ShoppingTown Mall

ShoppingTown Mall was a regional shopping center in DeWitt, New York, in the Syracuse metropolitan area. It began operations on March 3, 1954, as an open-air shopping center developed and managed by Eagan Real Estate Inc. The original tenant roster included F. W. Woolworth, J. C. Penney, Walgreens, Grand Union, Acme Markets, Fanny Farmer, Endicott Johnson, and Kinney Shoes. Syracuse department store Addis' joined the project during the development phase and opened its store later in 1954. The center expanded during the late 1950s and 1960s, adding retailers, a home-furnishings operation associated with Dey's, a branch of E. W. Edwards & Sons, and cinema facilities. The property was converted into an enclosed, all-climate mall beginning in late 1973. The transition occurred during a turbulent period that included the bankruptcy-related closure of E. W. Edwards & Sons and a serious 1974 fire that caused substantial damage and killed one firefighter. ShoppingTown reopened as an enclosed mall on August 4, 1975, after reconstruction and tenant relocations. J. C. Penney moved into the former Edwards space, while Addis' and Flah & Co. received larger replacement stores. The mall continued to evolve through the late 1970s and 1980s, adding Woolworth and Chappell's and consolidating department-store operations as local chains changed ownership or entered financial distress. A major transformation took place after Wilmorite Properties gained control of the center through a partnership with Eagan in 1989. A reported $53 million renovation, completed in 1991, added a new wing, a food court, and a relocated Addis & Dey department store. Subsequent tenant changes reflected the consolidation of American department-store retailing: Addis & Dey closed during bankruptcy proceedings, Kaufmann's moved into the former space, and later became Macy's. Sears ultimately occupied the former Addis & Dey premises and added an auto center. The mall also hosted specialty and entertainment tenants including Media Play, Old Navy, Dick's Sporting Goods, and a Bon-Ton store created through Chappell's acquisition. Wilmorite sold ShoppingTown and other properties to Macerich in late 2004. Macerich later proposed an open-air retail plaza connected to the Sears wing, but the concept did not proceed. The center then entered a prolonged decline. It was sold through an online auction in August 2013 to Las Vegas-based Moonbeam Capital Investments. Moonbeam considered a large redevelopment, but the closures of Macy's in 2015 and Dick's Sporting Goods later that year weakened the traditional mall model and prompted a shift toward a mixed-use concept. J. C. Penney closed in April 2016, followed by numerous smaller retailers, food-service operators, and specialty tenants. Sears, the last major anchor, closed on September 2, 2018, and Rite Aid departed in June 2019. The mall became effectively abandoned as remaining tenants were directed to vacate in September 2020. The site was intended to make way for District East, a proposed approximately $400 million phased redevelopment combining housing, retail, offices, medical and service uses, a movie-theater complex, a premium grocery component, sidewalks, bicycle paths, walking trails, and significant public green space. ShoppingTown Mall therefore represents the transition of a suburban American shopping center from an open-air retail destination, to a successful enclosed regional mall, and finally to an obsolete and redevelopment-oriented property.

ShoppingTown Mall was announced in August 1953 and developed as an open-air shopping center in DeWitt, New York, by Eagan Real Estate Inc. The first stores opened on March 3, 1954. Its initial mix combined national chains, local department stores, grocery and pharmacy operators, apparel retailers, and services. Addis' joined before opening its own location on October 8, 1954. The center added Flah & Co., W. T. Grant, a Kallet Theater, and other facilities during the mid-1950s. Dey's developed a home store in 1962 and a full department store in 1966. E. W. Edwards & Sons added another department-store presence in 1968, while a new two-screen Kallet Theater opened that December. The property experienced a serious fire in April 1967, particularly affecting Flah & Co., and another major fire in June 1974 during its conversion to an enclosed mall. The latter caused approximately $500,000 in damage and resulted in the death of one firefighter. The enclosure project began in late 1973, but E. W. Edwards & Sons closed amid bankruptcy. J. C. Penney subsequently moved into the former Edwards premises, and Addis' and Flah & Co. opened larger replacement stores. ShoppingTown formally reopened as an enclosed all-climate mall on August 4, 1975. Tenant turnover continued through the late 1970s and 1980s. Woolworth returned in 1978, and Chappell's became an anchor in 1984. Addis' merged with Dey Brothers in 1989. That year Wilmorite Properties gained control through a partnership with Eagan and initiated a large modernization. Completed in 1991, the reported $53 million renovation created a new wing, food court, and relocated Addis & Dey store. The original department-store space was divided between TJ Maxx and Steinbach's, while later changes brought Kaufmann's and Sears into major anchor areas. Media Play occupied the former Woolworth and theater spaces in 1994, and The Bon-Ton entered through its acquisition of Chappell's. The mall added Old Navy in 2000 and planned for Dick's Sporting Goods. Macerich acquired ShoppingTown in 2004 as part of a larger Wilmorite property transaction. Kaufmann's became Macy's in 2006. A proposed open-air plaza near the Sears wing was announced in 2007 but did not materialize. The property's decline accelerated after its sale through an online auction in 2013 to Moonbeam Capital Investments. Macy's closed in 2015, Dick's relocated that year, and redevelopment concepts shifted from conventional retail expansion toward a mixed-use plan. J. C. Penney closed in 2016, followed by Christopher & Banks, TGI Fridays, several smaller retailers, and the final food-court tenant, Ming Wok, in 2018. Sears closed on September 2, 2018, leaving the mall without an anchor, and Rite Aid departed in June 2019. In September 2020 Moonbeam directed the remaining tenants to vacate. The abandoned mall was intended to be substantially demolished and replaced in phases by District East, a proposed mixed-use development with residential, retail, office, medical, entertainment, grocery, trails, bicycle paths, sidewalks, and parkland.

