The iconic entrance signs from Lakeforest Mall have officially been sold, giving local residents a chance to own one of the final physical remnants of the once-bustling Gaithersburg landmark. The auction, hosted last month by Capital Online Auctions, drew strong interest, particularly for the mall’s blue entrance signs, which received the highest bids.
Lakeforest Mall closed on March 31, 2023 after nearly 45 years, and the sale of its exterior signage marks another step in the slow but symbolic winding-down of the property. Originally opened on September 12, 1978, the mall debuted with anchors JCPenney, Sears, Woodward & Lothrop, and Hecht’s, and was briefly home to one of the nation’s earliest indoor ice-skating rinks. For decades, it stood as Montgomery County’s largest indoor shopping center and a central gathering place for the region.
The auction offered pairs of signs from each of Lakeforest’s four color-coded entrances, and every lot sold. Final winning bids were as follows:…