{{Short description|Defunct shopping mall in Massachusetts}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox shopping mall | name = Swansea Mall | logo = Swansea Mall Logo.jpg | image = Swansea Mall (Swansea, Massachusetts).jpg | image_width = | caption = Swansea Mall interior in 2019 | location = [[Swansea, Massachusetts]] | address = 262 Swansea Mall Drive, Swansea, Mass. 02777 | coordinates = {{coord|41.755261|N|71.218296|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|display=inline,title|name=Swansea Mall}} | opening_date = 1975 | closing_date = March 31, 2019 | developer = Arlen Realty<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/438808036/ | title=Real Estate Mart | work=[[The Boston Globe]] | date=March 10, 1974 | accessdate=October 29, 2022 | pages=A57}}</ref> | manager = | owner = Anagnost Companies | architect = Robert W. Kahn<ref name="csa">{{cite journal | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JktPAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Architect+:+Robert+W+.+Kahn+Associates+,+New+York+.+General+contractor+:+Independent%22 | title=Massachusetts | journal=CSA Super Markets | year=1974 | volume=50 | pages=E40}}</ref> | number_of_stores = 90 | number_of_anchors = 4 | floor_area = | floors = 1 | parking = | footnotes = }}
'''Swansea Mall''' was a regional [[shopping mall]] located in [[Swansea, Massachusetts]]. It served the Southeastern [[Massachusetts]] area. Located off Exit 3 of [[Interstate 195 (Rhode Island-Massachusetts)|I-195]], the building is situated at the intersection of [[U.S. Route 6]] and [[Massachusetts Route 118]], on Swansea Mall Drive. It had three out-parcel buildings: a [[Walmart]] building behind the mall, a former [[Toys "R" Us]], and a shared [[PriceRite]] (closed in 2020)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-04|title=Price Rite closing Swansea store by Sept. 30|url=https://www.wpri.com/business-news/price-rite-closing-swansea-store-by-sept-30/|access-date=2022-01-24|publisher=WPRI |language=en-US}}</ref> and [[Dollar Tree]] (formerly a [[Service Merchandise]]). The Swansea Crossings shopping plaza, a traditional [[strip mall]] added to compliment the Swansea Mall in the 1980s, is located across Route 118 and is currently anchored by a [[Tractor Supply Company]]. The mall closed permanently on March 31, 2019. It was purchased by Anagnost Companies in May 2019 at auction.
After multiple false starts, conversion of the indoor mall into an outward-facing [[strip mall]] began in 2021 and was completed in 2023; the property was renamed to '''Swansea Center''' to reflect the renovation. Despite recent redevelopment, the site continues to sit mostly vacant.
==History== In 1970, the newly-merged [[Arlen Realty and Development Corporation]] began an expansion of their [[regional mall]] division in the [[South Coast (Massachusetts)|South Coast]] of Massachusetts by opening the [[North Dartmouth Mall]] in 1971 in [[Dartmouth, Massachusetts]]. Following the initial success of the North Dartmouth Mall, Arlen sought to expand to other underserved markets in [[Bristol County, Massachusetts]]. The town of [[Swansea, Massachusetts]], was determined to have enough market potential to justify the construction of a regional mall near the junction of [[Massachusetts Route 118]] and [[U.S. Route 6|Route 6]]. The location was preferred for its proximity to [[Interstate 195 (Rhode Island–Massachusetts)|Interstate 195]], and was situated between the cities of [[Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River]] and [[Providence, Rhode Island]]. Construction on the Swansea Mall would begin during March 1974.<ref name=":0" />
=== Construction riots === During construction of the mall, there were issues between union and non-union workers that led to multiple fights between the sides and several injuries.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2 September 1974 |title=A labor issues produces violence in Swansea |newspaper=The Boston Globe |url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/435912495/ |access-date=2022-01-19 |via=Newspapers.com |language=en |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Tensions arose when local unions accused the general contractor of outsourcing labor to out of state non-union workers in order to reduce labor costs. On September 2, 1974, it was reported that over two-thousand unionized workers entered and vandalized the construction site to protest the ongoing project. Several violent altercations occurred between law enforcement and the unionized laborers; five police officers and five union workers were injured during the riot.
