The center is owned by Crown American Realty Trust and anchored by Kaufmann's, The Bon-Ton, Sears and Hollywood Theaters. The 83,000-sf Gander Mountain store will be located in the former Ames Department Store space. Work is expected to begin in April and be completed for a late summer opening.

Upon completion, it will be the largest of eight Gander Mountain stores in Pennsylvania, featuring a full archery technical shop and lanes, gunsmith service, a fly tying shop and a new cabin decor department. It will also be the first Gander Mountain store located as an in-mall anchor. Four others are located on out-parcels adjacent to malls.

Crown American Realty was not immediately available for comment Thursday morning on the term and value of the Gander Mountain lease at Washington Crown Center. Gander Mountain currently operates 57 stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Illinois.