{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{infobox shopping mall | name = Virginia Center Commons | image = Former Macy's Department Store - Virginia Center Commons.jpg | caption = Former Macy's store at Virginia Center Commons; July 2016 | image_width = | location = Glen Allen, Virginia, United States | coordinates = {{Coord|37|40|33.5|N|77|27|15.3|W|display=inline,title}} | opening_date = 1991 | closing_date = October 31, 2022 | developer = Edward J. DeBartolo Corp. and Faison Enterprises<ref>{{cite book|title=International Directory of Company Histories|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hvMkAQAAMAAJ|year=1993|publisher=St. James's Press|page=161| isbn=9781558623231 }}</ref> | owner = VCC Partners LLC<br />Shamin VCC LLC<ref name="rtd03082020">{{cite news |title=Commercial real estate highlights |url=https://www.richmond.com/business/local/metro-business/commercial-real-estate-highlights/article_5cdc233a-95dc-56ee-9087-dc5f529e7b5a.html |access-date=2 April 2020 |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |date=March 8, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> | number_of_stores = 60 | number_of_anchors = 5 (all vacant) | floor_area = {{cvt|775,000|sqft}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://business.simon.com/mall/leasingsheet/9270_Virginia_Ctr_Commons_610-0030_MO.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-10-08 |archive-date=2014-10-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013205543/http://business.simon.com/mall/leasingsheet/9270_Virginia_Ctr_Commons_610-0030_MO.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> | floors = 1 | website = {{URL|shopvirginiacentercommons.com}} }}
'''Virginia Center Commons''' (VCC) was an enclosed shopping mall located in Glen Allen, Virginia, near the state capital of Richmond. Built in 1991, Simon Property Group owned the mall until 2014 when it was split off to Washington Prime Group. In January 2017, the mall was sold again to Kohan Retail Investment Group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.richmond.com/business/virginia-center-commons-sold-for-million-new-owners-know-revitalizing/article_a9bb94dd-eda6-5dd1-aeb8-05588c23d6a9.html|title=Virginia Center Commons sold for $9 million; new owners know revitalizing the mall will be 'challenging'|first=TAMMIE|last=SMITH|website=Richmond Times-Dispatch}}</ref>
==History== When VCC first opened, it siphoned off a significant amount of business from three other area malls: Azalea Mall, Fairfield Commons (formerly Eastgate Mall) and Willow Lawn. In the case of Azalea Mall, which opened in the 1960s as the first enclosed mall in Richmond, it took enough business away to relegate that mall to "dead mall" status and Azalea Mall was subsequently closed and demolished in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.12onyourside.com/story/13521486/the-future-of-the-old-azalea-mall-in-north-richmond/#:~:text=It%20housed%20Woolworth's%20and%20Thalhimers,All%20rights%20reserved.|website=12onyourside|title=Future of the old Azalea Mall in North Richmond}}</ref> It took the Sears anchor away from Fairfield Commons and sent it almost to the same point. That mall closed in 2015 for redevelopment into a smaller open-air mall. It also took the JCPenney anchor away from Willow Lawn and led Willow Lawn to eventually reposition itself as more of a community shopping center than a regional shopping destination.
In January 2021, demolition began on the former Macy's and Sears anchors to make room for an indoor sportsplex.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Demolition begins at Virginia Center Commons for indoor sports facility {{!}} NBC12|url=https://www.nbc12.com/2021/01/14/demolition-begins-virginia-center-commons-indoor-sports-facility/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-27|website=www.google.com}}</ref>
The JCPenney building was also acquired in January 2021, and it, alongside the rest of the mall (excluding the American Family Fitness anchor), is planned to be razed and replaced with a mixed-use development anchored by the mentioned sportsplex and a hotel owned by Shamin Hotels.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-03|title=Demolition signals start of Virginia Center Commons redevelopment|url=https://richmondbizsense.com/2021/02/03/demolition-signals-start-of-virginia-center-commons-redevelopment/|access-date=2021-02-04|website=Richmond BizSense|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Gilligan|first=Greogry J.|title=J.C. Penney store at Virginia Center Commons sells for $3 million; apartments planned for the site|url=https://richmond.com/business/j-c-penney-store-at-virginia-center-commons-sells-for-3-million-apartments-planned-for/article_311f8d44-81cd-5224-bf0a-bffb0064d1b6.html|access-date=2021-02-05|website=Richmond Times-Dispatch|language=en}}</ref> The mall closed permanently on October 31, 2022, after remaining tenants had their leases terminated by the mall's licensor in preparation for the redevelopment.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Virginia Center Commons store owners forced to close due to mall closure|url=https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/henrico-county/virginia-center-commons-store-owners-forced-to-close-due-to-mall-closure/|last=Wilson|first=Rolynn|date=2022-09-21|access-date=2022-10-12|work=WRIC 8News Richmond|publisher=Nexstar Media Group}}</ref>
==Stores== Among the mall's original anchor stores were Proffitt's and Leggett, a division of Belk. These stores both became Dillard's in 1997 and 1998, respectively. In 2011, Dillard's closed the former Proffitt's store, which became a Burlington Coat Factory, and downgraded the former Leggett to an outlet store before closing it later in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.richmond.com/business/dillard-s-closing-virginia-center-commons-store/article_a4cf27df-b2e7-50ec-bca1-eac6d9ab2223.html|title=Dillard's closing Virginia Center Commons store|first=Louis|last=Llovio|website=Richmond Times-Dispatch}}</ref> The former Leggett is now occupied by American Family Fitness.
As part of a nationwide closing of 36 stores, Macy's closed its former Hecht's store at Virginia Center Commons in spring 2016.<ref>{{Cite press release|title=Macy's, Inc. Outlines Cost Efficiency Initiatives and Lists Store Locations to Be Closed|date=January 6, 2016|publisher=Macy's, Inc.|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|url=https://www.macysinc.com/investors/news-events/press-releases/detail/629/macys-inc-outlines-cost-efficiency-initiatives-and|quote=Virginia Center Commons, Glen Allen, VA (110,000 square feet; opened in 1993; 81 associates)|access-date=January 31, 2020}}</ref> On November 8, 2018, it was announced that Sears would be closing their location at Virginia Center Commons in early 2019 as part of a plan to close 40 underperforming stores.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/08/sears-to-shut-40-more-stores-early-next-year.html|title=Sears to shut 40 more stores early next year|first1=Lauren|last1=Thomas|first2=Lauren|last2=Hirsch|date=November 8, 2018|website=CNBC}}</ref> Virginia Center Commons was sold for $8.3 million in early 2020 to VCC Partners LLC and Shamin VCC LLC.<ref name="rtd03082020"/>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{official website|http://shopvirginiacentercommons.com}} {{Richmond area enclosed malls}} {{Shopping malls in Virginia}}
Category:Shopping malls in Richmond, Virginia Category:Defunct shopping malls in the United States Category:Demolished shopping malls in the United States Category:Buildings and structures in Henrico County, Virginia Category:Tourist attractions in Henrico County, Virginia Category:Shopping malls established in 1991 Category:Shopping malls disestablished in 2022 Category:1991 establishments in Virginia Category:2022 disestablishments in Virginia Category:Shopping malls developed by Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation Category:Shopping malls developed by Henry Faison