Virginia Square Shopping Center

The Virginia Square Shopping Center was a shopping center in the Ballston section of Arlington County, Virginia. In early 1952, it opened to complement the adjoining Kann's-Virginia store.[1]

At opening, the 15-store center included a Giant supermarket, Peoples Drug, Fanny Farmer candy store, L. Frank Co. women's apparel, Jonas men's apparel, the Bo Peep Shop, Mary Baynes Gift Shop,[2] and an F. W. Woolworth Company variety store.

Following the 1975 closure of the Kann's-Virginia and Kimel's Furniture Store, the center entered into a period of decline.[3]

In March 1986, Mary Baynes Gift Shop closed its doors.[4] Redevelopment of the Center commenced in Summer 1988, when the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation demolished the old center and erected a new satellite office and other buildings on the site.[5][6][7]

The Virginia Square–GMU station on the Washington Metro is named after the shopping center.

References

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  1. ^ "Kann's Virginia Set for Friday Opening," The Washington Post, Nov 14, 1951, p. 15.
  2. ^ Display Ad, The Washington Post, Oct 24, 1952, p. 23.
  3. ^ "Kann's Customers Try to Get in Locked Doors," The Washington Post, May 24, 1975, p. C1.
  4. ^ "Wrapping it Up After 34 Years," The Washington Post, Mar 6, 1986, p. VAE1.
  5. ^ "Residential Plan Favored for Virginia Square," The Washington Post, Jul 28, 1982, p. VA9.
  6. ^ "Future Grim for Stores in Arlington," The Washington Post, Apr 19, 1984, p. VAA1.
  7. ^ "Change at Virginia Square," The Washington Post, Feb 22, 1988, p. D3.