Long John Silvers will come back to Frederick?? I was so mad when they shut that down!
They really need a Long John Silvers/A&W Franchise stand-alone building!!
I have not heard if Long Joh silver’s will return. I agree with you that it would be cool to have and A&W franchise here. Many moons ago on Rosemont Avenue there was and A&W Drive in place. My mother worked there when she was young. .
That definitely would be cool to have that franchise! I’m starting to wonder if I should start one here in Frederick
I’ve priced it now it’s a matter getting zoning regulations and current city site plans. How cool would that be!
Besides eating all the profit…..lol
Sounds cool, Scott!
Though I don’t visit fast food places very often, count me in on wishing a Long John Silvers would locate in or near Frederick or upcounty Montgomery. An A&W would be nice, too.
I long ago tired of the usual suspects around here–Burger King, Wendy’s, and especially McDonalds.
I was living in the area around the mall that was in 2000,,unfortunetly today I visited that mall after 8 years ,,I felt very very sad,,I used to sit in that mall,,It was SO GREAt all that word carry on just GREAT..I wish I did NOT visited it today , cause my mind used to have sweet memories about that mall ( which just broke my heart feelings),,,,,,,just dont know what to say…
Does anyone know what happened to Pit Stop Racing. It was the Nascar shop in the mall?
No clue as to what happened to the store.
Pardon my naivete, but why don’t the leaders of Frederick try something like this:
(1) Get an architect to redesign a trophy, 3-story concept mall where Fredericktowne Mall is currently located.
2) Compile a list of the hottest retailers in America today–those that would do well in the new Frederick County.
3) Approach each of these retailers as a group and ask: “Will you commit to opening a store in this new mall IF at least 6 of the following 10 hip new retailers also commits?”
In short, approach each retailer not as an individual entity, but as a part of a collective enterprise, wherein each retailer can be reasonably assured that other hip retailers will open with them. As each retailer says “yes,” it becomes easier for successive retailers to commit to what is a winning concept. Once you get enough yesses, it’s easier to get your earlier “no” people to say “yes.”
Matthew. I love your idea. I doubt it would happen. You are right. Certain retailers like to come in packs for friendly competition.
Actually I do know about Pit Stop Racing! I used to take my mom there when she would visit. I asked the guy while he was packing up one day and he said he was moving it to Pennsylvania. Wow…I knew something!
Thanks for the info.
THE FREDERICK TOWNE MALL IS A PIECE OF S***. THE STORES IN THE MALL ARE CRAP EXCEPT BONTON, BOSCOVS AND THE MOVIES. THEY SERIOUSLY NEED TO GET RID OF THOSE EVERYTHING FOR $3.99 STORES AND GET MORE CHAIN STORES LIKE JCPENNY, SHENK N’ TITLE, OR CLAIRES.
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1440418
Here we go, finally some “news”.
I am hoping this will be a nice change once they get it started! I am invisioning something similar to the main street in the Kentlands or the Washingtionian Center RIO in Gaithersburg.
Having grown up in G-burg, I can tell you that it took a while for both the RIO and Kentlands shopping centers to get off the ground and also to develop into what they are now. Alot of stores and visions came and went before they became the standard that they are today.
I still don’t get the appeal of open retail centers versus traditional malls. The latter, when done right, can be beautiful, protect shoppers from the cold and rain, and offer better security along that Golden Mile.
Of course, few places can compare with San Diego’s Horton Plaza.
http://gothere.com/sandiego/horton/index.htm
I would much rather shop in climate controlled comfort any day….
I believe that the Frederick Town Mall should be revitalized. I’ve read many comments and I keep hearing reference to the increase of crime along the Golden Mile. Well when we let communities run down this is what you can expect. I’d like to see more people talk about revitalizing those areas than talking about letting them further degenerate. Frederick is a growing city and residents living in the smaller towns around it come into Frederick to shop. As the population grows in Frederick County I feel that it will benefit from having two malls. As with any mall if you don’t put in the right stores, they are doomed to fail. Who manages FTM?
Matthew R: I’m with you about liking the idea of enclosed malls, if done right. I’ve never understood the thinking behind the move toward open retail centers and away from the mall concept.
With good market research and intelligently planning their retail mix, the Frederick Town Mall has the potential to succeed.
Looks like Urbana will siphon off the retail dynamic in Frederick, especially at the two malls–and at least in the short to medium term.
I have to do most of my shopping in Frederick or Charlestown, as I live between the two, and do not have any decent shopping centers where I live. I hate the traffic mess on the fsk side of town, and prefer to shop at the Golden Mile, as I view that as easier and safer to get around. As a result of FTM owners ruining the mall, more of my shopping goes to Charlestown now, I certainly don’t want to trek further to shop in Urbana….
