The banner fell, the band struck up “Anchors Aweigh,” and Westfield Annapolis? $150 million expansion opened to a throng of eager shoppers Thursday morning.
Under construction for more than two years, the expansion adds approximately 240,000 square feet of new and revamped retail space. Sixty new stores also opened for business, including Pottery Barn, H&M and the first-ever Under Armour retail store.
The mall is now the largest in the area, with 1.5 million square feet of store space, edging out Arundel Mills Mall?s 1.4 million, according to Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold, who said the mall was now poised to take advantage of growth related to the Base Realignment and Closure process.
“People make decisions every day based on new growth,” he said. “I?m pleased to congratulate Westfield for its foresight in expanding here.”
Westfield Group CEO Peter Lowy said the mall has proven its worth since its last major expansion in 1994, when Nordstrom joined the mall?s lineup.
“From our point of view, that shows our confidence not just in the city, the county, but the state as well,” he said.
As he spoke, a crowd of people gathered in the back of the atrium area, the first to cross the polished floors of the new wing. Among them was Annapolis resident Patty Goodchild and her daughter Emily, who were ready to check out the new stores.
“It?s a holiday for her,” Patty Goodchild said, referring to Emily?s day off school for All Saints Day. “I decided to take off [work] with her and bond with some shopping.”
The Goodchilds said they didn?t have a particular store they were eager to visit but said they were just happy the wait was over.
“We?ve been dealing with all the construction,” Goodchild said. “We?ve been patient, it?s very exciting.”
