The long-stalled redevelopment of Concord’s Steeplegate Mall has taken another unexpected turn. After plans for a complete overhaul of the property, owner Onyx Partners Ltd. is now seeking retail tenants for the mall in its current form, the Concord Monitor shares.
Listings for “Steeplegate Crossing” advertise eleven retail and office spaces inside the existing building. The mall still houses JCPenney, Altitude Trampoline Park, and the Zoo Health Club. Renderings included with the listings show the structure as it stands today rather than the mixed-use district Onyx previously pitched.
The original redevelopment plan, which included 625 housing units, represented one of the largest potential housing additions in Concord. It accounted for more than a quarter of all units in the city’s development pipeline.
A fence that once stood around the property has since been removed.
The former Regal Cinemas next door, also owned by Onyx, is listed for lease or sale. Earlier discussions about turning it into a Whole Foods have gone quiet. According to the Concord Monitor, Doug Richardson—executive vice president at Onyx—declined to comment on the change in direction.
A Project Complicated by Barriers
Onyx and the city had been in private discussions for more than a year, exploring possible city support for the project. Those conversations never led to a public agreement, and requests for related documents were denied due to ongoing negotiations.
At the same time, the redevelopment became mired in legal challenges. JCPenney, one of the mall’s remaining long-term tenants, filed a lawsuit arguing that demolition would violate its lease. The retailer’s lease runs through 2030 and includes provisions guaranteeing access to a functioning mall. That case is still pending in Merrimack County Superior Court.
Another lawsuit came from the owner of the neighboring TD Bank property. Onyx eventually bought that building, but by then the momentum behind the original redevelopment had slowed. Grocery chains that were once part of the plan stepped back, removing key anchors that helped justify the scale of the project.
City Councilor Judith Kurtz said the reversal was disappointing. The city had granted variances and approved demolition, clearing several hurdles for redevelopment. “I really felt we were headed in that direction, then it just fell apart,” she said.
Kurtz viewed the space as one of the last large parcels in the city suitable for significant new housing. Losing the opportunity, she said, is a setback. “I wanted all of it.”
Former Tenants Perspective
WMUR shared that for small businesses previously located inside Steeplegate Mall, the latest shift feels like part of a larger pattern of uncertainty.
Remnants of past tenants are still visible.
Hatbox Theater, a community arts organization that staged nearly 200 productions over nine seasons, closed early after Onyx terminated its lease in 2024. The organization had expected to remain open longer. Early closure forced Hatbox to cancel shows, sell equipment, and search for a new home.
Founder Andrew Pinard said the closure was both a practical and cultural loss. “It’s a shame, not only the loss of programming, but the loss of future programming and any real partnership with the city,” he said in a WMUR piece.
With new leasing listings circulating, people have asked whether Hatbox might return. Pinard doubts it. The theater’s former space sits inside a boarded-up building with no maintenance. Rent prices are far higher than what Hatbox once paid. And after the experience of the past two years, he has little faith in the stability of the property.
“They would rather sit with a vacant space, waiting for that ‘big white whale,’ than rent to a smaller organization,” he said.
Pinard also believes the city did too little to support the businesses operating away from downtown. “If you’re not on Main Street, forget about it,” he said.
Surrounding Businesses Still Waiting for Progress
The Concord Monitor recently shared the story of Stove Barn, a property in close proximity to the Steeplegate. general manager Cody Whitwood said the business has renovated both interior and exterior spaces to refresh its presence. Even with that work, the boarded-up mall has created challenges. Some customers assume the entire area is abandoned.
Whitwood described vandalism, abandoned trash, and instances where police stops in the mall parking lot inadvertently blocked access to his store. The perception of decay, he said, has required constant effort to push back against.
He had hoped the mixed-use redevelopment would bring new residents, foot traffic, and energy to the corridor. Even so, he believes the mall reopening with new tenants could help stabilize the area.
“Anything happening would be better than where we’re at now,” he said. “Everyone else here would benefit.”
The Road Ahead
The mall remains frozen in time, waiting for its next chapter.
The mall’s new leasing listings leave residents and city leaders with limited clarity. Onyx has not publicly explained the shift, and the city continues to decline comment due to ongoing negotiations. The JCPenney lawsuit adds another layer of uncertainty for any future redevelopment.
Whether the mall attracts new tenants, resumes partial operation, or undergoes a fresh round of planning is still unknown. For now, the property remains emblematic of the challenges facing aging retail centers across the country.
What Concord does know is that the site remains one of its most valuable pieces of land. Nearby businesses, former tenants, and residents are all hoping the next chapter brings direction and momentum rather than more delays.
