The Fairgrounds Square Mall was built on the site of the old Reading Fairgrounds.
The Mall opened in October 1980
The Mall’s opening ribbon-cutting ceremony happening on October 20th 1980, on the first day of the 125th Reading Fair which was held on its premises.
A New Shopping Mall was opened in Berks County on Monday. It’s called the Fairgrounds Square Mall and is located in Muhlenberg Township where the former Reading Fairground was located. Boscov’s North, which had been at the site for several years, and J.C. Penney anchor the ends of the mall. About 40 stores opened Monday during a gala party, but Albert Boscov, owner of Boscov’s North, said that 75 stores are expected to be operating in the mall by the end of the year.
Oct 1980 Reading Eagle Article
The mall underwent a complete renovation in 1996. This included new tile flooring, new restroom facilities, the removal of the center fountain, and the adaption of a wide-open shopping area with seating to rest.
The Cinema Center in Fairgrounds was renovated in 2002. At the time it boasted the only stadium seating in Berks County.
The Mall changes hands again in 2013.
A troubled shopping mall in Berks County now has a new owner.
WFMZ
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company bought the Fairgrounds Square Mall in Muhlenberg Township for $13.6 million during a U.S. Marshal auction in Philadelphia on Thursday March 6th, 2013.
The bank, which was the mortgage holder for the mall’s former owner, was the lone bidder at the auction.
and again in 2016
Almost a year later and still just as uncertain.
UPDATE APRIL 2018: The inside of the mall is closed, only the stores with access from outside remain.
UPDATE JUNE 2020: Most of the mall is in the process of being demolished – with the exception of anchors; Boscov’s North, Burlington Coat Factory, Planet Fitness, the AMC Movie Theatre and the Super Shoe’s store.
[…] was held on the Muhlenberg site. The grounds were sold to developers that ended up constructing the Fairgrounds Square Mall. The last full season of racing was also held at the fairgrounds in 1978, though 1979 held a few […]
“Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone?
They paved paradise
Put up a parking lot”
R.I.P. Reading Fairgrounds Racing/Home of Champions