Despite the large congregation of rioters at the scene, damages accumulated on the construction site were determined to only amount to $12,000; construction on the mall would resume a week later without issue.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 August 1974 |title=Sargent asked to halt violence |newspaper=The Daily Sentinel and Leominster Enterprise |url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/65441240/ |access-date=2022-01-19 |via=Newspapers.com |language=en |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
=== Operations and decline === The Swansea Mall opened in 1975 with two anchors: [[Sears]] and [[Edgar Department Stores]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mNsbAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Swansea+mall%22+%22edgars%22|title=Directory of major malls, listing the most important existing and planned ...|publisher=MJJTM Publications Corp|via=[[Google Books]]|year=1981|accessdate=2012-08-16}}</ref><ref name=HeraldNewsRemember>{{Cite news|last=Medeiros|first=Dan|title=Shop local as we remember 13 Fall River area stores we miss, from Anderson-Little to Zayre|url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/news/history/2021/12/15/fall-river-retail-stores-christmas-nostalgia-zayre-woolworth-kmart-bennys/6488695001/|access-date=2022-01-19|work=[[The Herald News]]|language=en-US}}</ref> The mall had a 4-screen movie theater. In the early 1980s, the mall expanded and added two anchors, national discount department store [[Caldor]] and Rhode Island–based department store [[Apex Stores|Apex]]. Two out-parcels were located just south of the original mall, populated by [[Toys "R" Us]] and [[Service Merchandise]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=O'Connor|first=Kevin P.|title=Owner of Swansea Toys R Us land says interest in site is booming|url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/business/2018/03/20/owner-swansea-toys-r-us/12948979007/|access-date=2022-01-24|website=The Herald News|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="HeraldNewsRemember" />[[File:Swansea Mall atrium 2018.jpg|thumb|View of the neon-lit atrium, 2018]]In 1989, the mall underwent a major interior renovation. By the 1990s, the movie theater was closed, original anchor Edgar's, then out-of-business, was replaced by [[Jordan Marsh]], the hall space was altered with the removal of water fountains, the installation of new lighting, and new floor tiling, and the mall's logo was changed to its current design. In 1996, Jordan Marsh was sold to [[Macy's]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Jordan Marsh To Take Macy's Name New England Chain Will Lose Its Identity After 145 Years|work=The Spokesman-Review|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/jan/11/jordan-marsh-to-take-macys-name-new-england-chain/|access-date=2022-01-20}}</ref> [[Caldor]] suffered damage during a fire in 1997 and was closed for a year of renovation.<ref name="StandardTimes">{{Cite news|last=Roy|first=Linda|title=Miss shopping at these New Bedford area stores? A look back at favorites that have closed|url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/business/2021/12/06/favorite-closed-new-bedford-stores-zayre-bradlees-discount-mars-bargain/8722634002/|access-date=2022-01-20|work=[[The Standard-Times (New Bedford)|The Standard-Times]]|language=en-US}}</ref> It closed permanently when the company went out of business in 1999.<ref name="HeraldNewsRemember" /><ref name="StandardTimes" /> Several restaurants left the mall in the late '90s, such as the pizzeria Roman Delight and [[Newport Creamery]]. In 1995, the food court was opened. In 2001, a [[Walmart]] replaced the previous Caldor location after its purchase in 1999.<ref>{{cite news|date=27 July 1999|title=Caldor sells more stores|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/27/nyregion/metro-business-caldor-sells-more-stores.html|accessdate=2015-03-03}}</ref> Apex closed the same year, with the space remaining vacant for the remainder of the mall's lifespan.<ref name="HeraldNewsRemember" /><ref>{{cite web|date=23 January 2001|title=Apex to close Swansea and Warwick stores, consolidate|url=http://pbn.com/Apex-to-close-Swansea-and-Warwick-stores-consolidate-operations-in-Pawtucket,576|accessdate=2015-03-03}}</ref>
Walmart moved out of the mall and into its own building in September 2013.<ref name="WalmartWickedLocal">{{Cite web |last=Allard |first=Deborah |title=PROJECT TRACKER: Walmart center takes shape in Swansea |url=https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/archive/2013/03/20/project-tracker-walmart-center-takes/38160400007/ |access-date=2022-01-20 |website=Wicked Local |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-09-11 |title=Walmart opens new store at Swansea Mall |url=https://turnto10.com/archive/walmart-opens-new-store-at-swansea-mall |access-date=2022-01-20 |publisher=WJAR}}</ref> The previous Walmart wing of the mall was demolished and replaced with parking and a new mall entrance.<ref name="WalmartWickedLocal" /> In December 2013, mall owner Carlyle Development sold off the two southern out-parcel buildings, a [[Toys R Us]] and [[Dollar Tree]]/[[Price Rite]], to Gator Investments, and announced that it was putting the Swansea Mall up for sale. In January 2014, the mall brought management in-house and ended its relationship with management company, Jones Lang LaSalle. Also in 2014, Kaplan Retail Consulting was hired to oversee the leasing of the mall's retail space.