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Stories from the Underground

Stories from the Underground

Arlington’s Crystal City Underground (CCU) shopping mall opened in September 1976. Billed as a “turn-of-the-century shopping village,” it featured antique leaded glass shop windows and cobblestone “streets.”  For the next five decades, CCU expanded (and contracted) paralleling economic trends. The Metro arrived in 1977 and the 1980s saw new and renovated office spaces open hosting thousands of employees. CCU had bars, restaurants, retail, a supermarket and that fixture of the 80’s shopping center, a food court.

The 1990s and 2000s saw the relocation of many Crystal City offices and with that CCU closures. In “decline” (or because of it) CCU came to represent living in Crystal City. Residents took pride and fought closure of its unique tunnel system and a new mix of smaller, unique, locally owned businesses opened and persevered. The mall is scheduled to close by the end of 2024. While landlord JBG Smith stresses businesses are closing but tunnels will remain open, it’s still the end of a unique part of Arlington history.

“Stories from the Underground” is an Arlington Historical Society (AHS) project to capture the essence of the CCU and preserve its history. AHS is reaching out to businesses and local residents to encourage them to share their stories and tell how unique and special the Underground was.

Submit Your Underground Story

Arlington Artists Alliance

February 1, 2025
In the spring of 2012, Arington Artists Alliance founder Jane…
https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Gallery-Underground-logo.jpg 354 394 arlingtonhist /wp-content/uploads/2024/07/arlhist-logo-cm-02.png arlingtonhist2025-02-01 17:54:202025-02-01 17:54:20Arlington Artists Alliance

Sean’s Story from the Underground

November 21, 2024
In 2007, I moved from Boston for a job at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) headquartered at L'Enfant Plaza. Crystal City had direct Metro links to DC and convenience (I didn't own a car). Despite the "cookie cutter" concrete canyons (if stubbier), there was a different vibe -- the Crystal City Underground.
https://arlhist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Livability-22202-BW.jpg 1200 1500 arlingtonhist /wp-content/uploads/2024/07/arlhist-logo-cm-02.png arlingtonhist2024-11-21 08:07:232025-02-01 17:58:07Sean’s Story from the Underground
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The Arlington Historical Society relies solely on membership dues and donations to support the Arlington Historical Museum and Ball-Sellers House.

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The Arlington Historical Museum
1805 S Arlington Ridge Rd, Arlington, VA 22202
703-892-4204
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5620 3rd St S, Arlington, VA 22204
703-577-7042
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E-mail us: info@arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org
Call us: 703-892-4204

Arlington Historical Society
P.O. Box 100402
Arlington, Virginia 22210-3402

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