Big changes over at the Dulles Town Center shopping mall in Sterling — with more change on the horizon. The mall has new owners and a new management company. And the longterm goal is to make dramatic upgrades to reinvigorate the property and the shopping experience.
Here’s the background — Dulles Town Center, which opened in 1999, was previously owned and operated by Lerner Enterprises. The Rockville, Md.-based company is one of the largest developers in the DC metro area and has developed more than 20 million s.f. of real estate. However, it was announced this week that a new ownership group has taken over. And those new owners have hired a company out of Dallas called Centennial to handle all operations at the DTC as well to develop a plan to bring new life to the mall.
Here’s where things get interesting. According to its website, Centennial is operating and redeveloping a handful of malls around the country — the Dulles Town Center being the latest. The Centennial vision calls for changing old-fashioned indoor malls into a larger, mixed use properties with many more amenities and attractions. Possibilities include:
- bringing in a high-end grocery store, a hotel and other new types of tenants
- adding townhomes or apartments and creating a walkable community
- developing indoor and outdoor green spaces and parks for community events
- a complete redesign with new decor for the interior spaces
- possibly dividing up or otherwise repurposing vacant “big box” space, such as the empty Nordstrom and Lord & Taylor spots
- attracting new high-end restaurants and stores
“We specialize in transforming shopping centers into redefined spaces well suited to the lifestyle of tomorrow’s consumers – something we look forward to doing at Dulles Town Center as well,” said Whitney Livingston, Centennial’s COO in a press release.
Dulles Town Center = Dead Man Walking. Seriously, indoor malls are not only declining across the US, but have one foot in the grave (thanks amazon and e-commerce). The other big “strike” against Dulles Town Center and all malls in DC Metro is the “Tysons Corner Effect”. The phenomenon was written about in the Washington Post years ago. Essentially, if you want to go shopping at multiple stores and Tysons Corner is within a 30 minute drive, you’ll likely “just go to Tysons”. As a Southern Walk resident, I can drive 15 mins to Dulles Town Center or 25 minutes to Tysons (yes, I know, plus tolls). If I want to increase my odds of finding something I like, I’ll almost certainly “Just go to Tysons”.
This looks like another One Loudoun!
1st. Floor, ice skating ,roller skating, Hi Li, miniature golf, 2nd. Floor tennis courts, putting greens, archery range , art classes, pottery , sewing
Hey Anne! Love it. Don’t forget Mini-Golf (similar to putting greens, admittedly), an Arcade, Laser Tag, & Bowling! And maybe an indoor shooting range to complement the archery.
Please do not take away the department stores. Older adults do not have enough shops in the area now. Tyson’s is too congested and difficult to shop in. We need easy to get to shops and ones we are familiar with. If anything, bring a HAMRICK’S store headquartered in South Carolina, or a BELK to the mall. Both are wonderful and have most everything one needs.
Thank you.
Affordable housing is needed, maybe the country can get involved to bring more adorable housing to the area.
Adorable
Department or anchor stores? I don’t think they want to get rid of the department stores, however if they close up. Nothing the new owners can do.
Please do not take away the department stores. Older adults do not have enough shops in the area now. Tyson’s is too congested and difficult to shop in. We need easy to get to shops and ones we are familiar with. If anything, bring a HAMRICK’S store headquartered in South Carolina, or a BELK to the mall. Both are wonderful and have most everything one needs.
Thank you.
Department or anchor stores? I don’t think they want to get rid of the department stores, however if they close up. Nothing the new owners can do.
Department or anchor stores? I don’t think they want to get rid of the department stores, however if they close up. Nothing the new owners can do.
It will just end up being some sort of housing when all said and done. 1/3 of the shops are closed, high rent, little foot traffic.
I liked the video although I don’t know when it was created. The very first thing that I noticed is how out of touch it is today, no masks, no social distancing. I’m not a big mask guy but it’s hard not to notice it and it is a reality in today’s world.
To me it looks a lot like what is being done over in Herndon off of Sunrise Valley near the airport Hyatt. they developed that land into a place like this. Granted the mall is missing but everything else looks just like that area.
With One Loudoun, they can level the DTC and just re-develop that entire area around Nokes Blvd on both sides east of Atlantic, all the way to Ridgetop.
They have started some of this redevelopment over by the new Sheetz which is a start. But that mall is useless today. Raze it all and just redevelop the entire thing into a high end area. This location and property is to valuable to make it into “affordable” housing. Let the markets decide what should go in there “price wise” for housing.
To whomever wants to keep the department stores, no way, today, those are dinosaurs just before the meteor hit and they became officially extinct. Use Amazon if you really need something.
I liked the video although I don’t know when it was created. The very first thing that I noticed is how out of touch it is today, no masks, no social distancing. I’m not a big mask guy but it’s hard not to notice it and it is a reality in today’s world.
To me it looks a lot like what is being done over in Herndon off of Sunrise Valley near the airport Hyatt. they developed that land into a place like this. Granted the mall is missing but everything else looks just like that area.
With One Loudoun, they can level the DTC and just re-develop that entire area around Nokes Blvd on both sides east of Atlantic, all the way to Ridgetop.
They have started some of this redevelopment over by the new Sheetz which is a start. But that mall is useless today. Raze it all and just redevelop the entire thing into a high end area. This location and property is to valuable to make it into “affordable” housing. Let the markets decide what should go in there “price wise” for housing.
