The Village Mall (photos below) once stood at the heart of Montgomery Village, serving as a central gathering place for the community before eventually evolving into the shopping center that is now known as the Montgomery Village Center.
In October 1970, developer Kettler Brothers opened the first phase of the indoor shopping center in the young planned community. Known affectionately as “the small mall with it all,” the Village Mall originally featured 18 shops and boutiques, along with a post office and a popular Greek restaurant called Athena. More than just a shopping destination, the mall quickly became a community hub, hosting small concerts, antique shows, art exhibits, dances, and serving as home to the Center for the Performing Arts.
The mall expanded in 1975 with the opening of an addition that brought 16 more shops and a three-screen movie theater. A year later, the adjacent Village Quarter debuted, adding another layer to the area’s mixed-use vision. The Village Quarter included shops and offices, with residential units located on upper floors. At street level, visitors could find the “Eatery,” a collection of food stalls offering a variety of ethnic cuisines, along with a shared community dining space.
By the early 1990s, retail trends had shifted, and the Village Mall underwent a complete transformation. The enclosed mall was renovated into an outdoor strip-style shopping center, later known as Montgomery Village Center. In 1992, the property was purchased by Washington Real Estate Investment Trust (WRIT), marking a new chapter in its ownership and management.
Nearly 25 years later, the center changed hands once again. Following approval of a new Master Plan, Atlantic Realty Companies (ARC) announced plans for a major redevelopment of the site. The vision included significant mixed-use commercial development and new housing, aiming to modernize the center while continuing its long-standing role as a hub for Montgomery Village.
With new residential units now part of the site and newer tenants like Aldi, Hangry Joe’s, Kobe Japan, and others in place, a visit to the shopping center today looks vastly different than it did just a few years ago, and even more so from its days as the Village Mall.
Photos and historical information courtesy of the Montgomery Village Foundation.
