US 30 and Harrisburg Pike
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
The evolution of the Red Rose City's' only fully-enclosed, suburban shopping complex occurred over 6 years. Plans for a three-anchor RED ROSE SHOPPING PLAZA were first made public in May 1965. By September 1968, a four-anchor facility was being proposed by the Park City Shopping Center Corporation. This was a joint venture of New York City's Nassau Shopping Center Corporation and Melvin Hyman, Lawrence Hyman and Lee Drunkenbrod, of Lancaster.
By the spring of 1969, construction was underway at a 134-acre plot, located 2 miles northwest of center city Lancaster. The new PARK CITY CENTER mall would encompass approximately 1.4 million leasable square feet and have a major department store at the end of each of its four wings. These concourses were named after the four seasons.
On the West Wing (or Winter Mall) would be a 2-level (261,900 square foot) J.C. Penney. The East Wing (or Summer Mall) would feature a (180,000 square foot) Gimbels-Philadelphia. Originally, the South Wing (or Autumn Mall) was to be anchored by a 2-level (143,000 square foot), Lancaster-based Hager's. In February 1970, this plan was altered. The south anchor would open under the Lancaster-based Watt & Shand nameplate.
J.C. Penney became the first operational PARK CITY CENTER store, on July 30, 1970. The dedication of Watt & Shand was held on September 2nd, with the grand opening of Gimbels-Lancaster occurring on September 25, 1970.
A mall-wide dedication took place on September 22, 1971, Lieutenant Governor Ernest P. Kline (D) and Thomas J. Monaghan (Mayor of Lancaster) officiated. Entertainment was provided by the Lancaster Catholic High School Band, Sweet Adelines, Reading Pops Orchestra, Susquehanna Valley Square Dancers and Joannie Whitman.
Charter tenants included Kinney Shoes, Thom McAn Shoes, Father & Son Shoes, Spencer Gifts, Orange Julius, Bavarian Soft Pretzels, Claire's Boutique, Docktor Pet Center, Hickory Farms of Ohio, Waldenbooks, Camelot Music and Hamburgers Clothiers for Men.
Junior anchors at PARK CITY CENTER were a (17,000 square foot) Peoples Drug, (66,000 square foot) F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10 and Century's Park City East & West Theatres, which premiered on June 30, 1971. A (20,800 square foot) Weis Markets grocery, located in a freestanding Convenience Center, opened on October 6, 1971.
PARK CITY CENTER featured a subterranean freight service area beneath its octagonal Center Court. There was also a Lower Mall beneath its North and West Wings. This area housed an ice rink, mini-golf course, kiddie ride amusement area, pinball arcade and aforementioned twin cinema. Moreover, the studios for CBS-TV affiliate WLYH were on the Lower Mall. Futuristic "TV pods" were located along Mall Level concourses, which featured commercials, programming and live broadcasts on a closed-circuit channel.
A fourth anchor department store was completed the year after the mall's official dedication. A 2-level (167,000 square foot) Sears capped off the end of the North Wing (or Spring Mall). The store welcomed its first shoppers on May 1, 1972. This signaled completion of the shopping hub, which now contained 104 stores and services under its roof.
PARK CITY CENTER was in the enviable position of being the only major suburban shopping center in Greater Lancaster. EAST TOWNE MALL (1970) {5.7 miles southeast, in Lancaster County} was a community-class strip plaza. LANCASTER SQUARE (1971-2008), an ill-fated center city urban renewal project, also provided no measurable competition for PARK CITY CENTER.
Large outlet-type retail complexes were built in the 1980s. LANCASTER OUTLET CITY {6.7 miles southeast, in Lancaster County} opened, with sixteen stores, in 1982. It was shuttered in 1992 and re-opened, as MILLSTREAM FACTORY SHOPS, in 1993. In 1994, it morphed into today's TANGER OUTLETS LANCASTER. ROCKVALE OUTLETS LANCASTER {8 miles southeast, also in Lancaster County} made its debut in 1986.
Back at PARK CITY CENTER, the Lower Mall kiddie ride area, mini-golf course and skating rink were gone by the mid-1970s. A Farmer's Market was established, which featured vendors such as J-J Reisinger Poultry, Enck's Smoked Meat & Cheeses and The Wishing Well plants, flowers & terrariums.
The Farmer's Market soon ran its course. The area was reconfigured by a 7 million dollar Lower Level renovation; this performed between January and August of 1985. A 16-bay The Park food court was created. It was accessed -from the J.C. Penney Court above- by new escalators, stairs and an elevator.
