Alexandria's Landmark Mall: Stores to Close By End Of Month

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The remaining two dozen or so stores at Landmark Mall will close by the end of the month, a spokeswoman for mall owner Howard Hughes Corporation confirmed Monday.

The Dallas-based Howard Hughes Corporation has also purchased the Macy's site at Landmark Mall, the company announced Monday morning.

“We enthusiastically welcome the purchase of Macy’s by The Howard Hughes Corporation, and strongly support this crucial and positive step in the redevelopment of Landmark Mall and the revitalization of Alexandria’s West End," said Joe Haggerty, president and CEO of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.

No timetable has been made public for when construction will begin for the renovation and building of the new shopping center.

Help is being offered to the remaining stores that are closing from the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership and the Alexandria Small Business Development Center.

The Macy's store, slated to close sometime this year, will likely not close at the end of January but will close once its inventory is depleted. The Sears store and a bank on the shopping center property will remain open.

The Howard Hughes Corporation acquired the 11.4-acre Macy's store and parking lot, building on the initial rezoning approval by the Alexandria City Council in June 2013. The company plans to transform the enclosed mall, which originally opened in 1965, and the Macy’s parcel into a "vibrant open-air, mixed-use community with retail, residential and entertainment components designed to create a dynamic urban village on the west end of Alexandria," the company said in its news release Monday.

“Our vision is to revive the site and create a new urban hub on the west end of Alexandria,” said Mark Bulmash, senior vice president of Development for The Howard Hughes Corporation. “This acquisition enables us to increase the scale of this catalytic redevelopment and transform Landmark into a vibrant destination attracting area residents and visitors.”

In addition to a fresh lineup of retail offerings and Class A residences, the new Landmark will feature multiple plazas and green spaces, outdoor seating, an updated transit center, seasonal entertainment, public art, numerous full-service and fast-casual dining options and a luxury cinema.

PHOTO: Rendering of Landmark shopping center courtesy of Howard Hughes Corporation