1984–1993: Development and opening Local real estate developer Herbert S. Miller and his firm
Western Development Corporation developed Potomac Mills as a prototype for a shopping center which would combine elements of a
regional mall with discount retail, known as the Landmark Mills template. Originally called "Washington Outlet Mall" during planning stages, it was not planned to be enclosed until the last minute. Potomac Mills began construction that same year near Opitz Blvd and
I-95. The mall was designed by Wah Yee Associates of
Michigan, and was a
joint venture involving the
German-based
KanAm Grunderbesitz GmbH, which helped develop and fund the project. The first phase of the mall opened September 19, 1985. Comprising what are now Neighborhoods 1 and 2, it occupied approximately and had parking for over 5,500 cars. The IKEA location at Potomac Mills was one of the company's earliest retail outlets in America, and proved so popular that it eventually required a new, dedicated building adjacent to the primary Potomac Mills complex.
After opening The success of Potomac Mills led to Western Development Corporation to develop the Landmark Mills portfolio, which included
Gurnee Mills in
Gurnee, Illinois,
Franklin Mills in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and even
Arundel Mills in
Hanover, Maryland, which is 30-35 minutes away from D.C. Western Development Corporation completed a
corporate spin-off to form a public
real estate investment trust known as
The Mills Corporation in April 1994. By May 2006, The Mills Corporation was under investigation by the
Securities and Exchange Commission due to its financial problems. As a result, in February 2007, the company's portfolio, including Potomac Mills, would be acquired by
Simon Property Group and
Farallon Capital Management for $1.64 billion, following the rejection of the
Toronto-based
Brookfield Asset Management's offer in January of that year, which offered to acquire The Mills Corp. for $1.35 billion. The acquisition was completed in April 2007, and The Mills Corporation was rebranded as The Mills: A Simon Company. In May 2008, Simon announced a expansion featuring new
retail and restaurant space. The expansion was scheduled to start in the fall of 2008.
Bloomingdale's - The Outlet Store had its grand opening on August 20, 2010. It was the company's first outlet store. In May 2011, the JCPenney Outlet Store began
liquidation sales, and closed its doors in July of that year. It was converted into a traditional
department store in October 2011, as
JCPenney announced that it would sell its outlet division to SB Capital Group to focus on its core retail operations and online businesses. Potomac Mills was one of the two JCPenney Outlet locations selected for renovation into a department store; the other store was the Franklin Mills location. In March 2012, Simon Property Group acquired full control of the property by buying out Farallon's stake in 26 Landmark Mills malls for $1.5 billion. The Potomac Mills
apple tree sign was damaged by high winds in 2011, and again in March 2018. The second incident bent and stressed its steel support poles, causing it to tilt precariously over Interstate 95, and forced the sign's dismantling. Near the end of March 2019, a new sign was unveiled, featuring an updated design. In October 2024, Simon Property Group announced that Potomac Mills' food court would be renovated into a "food pavilion" branded as the Dining Pavilion at Potomac Mills. The renovation would add contemporary flooring and lighting, a new white-and-gray color palette, charging stations, and new seating. The architect for the renovation was Bartlett Hartley & Mulkey (BHM). Potomac Mills celebrated its 40th
anniversary in September 2025. ==See also==