Willow Grove Park Mall

     Wednesday, June 11, 2025: The last few times I was at the Willow Grove Park Mall, 2500 West Moreland Road, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania (215-657-6000) was in 1997 and ‘98 when I went to see a certain celebrity. During my two times there, I only met the famous person in a store, and then I ate at the food court. This particular mall used to be the sight of Willow Grove (amusement) Park from 1896 to 1975. Afterward, the developers built the current mall and opened it in 1982. In 2015, I saw a fake version of this mall in the Sony Studios atrium, Culver City, California (the former MGM Studios). In the 2000s TV show, The Goldbergs, whenever there was a scene that took place in the Willow Grove Mall, it was filmed at the storefronts and pizza place in the Sony’s atrium lobby. Therefore, I finally decided it was time to go take a tour of the real mall. What I first noticed were several cars parked outside, and inside, there were a number of people in the mall. Then I learned that Willow Grove Park Mall has been the third-most profitable shopping mall in the Philadelphia area after the King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia, PA, and Cherry Hill Mall, Cherry Hill, New Jersey. After I toured this mall, I now know why this mall has been doing so well: different stores selling different kinds of merchandise, not just clothing; different price ranges from budget to moderate to upscale; and there were other things to do besides shopping: eating in the food court and a few different restaurants, as well as a two story arcade that also included several video games, pinball, virtual reality, bowling, golf, laser tag, a few amusement rides, etc. This place alone could keep one interested for a few hours! Meanwhile, the mall also provided, for the price of a ticket, a carousel and a few amusement rides for children. As for the stores, I saw four anchor department stores along with over 130 smaller stores of the usual brands that have been found in most malls, as well as a few stores unique to this mall. In addition to clothing, shoes, and accessories for men, women, and children, I also glanced at stores selling beauty products, housewares, gifts, toys, electronics, etc. Between the stores and entertainment, there is something for almost everyone.