'Open-Air Shopping Destination' Announced At Former Owings Mills Mall Site
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Some Baltimore County residents are already planning where they'll do their Christmas shopping two years from now.
A new retail center is replacing the long-gone Owings Mills mall, which was long a countywide draw that became a community drawback when it closed.
"I was here when the mall opened and I was here when it closed," says resident Muriel Griffin, one of many who were sad to see it go.
William Hamilton remembers when the mall was the place to be.
"And I remember taking the subway up as a young teenager to come up and hang at the mall," he said.
Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz says the top three three questions he's been asked are: When will my road get paved? Can I get a stop sign on my street?
"And the number one question for the past seven years," Kamenetz said. "Has been 'What's going on with the mall?'"
The answer was unveiled on Tuesday.
Now, the hole left by the mall is about to be filled with a $100 million retail development.
It's called Mill Station, and the anchor will be Costco, with up to 30 other stores and restaurants with walkways and greenspace.
The Vanzie family has lived in Owings Mills for 12 years, and they were disappointed when the mall closed.
Tasha Vanzie says Mill Station will be their go-to place now.
"Yes, this will be the go-to place," she said. "Now, we don't have to travel 20-50 miles to get to where we typically like to shop."
Mill Station will be a brick and mortar development designed to compliment the internet.
They'll start laying that brick and mortar early next year, with completion expected in 2019. After all this time, that doesn't seem like a long wait to local residents.
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