When a Mall Meant Everything
There was a time when stepping into Lakeforest Mall meant more than shopping. You might remember the rush of escalators beside Hecht’s, the sound of skates gliding across the indoor ice rink, or the smell of Chi-Chi’s drifting past the carousel.
That mall was a layout of memory, retail, and routine. Built in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and opened in 1978, Lakeforest Mall wasn’t designed for a quick stop. It sprawled, invited, and stayed.
For decades, it shaped local rhythms, lured weekend plans, and gave teens and retirees somewhere to go without needing a reason…