Dartmouth Mall

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The Dartmouth Mall is a large, one-level, two-story, indoor shopping mall located off US 6 and Faunce Corner Road in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, in the United States. Currently anchoring the mall are JC Penney, Macy's, and Sears. The mall also features a food court and movie theater. Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust manages the mall.

[edit] History

Dartmouth Mall (originally known as "North" Dartmouth Mall; the name was changed in the 1990s after the town abandoned officially using the name) was constructed from 1969 to 1971 on the site of the 9-Hole Golf Course Paskamansett Links. The town of North Dartmouth had zoned all of the land on Route 6 for commercial development, and the North Dartmouth Mall was the first large-scale retail facility constructed along the route. When the mall opened, it featured a 3-screen cinema, and 72 stores, including nine restaurants. Originally anchoring the mall were Zayre, Sears and The Outlet Company department store, as well as mini-anchors Cherry & Webb and Woolworth. The former Cherry & Webb and Woolworth's locations have since been subdivied. The Zayre chain was purchased by Ames in the late 1980s, and as a result became an Ames store. Outlet went out of business (along with the rest of the company) in 1980 and was replaced with JC Penney. Also, the former Ames was demolished and replaced with a Filene's in 2004. In 2006, Filene's was replaced by Macy's as part of Macy's buyout of the Filene's chain.

Since opening, the surrounding area has expanded dramatically. Many plazas have sprung up around it, including four to the west along State Road (Rte. 6) and three along Faunce Corner Road between Rte. 6 and I-195.

[edit] The Mall Today

Today, although aesthetics have changed (including new gates, signage and interior decor), the physical layout of the mall has not changed; it is still one level, with two front gates, a rear gate in line with the front west gate and a minor gate at the east end next to Sears. The theaters have been expanded to 12 screens, and are operated by AMC. Along the rear west wing, there is now a small food court. There are two stores (Sears Automotive and Pier One Imports) and two restaurants (Olive Garden and Taco Bell) located in the parking lot; the stores are original, but both restaurants are new (the Olive Garden having been built on the former site of a Goodyear repair shop, which has since moved into the adjacent Dartmouth Towne Center).

The anchors and main stores are: