Demo begins on Military Circle Mall with site’s future uncertain

Norfolk started the first phase of demolition of Military Circle Mall Friday, but the future of the property remains unclear.

Demolition will continue through late June, according to the city. The first phase will start with separate buildings on the property, including China Garden, Martin’s Café, and The Military Circle Shoppes, with additional demolition to follow. Friday’s work included the installation of fencing around those buildings.

The second phase — demolition of the main mall building — is set for late summer.

The aging mall, which closed permanently on Jan. 31,  is being demolished in preparation for new development, but the city has not yet chosen a project team to move forward with.

In November 2022, at the three-day Mighty Dream forum in Norfolk, music superstar Pharrell Williams said he was waiting for Norfolk to officially approve his development team’s Wellness Circle project. At the time, City Manager Larry “Chip” Filer confirmed the city was working with Williams’ team. But no announcement has been made and the city’s economic development department said Friday “the city is continuing to evaluate options.”

Norfolk’s EDA purchased the 75-acre property for $11 million and the nearby DoubleTree Hotel property for $2.4 million in 2020.

The Wellness Circle proposal includes 1 million square feet of office space, a 200-room hotel, 1,100 new housing units and a 15,000-seat arena. The project’s other developers include Virginia Beach-based Venture Realty Group and California arena management company Oak View Group.

Two other development teams, including groups connected with Hampton Roads hotel developer Bruce Thompson and Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith of Dallas Cowboys fame, submitted competing proposals for the project.