Lawrence Park Shopping Center Getting State-of-the-Art Renovation

Our Community feature written by: Holly Stupak

Photos courtesy of Federal Realty

Enhanced outdoor dining areas, improved streetscape appeal and added small shop retail are coming to our community in 2022.

From all of us at Lawrence Park Shopping Center, THANK YOU for your continued support!

Rendering of the new Lawrence Park Shopping Center

Coming Soon

A Space Reimagined

Lawrence Park Shopping Center

Located conveniently off the Blue Route and right in the heart of Marple, Lawrence Park Shopping Center has been the go-to place for locals to shop for nearly 50 years. Whether it’s getting your seasonal decor at HomeGoods, browsing Barnes and Noble for the latest bestseller or getting a quick bite at Mrs. Marty’s Deli, this shopping center has it all.

If you’ve shopped there recently, you may have noticed that a major transformation is underway. But this is not just a simple upgrade of the facade. Our favorite local spot for retail therapy will become a best-in-class shopping, dining and service experience by fall 2022. With improved streetscape appeal, a mixture of new tenants and old favorites, Lawrence Park Shopping Center will be the perfect new gathering place here in the center of Broomall.

Federal Realty Investment Trust, one of the oldest Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in the United States, purchased Lawrence Park Shopping Center back in 1984. Focusing on the ownership, operation and development of high-quality retail properties (from grocery-anchored shopping centers to largescale mixed-use neighborhoods), Federal Realty’s mission is to deliver long-term, sustainable growth by investing in communities where retail demand exceeds supply.

Even before the pandemic happened back in 2020, plans were in the works for Federal Realty to transform Lawrence Park Shopping Center into more of an outdoor gathering space. Recognizing that consumers were becoming more tied to their computers and devices to make purchases, Federal Realty wanted to give shoppers more reasons to visit a shopping center than to simply shop. They know that consumers are looking for an open-air, walking, shopping and dining experience these days and now they are ready to deliver.

Rendering of the new Lawrence Park Shopping Center

“Lawrence Park Shopping Center is a fantastic property,” said Kari Glinski who has served as Federal Realty’s Asset Manager for the past seven years. “We are excited to not only revamp the physical character of the property, but to add more of what consumers are looking for.”

Currently the shopping center has a great selection of retail shops, along with hair and nail salons, a Wine and Spirits store, Music & Arts and even a swim school. ACME serves as the anchor of the center and there are several food choices for shoppers, including favorites like Mrs. Marty’s Deli, which has been there since the late 80s, Panera, Qdoba and Rize Pizza. And no matter how affordable and convenient e-book readers have become, there’s still nothing quite like strolling through the aisles of Barnes and Noble, flipping through the pages of an actual book. Thanks to Dollar Tree, TJ Maxx and HomeGoods, Lawrence Park savvy bargain shoppers and the home decor obsessed can experience the thrill of the hunt.

Kari said the current businesses in the center are excited about the opportunity to be part of a first-class shopping experience. “All of the businesses will remain open during construction,” said Kari. “While it is our goal to minimize the disruption, our team will be working closely with each tenant to support them throughout this process.”

The renovation plans include dining pavilions and common plaza areas that provide alfresco dining and seating options for up to 150 people. New concepts have also been identified to enhance the tenant mix. Federal Realty looks forward to sharing new additions as soon as possible. Kara explained that this multi-million dollar renovation will really provide something special for the community. It is expected to be a new gathering place for the entire community.

Rendering of the new Lawrence Park Shopping Center

The team at Federal Realty also took into consideration the need for convenient curbside pick-up areas. “During the planning process, we were really conscious about what we needed to provide for the community in this post-COVID world, “ said Kari. “That definitely includes more outdoor gathering space and plenty of designated parking for picking up takeout.”

As part of this upgrade, Federal Realty partnered with Main Line Health to facilitate the redesign and upgrade of their facility. These efforts resulted in 30 thousand square feet of highly visible space facing Sproul Road to be redeveloped as retail and a new and expanded state of the art 80 thousand square foot MLH Center.

With Phase 1 underway, shoppers can look forward to seeing a lot more physical changes to the center this Spring during Phase 2. By Fall 2022, the Lawrence Park Shopping Center will have a whole new look. “We are really looking forward to re-inventing this center,” said Kari. “This is a long-term commitment to create a place with a real sense of community where businesses can thrive.”