Promenade at Granite Run

The Promenade at Granite Run is a mixed-use development in Middletown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, a western suburb of Philadelphia. The mixed use development consists of residential, retail, and entertainment opened in 2018 to replace what was known as the Granite Run Mall, a double-level shopping mall that existed between 1974 and 2015. Two of the original mall tenants, Boscov's and Sears, remained open during the transition.

Promenade at Granite Run
The Promenade in 2019
LocationMedia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates39.916104°N 75.432710°W / 39.916104; -75.432710
Opening date1974 (1974)
Closing dateJuly 1, 2015 (2015-07-01)
DeveloperBET Investments
OwnerBET Investments
No. of stores and services2 (125 at peak)
No. of anchor tenants2 (3 at peak)
Total retail floor area1,037,187 square feet (96,357.8 m2)
No. of floors2
Public transit access SEPTA Bus: 110, 111, 114, 117

History

The property originally opened as the Granite Run Mall in 1974.[1] In 1986, the Gimbels store was converted to Stern's after Allied Stores purchased seven Gimbels locations in the Philadelphia area.[2] In 1989, Stern's closed and was eventually replaced with Boscov's in 1993.[3] In 1998, Simon Property Group and Macerich purchased the mall, with Simon responsible for managing the mall.[4] The Granite Run Mall had a total of 125 stores at its peak.[5]

In the 2000s, The Granite Run Mall saw an increase in vacancies and its owners started exploring options for selling the mall. In February 2011, Simon and Macerich were over 30 days delinquent on the mall's $115 million mortgage, leading to the possibility of a sale or forfeiture of the mall.[4] On April 1, 2011, Simon Property Group gave the mall back to its lender and the lender appointed Madison Marquette as the leasing and management agent.[6] Madison Marquette announced plans to improve lighting, the parking lots, and sidewalks as well as to fill vacancies.[7]

Redevelopment and closure
Construction on the Promenade at Granite Run in January 2018

On September 23, 2013, the Granite Run Mall was sold to BET Investments, a real estate development firm owned by Bruce Toll and Michael Markman, at a cost of $24 million.[8] BET Investments intends to convert the mall into a mixed-use development consisting of residential, retail, and entertainment.[8][9] The initial plans for the redevelopment project would keep the three anchor stores but would demolish the remainder of the mall and replace it with an outdoor shopping and dining area. The plans also included the construction two four-story apartment buildings with a total of 365 units between them.[10] Other features that were planned in the redevelopment included a larger movie theater and standalone restaurants.[9]

On August 25, 2014, updated plans were revealed for the redevelopment.[11] The three department stores would remain, with the upper level of JCPenney becoming a movie theater, while the interior of the mall will be demolished and turned into an outdoor shopping and dining area with upscale establishments. One four-story luxury apartment building with 385 units will also be constructed. Work on the redevelopment is expected to begin in 2015 or 2016 with completion expected two years after the project begins.[12] The plans were modified again on October 27, 2014 in which two luxury apartments with a total of 388 units would be constructed, one on the site of the movie theater and the other on the site of a former Chi-Chi's restaurant.[13] The redevelopment will take place in two phases. The first phase will demolish the mall interior and build one of the apartment buildings. The second phase will demolish the current movie theater and construct the other apartment building.[14] In January 2015, it was announced the JCPenney store was closing in April as part of a plan to close 39 stores nationwide. As a result, the mall announced plans to demolish the former JCPenney and replace it with new retail space and a movie theater.[15]

The interior of the mall closed on July 1, 2015, with Sears and Boscov's remaining open.[5] On November 9, 2015, the final plans for the mixed-use development were approved by the Middletown Township council, in which the development would be called the Promenade at Granite Run. The demolition of the former mall began in 2016.[16] Construction of the Promenade at Granite Run progressed through 2017, with a formal opening in 2018.[17]

The Granite Run Mall was originally intended to be the filming location for MallBrats, the sequel to director Kevin Smith's 1995 film Mallrats. However, the plan fell through due to the impending demolition of the mall and Smith's desire to start filming in January 2016; MallBrats was instead planned be filmed at the Exton Square Mall before plans were cancelled in February 2017.[18][19]

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References
  1. "Granite Run Mall Fact Sheet" (PDF). Simon Property Group. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
  2. Bivens, Terry (June 18, 1986). "Gimbels To Sell 7 Area Stores Deal Concluded With N.y. Firm". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  3. "Boscov's opens store at Granite Run Mall". Reading Eagle. August 16, 1993. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  4. Logue, Timothy (February 18, 2011). "Granite Run Mall running on empty?". Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  5. Alburger, Bette (July 1, 2015). "Doors officially closed at Granite Run Mall". Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  6. "MADISON MARQUETTE ASSUMES OPERATING CONTROL OF GRANITE RUN MALL". Madison Marquette. April 1, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
  7. Carey, Kathleen E. (April 3, 2011). "New management plans changes at Granite Run Mall". Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  8. Sullivan, Vince (September 23, 2013). "Granite Run mall sold to group owned by Bruce Toll". Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  9. Sullivan, Vince (September 26, 2013). "Granite Run's new owner has big plans for Delaware County mall". The Mercury. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  10. Alburger, Bette (November 4, 2013). "Granite Run plan: Save 3 anchor stores, demolish rest of mall". Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  11. "Granite Run Mall Final Plan" (PDF). BET Investments. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  12. Alburger, Bette (August 26, 2014). "Firm offers update on Granite Run Mall plans". Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  13. Alburger, Bette (October 28, 2014). "Developer outlines revised plan for Granite Run Mall site". Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  14. Alburger, Bette (November 26, 2014). "Granite Run Mall developers describe project's timetable". Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  15. Carey, Kathleen (January 8, 2015). "JC Penney to close Granite Run Mall store in April; Building to be demolished by developer". Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  16. Tricome, Nick (November 9, 2015). "Granite Run site plans get final OK". Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  17. Krowchenko, Leslie (October 7, 2017). "Promenade rises at Granite Run". Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  18. Lindak, Virginia (September 10, 2015). "MallBrats movie shooting happening in Exton". Daily Local News. West Chester, PA. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  19. McCullough, Brian (February 19, 2017). "Exton Square Mall shakes off loss of 'Mallrats' sequel". Daily Local News. West Chester, PA. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
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