To whomever wants to keep the department stores, no way, today, those are dinosaurs just before the meteor hit and they became officially extinct. Use Amazon if you really need something.
1. Westin Hotel
2. Thrift shops
3. Remove roof
4. Redesign it like the Dubai Palm Island
5. Get ride of the giant cloth stores
1. Westin Hotel
2. Thrift shops
3. Remove roof
4. Redesign it like the Dubai Palm Island
5. Get ride of the giant cloth stores
How about converting into an indoor sports tournament facility which is sorely needed in Northern Virginia. Virginia Beach just opened the Virginia Beach Sports Center which includes 12 hardwood basketball courts (convertible to 24 volleyball courts) and an indoor track with hydraulic bankings which can be lowered. The track side of the building can be covered to add additional courts for larger tournaments. Already the track has secured NCAA National Indoor Track Championships as well as the 2021 AAU Indoor Nationals. Once Covid has passed the hardwood side will see much activity. Currently, Loudoun County Public Schools has an indoor track facility in its CIP for 4-5 years down the line and DTC would be a great location in addition to the indoor sports facility to make this a competitive sports destination. To be clear, this would not be a health club with membership but a tournament facility to host both practice and competition for primarily the multitude of travel basketball and volleyball teams.
Loudoun County has a tremendous lack of indoor sports facilities for the youth. Basketball and Volleyball teams must rent court time at public school facilities all over the county and it is nearly impossible to attract tournaments as operators do want to be spread a multiple venues and want to have it all under one roof. An indoor facility would help this great need in the county while attracting tournaments with 100+ teams to fill our hotels and support the restaurants near DTC. This type of facility would also be attractive to new hotel construction as by the time the redevelopment is completed much of the COVID loss to the hotel/tourism industry is predicted to return to pre-Covid levels.
In addition to the indoor sports facility (300-400,00 sq. ft min), additional space (300,000+) could be utilized as an exhibit hall with the possibility of hosting various trade shows with booth space or used for car, boat, RV, etc. weekend shows. Loudoun has nothing like this and the need is great.
This is the time to think outside the box and not just create yet another housing development or data center. Let’s build something that serves Loudoun County residents during the week and creates great revenue through visitor spending on the weekends. Also, the ability to host large tournaments which could also include other indoor sports (wrestling, martial arts, fencing, table tennis, badminton, pickelball, etc.) means both our youth and adults could stay at home and compete more often rather than traveling out of the area most weekends for tournaments.
If you think this is a good idea or wish to reach out for further discussion please contact me at .
How about converting into an indoor sports tournament facility which is sorely needed in Northern Virginia. Virginia Beach just opened the Virginia Beach Sports Center which includes 12 hardwood basketball courts (convertible to 24 volleyball courts) and an indoor track with hydraulic bankings which can be lowered. The track side of the building can be covered to add additional courts for larger tournaments. Already the track has secured NCAA National Indoor Track Championships as well as the 2021 AAU Indoor Nationals. Once Covid has passed the hardwood side will see much activity. Currently, Loudoun County Public Schools has an indoor track facility in its CIP for 4-5 years down the line and DTC would be a great location in addition to the indoor sports facility to make this a competitive sports destination. To be clear, this would not be a health club with membership but a tournament facility to host both practice and competition for primarily the multitude of travel basketball and volleyball teams.
Loudoun County has a tremendous lack of indoor sports facilities for the youth. Basketball and Volleyball teams must rent court time at public school facilities all over the county and it is nearly impossible to attract tournaments as operators do want to be spread a multiple venues and want to have it all under one roof. An indoor facility would help this great need in the county while attracting tournaments with 100+ teams to fill our hotels and support the restaurants near DTC. This type of facility would also be attractive to new hotel construction as by the time the redevelopment is completed much of the COVID loss to the hotel/tourism industry is predicted to return to pre-Covid levels.
In addition to the indoor sports facility (300-400,00 sq. ft min), additional space (300,000+) could be utilized as an exhibit hall with the possibility of hosting various trade shows with booth space or used for car, boat, RV, etc. weekend shows. Loudoun has nothing like this and the need is great.
This is the time to think outside the box and not just create yet another housing development or data center. Let’s build something that serves Loudoun County residents during the week and creates great revenue through visitor spending on the weekends. Also, the ability to host large tournaments which could also include other indoor sports (wrestling, martial arts, fencing, table tennis, badminton, pickelball, etc.) means both our youth and adults could stay at home and compete more often rather than traveling out of the area most weekends for tournaments.
If you think this is a good idea or wish to reach out for further discussion please contact me at .
The first comment was right on point. I’ve lived in loudoun since the late 70s. If you want to go to the mall you go to Tyson’s. Back when they first discussed building the Dulles town center they wanted to build it on the scale of tysons. The BOS shot that down and this is what we got stuck with. That whole area is getting surrounded with data centers. Might as well turn it into one as well.
Turn it into a refrigerator factory. We need more refrigeration in Loudoun County.
Turn it into a refrigerator factory. We need more refrigeration in Loudoun County.
Turn it into a refrigerator factory. We need more refrigeration in Loudoun County.
Turn it into a refrigerator factory. We need more refrigeration in Loudoun County.
Does this mall will keep the glass elevator?
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