St. Charles Towne Center Explained

St. Charles Towne Center
Coordinates:38.6206°N -76.9281°W
Address:11110 Mall Circle
Opening Date:March 30, 1990
Owner:Simon Property Group
Number Of Stores:128[1]
Number Of Anchors:6 (5 open, 1 vacant)
Floor Area:980418square feet
Floors:2 (1 in Dick's Sporting Goods and Macy's Home Store)
Publictransit: Charles County VanGo bus: 301 Connector, Business B, St. Charles B, St. Charles C
Website:St. Charles Towne Center

St. Charles Towne Center is a two-level, enclosed shopping mall in the planned community of St. Charles in Waldorf, Maryland. Built in the late 1980s, it covers an area of 980418square feet, and is currently the only regional mall in Southern Maryland. In addition to Waldorf and St. Charles, the mall also serves the southern suburbs of Washington, D.C., and has a trade area population of 338,502.[2] Anchor stores are Dick's Sporting Goods, J. C. Penney, Kohl's, Macy's, and Macy's Home Store.

History

The mall opened March 30, 1990, with J. C. Penney, Hecht's, Montgomery Ward, and Sears as anchors. It was built by Melvin Simon & Associates, now known as Simon Property Group. Kohl's was added in 1997.[3] The Montgomery Ward store was split between a second Hecht's location and Dick's Sporting Goods in 2002.[4] Both Hecht's stores became Macy's in September 2006. Sears closed in April 2020.[5] There is also a movie theatre located across the street from the mall, formerly known as Cineplex Odeon Cinemas (1988–1998), Loews Cineplex Entertainment (1998–2005), and is now AMC Theatres (2005–present).

2007 Renovation

St. Charles Towne Center underwent an major renovation in 2007 to shift its image to a more family-oriented mall. The entrances and inside of the mall were redesigned, and the bathrooms were made larger to allow easier access for families with young children. In addition, a kid's play area was added to one section of the mall. The food court was also renovated during the project. The renovation was completed by 2008.[6]

Sports and Wellness Complex

On February 6, 2020, it was announced that the Sears location at St. Charles Town Center would be closing as part of a plan to close 31 stores nationwide. The store closed in April 2020, after having been at the mall for thirty years.[7]

The store remained vacant until July 24, 2024, when it was announced by the Charles County Government that a Sports and Wellness complex would be introduced to the mall, with the local government wanting to bring more recreational facilities to the county. It is expected to cost $7.5 million to convert the site, and as of 2024 the opening date is still to be determined.[8] [9]

Incidents

2008 shooting incident

In September 2008, an incident occurred in which a police officer's firearm was used in the mall's parking lot. According to local authorities, a suspect was seen trying to steal a GPS device from a vehicle when the officer noticed him. The suspect was treated and released from the hospital, and later charged.[10]

2023 shooting incident

On May 8, 2023, a shooting occurred at the lower level of the mall following an argument between two teenagers and two adults. This was the first known incident to have occurred at the mall in nearly fifteen years. According to the Charles County Sheriff's Office, one of the teenagers had a firearm and when one of the adults tried to intervene, the teenager pointed the gun at him and shot the weapon.

The bullet missed the man and ended up striking the window of a storefront. The two teenagers then left the store. No one was injured in the shooting. Law enforcement, including Maryland State Police and mall security, helped frightened customers and staff get to safety. Officers also began searching for the teens, who were then found hiding behind a dumpster.[11]

2024 shooting incident

On January 25, 2024, a woman was shot following an attempted robbery at the food court parking lot. The Charles County Sheriff's Office stated that the two suspects went up to the woman who was parked near the food court, told her to get out of the car and then shot her in the arm. The suspects then left the scene in an unknown vehicle. The woman was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.[12]

2024 stabbing incident

On April 27, 2024, police officers were working at a carnival outside of the mall when a 15-year-old boy approached them and said he had been shot. Officers provided first aid until EMS responded and took the teen to an area hospital for treatment. At the hospital, it was determined that the boy had been stabbed and not shot. Investigators say a group of teens were fighting with another large group of teens in the lower level parking lot of the mall when the stabbing occurred.[13] [14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: St. Charles Towne Center . Simon Property Group . 2011-02-03 .
  2. Web site: St. Charles Towne Center . Simon Property Group .
  3. News: The Washington Post. In Charles County, All Roads Lead to the Mall; Waldorf's Bustling Towne Center Has Become Area's Social, Entertainment 'Mecca' . Jackie . Spinner . 1996-09-01.
  4. News: Hecht's to Open Home Store in Wards Site . https://archive.today/20130630042651/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/140027541.html?dids=140027541:140027541&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+21,+2002&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Hecht's+to+Open+Home+Store+in+Wards+Site&pqatl=google . dead . June 30, 2013 . 2002-07-21.
  5. News: Sears to close three more stores in Maryland . 2024-07-26 . Baltimore Business Journal.
  6. News: Kid-Friendly Face-Lift For St. Charles Center . Philip . Rucker . 2007-04-13 . The Washington Post .
  7. News: Sears to close three more stores in Maryland . 2024-07-26 . Baltimore Business Journal.
  8. Web site: Charles County Government Announces Purchase of Sears Building to Turn into Sports and Wellness Complex . July 24, 2024 . Charles County Maryland.
  9. Web site: Government . Charles County . 2024-07-24 . Charles County To Transform Sears Building Into Sports And Wellness Complex . 2024-07-25 . The BayNet . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2008-09-23 . Police Involved Shooting at Waldorf Mall . The Bay Net.
  11. Web site: 2023-05-08 . 2 teens charged in St. Charles Towne Center mall shooting . 2024-07-26 . WTOP News . en.
  12. Web site: Williams . Charlie . 2024-01-28 . Woman shot during attempted robbery at St. Charles Towne Center Mall in Waldorf . 2024-07-26 . WJLA . en.
  13. News: 2024-04-29 . UPDATE: Police Investigating and Seeking Information in Connection to 15-Year-Old Being Stabbed At St. Charles Towne Center . 2024-07-26 . Southern Maryland News Net . en-US.
  14. Web site: 2024-04-29 . REWARD: Police ask anyone with information on stabbing at St. Charles Towne Center to come forward . 2024-07-26 . wusa9.com . en-US.