The fully enclosed mall opened in August 1975 with three anchor stores — Sears, Bamberger's and Wanamaker's — and 150+ specialty stores. In 1986, Bamberger's became Macy's. In 1995, the Wanamaker's store became Hecht's. Hecht's became Strawbridge's in 1997 after its parent company, May Department Stores, acquired the Strawbridge's chain. In 2000, construction began to build a JCPenney store as a fourth anchor, which opened on August 1, 2001. In 2006, the Strawbridge's store closed after Federated Department Stores acquired May Department Stores; the Strawbridge's was replaced by Boscov's. On August 5, 1996, an armed gunman attempted to rob an armored vehicle inside the mall. During the shootout, the gunman and a 17-year-old youth were killed on the scene. A younger girl who was in critical condition after being hit by ricochet later died from her injuries at the hospital. In January 2007, Macerich purchased the Deptford Mall for $241 million from Simon Property Group. In October 2015, Macerich sold a 49 percent stake in the Deptford Mall to Heitman. By November 2012, the mall had completed its first renovation since the early 2000s with the vertical movement project, which involved removing the two escalators the mall had and removing stairs at each end and at the center of the mall. Escalators were added at each end of the mall and an elevator was located in the center, with corresponding stairs. The floor was replaced throughout the mall. New chairs, booths, and tables were added in the food court along with a children's play area. Also, the up escalator in the food court is being replaced by an up and down escalator. Originally, the Deptford Mall did not have a food court; its eating establishments were spread throughout the mall. In 2015, Sears Holdingsspun off 235 of its properties, including the Sears at Deptford Mall, into Seritage Growth Properties. On October 15, 2018, it was announced the Sears store would be closing as part of a plan to close 142 stores nationwide as a result of the company filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The store closed inJanuary 2019. The lower level of Sears will be replaced by Dick's Sporting Goods, which will relocate from its current location across the street on Almonesson Road. In 2019, Round One Entertainment announced plans to occupy the upper level of the former Sears building by fall 2020.
Anchors
Mall anchors are:
Boscov's -
J. C. Penney - opened August 1, 2001, as the mall's fourth anchor.
Macy's -
Former anchors
Wanamaker's in 1995
Hecht's in 1997
Strawbridge's was acquired by Federated Department Stores in 2006.
