Franklin Mills Mall Changes Name to Philadelphia Mills, Starts Year-Long Renovations

By Veronica Grecu, Associate Editor

Philadelphia Mills mall – main entrance

Franklin Mills, Greater Philadelphia’s largest retail destination after King of Prussia, is getting a facelift and a new name as part of a multi-million dollar renovation, the mall’s owner announced recently.

Dubbed “the mall of them all” when it opened in May 1989, Franklin Mills has rapidly grown into a veritable shopping mecca, employing more than 2,500 residents in the Philadelphia area and generating millions of dollars in yearly revenues for the city. Located at 1455 Franklin Mills Circle, at the intersection of Woodhaven Road/Pennsylvania State Route 63 and Knights Road in Northeast Philadelphia, the 1.8-million-square-foot mall includes more than 200 stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5^TH, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Nike Factory Store and Ann Taylor Factory Store. It is divided into four neighborhoods: Red, Blue, Yellow and Green and has six main entries. A new Super Walmart store which is scheduled to open by end of September will add nearly 180,000 square feet to the shopping venue.

According to Simon Property Group, the Indianapolis-based company that acquired the mall in 2007, Franklin Mills has already been renamed Philadelphia Mills to announce the multimillion renovation project. “This center has served the shopping and entertainment needs of the Philadelphia region for more than 25 years, and we are excited to continue

Philadelphia Mills Mall – interior rendering

meeting those needs while elevating the experience for our customers and visitors,” said in a press release Gregg Goodman, president of The Mills.

Construction is already underway on exterior renovations of the mall and work is expected to be completed this fall. As for interior renovations, work is scheduled to begin in early 2015, with the mall’s grand re-opening celebration slated for fall 2015. As reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, renovations at Philadelphia Mills will include new landscaping, improved skylights, lighting and floors, new lounge areas, and the addition of tech amenities such as WiFi and device-charging stations.

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Renderings via Philadelphia Mills