Marlow Heights Shopping Center Explained

The Marlow Heights Shopping Center is an open-air shopping complex located in Marlow Heights, Maryland, on Branch Avenue (Maryland Route 5) at St. Barnabas Road (Maryland Route 414), and is positioned just south of Shops at Iverson.

History

The 28000square feet Giant Food store opened at the $10 million shopping center on 36acres with 250000square feet of store space, on September 16, 1957.^[1] At the time it opened it was the largest and most expensive shopping center in the Washington, D.C., area.^[2]

On August 29, 1960, Maryland Gov J. Millard Tawes opened the Hecht Company's new $4.5 million, 168000square feet store.^{[3] [4]} This was the fifth Hecht Company store to open in the Washington, D.C., area. This addition to the original center expanded the site to 41acres.^[5] Smaller shops included a Bond Stores outlet.

The Hot Shoppes restaurant at Marlow Heights was the final location in the chain to close (on December 2, 1999).^[6]

In early January 2021, it was announced that the Marlow Heights Macy's would be closing in Spring 2021.^[7]

Anchors and major retailers

• Giant Food
• Macy's - formerly Hecht Company (closed 2021)

External links

• Marlow Heights 60s and 70s website, accessed Aug 27, 2008

38.8353°N -76.9453°W

Notes and References

1. "37th Giant Store Opens On Monday," The Washington Post and Times-Herald, Sep 14, 1957, p. B7
2. "Marlow Heights Shop Center Nears Start of Construction," The Washington Post and Times-Herald, Jul 21, 1956, p. 35.
3. "Hecht's to Open 5th Area Store," by Frank C. Porter, The Washington Post and Times-Herald, Aug 28, 1960, p. B6.
4. "New Hecht Store Opens in Suburbs," by Marie Smith, The Washington Post and Times-Herald, Aug 30, 1960, p. B6.
5. "Capital Commerce," by S. Oliver Goodman, The Washington Post and Times-Herald, Apr 30, 1960, p. B18.
6. "Last Taste of a Tradition; In Marlow Heights, Hot Shoppes Closes Its Doors and an Era," The Washington Post, December 3, 1999, by DeNeen L. Brown.
7. Web site: We're losing our last department store: Marlow Heights Macy's.