MacArthur Center, Norfolk, VA

A dead mall

-UPDATES BELOW-

19 May 2024

7 February 2026

When I moved to Virginia's Hampton Roads region in 1985, Virginia Beach, the huge resort-slash-suburb, was one of the fastest growing cities in the nation while Norfolk, the historic urban center, was in a steep decline. The latter locale, with a population apex of almost 310,000 in 1970 would only be home to around 260,000 residents by the 1990 census. Its downtown, a picturesque collection of a few skyscrapers rising in the midst of many mid-height towers, was going through a renaissance of sorts with the development of Town Point Park and The Waterside on the Elizabeth River, but as was the norm in the decade of expanding hair, sprawling suburbs were where most preferred to reside.

View of the Monticello Avenue side of MacArthur Center including Dillard's.

By the late nineties, The Waterside had lost its novelty as well as much of the luster that had successfully drawn in patrons through much of the previous decade. The city was once again faced with making serious decisions about their fading urban core. This time, they focused on the historic Granby Street corridor a few blocks from the Elizabeth River where a large piece of real estate was cleared years before in the name of urban renewal. For quite a while, there had been discussion of developing some sort of urban retail project on the property, but everything seemed to come to fruition during the latter part of that decade when Taubman, as developer and Nordstrom, as an anchor, decided to join the development christened the MacArthur Center.

MacArthur Center Mallmanac, ca. 2000. View the full PDF version here.

The complex was named for the tomb of General Douglas MacArthur lying in close proximity to the project's location. With a compact three level design, it would be the first tri-level shopping center in the region. Dillard's signed on to join Nordstrom in the mall, one envisioned to offer an array of upscale retailers to rival those at the region's leading facility, Lynnhaven Mall. The construction of the privately owned venture was not without controversy, however, as the host municipality provided approximately 100 million dollars in improvements and incentives.

Scenes from MacArthur Centers opening weekend.  (Source for all)

Amidst much anticipation and excitement, the MacArthur Center opened in March of 1999 to almost universal accolades. In addition to the two anchors, there was also an 18 screen Regal cineplex located on the third floor, stores exclusive to Hampton Roads such as White House Black Market, Rainforest Cafe and Coach, and a vacant patch of land for future construction of a third anchor. While still unoccupied, the empty pad has hosted community events as well as an outdoor ice skating rink in the wintertime.

The first time I saw the MacArthur Center in person was from the window seat of a USAirways F-100 as we descended into Norfolk International Airport. It was early 2000 and I had not been to the Norfolk-Virginia Beach area since moving away ten years before. I was excited to see all of the changes that a decade with my absence would bring, but none brought more anticipation than experiencing downtown's MacArthur Center in person.

-UPDATE- Downtown Norfolk in the vicinity of MacArthur Center.

The airport shuttle dropped me off at The Waterside and I was really dismayed at the state of the old place. The blue roof was faded and the windows needed a thorough washing, but the inside was really depressing. In the late eighties, our family had enjoyed several evenings of seafood dinners or maritime-themed shopping in the festival marketplace, but by then the steel laced interior was empty and exposed as my footsteps echoed eerily off of the concrete floors and walls. I left The Waterside in shock and disbelief before making my way toward the MacArthur Center, first taking a quick detour through the Seldon Arcade, a classic early twentieth century enclosed shopping plaza. Now home to D'Art Center, the little known gem is exceptional.

MacArthur Center Mallmanac, ca. 2011. View the full PDF version here.

Though without the charm and history of the landmark Seldon Arcade, the MacArthur Center made quite its own impression on me. The red brick façade displayed a harmonious hybrid of modernized elements with more than a slight influence of revolutionary and colonial architectural styles, while arched and columned porticos underneath second level verandas offered striking views of Granby Street and the growing skyline.

-UPDATE- 1 to 5- MacArthur Center’s northwestern façade on Monticello Avenue.  6 to 8- The former Dillard’s store.  9 & 10- The mall entrance and parking deck off of City Hall Avenue.

The interior was dramatic as it was lavish. Vaulted skylights ran the entire length of the complex, bathing the concourses in springtime sunlight. Taubman had utilized every shade of white imaginable on the common areas, with varying, almost dizzying arrays of lines and layers on both the mezzanines and ceilings surrounding the glass casements. The look of these combined elements, while both modern and vivid, left me concerned that this particular style may not age well. In fact, looking at pictures of the enclosure today, it already seems a tad dated.

Today, the MacArthur Center is credited as one of the main reasons for an overall reinvestment in Norfolk, in particular the city center. The city's population is now growing and many of the blighted areas are gentrifying. Several new high-rises have been built since the opening and Granby Street has been the beneficiary of a resurgence in retail development in the form of the renovation of decades old storefronts lining the main avenue. The city's new light rail line makes a stop right in front of the facility while new residences and lofts are rapidly being developed in close proximity.

