PEMBROKE MALL
Virginia Beach Boulevard / US 58 and Independence Boulevard
Virginia Beach, Virginia
News of the first mall-type shopping center in the Hampton Roads region was first reported in December 1962. An enclosed and open-air complex was being designed by two firms. Atlanta's Stevens & Wilkinson would envisage a Sears anchor store and assist Norfolk's Harry R. Dudley, Junior & Lewis A. Rightmier with design of the remainder of the mall.
Going under the provisional name of PEMBROKE SQUARE, the complex would occupy a 60-acre site. This was located 5 miles west of the downtown area of Virginia Beach. The "independent city" of Virginia Beach had been formed from the amalgamation of a small resort town and the previously-existing Princess Anne County. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, an independent city is a separate and complete political entity and is not part of any county.
The mall site was part of the 453-acre Pembroke Manor plat, where the circa-1764 Pembroke Manor House stood. The shopping center was being developed by the Terry Corporation, a joint venture of Fredrick Napolitano, Emilio and Armon Olivieri and Horace Cistola.
Construction commenced on March 9, 1965. The shopping-center-to-be was now promoted as PEMBROKE MALL. Its first operational store was a 1-level (88,400 square foot), Richmond-based Miller & Rhoads, which was dedicated on March 3, 1966. Fourteen stores opened for business at a mall-wide grand opening held on March 21, 1966. These included Thom McAn Shoes, Butler's Shoes, National Shirt Shops, Barricini Candy, Beneficial Finance, Peoples Drug and an F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10.
A 2-level (157,700 square foot) Sears was dedicated on July 27, 1966. By this time, mall stores included Willner's, Hofheimer's Shoes, Lerner Shops, Fine's Men's Shop, The Hub, Clayton's, Mr. John's Beauty Salon, Norfolk Federal Savings & Loan Association, Pembroke Florist, Spencer Gifts and a Dipper Dan Ice Cream Shoppe.
In its original state, PEMBROKE MALL encompassed around 564,900 leasable square feet, with a retail roster of sixty-five stores and services. On July 23, 1971, the ABC Southeastern Theatres Pembroke Mall Theatre opened for business. It was built as a freestanding structure, in the shopping center's northeast parking area.
An open-air Northeast Wing was expanded, with a seven-store enclosed mallway, in 1981. A 1-level (56,200 square foot), Virginia Beach-based Rices Nachmans was built. The mall's south-facing front was also extended outward with fifteen inline stores. These included Annabelle's Restaurant, Radio Shack, World Bazaar, Pizza Delight and Office Supply. PEMBROKE MALL now encompassed around 713,600 leasable square feet.
A third expansion, completed in 1990, added the Cineplex Odeon Pembroke 8 to the Northeast Wing. The original Pembroke Mall Theatre, which had been operating as a twin-plex since June 1974, was demolished. The gross leasable area of the mall was increased to approximately 747,800 leasable square feet.
Shopping centers in the PEMBROKE MALL trade area included MILITARY CIRCLE MALL (1970) {3.7 miles west, in Norfolk}, LYNNHAVEN MALL (1981) {3.7 miles southeast, in Virginia Beach}, GREENBRIER MALL (1982) {6.7 miles southwest, in Chesapeake} and MACARTHUR CENTER (1999) {5 miles west, in Norfolk}.
Rices Nachmans became the first PEMBROKE MALL anchor to change nameplates. The store was converted to an Allentown, Pennsylvania-based Hess's on February 25, 1985. Alcoa, Tennessee-based Proffitt's rebranded the store on August 23, 1993. Dillard's went into the space in August 1997 and closed in July 2002. For a short time afterward, the building was leased as a Freight Liquidators Furniture Outlet.
Miller & Rhoads, the mall's east anchor, was shuttered in January 1990. The space was soon taken by Norcross, Georgia-based Uptons. This chain folded in November 1999. The building sat vacant until Wisconsin-based Kohl's remodeled the structure and opened for business on October 5, 2003.
PEMBROKE MALL had begun to decline in the mid-1990s. It was given a major overhaul in 2003. New carpeting and ceilings were installed throughout the complex, with a 6-bay Food Court built in the South Wing. The exterior became more "pedestrian friendly." Front-facing stores were refitted with exterior entrances and new facades and three outparcel restaurants were built in the parking area.
An open-air Northeast Wing was expanded, with a seven-store enclosed mallway, in 1981. A 1-level (56,200 square foot), Virginia Beach-based Rices Nachmans was built. The mall's south-facing front was also extended outward with fifteen inline stores. These included Annabelle's Restaurant, Radio Shack, World Bazaar, Pizza Delight and Office Supply. PEMBROKE MALL now encompassed around 713,600 leasable square feet.
A third expansion, completed in 1990, added the Cineplex Odeon Pembroke 8 to the Northeast Wing. The original Pembroke Mall Theatre, which had been operating as a twin-plex since June 1974, was demolished. The gross leasable area of the mall was increased to approximately 747,800 leasable square feet.
