Whitehall Plaza

History

20th century

Land for the mall (19 acre) was purchased for $125,000 from a farmer and groundbreaking occurred in 1965. Zollinger's opened before the mall on August 15, 1966, with the rest of the mall opening on September 26, 1966. The mall had 52 stores including Sears, Weis Markets, Woolworth's, and Zollinger's. Whitehall Mall expanded in 1973, and in 1978 Leh's opened, replacing the closed (bankrupt) Zollinger's. Kravco become co-owner of the mall with PREIT in 1977 for 4.5 million. Clover opened in March 1982. Sears interior underwent a major overhaul in 1984. The mall received a lowered tax assessment after settling with the county, township, and school district in 1985.

In 1987, a suspicious fire started in the back of the mall that later caused a wall of the Leh's to be demolished. Sears interior underwent another overhaul in 1994 that added 35,000 sq. ft. to the sales floor, and converted the former second floor offices to store space. Several stores suffered damage due to a large roof leak in January 1990, with all stores reopening after a few days, and the roofs replacement planned for April. On January 1, 1995, smoking was banned in the mall by its owner, Kravco. Leh's closed in June 1996 due to bankruptcy, with Gallery Furniture taking over its former space in 1997. Clover closed in 1996, with its replacement Kohl's opening in April 1997.

Whitehall Mall received a $15 million renovation in 1998, where it was almost totally demalled, except for a portion near Kohl's. Retaining the traditional mall look was determined to not be cost effective. Sears was expanded during this time. Three additional buildings were added to the mall's grounds during the renovation. Weis Markets closed during renovations that almost doubled its space. Plaza Theater closed in June 1999 due to having only two screens and being obsolete. The theater was previously operated by Budco, and by AMC from 1987 to 1996.

21st century

The opening of Gold's Gym in the mid-2000s was delayed due to design changes. Gold's Gym would use the former Leh's store and Plaza Theater. Raymour & Flanigan relocated to the mall in 2012, occupying two vacant storefronts. PREIT sold its 50% ownership of the Whitehall Mall in 2014 to Washington Prime Group, the mall's other owner. Sears closed in February 2020. PA Fitness (former Gold's Gym) closed in January 2022.

Portions of the mall began to be redeveloped in 2023. Demolition of the former Sears began in June 2023 with Floor & Decor announced as its replacement. Buy Buy Baby and Harmon Face Values would close in July 2023, with Bed Bath & Beyond closing in August 2023. The former Old Country Buffet would be demolished in September 2023 and be replaced by parking. Floor & Decor would open on December 21, 2023.

Notes

References

References

1. (November 25, 2011). "Legend Properties, Inc. brokers 43,328 s/f deal". Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal.
2. (December 2, 2014). "PREIT sells interest in Whitehall Mall". Lehigh Valley Business.
3. (January 5, 2012). "Raymour & Flanigan opening new store in Whitehall Township". The Express-Times.
4. (December 29, 2014). "PREIT sells Whitehall Mall share to Washington Prime Group". The Express-Times.
5. (1 June 2023). "In Whitehall Mall redevelopment plan, here’s what could become of Sears, Old County Buffet". Lehigh Valley Live.
6. (26 September 2023). "Old Country Buffet up next to get wrecking ball in Whitehall Mall redevelopment plan (Update)". Lehigh Valley Live.
7. (26 December 2023). "Flooring chain grand opens at former Sears site at Whitehall Mall". Lehigh Valley Live.
8. (April 26, 1984). "Whitehall Mall Sears Begins Remodeling Job". The Morning Call.
9. (August 13, 1985). "WHITEHALL MALL GETS TAX BREAK IN SETTLEMENT TO GET $200,000 IN REFUNDS". The Morning Call.
10. (August 30, 1985). "SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST REFUND TAX TO WHITEHALL MALL". The Morning Call.
11. (June 11, 1986). "Zollinger Bankruptcy Nears The End". The Morning Call.
12. (September 28, 1986). "FOR SHOPPERS, 'GOLDEN STRIP' GETS BETTER AS IT GETS OLDER". The Morning Call.
13. (April 17, 1987). "Suspicious' Fire Damages Areas Of Whitehall Mall Police". The Morning Call.
14. (January 1, 1990). "Whitehall Mall Springs Roof Leak 6 Stores Shut". The Morning Call.
15. (January 3, 1990). "Roof Fixed - Whitehall Mall Stores Reopen". The Morning Call.
16. (August 7, 1994). "Young And The Restless Sears' Hoopla Unveils Whitehall Remodeling". The Morning Call.
17. (1 January 1995). "Smoke-Free Malls Have Some Shoppers Fuming". The Morning Call.
18. (February 21, 1996). "Plaza 2 Theater In Whitehall Mall To Close, Amc Reveals". The Morning Call.
19. (April 6, 1996). "DEAL A DEATH KNELL FOR CLOVER WHILE STRAWBRIDGE NAME WILL COME TO LEHIGH VALLEY UNDER NEW OWNER, DISCOUNT DIVISION WILL BE SPLIT OFF AND CLOSED.". The Morning Call.
20. (October 12, 1996). "Kohl's Department Store Will Open In Whitehall Mall In April". The Morning Call.
21. (January 28, 1997). "Gallery Furniture Leases Anchor Store In Whitehall Mall". The Morning Call.
22. (October 31, 1997). "Whitehall Mall To Be Given $10 Million Makeover In '98". The Morning Call.
23. (January 13, 1998). "Commissioners Approve Redesign Of Whitehall Mall". The Morning Call.
24. (January 18, 1998). "'Power' Mall Is New Trend In Whitehall". The Morning Call.
25. (February 1, 1998). "Remembering When Whitehall Mall Was Cool". The Morning Call.
26. (April 16, 1998). "Phase I Of Renovations Of Whitehall Mall Begins At Its Southeast Entrance". The Morning Call.
27. (October 13, 1998). "Weis Store In Whitehall Mall To Be Closed During Renovations". The Morning Call.
28. (October 17, 2003). "Former Leh's store may be converted to Gold's Gym". The Morning Call.
29. (December 1, 2004). "Lehigh Valley's newest Gold's Gym now set for spring 2005". The Morning Call.
30. (October 12, 2018). "With Sears bankruptcy looming, Whitehall Mall gets ready for life without once-popular retailer". The Morning Call.
31. (November 7, 2019). "Sears plans to close Whitehall Mall store, the last one in the Lehigh Valley". The Morning Call.
32. (February 9, 2022). "Whitehall Mall gym permanently closes, adding to retail center’s vacancies". The Morning Call.
33. (September 15, 2004). "Whitehall and Coplay". Arcadia Pub.
34. "Washington Prime Group Whitehall Mall".
35. "Washington Prime Group Whitehall Mall 2014".
36. (February 16, 2020). "Shoppers reflect on decades of deals as Sears closes last Lehigh Valley store". WFMZ.
37. (31 May 2023). "As 2 retailers near closing, rock-climbing gym and other big changes in store at Whitehall Mall". WFMZ.
38. (27 June 2023). "Crews begin demolishing shuttered Sears at Whitehall Mall". WFMZ.
39. (7 July 2023). "National retail chain to open 1st Lehigh Valley location at former Sears site in Whitehall". WFMZ.