-UPDATE- 1 to 5- The exterior of the former Nordstrom store.  6 & 8- The Saint Paul’s carpark and mall entrance.  9 & 10- The pad and doorway for the third anchor that never was.

History has shown that investment in downtown shopping malls can be quite the gamble, most often with bankruptcy inducing results. The MacArthur Center seems to be bucking this trend and, after fourteen years of existence, is still going strong while the rest of Norfolk's central business district and waterfront flourishes around it.

-UPDATE-

-19 May 2024

MacArthur Center has joined the cavalcade of other city center shopping malls in the giant parking lot in the sky.  Nordstrom, the catalyst to the entire facility’s existence, announced their departure in 2019.  There was hope that it could survive the luxury retailer’s vacancy, but the pandemic hit and the inevitable followed.  A number of higher end retailers had already gone dark by 2023 when Dillard’s, the lone remaining traditional anchor, called it quits.  An exodus of smaller retailers followed the Little Rock based company’s lead.

MacArthur Center lease plan ca. 2017.  See the full PDF version here.

While the doors are still open, much of the square footage is empty.  The city of Norfolk announced plans to purchase much of MacArthur Center and de-mall the facility so that streets that were disconnected by the complex’s construction can be rejoined.  New offices, residences and street level retail is to be built in its place, with a focus on increasing pedestrian traffic along Granby Street.  Though in the end, much of the facility will come down after only a quarter of a century, there’s no doubt that overall it was a success in that it catalyzed downtown Norfolk’s transformation.

-7 February 2026

I had high hopes for the MacArthur Center upon hearing about its proposal and construction in the late nineties.  Although the same song about the failure of enclosed retail facilities in urban cores had been played over and over again through the decades, I was really pulling for the three level retail destination’s success.

The corridor leading to the mythical third anchor, including the food court on MacArthur Center’s third level.

But even in larger cities, downtown malls like Edmonton City Centre, Saint Louis Centre, Horton Plaza in San Diego and Downtown Plaza in Sacramento always seem to come with an expiration date.  And, unfortunately, MacArthur Center’s seems to be quickly approaching.

MacArthur Center’s center court.

My hotel was a mere two blocks north of MacArthur Center with the hulking example of brutalism known as the Norfolk Scope separating us.  From my room on the twelfth floor, I could clearly see the complex as it stretched from Monticello Avenue to Saint Paul’s Boulevard topped by diamond-like frosted glass skylights.

MacArthur Center site plan ca. 2022.  See the full PDF version here.

On my trips to different cities, my preferred place to stay is either downtown or within walking distance of a shopping mall.  Fortunately, in Norfolk I was able to be near both.  Unfortunately, MacArthur Center offered little in the way of shops or restaurants but sits as an unblemished example of turn-of-the-millennium retail design.

The concourse leading to the former Dillard’s anchor.

I entered through the main doors and veranda abutting Monticello Avenue and was instantly transported back to the days of grunge bands and AOL chat rooms.  In my original post I had commented how violently contemporary it looked in my first visit and that it would seem dated within a short time, and I have to say that I was absolutely correct.  However, I find this to be a good thing today.

I was instantly drawn to the stepped ceilings and the vaulted skylights running the length of the concourse, so reminiscent of the design of Cherry Creek Shopping Center in Denver.  My eyes then met the capsule shaped glass elevator triplets, framed by speckled earth toned marble façades.  It was all that and a bag of chips.

I made my way to the third level with my stomach grumbling, hoping to indulge myself in their selection of food court eateries.  But as I crested the top of the escalator, I knew it wouldn’t be a difficult choice as Charlie’s Philly Steaks and a Japanese place called Sakura Elite seemed to be the only tenants.  I ended up with a pretzel dog from Auntie Anne’s on the first level.

The main concourse between center court and the southern court.

Sharing the top tier with the food court were the Regal Cinemas which, surprisingly enough, seemed to be hanging on.  But besides the two food stalls, a coffee stand and the cineplex, the balance of the third level was completely void of life, as was the vast majority of the second.  All of the remaining vendors seemed to be scattered along the easily accessible bottom level.

MacArthur Center Mallmanac, ca. 2025. View the full PDF version here.

But my aim wasn’t to shop or to eat, but to take in all that the late nineties relic had to offer architecturally.  I basked in the abundant and well cared for greenery.  I relaxed close to the water features, now dry but thankfully never replaced.  And I sat in one of my favorite elements of twentieth century malls, the sunken seating area, and MacArthur Center boasted several.

MacArthur Center’s eastern court between center court and Nordstrom.

With both former anchors darkened and few smaller shops to draw in patrons, it’s not controversial to say that MacArthur Center is on borrowed time.  There are plans to open it up as for now it stands as a walled fortress smack in the middle of the central business district.  And although its tenure was like a massive bright star, radiant but fleeting, it had a fantastic run at its height.

The concourse leading to the former Nordstrom store.

MacArthur Center official website