Did you know that before the property became a mall it was home to the Bel Air Horse track? Yes, you read that correctly in the 1870s the 100-acre property was plotted and later improved and expanded to include a 3/4 mile race track, starting gate, and larger grandstands. In the 1940s the owners were involved in political dispute over closing the track, much like the disputes going on today with Pimlico Racetrack, Home of the Preakness. The owner of the property passed away in 1958 and the track closed in 1962.
It's hard enough to believe the Mall was once a racetrack but it was also home to Woolworth’s, Korvette’s, Hecht Company, Hochschild-Kohn and Montgomery Ward’s. The Sears store currently located in the Mall was once a Montgomery Ward’s store in the early 1980s.
The mall was full of popular stores and lots of shoppers especially around the holidays. Today, the mall remains, but the crowds are dwindling and the store vacancies are increasing. Most people probably haven't even heard of the stores that are located within the Mall. The stores certainly aren't well known and they look rather sketchy and rundown. Many of the stores have canvas signs opting out of purchasing professional signage as if they know their presence is only temporary. Here today, gone tomorrow seems to be the theme in Harford Mall for many of the stores. The Harford Mall is reminiscent of the former Golden Ring Mall and Hunt Valley Mall, once popular and now moving on a downward trajectory. Lets hope that this property doesn't become another vacant piece of property like some of the other shopping centers and strip malls within Harford County.
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What will the future hold for the former racetrack property and current home of Harford Mall? What will it turn into next? An outdoor shopping venue like the Avenue at White Marsh or the Hunt Valley Towne Center? Whatever, the future holds for the property it will certainly come with a lot of history...former racetrack, former home to the Harford County Fair, and Harford Mall.
What would you like to see happen to Harford Mall?