• 2020

  Tenant evacuation begins for District East

  [1]ShoppingTown Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Remaining tenants received notices to vacate as the proposed mixed-use redevelopment moved forward.

• 2018

  Sears closes

  [1]ShoppingTown Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The last major anchor closed, leaving the mall anchorless.

• 2013

  Moonbeam Capital acquires ShoppingTown

  [1]ShoppingTown Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The mall was sold through an online auction to Moonbeam Capital Investments.

• 2004

  Macerich acquires the property

  [1]ShoppingTown Mallen.wikipedia.org

  ShoppingTown changed ownership as part of Macerich's acquisition of Wilmorite properties.

• 1991

  Major renovation is completed

  [1]ShoppingTown Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A major redevelopment added a wing, food court, and relocated department-store space.

• 1984

  Chappell's becomes an anchor

  [1]ShoppingTown Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A 57,000-square-foot Chappell's store was added as an anchor.

• 1975

  Enclosed mall opens

  [1]ShoppingTown Mallen.wikipedia.org

  ShoppingTown completed its conversion to an enclosed all-weather mall and held a week-long grand-opening program.

• 1968

  E. W. Edwards and a new cinema arrive

  [1]ShoppingTown Mallen.wikipedia.org

  An E. W. Edwards & Sons branch opened, followed by a new two-screen Kallet Theater.

• 1962

  Dey's home store opens

  [1]ShoppingTown Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Dey's opened a home-furnishings store at the center.

• 1954

  ShoppingTown opens

  [1]ShoppingTown Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The open-air shopping center opened on March 3, with Addis' following on October 8.

• 1953

  Open-air center is announced

  [1]ShoppingTown Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Eagan Real Estate announced the ShoppingTown project and secured commitments from several major retailers before construction was complete.

A regional suburban shopping center serving the Syracuse-area market, historically positioned around department-store anchors, enclosed all-weather shopping, specialty retail, food service, and entertainment. In its later years, the property was repositioned conceptually as a mixed-use redevelopment site rather than a conventional enclosed mall.

• Retail real estate · 1954

  Regional enclosed shopping mall

  ShoppingTown's principal offering was a regional retail destination serving the Syracuse area. After its 1975 enclosure, the property combined department stores, specialty shops, food service, entertainment, and services in an all-weather mall format.

• Department stores · 1954

  Department-store anchor spaces

  Over its operating history, the mall hosted Addis', Dey Brothers, E. W. Edwards & Sons, J. C. Penney, Kaufmann's, Macy's, Sears, Chappell's, and The Bon-Ton. These anchors defined successive phases of the center's retail identity.

• Food service · 1991

  Food court and dining

  A food court was added during the 1991 renovation. Later food and beverage occupants included TGI Fridays and Ming Wok, the last permanently operating food-court tenant identified in the historical record.

• Entertainment · 1955

  Cinema facilities

  ShoppingTown had cinema facilities from the Kallet Theater era. The original theater was later operated as Cinema National, and portions of the former theater area were eventually incorporated into Media Play's store.

• Automotive services · 1994

  Sears auto center

  When Sears occupied the former Addis & Dey space, it also built a new auto center, extending the anchor's merchandise and service role beyond the mall interior.

• 2020

  Prepare the site for District EastStrategy

  Background

  After years of anchor losses and declining occupancy, the owner pursued a new development model for the property.

  Action taken

  Moonbeam Capital served notices requiring remaining tenants to vacate within 30 days.

  Aftermath

  ShoppingTown became abandoned and was slated for phased replacement by District East, a proposed mixed-use development.

  Proposed redevelopment value. $400 million (2020 proposal)

  Source

• 2015

  Shift toward mixed-use redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The closure of Macy's and relocation of Dick's Sporting Goods weakened the conventional mall format and disrupted an earlier redevelopment concept.

  Action taken

  Moonbeam Capital reconsidered its plans and explored a lifestyle-oriented project with office, healthcare, and residential components.

  Aftermath

  The property's future became centered on partial demolition and broader mixed-use redevelopment rather than simple retail expansion.

  Source

• 2007

  Propose an open-air retail plazaStrategy

  Background

  Macerich sought to adapt the Sears wing and create more visible outward-facing retail space.

  Action taken

  Macerich announced plans for an open-air plaza with new shops facing Erie Boulevard East.

  Aftermath

  The proposal was not realized, apparently amid broader economic difficulties.

  Source

• 1991

  Complete major modernizationStrategy

  Background

  Wilmorite and its partner Eagan sought to renew the aging enclosed center and strengthen its regional role.

  Action taken

  The mall added a new wing, food court, and relocated Addis & Dey department store.

  Aftermath

  The renovation reshaped the mall's circulation and anchor configuration, although later department-store bankruptcies and closures required further changes.

  Renovation cost. $53 million (1991)

  Source

• 1973

  Convert the open-air center into an enclosed mallStrategy

  Background

  The center faced changing consumer expectations and sought to operate as an all-climate regional mall.

  Action taken

  ShoppingTown began a major enclosure and tenant-relocation program.

  Aftermath

  The enclosed mall reopened in August 1975 after fires, reconstruction, and anchor-store changes.

  Source

1. 1ShoppingTown Mallen.wikipedia.org