Shopping mall in PA, USA
Susquehanna Valley Mall is a shopping mall outside of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania on US 11/US 15.[1][9] It is anchored by Boscov's, Family Practice Center, and Renn's.[10] Several outparcels include an AMC Theatres and Hobby Lobby.[10]
History 1977 - 2014
Boscov's opened in 1977, prior to the mall.[2][11] Susquehanna Valley Mall opened on September 26, 1978 with 400,000 sq. ft. of space and three anchors including Bon-Ton and Boscov's.[3][4][12] J. C. Penney became an anchor 10 months after the mall opened.[2] Susquehanna Valley Mall expanded in 1998 and added a fourth anchor, Sears, along with additional stores.[2] The mall was the largest retail project to occur in the Susquehanna Valley for 30 years until PREIT opened the Monroe Marketplace in 2008.[13]
Hollister opened in December 2008, while BMoss announced its closing.[14] KB Toys closed in early 2009, while Golden Wok and Sprint opened.[15] Two women were carjacked from the mall parking lot in May 2009, with the carjacker later turning himself in.[16] Arby's suffered a grease fire in October 2009.[17] Susquehanna Valley Mall and many of its tenants filed county tax appeals in 2009.[18] Waldenbooks closed in 2011, with Books-A-Million replacing it in October.[19][20] Max Media opened a radio studio in 2011.[21] The Courtyard Theater opened in 2013 and presented live theater in the mall.[22] In June 2014, a fatal car accident occurred in the mall's parking lot.[23]
Downturn 2015 - 2018
Gap closed in January 2015 and Christopher & Banks moved to the Monroe Marketplace.[3][7] J. C. Penney closed in April 2015.[3] RadioShack and Deb Shops also closed in 2015.[24] The Hallmark shop began closing sales in late June 2016.[25] Aeropostale began closing sales in September 2016.[26] In December 2016, the Courtyard Theatre and Limitless Mobile both closed.[27] Additional stores that closed in late 2016 include Sprint and Things Remembered.[28] Boscov's Furniture Outlet opened in March 2017, occupying the former Gap.[29] Sears closed in March 2017.[30][31][32] Justice closed in April, while Cricket Wireless opened in June 2017.[33][34] All In Adventures and Stadium Studio opened in 2017, while Crazy 8, Subway, and TCBY closed.[35]
The Bon-Ton closed in late April 2018, leaving Boscov's as the mall's only remaining anchor.[36][37] Higher Hope Church used the former J. C. Penney for their meetings.[38] Family Practice Center took over the former Sears space, and remodeled it into a clinic with a 50-year lease.[39] The former Sears building was sold to D&C Realty, with the mall retaining ownership of the land underneath, for $1.5 million. Re-purposing of the former Sears to Family Practice Center took several years and began in Fall 2018, with no planned exterior changes to the building.[40][41]
Sheriff's Sale and New Owner 2019 - present
Susquehanna Valley Mall went to sheriff's sale on August 9, 2019. Its owners, Susquehanna Valley Mall Associates, owed $33.4 million to the U.S. Bank National Association.[42] The mall was purchased by the U.S. Bank National Association for $5.25 million.[6] Parts of the Family Practice Center opened in February 2020.[43] Geisinger Health System leased space from Family Practice Center for an urgent care clinic in May 2020.[43][44] Geisinger's Convenient Care Plus Clinic opened in March 2021.[45] Flea Flickers in 2023 leased the former Bon-Ton space for storage.[46] Evangelical Community Hospital opened a practice in August 2023.[47]
Notoriety
The Murder of Troy LaFerrara in 2013 and Lori Auker in 1989 both began in the parking lot of the Mall.[48][49][50][51] The 94KX Cares for Kids Radiothon while being held at the Susquehanna Valley Mall has raised $45,000 in 2012, $40,721 in 2013, and $41,678 in 2014. It benefits the Janet Weis Children's Hospital at Geisinger Medical Center through Children's Miracle Network.[52][53][54][55]
