Editing Springfield, Virginia (section)

===Shopping===

[[File:Houses in Springfield, Virginia, north end.jpg|thumb|Residential area in northern Springfield, along Backlick Road near the border of Springfield and [[North Springfield, Virginia|North Springfield]]]]

{{main|Springfield Mall (Virginia)}}

Springfield has historically served as a major retail and commercial hub in southern Fairfax County. The most prominent retail complex is the Springfield Town Center, formerly known as Springfield Mall, located near the [[Springfield Interchange]]—a critical junction of [[Interstate 95 in Virginia|I-95]], [[Interstate 395 (Virginia–District of Columbia)|Interstate 395]], and the [[Capital Beltway]] (I-495).

Originally opened in 1973, [[Springfield Mall (Virginia)|Springfield Mall]] was one of the largest enclosed shopping malls in Northern Virginia, with three anchor department stores—[[JCPenney]], [[Macy's]], and [[Target Corporation|Target]]—and over 100 smaller retailers and food court vendors. Its proximity to major highways and the [[Franconia–Springfield station]] made it a popular destination for regional shoppers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Springfield Mall to Undergo Major Redevelopment |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2006/03/13/daily37.html |work=Washington Business Journal |date=March 17, 2006}}</ref>

Despite its early success, the mall experienced a gradual decline in the late 1990s and early 2000s due to competition from newer shopping centers and rising concerns about safety. Several high-profile criminal incidents brought negative attention, including:
* In 2001, [[Hani Hanjour]] and [[Khalid al-Mihdhar]], two of the [[September 11 attacks|9/11 hijackers]], illegally obtained Virginia identification cards at the mall's DMV branch.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050514171209/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3827/is_200112/ai_n9017145 "Hijackers' helper faces two years max"], Timothy P. Carney, ''Human Events'', December 24, 2001 (archived)</ref>
* In 2005, a violent gang-related stabbing occurred in the mall's food court.<ref>[http://www.nbc4.com/news/5442768/detail.html "Police Make Arrest In Springfield Mall Stabbing Incident"], NBC4 Washington, December 1, 2005</ref>
* In December 2007, a man was fatally shot in a gang-related homicide, which led to indictments in 2008.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/25/AR2008042503366.html |title=2 Indicted in Alleged Gang Killing at Springfield Mall |newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Tom | last=Jackman | date=April 26, 2008}}</ref>

In 2005, the mall was purchased by [[Vornado Realty Trust]], which announced a complete redevelopment of the site. After years of planning and phased demolition, the original mall was closed and transformed into an open-air mixed-use complex called Springfield Town Center, which officially reopened in October 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.springfieldtowncenter.com/|title=Springfield Town Center|access-date=May 27, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.divaris.com/rereview/springfield06.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025112005/http://www.divaris.com/rereview/springfield06.html |title=Vornado Develops Town Center at Springfield Mall |publisher=Divaris Real Estate |archive-date=October 25, 2006}}</ref>

Today, Springfield Town Center anchors a revitalized commercial zone that includes national retailers, a luxury movie theater, and plans for adjacent office, hotel, and residential development. It remains a central gathering place for the community and a key piece of Fairfax County’s urban planning for the greater Springfield area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Springfield Town Center Development Plan |url=https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/plan-amendments/springfield-metro |website=Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development |access-date=May 27, 2025}}</ref>