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Allard|first=Deborah|title=Land housing Swansea WalMart sold for $10.6 million|url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/business/2014/03/11/land-housing-swansea-walmart-sold/38299178007/|access-date=2022-01-20|work=[[The Herald News]]|language=en-US}}</ref> A sale agreement was reached via online auction in November 2014,<ref>{{cite web|date=|title=Swansea Mall sold for $6.65 million at auction|url=http://www.heraldnews.com/article/20141120/News/141129350|accessdate=2015-03-03}}</ref> but by January 2015 the plans had fallen through.<ref>{{cite web|date=|title=Swansea Mall sale falls through|url=http://www.heraldnews.com/article/20150105/News/150108603|accessdate=2015-03-03}}</ref> On December 28, 2016, it was announced that Sears would be closing as part of its plan to close 150 stores nationwide. The store closed in March 2017. The closure of Sears left the mall with Macy's as its only anchor.<ref>{{Cite news|last=O'Connor|first=Kevin P.|title=Swansea Mall Sears scheduled for closure|url=https://www.heraldnews.com/news/20161229/swansea-mall-sears-scheduled-for-closure|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231180520/http://www.heraldnews.com/news/20161229/swansea-mall-sears-scheduled-for-closure|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 31, 2016|work=The Herald News|location=Fall River, Mass. |language=en}}</ref>
== Closure == On June 29, 2018, the out-parcel Toys "R" Us was closed after the chain filed for bankruptcy and closed all US locations.<ref>{{Cite news|last=O'Connor|first=Kevin P.|title=Shoppers at Swansea Toys R Us greet news of store closures with sadness, recall fond childhood memories|url=https://www.heraldnews.com/news/20180316/shoppers-at-swansea-toys-r-us-greet-news-of-store-closures-with-sadness-recall-fond-childhood-memories|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828001835/https://www.heraldnews.com/news/20180316/shoppers-at-swansea-toys-r-us-greet-news-of-store-closures-with-sadness-recall-fond-childhood-memories|archive-date=28 August 2018|work=The Herald News|location=Fall River, Mass. |language=en}}</ref> The space was rented as a Spirit Halloween for multiple years after the Toys "R" Us closed.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Winokoor|first=Charles|title=Swansea Halloween pop-up racking up sales in former Toys "R" Us space|url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/business/2020/10/09/swansea-halloween-pop-up-racking-up-sales-in-former-toys-r-us-space/42910311/|access-date=2022-01-24|work=The Herald News|language=en-US}}</ref> On January 9, 2019, it was announced that Macy's would be closing on March 31, 2019, as part of its plan to close 9 stores nationwide.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-01-09|title=Macy's at Swansea Mall to close after three decades|url=https://www.wpri.com/news/macys-at-swansea-mall-to-close-after-three-decades/|publisher=WPRI|language=en-US}}</ref> In January 2019, the Swansea Board of Selectmen discussed a proposal to take the mall property by [[eminent domain]] for redevelopment.<ref>{{Cite news|author=CULLINANE, ASHLEY|date=2019-01-02|title=Selectman lays out plan to redevelop Swansea Mall, find new owner|url=https://turnto10.com/news/local/selectman-to-present-swansea-mall-proposal|publisher=WJAR}}</ref> On January 31, 2019, Carlyle Partners, the mall's owner, announced that Swansea Mall would be closing by March 31, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-01-31|title=Swansea Mall to close for good at the end of March|url=https://www.wpri.com/news/swansea-mall-to-close-for-good-at-the-end-of-march/|publisher=WPRI|language=en-US}}</ref> During the mall's final months, it became a popular destination for [[dead mall]] enthusiasts who documented the condition of the mall on social media. On March 31, the mall ceased business and closed.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-31|title=Swansea Mall closed its doors for good Sunday|url=https://www.wpri.com/business-news/swansea-mall-closed-its-doors-for-good-sunday/|publisher=WPRI|language=en-US}}</ref>
In May 2019, the property was purchased at auction by Anagnost Companies, alongside Brady Sullivan Properties as a development partner, with plans to turn it into a multifaceted facility.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-31 |title=Swansea Mall is sold to New Hampshire real estate developer |url=https://www.wwlp.com/news/massachusetts/swansea-mall-is-sold-to-new-hampshire-real-estate-developer/ |access-date=2022-01-20 |publisher=WWLP |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Allard |first=Deborah |title=Swansea Mall sold for $6.65 million at auction |url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/news/2014/11/20/swansea-mall-sold-for-6/35893454007/ |access-date=2022-01-24 |website=The Herald News |language=en-US}}</ref> The redevelopment proposal was met with opposition from Walmart which claimed that the mixed-use proposal violated previous easements, covenants, and restrictions (ECRs) that had been made with the former Swansea Mall landowners in 2013; Walmart indicated it would seek to preclude the redevelopment through litigation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Winokoor |first=Charles |title=Swansea Mall redevelopment project at a crossroads |url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/business/2020/07/10/swansea-mall-redevelopment-project-at-crossroads/114531770/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Fall River Herald News |language=en-US}}</ref> By late 2020, redevelopment work had stalled amid growing legal disputes between Anagnost and Walmart.
