Lycoming Mall

Lycoming Mall was a shopping mall located twelve miles east of Williamsport, Pennsylvania off Route 220 and I-180.[1][2] It is anchored by Burlington.[6]

Lycoming Mall
Lycoming Mall
LocationPennsdale, Pennsylvania, United States
Address300 Lycoming Mall Circle[1][2]
Opening date1978[1][2]
Closing dateFebruary 24, 2023[3]
DeveloperCrown American[4]
OwnerFamVest Partners LLC[5]
No. of stores and services1[6]
No. of anchor tenants1[6]
Total retail floor area834,600 sq ft (77,540 m2)[1][2]
Parking4,654 spaces[7]
Public transit accessBus transport RVT bus: 90, 102, 316, 318[8]
Bus transport BeST Transit bus: Lycoming/Arnot (Tioga), Lycoming Mall (Bradford County)[9]

History

1978–2015

Plans for Lycoming Mall were announced in 1975, with 674,000 sq. ft. of space and Gee Bee, Hess's, and Sears as anchors.[4][10] Hess's would open on March 1, 1978, with the rest of the mall opening July 15, 1978, and Sears a few weeks later.[11] Plans included a $4.7 million expansion in 1985 that added 115,800 sq. ft. and a Bon-Ton to the mall.[12] J. C. Penney moved from downtown Williamsport to the mall in the late 1980s. During this time, an independent attempt to build a second area mall in downtown failed.[13] Value City would close in March 2008, with Burlington Coat Factory announced as its replacement in May.[14][15] Books-A-Million opened in November 2011, replacing a closed Borders.[16] The Gap and RadioShack closed in February 2015, with a Gap Factory store opening in the Lycoming Crossing Shopping Center, near Lycoming Mall.[17][18] Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust put Lycoming Mall up for sale in January 2015.[19]

Sale and downturn: 2016 – 2022

The mall was sold to Kohan Retail Investment Group for $26.35 million on March 22, 2016, who owns it under the name Lycoming Mall Realty Holding.[20][21][22] Macy's closed in March 2017, and owned its anchor store.[23][24][25] J. C. Penney closed at the mall on July 31, 2017.[26][27][28][29] Sears was announced to close in January 2018.[30] Lycoming Mall's owners appealed its tax assessment of $44.89 million.[31][32] The former Macy's was sold for over $500,000 to MC Storage Lycoming LLC, and it will be changed into storage.[33] Bon-Ton closed due to the chain's liquidation.[34] The mall lost power in late August 2018 due to owner not paying its PPL electric bill, but reopened the next day.[35][36][37] Lycoming Mall faced sheriff's sale in February 2019 due to unpaid bills from the Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority.[38] The auction did not occur due to a partial payment by Kohan.[39][40]

Dick's Sporting Goods moved from the mall to the Lycoming Crossing Shopping Center in late 2021.[41][42] Lycoming Mall was scheduled go to sheriff's sale in May 2022 due to unpaid bills of almost $240,000 from the Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority.[43][44] Its sale was later cancelled after the owners paid almost $300,000 in bills and fees.[45]

Proposed redevelopment and interior closure: 2023 – present

Redevelopment plans were proposed by FamVest Partners LLC that involved the sale and partial demolition of the mall, with the mall being re-positioned to mixed use.[46] In mid-February 2023, ownership gave notices to vacate to the remaining interior stores except for Books-A-Million and Burlington.[3][47] Lycoming Mall's interior closed on February 24, 2023.[3][48] The mall in May 2023 was again placed up for sheriff's sale by the Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority due to unpaid bills.[49] FamVest Partners LLC purchased the mall in June 2023 for $15 million.[5] Lycoming County provided $5 million in loan assistance towards the purchase. Books-A-Million announced the Lycoming Mall location would close in July 2023.[6]

Hadany Arch

The mall is noted for the 90-foot-high, 55-foot-wide, 140 ton steel sculpture known as the Hadany Arch. It is named after Israel Hadany, who designed it in 1977. The arch was purchased by board members from Hess's and Crown American, with its dedication being in November 1978.[n 1][11][50][51]

Notes
  1. Some sources report as 100-foot-high.

