Comments on: Harrisburg Mall; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:23:21 +0000

Anyone know whatever happened to the giant eagle statute that was in front of Wanamaker’s? (See GoneFromTheBurg’s post above from 11/8) It must have been in the news at the time but I can’t remember what happened to it.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:54:31 +0000

My best friend currently works there at the T-Mobile store. If you go there for a phone plan his name is David.

anyway, because of him working there he has heard a few things, and has said that Sega is thinking of opening up there again, now I have no idea on where he heard it, or how much of it is truth and lie, but it’s still some type of news.

the Great Escape Movie Theatre is actually a rather nice theatre, when it isn’t being over crowded. The prices I have heard complaints about, but they aren’t any different than any other multiplex.

One of the stores I miss in that mall was Suncoast, easily one of my favorite stores and a reason for going there. Anyone remember the Kay Bee Toys that was there as well?

one more thing, anyone remember the pet store that was at the mall? My wife almost had her dad arrest there when she was three, because he wanted to leave, went to pick her up, and she yelled that he wasn’t her dad, hate to see what would happen today if a kid did that

By: GoneFromTheBurg

GoneFromTheBurg — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:42:33 +0000

No mention of the Marriot Hot Shoppe Cafeteria here. It was located on the first floor just outside of Wannamaker’s. Located nearby ,there was a large circular water fountain with a sizable eagle statue for that ’70s decor. Can’t remember at the moment if it was made of bronze or concrete. Hanover shoes and Matango’s candy were close neighbors as well. Walden’s Books was originally on the 2nd floor above center court. Used to watch Soupy Sales from that vantage point during the March of Dimes telethon. Remember the original dark wood trim and planted vegetation along with water ponds and smaller fountains along the center run of the first floor? Talk about a memorable ambience long gone. Today, the place harbors tumble weeds with an auro of baron sterile vacated malaise. So much of the burg has degenerated much the same way. I’m grateful for the past and its better memories. Everytime I return for an out of town visit, I can’t believe I ever grew up in this place that has long since lost it’s identity and turned into one more geography of nowhere. Shame…

By: norman St. Amour

norman St. Amour — Sun, 10 May 2009 21:03:21 +0000

I was manager at Kid’s Toys for a year. I believe Payless Shoes now occupies the spot accross from Macy’s.

By: norman St. Amour

norman St. Amour — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:58:40 +0000

@nick, Are you talking about Watt and Shand? That is currently being rebuilt into a convention center.

By: norman St. Amour

norman St. Amour — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:56:52 +0000

@J.B. Smith, That’s nothing. In Lebanon County, their license plate academy is located next to a retirement home. How’s that for neighbors!

By: vetern mall employee

vetern mall employee — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:02:43 +0000

I work in this field and am very familar with all the centers in central PA. The impression that Harrisburg was the desirable mall of the market anytime since the very early 90s is crazy! In the 90s Harrisburg did a reno that for a short time did give them the title of Top Dog, however with some changes at Capital City that changed around 95-96. Since then Capital City has out performed all the other malls in the market.

The purchase of the center by Feldman was nothing short of a disaster. The vacancy rate is higher now than ever, the sales are steadily declining.
Many of the current tenants are on a % rent structure and kept to simply keep lights on in stores.
Macy’s is eyeing that store up for closing, and if it does Bass Pro will have a kick out allowing them to leave.
The mall recently was foreclosed upon and now under new management. Nothing short of a bottomless credit line and a miracle will save this place

By: Bev Kalucki

Bev Kalucki — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:25:49 +0000

Does anyone remember a bakery that was in the Harrisburg East Mall and the Park City Center back in the 70s? Cheesecakes and buns were baked on the premises and sold. There was an almost cave like feel about the place, as the entire back was this huge oven, almost like a pizza oven. I have no idea if this was a chain, as the only two locations I remember were these two.

By: Cole Selkirk

Cole Selkirk — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 07:09:05 +0000

Does anyone remember a record shop called “Music Scene?”

By: catnapped

catnapped — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:48:15 +0000

In case anyone is interested (or cares for) an update, Barnes and Noble seems to have bailed out of the project entirely, joining both Panera and Sega in vacating stores that hadn’t even opened yet (the B&N letters on the store have recently been removed but remain on the mall’s outside pylon). For Jonah, JCPenney built a new location several years ago at the nearby “Highpointe Commons” (off of Lindle Road, on the east side of I-283), along with Target and a bunch of other specialty stores.