Dead mall in Gaithersburg finally getting demolished

Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman speaks in front of the partially demolished Lakeforest Mall. Credit: Jacqueline Kalil.

Lakeforest Mall has languished for at least 18 years, since the Great Financial Crisis in 2008 if not before.  It went through various iterations of foreclosure and debtor in possession and special servicing and finally shut for good in 2023.

In 2013 and probably before the special servicer was Hines Interests, one of the nation's largest property firms.

I was at a conference out west and the guy in charge of the mall for Hines was talking to one of the presenters, a guy who did night markets in Australia, about the opportunity to do that to try to enliven and activate the property.

I said, just tear it down and redevelop it.  Now they are ("Lakeforest Mall demolition ushers in start of $1.2B redevelopment project," Bethesda Magazine).  15 years later.  From the article:

Opened in 1978, the mall once served as a central shopping and social hub for Montgomery County, featuring major department stores, an ice rink and later a movie theater and food court. For many residents, it was a place of first jobs, first dates and holiday shopping traditions.

To me it was one of Montgomery County's weak malls, declining even before the GFC, so it had a 30 year or less good run.  Montgomery Mall is somewhat upscale and still successful.  The Westfield Mall in Wheaton is successful as a middle income mall targeting Latinos and other segments.

Interior commercial district malls in Silver Spring and Rockville have never been successful.  While the White Flint Mall declined, interestingly at the time, the connected department stores did okay regardless.  Lord & Taylor (now defunct) even sued to keep the property owner.

The Curlicue sculpture by Chris Byars has been moved from Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg to the streets of Olney, Maryland.

But I don't think Lake Forest Mall was ever a particularly high performer.  

It was notable for public art ("Lakeforest Sculptures Relocated to Olney Hot Spots") and the ice rink, among other things.  

Montgomery County DOT booth at the Agriculture Fair.

I was only exposed to it because it was the staging point for parking used to support the Montgomery County Agriculture Fair at the nearby Fairgrounds.  Montgomery County RideOn bus transit did a very good system of shuttle buses back and forth.

It's going to be replaced with a mixed use development including residential, office space, and some retail-entertainment space.