Independence Mall (Massachusetts)

Independence Mall, also known as the Kingston Mall, is a one story enclosed shopping center with 100 stores and restaurants. Built in 1989, the mall serves the South Shore region of Massachusetts in the United States.

History

Independence Mall opened in 1989 in Kingston, MA. The opening brought a regional shopping center to the southern portion of Massachusetts' South Shore region, serving the Plymouth area. Previously, residents needed to drive to the Hanover Mall in Hanover, MA or the Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis, MA for shopping. The original anchors to the mall were: Filene's, Filene's Basement, JCPenney, Sears, and Hoyts Cinema. The mall was very successful for its first few years, attracting Bradlees, Jo-Ann Fabrics and Lechmere as expansion anchors. However the novelty wore off as high rents caused several destination stores to move out. By 2000, much of the mall was vacant. Bradlees and JCPenney closed in early 2001.

The mall began a rebirth in late 2000, as several smaller stores were rebuilt into inline anchors to house Borders and Old Navy. JCPenney's space was remodeled and became Bob's Stores, and after Bradlees closed in 2001 the space was built out to accommodate Target. The Lechmere location that closed in 1997 following that company's bankruptcy remained empty until 2002, when it was reconstructed first as an H&M and later as a remodeled H&M and a Linens 'N Things. The mall expansion also attracted electronics retailer Best Buy to move into a newly constructed anchor location adjacent to Bob's Stores. Bob's Stores would close in 2003, but was quickly replaced by Steve and Barry's.

A poor economy and competition from a new shopping center just a mile away called Colony Place caused several anchors to leave Independence Mall. Both Linens 'n Things and Steve & Barry's closed in September 2008 due to company's bankruptcy. Old Navy closed in 2009 as it relocated to Colony Place. In January 2010 the mall's Uno Chicago Grill closed. Best Buy would also close its doors in 2010 and move to Colony Place. Borders closed their store in September 2011, as the entire chain folded.

On December 5, 2011, construction began on a brand new 58,000 sf Regal Cinemas 14 complex to replace to outdated cinema. In February 2012 the mall's H&M closed.

On November 20, 2013, it was announced that the Independence Mall was changing it's name to Kingston Collection. Along with the name change came another announcement about a renovation of the mall which will include changing the entire exterior facade, a new paint job (inside and out), designer tile, plush soft seating areas with free wifi, new stores, dining options, new entertainment, a full renovation on the inside, renovated restrooms, larger selection of stores, reopening of the basement which hasn't been open to the public since 1998 and will also be extensively renovated as well, redevelopment of the center court and the former Best Buy which closed in 2010 and a F-100 Indoor racetrack called Fasttrax. It is expected to be complete in fall of 2014.

Location

Independence Mall is located off exit 8 of Route 3 in southern Kingston, Massachusetts (Smith Lane/Rocky Nook exit).

Anchor stores

• Macy's (150,000 sq ft.) (opened 1989 as Filene's, closed 2006 and became Macy's due to merger)
• Sears (80,000 sq ft.) (opened 1989 as original anchor)
• Target (126,000 sq ft.) (opened in 2002)
• Regal Cinemas (58,000 sq ft.) (opened 1990, Major expansion and renovation done in 2012)
• Fastrax Raceway (unknown square footage) (opening Spring 2014)

Former anchor stores

• Best Buy (28,000 sq ft.) (opened 2002 in Mall expansion, closed 2010 to move to nearby Colony Place, remains vacant as of 2013
• Bob's Stores (square feet unknown) (opened in 2000 in remodeled location of the space previously occupied by JCPenney, closed in 2003)
• Borders (square feet unknown) (Opened 2000, closed 2011 due to bankruptcy, space is currently being occupied by an independent bookstore called the Bookshack)
• Bradlees (126,000 sq ft.) (opened 1990, closed 2001, space demolished and rebuilt, now occupied by Target)
• Filenes (150,000 sq ft.) (opened 1989; converted to Macy's in 2006)
• Filene's Basement (30,000 sq ft.) (opened 1989, closed 1998, remains vacant as of 2012 due to when Target was built in 2002, the mall's leaseable area maxed out; the basement won't be for lease until the mall gets approval to reopen it.)
• H&M (opened 2002; closed 2012) (40,000 sq ft.)
• JCPenney (square feet unknown) (opened in 1989, closed in 2000)
• Jo-Ann Fabrics (opened 1989; closed 2011 to make way for Regal Cinema's expansion; demolished 2012) (16,000 sq ft.)
• Lechmere (square feet unknown) opened 1992, closed 1997 when company folded, space converted into H&M location and Linens 'N Things location
• Linens 'N Things (square feet unknown) opened 2002, closed 2007
• Old Navy (20,000 sq ft.) (opened 2000, closed 2009 to move to nearby Colony Place, space is currently being occupied by a Glow in the Dark Mini golf place)
• Steve and Barry's (square feet unknown) (opened in 2005 in location previously occupied by Bob's Stores, closing date unknown)

Dining Opitions

• Fuji Chen
• Subway
• Pizzeria Regina
• Dunkin Donuts
• Auntie Anne's
• Cafe located in Target
• Mama Chef

External links

• Independence Mall