It could do just that, but maybe it will wake up PREIT who owns FSK to do some sort of higher end renvovation and expansion.
um, way up in july mathew puts up 3 steps we can do in frederick… well, that sounds great, good business but, how is frederick suppose to fund that? we already all got a tax increase lately, which is actually not that bad considering we needed the money in the state.
maybe we shouldn’t focus on renovating the FSK mall htough, doing something with the golden mile end of frederick, and save the money to change the enforcement/education of what ppl can do to fix problems, not cover them up.
I think improving both malls would do the entire county. It could bring ins a stronger tax base that we need.
Frederick Towne Mall used to have many cool past retail stores: Shipley’s sporting goods, Shipley’s Appliances, the Fun and Games video arcade, the Time Out video arcade, Beefsteak Charlie’s Steakhouse Restaurant, a floral store, Dell’s board games store, the Stride Rite and Canticaleer shoe stores for little kids, Thom McCann Shoes, McCrory’s, KayBee Toys, Kaye Jewelers, Hair Cuttery, a few banks, the watch repair store, The Three Wings Hat store, The Pro Image, Foot Locker, FootQuarters Shoe store, The Lmited Store, The Paul Harris Store, The House of Music, Montgomery Wards, JCPenney’s, Your Custom Tailor, Camelot Music, Suncoast Movies, Waxie Maxie’s, Eyerlee’s, Rave, Claire’s, Arby’s, Ground Round, Hot Sam, Auntie Ann’s, and Boardwalk Fries. However, it started turning into a real run down and ghost town looking downtown shopping mall starting one day back in 2002 due to the bad US economic times being in effect.
Um, no, it wasn’t really the economy, more of it was because the mall owners started refusing to renew store leases, because they want the mall empty and ruined to push through this plan of theirs. Many of the businesses you mention went out of business as companies years before the current recession, or even the mall’s plans to redevelop, most because of Walmart (Kaybee and Thom Mcann were killed by Walmart, to name two),and some of them just moved out. Arby’s moved because they built a new free standing building. Chanticleer moved out to a different shopping center because they couldn’t stand the suspense anymore of worrying when they would be asked to leave by the mall management. Many of the stores you mention left either because of rumors that the mall was being torn down, or because the management wouldn’t renew their lease, it had nothing to do with the economy (Claire’s, Kay, the music store,watch repair store, etc, they still exist). Some companies you mention such as Waxie Maxie’s and Eyerly’s were bought by other companies, and continued on in the mall for awhile under other names. Your list spans at least three generations of stores at the mall, Waxie Maxie’s was bought by Camelot, I think, and Eyerly’s was bought by JCP, Suncoast by FYE, so while it may seem like those stores were replaced, well, they were and they weren’t. Montgomery Wards closed their doors as a company in the 90′s or late 80′s, McCrory as a business closed in the 90′s, too, well before 2002.
There also used to be a great tasting ice cream dessert place named Real Rich Ice Cream, Long John Silvers Restaurant, Friendly’s Restaurant, Allegro’s Pizza, the F and M inside bank including the three drive up outside of CVS teller packet stations and one ATM machine, and the Hanover shoe store inside this used to be shopped at every week of every year past popular downtown shopping mall back in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s decades. Many former middle of the mall school choir holiday singing events and other sports card shows used to be held in the large middle area and large area outside of the JCPenny and new Boscov’s stores of this shopping center. A few past disc jockey’s from the old Z-104 FM radio station used to setup old disc jockey booths and broadcast live at this mall besides a few radio program hosts from WFMD 930 AM.
I just came across a keychain that I have that says Shipley’s Inc. I had to check it out so I googled Shipley’s Sporting Goods and came across the book and thought how wonderfull it was back then. Very simple. I started reading the comments and couldn’t believe what I was reading. Just today, I mentioned this town to someone how great it was living their and all this has happened in that many years.
I haven’t read all the comments, but will. I have about 1 1/2 yrs of posts to catch up on. lol I lived in the appartments off of the main street by all the grocery stores are/were. It was great. 1989 – 2001. Months before we moved out a family moved in across from us and they were Mexican and that didn’t bother me. I’m Sicilian American. This family was nice but strange. After about a month living their, others started living their. I think at one time their must have been at least 7 kids of all ages. Come to find out she had at least 5 kids and was bringing them one by one. When I first met her, she told me she had only 2 kids. I didn’t think of it back then, but now…that was the beginning. 20 yrs ago. I am so sorry this has happened to you Frederick :*(
Daniel Freeburn-
Those were the good old days. The poor mall has not looked good since then. That was even before the days of working at the Weis.
the mall has many happy moemories of Saturdays with my late grandmother. She used to get her hair done at Ward’s. We used to fight over where to go for lunch and I used to pester her for one of those big chocolate chip cookies at Hot Sams’s when it was near Ward’s. She chased me with her umbrellas cussing me out saying “no f$ckingcookies…now get in there (War’s) you brat!” I also used to work at Waxie Maxie’s when it was there. I will miss the old place, but welcome the new change!!I do beleive it will work, but it may take a while to complete with our saggin economy.
It is cold, raw, windy, and flurry-filled weather like this that makes me think the indoor mall concept has merit up here in the northern mid-Atlantic.
Somehow, sometime, somewhere, someone decreed that indoor malls were no longer hip, convenient or even liked by the public. Maybe the big box retailers did them in, but the standalone model that requires us to hopscotch our cars across a wide retail sector doesn’t appeal to me.
… And the Prime Outlets model still isn’t resolved. Every couple years, Prime Outlet is said to be on the verge of bankruptcy.
HOYTS cimemas 10 isnt there anymore, which is a shame because it is the only decent theatre on this side of town.
The FTM went down because they charged too much to rent, and since the customers started going to the FSK mall, they FTM should have prevented the collapse of the mall… but its late now, they probably dont make any money because the 700,000 sq foot mall only 9 stores are rented, so thats probably why its startin to look run down… IT used t o be a great mall, they should make renovations and upgrade it and then it bring all the people away from fsk, and back into Golden mile… and the golden mile really needs it, with all the centers run down…
We immediately ran to the new Regal at Westview and never looked back. We always found Hoyt’s to be filthy, run down, floors sticky, seats torn up and broken down. And I no longer go to any theater that isn’t stadium seating. We lived in Aiken SC for a while and drove all the way to Augusta to see movies in a stadium seat theater rather than Aiken’s 20 year old-style theater seating.
As for immigration and crime on the GM, I had a friend who could not wait to get out of her apartment behind the FTM. She never felt safe there. And when she was moving out she found that an Asian family of at least 8 people (adults and kids) had rented a 2 bedroom apartment next to her. They spoke no English and had no furniture so she gave them some of her old stuff.
We do use some of the stores on the GM but our biggest complaint with all of the strip malls is the fact that their parking lots are not linked, that you have to drive out of each one, down the street, and then into the next one. That’s completely absurd. I’m talking about the ones that have Joannes, Burlington, etc. all on the same side of the GM yet “fenced off” from one another.
HOYTS cimemas 10 isnt there anymore, which is a shame because it is the only decent theatre on this side of town.
The FTM went down because they charged too much to rent, and since the customers started going to the FSK mall, they FTM should have prevented the collapse of the mall… but its late now, they probably dont make any money because the 700,000 sq foot mall only 9 stores are rented, so thats probably why its startin to look run down… IT used t o be a great mall, they should make renovations and upgrade it and then it bring all the people away from fsk, and back into Golden mile… and the golden mile really needs it, with all the centers run down…
yea the movie theatre was only 15 years old, people used to always go there, until the mall satrted loosing its stores, and the fact that a new stadium seating Regal was built, didnt help the malls sucess either.
I’d rather go to movies at FTM, and now the only option is Holiday on that side of town.
Matthew, I couldn’t agree more with your point about indoor malls in general.
As I’ve said before in other posts, I’ve never understood why the indoor mall concept lost favor somewhere along the way. It always seemed to make great sense from a number of standpoints, among them convenience and protection from the elements.
I think it’s far more convenient and comfortable to shop at an indoor mall…
No, Fredericktowne Mall was never a “great mall.” It was a mediocre mall that never changed with the times, never got the facelift it needed, never had a big-enough footprint to attract a critical mass of popular national chains.
The enclosed mall concept also makes sense in high-crime areas, such as along the Golden Mile. I predict the mall redesign will charm residents for the first couple years, and then a few too many muggings will occur, and FTM’s fate will be sealed.
I guess I’ve been ill-informed or pretty naive (or both), since I haven’t viewed the Golden Mile as being an especially high-crime area nor felt particularly threatened when I go there. (Admittedly, I find I’m shopping there less often nowadays.)
But, I realize everything is relative. There seems to be widespread recognition that the Golden Mile has generally declined and is experiencing more crime than in the past.
It seems that way since the state police left their barracks there…
after reading all these comments about crime on the golden mile,i only see one thing missing ……… the police are not doing the job they should be doing
Seems like plans have changed:
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?storyID=92325
Poor mall is a ghost town
I keep reading in the Frederick Post about all of the crime in that area as well. Some of it is right there in the mall parking lot, even in the day time. Honestly, it is a little intimidating. I’d like to shop there, but I think about the possibilities and I always wind up going somewhere else. In the past I really enjoyed that mall. It’s too bad really.
It is too depressing for me to go to that mall anymore. I sure hope the redevelopment comes along soon, but I doubt it due to the economy!
For me, it’s not about crime at all. It’s just that my trips to ANY mall in Frederick (or to Lakeforest or anywhere else) are few and far between these days. This just hit home recently when I made brief shopping forays to Penney’s at FSK Mall and Lakeforest. I realized it had been AGES since I’d been to a local mall. Not sure what that’s about, though it occurs to me that my absence from malls roughly coincides with Costco coming to Frederick and my doing more shopping on line.