The store opened on Oct 17 , 1963 . The Beltway Plaza property is home to some perilous slopes that have periodically given way . During construction of the store , in December 1962 , five men died and 11 were injured in a basement earth slide and the mall was forced to close for a short period in 1966 . S. Klein was at Beltway Plaza until 1975 , when the chain decided to close the store . '' The Washington Post '' of Feb 6 , 1975 ( p. G14 ) reported : S. Klein Department Stores , a New York retailer that was a pioneer in the discount business , is closing its two big Washington area stores within six weeks , industry sources said yesterday . Officers of the company , a subsidiary of McCrory Corp. , refused to conform or deny the reports . In the weeks prior to September 11 , 2001 , all five of the terrorists who hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 and flew it into the Pentagon had frequently visited Beltway Plaza mall , including Giant Food , Gold 's Gym , and Burlington Coat Factory
American Airlines Flight 77
American Airlines Flight 77
Beltway Plaza Mall