Ninety-one thousand square feet. That’s how much retail space The Mall at Prince Georges boasts. This isn’t just any shopping mall. It’s a piece of history a living timeline of consumer culture in Hyattsville Maryland. The Mall at Prince Georges wasn’t always the enclosed space you see today.
In 1959 it opened as Prince George’s Plaza an open-air shopping center. Imagine a time before climate control before the convenience of one-stop shopping. Hecht’s department store a prominent anchor opened its doors attracting thousands. Maryland’s Governor Theodore R McKeldin even attended the grand opening. He bought a ladder a rather unusual purchase for a governor. But it shows the excitement surrounding this new retail destination. The Hecht’s store occupied nearly one-third of the space. Developers envisioned sixty more stores to fill it. They weren’t wrong.
The next year another giant joined Grand Union a supermarket. Santa Claus arrived by helicopter for its opening. This wasn’t just a grocery store. It featured a food-o-matic display a gourmet cheese section a rotisserie for barbecued chicken and even automated check-out booths. This was cutting-edge for 1958.
The years passed. The mall expanded. It was enclosed around 1977 becoming the climate-controlled shopping haven we know today. Woodward & Lothrop another iconic department store joined. Tragically during its construction two boys died in a landslide. This somber event shows the development’s impact even beyond the commercial sphere.
But change is inevitable. Stores opened. Stores closed. Hecht’s became Macy’s. Grand Union was replaced by various businesses. The Mall at Prince Georges underwent a significant renovation in 2004. Its name was changed. A new Target was added. Marshalls and Ross Dress for Less followed. The face of The Mall at Prince Georges changed again and again. It’s a constant evolution.
Today The Mall at Prince Georges remains a vibrant hub. It’s a testament to the changing tides of retail and the enduring need for community gathering places. You can see the legacy of those early years the ambition of its founders and the quiet stories of those who built and shopped here. Step inside and experience the echoes of this rich history.