In May 2021, the developers estimated they would spend $200 million between redeveloping the mall and constructing apartments on the property. The town of Swansea indicated it would pursue litigation against Walmart to acquire the ECRs through eminent domain to allow the redevelopment of the mall to move forward.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Santos |first=Melissa |title='One project makes the other project successful': What's going on at the Swansea Mall site |url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/news/local/2021/05/23/swansea-redevelopment-authority-readies-legal-fight-walmart-redevelopment-mall/5169907001/ |access-date=2022-01-24 |website=The Herald News |language=en-US}}</ref> For a time, town officials considered moving the town offices to the property, but announced in October 2021 that legal issues restricted the move.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Store owner killed, Swansea town offices not headed to mall: Top Fall River area stories|url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/news/local/2021/10/24/top-fall-river-area-stories-store-owner-killed-swansea-mall-move-off-convenience-als-manufacturing/6164954001/|access-date=2022-01-24|website=The Herald News|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Cooney|first=Audrey|title=Move town offices to the old Swansea Mall? Town meeting will vote on $5 million project|url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/news/local/2021/10/04/swansea-voters-consider-moving-town-offices-into-old-swansea-mall/5929359001/|access-date=2022-01-24|website=The Herald News|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Wagner|first=Jeffrey D.|title='It will create the anchor that we need': Swansea Mall developers want Town Hall, departments as occupants|url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/news/2020/07/25/it-will-create-anchor-that-we-need-swansea-mall-developers-want-town-hall-departments-as-occupants/42908179/|access-date=2022-01-24|website=The Herald News|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Property redevelopment == [[File:Former Swansea Mall renovated entrance 2023.jpg|thumb|View of renovated southern wing entrance in 2023; the former Swansea Mall logo was kept intact]] By mid-2021, the site was held in a tenant‑in‑common ownership structure managed by SM Management LLC, with Anagnost and Brady Sullivan as principal stakeholders. In late 2021, the first section of the mall to be redeveloped was the demolition of the former Apex site, which had sat abandoned for twenty years. By the end of 2021 the property had two tenants; a self-storage facility had opened on the former Apex site and a [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] church congregation occupied the former Macy’s. During this time, the southern portion of the mall structure remained abandoned while the northern portion had been substantially gutted.
In summer 2022, Anagnost announced it had finalized negotiations with Walmart which would allow the redevelopment of the property to continue.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 27, 2022 |title=Walmart, Swansea Mall owners near agreement |url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/business/2022/01/27/walmart-swansea-mall-owners-near-agreement-redevelopment-could-start-apartments-retail-parking-lot/9222973002/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=The Herald News}}</ref> Anagnost revealed the property would be renamed the “Shoppes at Swansea” and would transform the former enclosed mall into an open-air [[Mixed-use development|mixed-use]] [[lifestyle center]] with 110,000 square feet of retail space along with two 72-unit housing complexes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paiva |first=Ken |date=2022-08-01 |title=With negotiations finalized with Walmart, former Swansea Mall property ramping up improvements, including ring road |url=https://fallriverreporter.com/with-negotiations-finalized-with-walmart-former-swansea-mall-property-ramping-up-improvements-including-ring-road/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Fall River Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> In late 2022, the ring road that formerly encircled the mall structure was repaired and a fitness club moved into the renovated northern section.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Medeiros |first=Dan |title=Smooth sailing from here on: Paving has finally started at former Swansea Mall ring road |url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/business/2022/09/15/former-swansea-mall-ring-road-being-repaved-redevelopment-continues/10369646002/ |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Fall River Herald News |language=en-US}}</ref>
