The Evolution of Harford Mall: From Racetrack to Retail Hub in Bel Air, Maryland

Harford Mall is located at the intersection of Maryland Route 24 and U.S. Route 1 in Bel Air, Maryland, approximately 32 miles north of Baltimore. Owned by CBL & Associates Properties, it serves as the only shopping mall in Harford County.

Before its transformation into a shopping mall, the property was known for the Bel Air Racetrack, established in the 1870s. Featuring a 3/4 mile racing circuit and grandstands, the track closed in 1962 after facing ownership disputes.

The Harford Mall opened in 1973, built by Mid Atlantic Realty Trust. Harford Mall initially featured anchor stores E.J. Korvette and Montgomery Ward, alongside staple mall tenants like Walden Books, Friendly Ice Cream, and a multi-screen cinema. Over the years, E.J. Korvette evolved into Hutzler’s, then Hecht’s, and eventually Macy’s. Montgomery Ward was replaced by Sears. In 2003, CBL & Associates acquired the property for $71 million, setting the stage for future developments.

Expansions and Renovations

The mall experienced its first major expansion in October 1977 with the opening of Hochschild Kohn, which later became the original food court. A significant renovation occurred between 2006 and 2007, which included modernizing the interior and exterior of the mall. The original indoor food court was removed to make way for additional retail space, while a new outdoor food court attracted popular restaurants like Red Robin, along with upscale retailers such as Hollister and American Eagle.

In 2013, the mall lost long-time tenant Old Navy, which relocated to the Boulevard at Box Hill, and was replaced by The Shoe Department Encore. The closure of Sears in early 2020, following its bankruptcy, marked another significant change; the store was demolished in 2022. Although Harford Mall continues to host dining options such as Garibaldi’s Pizza & Grill and Friendly’s, many of its original tenants have since exited.

In November 2021, plans were announced for a new outdoor shopping complex to replace the demolished Sears store, covering 59,600 square feet. Although an Amazon Fresh grocery store was initially planned as a primary tenant, those plans have since changed, leaving the space currently vacant and available for leasing.

Current Challenges and Future Outlook

Today, Harford Mall faces increasing store vacancies and dwindling foot traffic. The future of Harford Mall remains uncertain, with the community hoping for revitalization efforts that could reinvigorate this historic shopping destination. With a bright and pleasing autumn color palatte, and some really fun design flourishes like arches decorated with crabs, turtles, and other aquatic life, Harford Mall is a clean, pleasant place to visit and boasts some fun and unique local stores, like Lunar Squirrel’s Puntique, which sells candy and other gag products. It was also exciting to see that the Friendly’s was still open! Though I am less of a fan of malls that were redesigned after the 90s, Harford Mall still has a lot of mall staples like Yankee Candle, Fye, Bath & Body Works, and Macy’s, and in general is well-kept and inviting. It’s hard to know which malls will survive the years ahead, but Harford Mall is certainly putting in the effort.