References
  1. "Property Overview Lycoming Mall". PREIT. Archived from the original on March 23, 2016.
  2. "Lycoming Mall" (PDF). Smartlite USA. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  3. Farenish, Melissa (February 25, 2023). "End of an era: Local folks recall memories of Lycoming Mall". NorthcentralPA. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  4. "Crown American Using 'Success Formula'". Observer-Reporter, Washington, PA. February 14, 1976. p. I-9. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  5. Crossley, Pat (June 23, 2023). "Real estate closing marks official sale of former Lycoming Mall". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  6. Farenish, Melissa (July 13, 2023). "Books-A-Million at Lycoming Mall set to close". NorthcentralPA. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  7. "Lycoming Mall" (PDF). Matthews. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  8. "Routes & Schedules". River Valley Transit. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  9. "General Public Fixed Route System Map". BeST Transit. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  10. "'Growing Always' Crown American Keynote". Observer-Reporter, Washington, PA. February 11, 1978. p. J-5. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  11. Vibert-Kennedy, Karen (August 5, 2019). "While stores come and go, Hadany Arch remains constant". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  12. "All Phases Of Crown American Operation Show Growth". Observer-Reporter, Washington, PA. February 9, 1985. p. E-6. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  13. Wesley Jr., Rasheed (December 10, 2018). "A tale of 2 malls: Williamsport once was site of competing retail". Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  14. Eaton, Alissa (February 28, 2008). "Officials confirm Value City closing at mall". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  15. Eaton, Alissa (May 8, 2008). "Burlington Coat Factory coming to Lycoming Mall". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  16. Murphy, Alissa (November 13, 2011). "New store at mall to bring back books". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  17. Strawser, Justin (January 6, 2015). "Two mall stores closing". The Daily Item. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  18. Holmes, Philip A. (February 17, 2015). "Lycoming Mall changes". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  19. Reuther, Mike (January 6, 2015). "Owner looking to sell Lycoming Mall". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  20. Murray, Barbra (April 1, 2016). "PREIT Nears Finish Line with Sale of Four Non-Core Malls". Commercial Property Executive. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  21. Adelman, Jacob (March 31, 2016). "PREIT trims four shopping malls from portfolio, in two sales worth $92.4M". Philly.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  22. Reuther, Mike (April 20, 2016). "Lycoming Mall sells for more than $26M". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  23. Michlowski, Bill (March 19, 2017). "Last Day for Macy's at Lycoming Mall". WNEP. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  24. Moore, Marcia (January 4, 2017). "Sears and Macy's preparing to leave the Greater Susquehanna Valley". The Daily Item. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  25. Krize, Nikki (January 5, 2017). "Shoppers Concerned as Anchor Stores Close in Local Malls". WNEP. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  26. Papa, Kristina (July 27, 2017). "JCPenney at Lycoming Mall to Close Monday". WNEP. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  27. Krize, Nikki (March 17, 2017). "Shoppers React to JCPenney Closing Stores in Our Area". WNEP. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  28. Reuther, Mike (March 18, 2017). "Department store leaving region's malls". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  29. "Department stores delay shutdowns". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. April 16, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  30. Hayes, Brittany (November 3, 2017). "Four Sears and Kmart Stores in Our Area to Close". WNEP. Tribune Media Wire. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  31. Crossley, Pat (November 20, 2017). "Lycoming Mall owners seek lower tax assessment". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  32. "Retail trends taking toll on Lycoming Mall". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. November 30, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  33. Maroney, Mark (February 16, 2018). "Vacated Macy's store to be converted into storage facility". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  34. Krize, Nikki (April 18, 2018). "Shoppers Disappointed About Bon-Ton Closing". WNEP. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  35. Krize, Nikki (August 28, 2018). "Power Outage Closes Lycoming Mall". WNEP. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  36. Hibbard, Katelyn (August 29, 2018). "Mall struck by power outage". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  37. Papa, Kristina (August 29, 2018). "Power Back on at Lycoming Mall". WNEP. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  38. Papa, Kristina (January 14, 2019). "Lycoming Mall Owes Thousands in Unpaid Water, Sewer Bills". WNEP. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  39. Livingston, Doug (April 2, 2019). "Lights out at Chapel Hill Mall? Store owners warned power could be shut off next week for nonpayment of electric bills". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  40. Kinney, Jim (March 27, 2019). "No tax payments, no lights, no stores and no plan to make it better: Berkshire Mall owner Mike Kohan has frustrated towns all over the country". Mass Live. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  41. Keating, Chris (March 15, 2021). "Another store leaving Lycoming Mall". WNEP. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  42. Bergmueller, Jonathan (March 20, 2021). "Dick's to depart Lycoming Mall for Lycoming Crossing Plaza". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  43. Barrett, Bethany (February 22, 2022). "Lycoming Mall in hot water due to unpaid bills". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  44. McGlynn, Rayna (February 18, 2022). "Lycoming Mall to go up for sheriff's sale". WOLF. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  45. Maroney, Mark (May 6, 2022). "Lycoming Mall management just avoids sale with nearly $300K payment". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  46. Crossley, Pat; Karen, Vibert-Kennedy (February 4, 2023). "Developers' application shows potential avenues for Lycoming Mall". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  47. Farenish, Melissa (February 11, 2023). "Spencer's Gifts among latest closures at Lycoming Mall; some stores asked to vacate". NorthcentralPA. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  48. "Lycoming Mall Facebook Interior Closed". Facebook. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  49. Crossley, Pat (June 23, 2023). "Lycoming Mall sale set for later this month amid possible sheriff's sale". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  50. Hayes, Greg (December 1, 2008). "Legacy Member - Mall has grown in its 30 years". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  51. Nussbaum, Paul (December 28, 1990). "150 Tons And Rusty - Just Your Basic Art". Philly.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.

See also

41.240577°N 76.82670°W / 41.240577; -76.82670

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