Harford Mall Update: Derby Place, Dave's Hot Chicken, Warby Parker and Whole Foods

by Josh Tessier

The old Macy's at Harford Mall in Bel Air is down, and the new Derby Place is next. The plan brings a Whole Foods, Dave's Hot Chicken, Warby Parker, Shake Shack and 249 apartments, with the developer aiming to open in spring 2028. For the full Derby Place plan (Whole Foods, apartments, timeline), see Derby Place in Bel Air.

I drove by to see how fast it's moving. Here's what I saw, what's confirmed and what's still up in the air.

Can't see the video? Watch on TikTok. You can also catch my earlier mall updates on YouTube and on my channel, Josh Talks Harford.

The quick version

What	Details
Where	Baltimore Pike and Veterans Memorial Hwy. (Rt. 24), Bel Air
What's gone	The old Macy's building
What's coming	Derby Place: shops, restaurants, a Whole Foods and apartments
Grocery	Whole Foods Market, about 35,000 square feet
Food	Dave's Hot Chicken, Shake Shack, Eggspectation
Shops	Warby Parker, VEG ER for Pets and more
Homes	249 apartments in a separate building
Target opening	2028
Rest of the mall	Still open

The old Macy's is gone

Demolition on the old Macy's started in July 2026. By mid-September, the building was down. Now the site is mostly a big cleared lot behind fencing.

This was the first big step. The developer says the new center is coming to the land where the old Bel Air Racetrack used to be. Pretty fitting name, right?

Good news if you still shop at the mall: the rest of Harford Mall is open. The Shops at Harford Mall on the old Sears side are open too.

What's coming to Derby Place

Derby Place is a new outdoor shopping center. Think shops, places to eat and green space you can walk around. Local TV news called it a $100 million project.

Here's who is signed so far, based on the developer's leasing material and local news:

Whole Foods Market. The big one. About 35,000 square feet.
Shake Shack. Burgers, fries and shakes.
Eggspectation. A breakfast and brunch spot.
Dave's Hot Chicken. More on this below.
Warby Parker. Glasses and eye exams.
VEG ER for Pets. An emergency vet.

Local news says more leases are being worked on. I'll update this when new names are official.

Dave's Hot Chicken and "Chicken Row"

Dave's Hot Chicken is a signed tenant at Derby Place. It's known for hot chicken tenders and sliders, with heat levels from no spice all the way up.

Here's the fun part. Baltimore Pike near the mall already has a lot of chicken. I call it Chicken Row. Here's who's already on it:

Chick-fil-A at 408 Baltimore Pike
Raising Cane's at 336 Baltimore Pike, open since Sept. 2025
Popeyes at 500 Baltimore Pike
CR Wings at 546 Baltimore Pike

Add Dave's, and you could do a chicken crawl without leaving one road. Every one of these spots has its fans. More choices just means more reasons to come to Bel Air. Pick your favorite, or try them all. I won't judge. Okay, maybe a little.

Dave's Hot Chicken storefront with a red sign — *Dave's Hot Chicken is a signed tenant at Derby Place. This photo is from another Dave's location, not Harford County.*
Photo: “Dave's Hot Chicken - February 2025 - Sarah Stierch 03” by Sarah Stierch (Missvain), released into the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped.

Warby Parker is coming too

Warby Parker is also signed at Derby Place. It sells glasses and sunglasses, and many of its stores do eye exams. It's a handy add if you'd rather shop for frames close to home.

Blue Warby Parker glasses store front — *Warby Parker is also signed at Derby Place. This photo is from a Warby Parker in Birmingham, Ala., not Harford County.*
Photo: “A Warby Parker glasses retail store at The Summit shopping mall in Birmingham, Alabama 01” by Harrison Keely, licensed under CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped.

Whole Foods is the anchor

Whole Foods is the anchor store at Derby Place. At about 35,000 square feet, it's set to be the biggest piece of the retail side.

No Whole Foods opening date has been announced yet. The whole center is aiming for 2028.

The 249 apartments

The plan includes a separate building with 249 apartments and a parking deck along Boulton Street. A different developer is building it.

When will work start? That part isn't locked in. One local TV report said work would start this fall. Town records show the builder's own estimate was a 2027 start. I'll update this as soon as there's a firm date.

When will Derby Place open?

The developer is aiming for spring 2028. Local TV news has said mid-2028. Either way, plan on 2028, and expect the outside work to get louder and busier over the next year.

What this means if you live nearby

Big new shopping centers tend to bring more people, more jobs and more things to do close to home. If you live in Bel Air, Forest Hill, Fallston or Abingdon, Derby Place will be a short drive away.

Want more new-business news? Read my post on 7 Brew opening in Edgewood.

FAQ

What is replacing the Macy's at Harford Mall?

The old Macy's site is becoming Derby Place, a new outdoor shopping center with a Whole Foods, restaurants, shops and green space. A separate building with 249 apartments is also planned.

Is Harford Mall closing?

No. The old Macy's building was torn down, but the rest of Harford Mall is still open. The Shops at Harford Mall on the old Sears side are open too.

Is Dave's Hot Chicken coming to Bel Air?

Yes. Dave's Hot Chicken is a signed tenant at Derby Place, the new center at Harford Mall. No opening date has been announced yet.

When will the Whole Foods in Bel Air open?

No date has been set. Whole Foods is the anchor of Derby Place, and the developer is aiming to open the center in spring 2028.

What stores are coming to Derby Place?

Signed tenants include Whole Foods Market, Shake Shack, Eggspectation, Dave's Hot Chicken, Warby Parker and VEG ER for Pets. More leases are being worked on.

Harford County real estate agent Josh Tessier — *Thinking about a move in Harford County? Call or text Josh at (443) 617-2099.*

Thinking about living near Derby Place?

I'm Josh Tessier with the Lee Tessier Team at eXp Realty. I live and work in Harford County, and I'm watching this project closely. If you're thinking about buying or selling in Bel Air or nearby, call or text me at (443) 617-2099 or email Joshua@leetessier.com.

Watch more on my YouTube channel, Josh Talks Harford, and follow along on Facebook and Instagram.