Union Street and Griffin Road
Bangor, Maine
In August 1968, ground was broken at a 20-acre site, located 2.2 miles northwest of center city Bangor. The land parcel was also directly across the street from Dow Air Force Base, which had just been decommissioned. The facility re-opened, as Bangor International Airport, in 1969.
A single-level, fully-enclosed shopping center was being built on the 20-acre site by a joint venture of Epstein Commercial Real Estate, Saul Coppelman and Boston's Theodore Berenson & Associates. In its original configuration, AIRPORT MALL housed approximately 232,400 leasable square feet and twenty-three stores and services.
The complex was anchored by a 1-level (77,300 square foot) Woolco discount mart, which opened March 4, 1970. A 1-level (75,000 square foot), Bangor-based Freese's welcomed its first shoppers on March 10, 1970. AIRPORT MALL was officially dedicated on March 12, 1970. Charter tenants included Chess King, Fanny Farmer Candies, Mr. Paperback, Radio Shack and Doug's Shop 'n Save supermarket.
The first mall-type shopping venue in the Queen City of the East was WESTGATE MALL {.40 mile southeast, in Bangor}. This strip complex -with a steel and glass enclosure- had opened for business in 1967. BANGOR MALL {2.9 miles northeast, also in Bangor} was inaugurated in October 1978.
In January 1983, the Woolco at AIRPORT MALL was shuttered. A Salem, Massachusetts-based Rich's discount mart assumed the Woolco space in May of 1984. Freese's closed in 1985 and was divided into spaces housing Fashion Bug, Staples and Weight Watchers.
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania-based WP Realty acquired AIRPORT MALL in August 1998. Rich's had went out of business in January 1997, with a Rocky Hill, Connecticut-based Ames opening on September 24, 1998. This store lasted until 2002. Doug's Shop 'n Save was rebranded by the Hannaford supermarket chain in 2001.
The Woolco / Ames store was sectioned into three retail spaces. A (30,000 square foot), Framingham, Massachusetts-based Marshalls opened November 1, 2003. A (19,800 square foot), Chesapeake, Virginia-based Dollar Tree was inaugurated on May 30, 2008. The final tenant, a (27,500 square foot), North Kingston, Rhode Island-based Ocean State Job Lot, welcomed its first shoppers on July 10, 2008.
Fashion Bug closed in early 2013 and was replaced by Bangor Discount Mattress & Furniture. The adjacent Staples shut down in March 2014. The furniture store expanded into its space and now encompassed a total of 31,400 square feet.
In late 2017, it was announced that Bangor Discount Mattress & Furniture would relocate to a vacant Macy's store at BANGOR MALL in July 2018. An Urban Adventure Park indoor amusement center leased the vacant space at AIRPORT MALL and opened its doors on July 11, 2020.
Sources:
The Bangor Daily News
http://www.geocities.com / "Zayre88"
http://www.wprealty.com / WP Realty
http://www.chartweb.com
http://www.choosebangor.com
https://www.acadiarealty.com
In January 1983, the Woolco at AIRPORT MALL was shuttered. A Salem, Massachusetts-based Rich's discount mart assumed the Woolco space in May of 1984. Freese's closed in 1985 and was divided into spaces housing Fashion Bug, Staples and Weight Watchers.
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania-based WP Realty acquired AIRPORT MALL in August 1998. Rich's had went out of business in January 1997, with a Rocky Hill, Connecticut-based Ames opening on September 24, 1998. This store lasted until 2002. Doug's Shop 'n Save was rebranded by the Hannaford supermarket chain in 2001.
The Woolco / Ames store was sectioned into three retail spaces. A (30,000 square foot), Framingham, Massachusetts-based Marshalls opened November 1, 2003. A (19,800 square foot), Chesapeake, Virginia-based Dollar Tree was inaugurated on May 30, 2008. The final tenant, a (27,500 square foot), North Kingston, Rhode Island-based Ocean State Job Lot, welcomed its first shoppers on July 10, 2008.
Fashion Bug closed in early 2013 and was replaced by Bangor Discount Mattress & Furniture. The adjacent Staples shut down in March 2014. The furniture store expanded into its space and now encompassed a total of 31,400 square feet.
In late 2017, it was announced that Bangor Discount Mattress & Furniture would relocate to a vacant Macy's store at BANGOR MALL in July 2018. An Urban Adventure Park indoor amusement center leased the vacant space at AIRPORT MALL and opened its doors on July 11, 2020.
Sources:
The Bangor Daily News
http://www.geocities.com / "Zayre88"
http://www.wprealty.com / WP Realty
http://www.chartweb.com
http://www.choosebangor.com
https://www.acadiarealty.com
"Bangor International Airport" article on Wikipedia