Shopping centers in the PEMBROKE MALL trade area included MILITARY CIRCLE MALL (1970) {3.7 miles west, in Norfolk}, LYNNHAVEN MALL (1981) {3.7 miles southeast, in Virginia Beach}, GREENBRIER MALL (1982) {6.7 miles southwest, in Chesapeake} and MACARTHUR CENTER (1999) {5 miles west, in Norfolk}.
Rices Nachmans became the first PEMBROKE MALL anchor to change nameplates. The store was converted to an Allentown, Pennsylvania-based Hess's on February 25, 1985. Alcoa, Tennessee-based Proffitt's rebranded the store on August 23, 1993. Dillard's went into the space in August 1997 and closed in July 2002. For a short time afterward, the building was leased as a Freight Liquidators Furniture Outlet.
Miller & Rhoads, the mall's east anchor, was shuttered in January 1990. The space was soon taken by Norcross, Georgia-based Uptons. This chain folded in November 1999. The building sat vacant until Wisconsin-based Kohl's remodeled the structure and opened for business on October 5, 2003.
PEMBROKE MALL had begun to decline in the mid-1990s. It was given a major overhaul in 2003. New carpeting and ceilings were installed throughout the complex, with a 6-bay Food Court built in the South Wing. The exterior became more "pedestrian friendly." Front-facing stores were refitted with exterior entrances and new facades and three outparcel restaurants were built in the parking area.
In the fall of 2006, the final phase of the metamorphosis at PEMBROKE MALL got underway. This project involved the demolition of the Rices Nachman's building and most of the North Wing. The multiplex movie house, now operating as the Regal Pembroke 8, was left standing, at least for the time being.
The physical size of the mall had been reduced to approximately 654,000 leasable square feet, with 100 stores and services. As part of a repositioning, PEMBROKE MALL was tenanted with more nationally-known retailers, such as PacSun and Hot Topic. On July 2, 2011, the final features were shown at the Regal 8-plex. The theater was demolished, with a 1-level (138,500 square foot) Target built on its space. This new store opened for business on October 14, 2012.
The Food Court closed for good in June 2012. Eateries such as Subway, Big Island Smoothie Cafe and Quesadillas & More were relocated within the mall. The entire South Wing was then gutted and refashioned into "Signature Shops," which encompassed seven store spaces. Old Navy opened for business in April 2013, followed by Bahama Breeze Island Grill. The existing mall was given a facelift, with surfaces repainted and new carpeting installed. Kohl's was renovated, as well. PEMBROKE MALL now encompassed approximately 652,100 leasable square feet.
In April 2015, Sears Holdings announced the formation of a new real estate investment trust, known as Seritage Growth Properties. One of the first projects undertaken by the new entity was the redevelopment of the PEMBROKE MALL Sears. The first floor of the store was divided four ways. Sears retained 48,500 square feet.
Sources:
The Virginian Pilot (Hampton Roads, Virginia)
http://www.joneslanglasalle.com
http://www.pembrokemall.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.cinematour.com
http://www.vbgov.com
https://mallmanac.blogspot.com
In April 2015, Sears Holdings announced the formation of a new real estate investment trust, known as Seritage Growth Properties. One of the first projects undertaken by the new entity was the redevelopment of the PEMBROKE MALL Sears. The first floor of the store was divided four ways. Sears retained 48,500 square feet.
A (32,500 square foot) Nordstrom Rack opened on March 9, 2016. Fresh Market (with 27,000 square feet) was dedicated on March 30th. DSW (containing 15,300 square feet) began business on May 1. With this renovation, the PEMBROKE MALL Sears still encompassed 2-levels, but only covered 127,300 square feet. In September 2018, the 52-year-old store was shuttered. It was replaced by the Decision, Limited Liability Company, a computer software provider.
In the early 2020s, a plan was drawn up by the mall's owner, now known as Pembroke Enterprises. The complex would be redeveloped as a retail-hospitality-senior living facility. The new PEMBROKE SQUARE would encompass approximately 481,100 leasable square feet of retail, with fifteen mall stores remaining in business. These included Target, Kohl's, Walgreen Drug, Nordstom Rack and The Fresh Market.
Demolished sections of the mall would be replaced with the 121-unit Aviva senior living community and 209-room Tempo-Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel. Two multilevel parking garages would also be built. Inline mall stores were shuttered in January 2022, with demolition of 171,000 square feet of mall space getting underway soon after.
Sources:
The Virginian Pilot (Hampton Roads, Virginia)
http://www.joneslanglasalle.com
http://www.pembrokemall.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.cinematour.com
http://www.vbgov.com
https://mallmanac.blogspot.com
https://www.pembrokesquarevb.com
https://www.virginiabusiness.com
https://thevirginiabeachjob.com
"Virginia Beach" and "Virginia Beach Town Center" articles on Wikipedia
