Fashion Center at Pentagon City
The largest enclosed shopping mall in Arlington is also the first in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area to have a subway station located within its premises.
Officially known as the Fashion Center at Pentagon City, the mall opened in the fall of 1989. It boasted 860,000 square feet of retail space and featured a
massive parking garage capable of accommodating over 4,500 cars. A Washington Metro station located in its basement provided convenient access for shoppers. Due to its proximity to Washington, D.C., the Reagan National Airport, and the Pentagon itself, Pentagon City in Arlington experienced rapid growth in the late 1970s. The opening of a new Washington Metro line connecting it to downtown further contributed to its development. The area saw the rapid construction of both office and apartment buildings to accommodate the presence of large corporations with substantial contracts from the federal government. Recognizing the need for an upscale shopping destination for the expanding professional and military population, real estate investors and developers decided to build a shopping mall. The mall's design includes a light-filled atrium that extends into two opposing wings. A glass-walled elevator serves its three levels, offering a panoramic view from above.
At the time of its opening and to this day, Pentagon City Mall, as it is known locally, remains the largest enclosed shopping mall in Arlington. Visitors can explore upscale department stores like Macy's and Nordstrom, offering the latest fashion trends in clothing, footwear, and other items. Subsequently, an office tower and a Ritz-Carlton hotel with 345 rooms were added to the complex, further enhancing its offerings.
Pentagon City Mall is a popular destination for shopping and entertainment, housing over 140 retail and restaurant units. The mall has continued expanding, adding street-facing stores on Hayes Street in 2016. By 2018, its retail space had expanded to over a million square feet.
