Now they've moved to Pentagon City Mall
I retired from the Air Force, stayed in the DC area, and worked as a contractor for ten years. After I sold my company I vowed to never work up there again so I just took on jobs around my area south of DC.
The closest mall to us is the Spotsylvania Mall in Fredericksburg. I haven't been in the mall directly for at least three years (I do shop at the Costco on the one end). Several years ago they started a bus route that stopped at the mall and crime started to increase but the local police really cracked down and the mall had rules about youngsters so I think it isn't too bad. Even with that the last time I was there the mall was pretty empty.