That is a huge blow, this mall needs to keep as many big name stores as possible.

Too many gangs and stealing and other crime for upperclass stores. Mall is more like getto or little Mexico. Low class has taken over. Good job Montgomery Co.

I like that I can find retailers at Wheaton that I can't find at other malls in MoCo. I'll be sure to check it out when Papaya moves in.

Joe's post is about as offensive and bigoted as you can get with out burning a cross. I don't suppose that he thinks that people of color belong in this county. But, we do!

Joe needs to learn how to spell--talk about LOW CLASS....

Hey, change happens. Back in the early 60s when the plaza was new, only Hot Shoppes Cafeteria was open on Sundays and we'd roller skate in the open-air mall after lunch. Montgomery Wards sold monkeys in the pet department. Woodies had a nice restaurant. Stores have come and gone, but it has always been a busy, vibrant place, unlike White Flint. I live in walking distance, and love the the mall!

I hate to see Old Navy leave and believe a lot of the changes that are occurring are due to Costco. Anyone that shops at Target or Giant have probably noticed that both stores have remodeled and added aisles for large commodity items. I'm sure more changes will occur after Costco opens.

Ben - Hopefully having Target and Costco will draw more people to the mall and then get them inside going to both stores ... and the ones in between. I will definitely be at the mall more once Costco opens.

I'm not upset about The Gap closing its Old Navy store in Wheaton. Maybe Costco was part of its decision because comparable clothing will be available at a comparable price. There's no need to ensure that one of The Gap's stores sticks around if it's not profitable.

But Costco just as likely was part of the decision for Elevation Burger, Panera, Teavana, Papaya, Chipotle, Mayorga, and others to come to the mall. I see this as a good thing.

Are there plans for a store to sell monkeys again?

Agree. Looks like a number of "upper-class" stores have come to Wheaton in the past year. Papaya looks comparable to Old Navy, if not a little nicer.

Wheaton Plaza has come a long way as far I can remember as a child back in the late 70’s. I missed a movie theater that used to be inside the mall. It was where Target’s and Hershey’s Ice Cream area. What I would like to see and have a pet store in this area, it doesn’t’ matter if it inside or outside of the mall. I like to shop something for my pet needs. I hate going out all the way to White Oak or Rockville area. I shop at Target’s for my pet needs but it’s limited. Maybe replaced Sears Depot for Pet Smart or Petco? Just saying…

Commentous is right. You can be sure that the Costco signing was a major factor in getting a Dicks as well. I moved here in 1996 and would never have believed we would get Macy's, Target, Dicks and Costco, all of which are stores in which I shop. Cudos to Westfield

Stan - please don't forget that (since you've been here since 1996) your tax dollars paid Westfield $6 million to bring Macy's in and $4 million to bring Dicks in below Costco. As far as I know, we didn't have to pay any economic development funds for Target.

I'm sad to see Old Navy go, especially because there is not another one nearby unless we go out to Rockville. I agree with the other commenter who said a pet store would be a welcome addition!

Yankee Candle and Lane Bryant are gone also for the same reason.