The Silver City Galleria, located in Taunton, Massachusetts, was a super-regional mall off Route 24 and Route 140.
It was a two-level enclosed mall with over 1,000,000 square feet of leasable space that served several cities and towns in the region.
Features of the Silver City Galleria
The mall boasted an impressive array of amenities, including 120 retail stores, eight anchor tenants, 33 customer services, a ten-screen cinema, six sit-down restaurants, six specialty eateries, an arcade, a food court, a center court, and a children’s play area.
IPC International managed the mall’s security, while UGL Limited’s Unicco managed its facilities services.
Anchor tenants
Silver City Galleria’s anchor tenants included JCPenney, Sears, Best Buy, Macy’s, Regal Cinemas, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Round One Entertainment.
Over the years, the mall continued to attract new tenants and expand its offerings.
History of the mall
The Silver City Galleria was developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s as part of a more significant wave of mall construction in New England.
Designed by ADD, Inc. and developed by The Pyramid Companies, the mall began construction in July 1990 and was completed in February 1992.
It’s grand opening on March 1, 1992, marked the beginning of its successful run as one of the largest and most popular malls in Massachusetts.
At the time of its opening, the mall was situated in a relatively undeveloped area of Taunton, surrounded by forest with little other commercial or residential development nearby.
Strategic location
Although situated in an area with minimal nearby infrastructure and surrounded by woodland, the mall’s advantageous location at the convergence of Routes 24 and 140 and its nearness to I-495 enabled it to attract visitors from multiple towns and cities, including Boston, Worcester, and Providence.
This convenient location allowed Silver City Galleria to quickly establish itself as a popular shopping destination, drawing customers away from other malls, such as the now-defunct Mill River Place.
2016 Silver City Galleria Attack
On May 10, 2016, a stabbing incident at the mall resulted in two fatalities and one injury. The attacker had crashed his car into the Macy’s store and was later identified as a 28-year-old man named Arthur DaRosa.
Recent years of the Silver City Galleria
The Great Recession of 2008 caused a sharp decline in the mall’s traffic and finances, leading to many retailers closing their stores. As a result, the mall’s occupancy rate fell to an estimated 75 percent in March 2010.
Financial troubles
The departure of national brands and retailers only worsened the mall’s financial troubles, leading to the mortgage on the mall defaulting in November 2009. In addition, negotiations to sell the mall fell through in September 2011.
Change in management
General Growth Properties’ ownership of the Galleria ended when Midland Loan Services purchased it in mid-November 2011.
Following this, Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Real Estate Management replaced the mall’s management in early December 2011.
Renovations and Closure
In July 2013, the MGHerring group and the Tricom real estate group jointly acquired the mall through a buyout. The mall underwent renovations in April 2014, reducing the likelihood of foreclosure.
In January 2015, JCPenney announced closing its store in Silver City. However, the Silver City Galleria made improvements in 2015, including adding a new tenant, Round One, and upgrading Regal Cinemas.
Macy’s announced their closure in 2017, followed by Best Buy and Sears in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Finally, in May 2019, the mall was foreclosed on and sold at an auction.
The new owners announced redevelopment plans but, in February 2020, abruptly terminated six tenants and closed the mall permanently at the end of the month.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of Regal Cinemas, Round One Entertainment, and Dick’s Sporting Goods also closed in early 2021. The mall was demolished in May 2021.
