Towson Town Center Faces Major Tenant Exits Due to Increasing Crime Concerns

A sprawling Maryland mall, once filled with major retail stores, is rapidly losing tenants. Several businesses have announced plans to vacate the Towson Town Center, which has been grappling with increasing crime issues. In November, four teenagers were arrested following a robbery and stabbing incident at the mall, according to reports.

For years, malls have faced challenges as e-commerce and shifting consumer behaviors reshape shopping habits. Inflation has further squeezed budgets, leading to decreased foot traffic in these once-bustling centers.

SHOPPING MALLS BETTER ADAPT TO MODERN TIMES TO AVOID TOTAL DEATH, SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR SAYS

Last month, Wockenfuss Candies announced its “difficult decision to permanently close this location, effective immediately.” Other notable departures include Gap-owned Banana Republic, Tommy Bahama, and J.Crew’s Madewell, all of which have either left or plan to leave the mall.

An exterior view of the Towson Town Center mall on June 20, 2022, in Towson, Maryland. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

This follows the loss of a flagship Crate & Barrel store and eateries like the Rainforest Café. Traditional shopping malls, once vibrant centers of commerce, began to decline even before the COVID-19 pandemic, as online retail giants like Amazon siphoned sales from physical stores. The pandemic further accelerated this trend, with lockdowns preventing in-person shopping. Economic pressures from inflation have compounded the issue, forcing households to tighten their budgets and cut back on discretionary spending.

NEARLY 1 IN 5 AMERICAN HOMES SLASH PRICES AS BUYERS GAIN UPPER HAND IN SHIFTING MARKET

Another example is the San Francisco Centre in California, which has also faced soaring vacancies and a series of retailer departures. Shake Shack confirmed its exit last month, citing a new owner requiring all tenants to vacate the premises.

The Apple Store at Towson Town Center Mall on May 10, 2024, in Towson, Maryland. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Between 2020 and 2023, the mall lost 46% of its stores, as reported by The San Francisco Standard. This includes its anchor department store, Nordstrom, which announced in 2023 that it would close both of its downtown San Francisco locations, including its flagship store inside the Westfield San Francisco Centre. The mall’s other anchor tenant, Bloomingdale’s, also departed in early 2025.

VACANT MALLS BEING CONVERTED INTO PICKLEBALL COURTS

In recent months, at least six dining establishments have left the mall, including Jamba Juice, Izzy & Wooks sandwich shop, and Mija Cochinita taco shop, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Shoppers inside the Westfield San Francisco Centre shopping mall in San Francisco, California, on June 13, 2023. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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Despite the challenges, converting commercial properties to residential use presents significant hurdles, particularly regarding local zoning laws and construction costs.

A sprawling Maryland mall, once filled with major retail stores, is rapidly losing tenants. Several businesses have announced plans to vacate the Towson Town Center, which has been grappling with increasing crime issues. In November, four teenagers were arrested following a robbery and stabbing incident at the mall, according to reports.

For years, malls have faced challenges as e-commerce and shifting consumer behaviors reshape shopping habits. Inflation has further squeezed budgets, leading to decreased foot traffic in these once-bustling centers.

SHOPPING MALLS BETTER ADAPT TO MODERN TIMES TO AVOID TOTAL DEATH, SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR SAYS

Last month, Wockenfuss Candies announced its “difficult decision to permanently close this location, effective immediately.” Other notable departures include Gap-owned Banana Republic, Tommy Bahama, and J.Crew’s Madewell, all of which have either left or plan to leave the mall.

An exterior view of the Towson Town Center mall on June 20, 2022, in Towson, Maryland. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

This follows the loss of a flagship Crate & Barrel store and eateries like the Rainforest Café. Traditional shopping malls, once vibrant centers of commerce, began to decline even before the COVID-19 pandemic, as online retail giants like Amazon siphoned sales from physical stores. The pandemic further accelerated this trend, with lockdowns preventing in-person shopping. Economic pressures from inflation have compounded the issue, forcing households to tighten their budgets and cut back on discretionary spending.

NEARLY 1 IN 5 AMERICAN HOMES SLASH PRICES AS BUYERS GAIN UPPER HAND IN SHIFTING MARKET

Another example is the San Francisco Centre in California, which has also faced soaring vacancies and a series of retailer departures. Shake Shack confirmed its exit last month, citing a new owner requiring all tenants to vacate the premises.

The Apple Store at Towson Town Center Mall on May 10, 2024, in Towson, Maryland. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Between 2020 and 2023, the mall lost 46% of its stores, as reported by The San Francisco Standard. This includes its anchor department store, Nordstrom, which announced in 2023 that it would close both of its downtown San Francisco locations, including its flagship store inside the Westfield San Francisco Centre. The mall’s other anchor tenant, Bloomingdale’s, also departed in early 2025.

VACANT MALLS BEING CONVERTED INTO PICKLEBALL COURTS

In recent months, at least six dining establishments have left the mall, including Jamba Juice, Izzy & Wooks sandwich shop, and Mija Cochinita taco shop, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Shoppers inside the Westfield San Francisco Centre shopping mall in San Francisco, California, on June 13, 2023. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Despite the challenges, converting commercial properties to residential use presents significant hurdles, particularly regarding local zoning laws and construction costs.