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Pembroke Mall celebrates its 50th anniversary

Posted at 9:48 AM, May 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-18 11:27:29-04

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Wednesday, May 18th will be declared ‘The 50th Anniversary of Pembroke Mall Day’ in the City of Virginia Beach.

Mayor Will Sessoms presented Pembroke Mall founders Fred Napolitano, Richard Olivieri and Vincent Olivieri with an Official City Proclamation during a celebration ceremony on Wednesday morning.

Pembroke Mall officially opened in March 1966 as Hampton Roads’ first indoor shopping venue. The mall featured 21 stores when it opened, but a short time later, Sears and Miller & Rhoads opened as the mall’s anchor stores.

Miller and Rhoads closed in 1990 and was replaced by Uptons. Uptons closed in 1999.

An expansion in 1981 added Rices Nachmans as a third anchor store. They were eventually acquired by Hess’s, which was sold to Proffitt’s and then sold to Dillard’s. The Dillard’s location closed in 2002.

Since 2003, the mall has been massively redeveloped.

In recent months, they’ve welcomed a Nordstrom Rack, The Fresh Market, REI and DSW Shoe Warehouse.