The mall opened on August 4, 1965, with Virginia Lt. Gov. Mills E. Godwin, Jr. cutting the ceremonial ribbon. It was the first mall in the Washington D.C. area to feature three anchor department stores; the Hecht's Company , Sears and Roebuck, and Woodward & Lothrop . The mall opened with 32 stores in the center including Bond Clothes, Casual Corner, People's Drug Store, Raleigh Haberdasher, Thom McAn, and Waldenbooks. The center also included the second location of S&W Cafeteria in the Washington D.C. suburbs. Originally an outdoor mall, it was enclosed in 1990. In 2006 the mall's owner, General Growth Properties, announced its plan to convert the mall into an open-air "town center" shopping center. The plans were not realized. The Howard Hughes Corporation became the new owner in 2009. Lord & Taylor announced in May the same year that it would be closing its store at the mall. The Howard Hughes Corporation showed its plan to transform the site into an 'urban town' in 2013. The plan would turn the mall into an outdoor center with retail and residential facilities. In June 2013, Alexandria City Council approved the plans to redevelop the mall. On January 4, 2017, Macy's announced it would close its Landmark Mall store that year. Subsequently, the mall's owners notified tenants they were to vacate by January 31, indicating that approved redevelopment is imminent. At final build out, Landmark would transform into a walkable, mixed-useurban village with approximately of modern shops and restaurants, up to 400 new residential units and an updated parking structure. In addition to the new retail and residences, the new Landmark will be an open-air community destination featuring multiple plazas and green spaces, outdoor seating, seasonal entertainment and public art. There will be numerous full-service and fast-casual dining options, and a 10-screen luxury cinema. Howard Hughes purchased the Macy's site in 2017. In June 2018, the vacant Macy's store was transformed into a homeless shelter. In November 2018, it was announced that Howard Hughes had partnered with Seritage Growth Properties, which owns the Sears site, and among the 235 properties Sears Holdingsspun off in 2015 into Seritage, to redevelop the entire 51-acre property. The 2020 movie Wonder Woman 1984 had scenes filmed at the mall in June and July 2018. As of early 2020, planning related to demolition and redevelopment is still in progress and decisions about funding and issuing of permits have not be completed. On July 1, 2020, it was announced that Sears would also be closing as part of a plan to close 28 stores nationwide which will leave the mall entirely vacant.