In early 2023, the Pentecostal church opened a Christian school as an extension of their existing congregation; a manufacturing office for packaging supplies also opened in the northern section. During this time, the lifestyle center component and housing units had been cancelled in favor of a low-cost outward-facing [[strip mall]] renovation with expanded parking; the property was renamed "Swansea Center" to reflect this change.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richard |first=Barry|date=2023-08-21 |title=Former Swansea Mall Looks Different But Still Mostly Empty |url=https://wbsm.com/swansea-mall-mostly-empty/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |publisher=1420 WBSM |language=en}}</ref> By mid-2023, most of the northern section had been rehabilitated; however, a majority of the property remained without tenants. In June 2023, the town of Swansea and [[Massachusetts Department of Transportation|MassDOT]] indicated plans to transform the existing Swansea Mall Drive portion of [[Massachusetts Route 128|MA Route 118]] (currently a [[Stroad|multi-laned thoroughfare]]) into an [[urban boulevard]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=How would you redesign Swansea Mall Drive? The town wants public input on the new plans. |url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/news/local/2023/06/02/swansea-mall-drive-meeting-scheduled-to-share-plans-on-massdot-highway-changes/70271625007/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=Fall River Herald News |language=en-US}}</ref>
The renovated property has struggled to attract tenants; the remainder of the renovated storefronts have been predominately vacant {{as of|since=y|lc=y|2023}}. In June 2024, it was announced a function center had filed occupancy permits on the site, and opened later that year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Levine |first=Maddie|date=2024-06-18 |title=New Event Venue Coming to the Former Swansea Mall |url=https://fun107.com/swansea-new-event-space-shoppes-at-swansea/ |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=FUN 107 |language=en}}</ref> In March 2025, Swansea town officials cited outdated sewer infrastructure as a primary deterrent to new and continuing tenancy, arguing that improved infrastructure would be necessary to revitalize leasing activity on the site.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scherny |first=Emily |date=March 10, 2025 |title=Officials say lack of sewer makes it hard to lure businesses. |url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/business/2025/03/10/swansea-big-lots-closes-officials-say-sewer-would-keep-businesses/81780477007/ |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Herald News}}</ref> Additionally, both officials and local economic development advocates pointed to strong competition from nearby retail centers in [[Seekonk, Massachusetts|Seekonk]] and [[Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River]], and expressed concerns about the long-term viability and unclear vision for the property's redevelopment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scherny |first=Emily |date=March 4, 2025 |title=Why is the Swansea Mall still mostly empty while South Coast Marketplace is thriving? |url=https://www.heraldnews.com/story/business/2025/03/03/south-coast-marketplace-thrives-as-swansea-mall-redevelopment-stalled/80538673007/ |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Herald News}}</ref>
== List of anchor tenants == {| class="wikitable" |+ |- ! Stores !! Year opened !! Year closed !! Notes |- | [[Sears]] || 1975 || 2017 || |- | [[Edgar Department Stores|Edgar's]] || 1975 || 1980s || |- | [[Jordan Marsh]] || 1989 || 1996 || Replaced [[Edgar Department Stores|Edgar's]] |- | [[Caldor]] || 1980s || 1999 || |- | [[Apex Stores|Apex]] || 1980s || 2001 || |- | [[Macy's]] || 1996 || 2019 || Replaced [[Jordan Marsh]] |- | [[Walmart]] || 2001 (Original), 2013 (Rebuilt) || 2013 (Original)|| Replaced [[Caldor]], the original Walmart was torn down and relocated to a new building across the parking lot in 2013 |- | [[Toysrus|Toys R Us]] || 1980s || 2018 || Outer parcel, [[Spirit Halloween]] from Aug-Nov (relocated 2023) |- | [[Service Merchandise]] || 1980s || 2000s || Outer parcel, split into [[Dollar Tree]] and [[PriceRite]] (closed 2020) |}
== See also ==
* [[Emerald Square]]; enclosed mall in [[Attleboro, Massachusetts|Attleboro]], still open * [[New Harbour Mall]]; former enclosed mall in [[Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River]], redeveloped into the [[SouthCoast Marketplace]] * [[Silver City Galleria]]; former mall in [[Taunton, Massachusetts|Taunton]], demolished
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == {{commons category-inline|Swansea Mall}} * [http://mepadata.env.state.ma.us/pls/portal30/MEPA_WEB.MEPA_QUERY_DETAIL.SHOW?p_arg_names=eoea_nbr&p_arg_values=14133 Proposed expansion as of 2007]
{{Shopping malls in Massachusetts}}
[[Category:Shopping malls in Massachusetts]] [[Category:Shopping malls established in 1975]] [[Category:Defunct shopping malls in the United States]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Bristol County, Massachusetts]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Bristol County, Massachusetts]] [[Category:1975 establishments in Massachusetts]] [[Category:Shopping malls disestablished in 2019]]