Mall At Fox Run's Final Christmas
The Mall at Fox Run, originally known as Fox Run Mall, is a regional shopping center located in Newington, New Hampshire, just north of Portsmouth. Opened in 1983, the mall was developed as a modern replacement for the smaller Newington Mall, which has since been redeveloped into a big-box retail plaza. With a total leasable area of about 603,000 square feet, the Mall at Fox Run ranks as the fourth-largest mall in the state. It is a single-level complex containing approximately 84 retail spaces.
Its location has long been a strength. Situated near U.S. Route 4 and the Spaulding Turnpike, and only minutes from Interstate 95, the mall is easily accessible. Being just three miles from the Maine border, it has historically attracted many out-of-state shoppers drawn by New Hampshire’s lack of sales tax.
Retail Anchors and Historical Changes
For much of its history, the mall featured four major department store anchors: Sears, JCPenney, Jordan Marsh (later Macy’s), and Filene’s. Following retail consolidations, Filene’s was converted into a second Macy’s, resulting in separate men’s and women’s stores. Over time, however, anchor closures reshaped the mall. Sears closed in 2019, JCPenney followed in 2025, and both remaining Macy’s locations are scheduled to close by March 2026, leaving the mall without any anchor tenants.
Design and Interior Layout
Architecturally, the mall reflects early 1980s shopping center design. Built on an 82-acre site, it features wide corridors, skylights along the main concourse, and a one-story layout intended to feel open and bright. Anchor stores were positioned at opposite ends to encourage foot traffic. In recent years, the central court was updated to include a relocated children’s play area, reinforcing its role as a social hub.
Dining options were concentrated in the mall’s center, once hosting several quick-service restaurants. By early 2026, only two eateries remained in operation, reflecting the mall’s broader decline.
Demolition and Redevelopment
In 2025, plans were announced to demolish the Mall at Fox Run in 2026 and replace it with a mixed-use development known as Seacoast Landing. The project, estimated at $500 million, marks the end of the mall’s retail era and the beginning of a new chapter for the site.
Impressions From My Visit
My trip to Mall at Fox Run was during its final Christmas season, and I was surprised at how many people were there. While there were certainly noticeable vacancies in the storefronts, there was an impressive variety of vendors and a vibrant atmosphere overall that I wouldn’t have expected given how soon the planned closure of the mall was. Quite a few of the businesses appeared to be unique locally owned stores, such as the awesomely spooky New England Curiosities or retro gaming haven Gen X Gaming. Another bonus is that the mall is dog friendly, and it was cool to see people’s pups getting pats.
While the demolition of the mall is inevitable now, unlike some ailing malls I’ve been to, it didn’t feel like it needed to be. It’s hard to tell if the holiday foot traffic is representative of how many visitors the place has off season, or if the vacancies I noticed are because vendors left in anticipation of the closure. Mall at Fox Run was a really nice mall, though. It was clean, well lit, fun to walk around, and nicely decorated. Considering how many local businesses are there and how difficult it can be for smaller businesses to relocate, this feels like a big loss for the community. Mall at Fox Run definitely scored high in what I consider to be the things that make a mall engaging: one-of-a-kind places offering wares and experiences you can’t find outside of a mall. It will be sad to see it go.
Matthew Christopher NH Newington Jan 12, 2026 Malls Retail Stores Retro/Nostalgia
Jan 12, 2026
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