The Shops at Iverson

The Shops at Iverson is a shopping mall located at the intersection of Branch Avenue and Iverson Street, in Hillcrest Heights, Maryland, just north of the Marlow Heights Shopping Center. Originally named Iverson Mall, it was the first shopping mall in the Washington D.C. area to be built fully enclosed and climate controlled.HistoryThe Montgomery Ward (165,000 sq ft.) store opened on April 20, 1967, when Maryland Gov. J. Millard Tawes cut the ceremonial ribbon. The second anchor of the two anchor mall, Woodward & Lothrop, opened its store in the Spring of 1967. With both anchors in place and 60 stores, the grand opening of the $10 million, 500000sqft center occurred September 21, 1967.The mall straddles Iverson Street, which bisects the structure, and attached at the front of the mall is a four story office building. Originally built as a regional shopping center, it declined after the opening of nearby Landover Mall in 1972.All fountains were removed during the 1985 remodeling. By the mid-1990s the two anchor stores closed and were replaced with discount department stores. In 2008, the mall underwent adopted a new slogan and advertising campaign, "You Can Find it All --- at Iverson Mall."In 2016, the mall's new owners drew up plans for a $30 million renovation, funded partly by a loan from the County's Economic Development Incentive Fund. Under the plan, the mall would be more outward facing, with a "main street" atmosphere, and with outside access to some restaurants. Completion of the renovation was expected by the 3rd quarter of 2017, with the mall having a new wood and glass facade, energy efficient upgrades, new lighting, new security system, and new restrooms. Plans also include 75,000 square feet of office space.