History & local legend
After JCPenney left Harrisburg East Mall, stories circulated about its vacant department-store space. People reported a figure on the roof and another apparent person behind the glass doors. Inside, motion-sensitive lights reportedly activated and two night guards encountered a cold patch during summer rounds.
The space later became Boscov's, which closed in 2008. Nearby resident Jess Angel said the rooftop story was still being repeated afterward, while a former guard recalled uneventful patrols. The old store has since been removed as the mall site is redeveloped.
Sources
- StrangeUSA, Harrisburg East Mall, reported rounds, October 2007 correction by a former guard and February 2011 account from nearby resident Jess Angel
- Labelscar, 2004 mall visit and independent confirmation that Boscov’s replaced Penney’s, while Bass Pro replaced Lord & Taylor
- St. John Properties, Harrisburg Mall, 2013 account of the anchor vacant since Boscov’s 2008 bankruptcy
- St. John Properties, 2020 floor plan distinguishing the 188,244-square-foot two-level store from the three-level stores and cinema
- Swatara Township, 2023 site plan and aerial in redevelopment proposal
- Owner, Swatara Exchange redevelopment of the Harrisburg Mall site