Space adjacent to The Park was rebuilt as a 1-level (85,000 square foot) Clover discount mart. It opened on August 7, 1985. The mall's Upper Level was also given a face lift, with its Center Court fountain removed. Soiled and threadbare indoor-outdoor carpeting in all concourses was replaced.
Anchor rebrandings commenced at PARK CITY CENTER in August 1986, with the shuttering of Gimbels. The store was sold to New York City-based Allied Stores. It re-opened, on September 15, 1986, under Allied's Pomeroy's division. This store only lasted until December. It was shuttered and expanded to 219,000 square feet. A Reading-based Boscov's was launched on April 25, 1988. The second PARK CITY CENTER anchor to change nameplates was Watt & Shand. It came under the York, Pennsylvania-based The Bon Ton banner on October 2, 1992.
Anchor rebrandings commenced at PARK CITY CENTER in August 1986, with the shuttering of Gimbels. The store was sold to New York City-based Allied Stores. It re-opened, on September 15, 1986, under Allied's Pomeroy's division. This store only lasted until December. It was shuttered and expanded to 219,000 square feet. A Reading-based Boscov's was launched on April 25, 1988. The second PARK CITY CENTER anchor to change nameplates was Watt & Shand. It came under the York, Pennsylvania-based The Bon Ton banner on October 2, 1992.
The Lower Level Clover store was in operation for over 10 years. It was shuttered, with a Wisconsin-based Kohl's opening in its space on September 20, 1996. Soon after, Center Court at PARK CITY CENTER was remodeled again. As part of a 1 million dollar refurbishment, a twenty-two passenger carousel was installed in November 1997. It was removed in May 2004.
Chicago-based General Growth Properties had established 100 percent ownership of PARK CITY CENTER in May 2003. They embarked on a renovation of the property in October 2005. This entailed (yet) another refurbishment of Center Court and the installation of new floors and ceiling treatments throughout the complex.
The project was followed by a reconstruction of the southwest exterior of the shopping center. A ten-store lifestyle section was built, known as the Fountain Shoppes. This 13 million dollar Streetscape featured upscale tenants such as Williams-Sonoma, White House / Black Market, J. Jill, Aldo Shoes, Banana Republic and Sephora. Its first operational stores opened November 8, 2007, with the final tenants beginning business in May 2008.
At the same time, The Bon Ton store was renovated and expanded, with a 37,000 square foot addition to its west and south walls. The renewed (179,000 square foot) store held a grand re-opening October 8, 2008. With its completion, PARK CITY CENTER encompassed 1,433,000 leasable square feet and housed 170 stores and services.
Brookfield Property Partners, based in Hamilton, Bermuda, acquired a share of General Growth Properties in 2016. In August 2018, Brookfield established 100 percent ownership of the corporation. Hence, PARK CITY CENTER became part of the Brookfield retail center portfolio.
As this transpired, The Bon Ton Stores conglomerate was being liquidated. The PARK CITY CENTER unit closed for good on August 29, 2018. Sears shuttered its circa-1972 store on March 10, 2019. A Round 1 Bowling & Amusement Center was installed in the Upper Level of the vacant Sears building. This (77,400 square foot) facility opened its doors on March 27, 2021.
Sources:
The Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
The Lancaster New Era (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
Malls of America Blogspot / Keith Milford, webmaster
http://ww.ggp.com / General Growth Properties
At the same time, The Bon Ton store was renovated and expanded, with a 37,000 square foot addition to its west and south walls. The renewed (179,000 square foot) store held a grand re-opening October 8, 2008. With its completion, PARK CITY CENTER encompassed 1,433,000 leasable square feet and housed 170 stores and services.
Brookfield Property Partners, based in Hamilton, Bermuda, acquired a share of General Growth Properties in 2016. In August 2018, Brookfield established 100 percent ownership of the corporation. Hence, PARK CITY CENTER became part of the Brookfield retail center portfolio.
As this transpired, The Bon Ton Stores conglomerate was being liquidated. The PARK CITY CENTER unit closed for good on August 29, 2018. Sears shuttered its circa-1972 store on March 10, 2019. A Round 1 Bowling & Amusement Center was installed in the Upper Level of the vacant Sears building. This (77,400 square foot) facility opened its doors on March 27, 2021.
Sources:
The Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
The Lancaster New Era (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
Malls of America Blogspot / Keith Milford, webmaster
http://ww.ggp.com / General Growth Properties
http://lancasteronline.com
http://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.cinematreasures.org
