St. Lawrence Centre

St. Lawrence Centre was a shopping mall in Massena, New York, United States. Developed by the Heritage Company and opened in 1990, it was designed to serve a regional retail market supported by Massena's manufacturing economy and by shoppers crossing the St. Lawrence River from the Cornwall, Ontario, area. The original commercial proposition depended on a combination of local industrial employment, nearby population centers, and cross-border consumer traffic. The center opened with several national retailers and department-store anchors. Its retail history included Hills, later replaced by Ames and then Steve & Barry's in one major anchor space, as well as TJ Maxx, Sears, Bon-Ton, and JCPenney. The mall also included an ice rink, which became a multi-use sports facility after mechanical problems forced its closure in 2016. Over time, the property lost occupancy as the surrounding economic conditions weakened, manufacturing activity declined, Canadian shopping patterns changed, and national chains closed or reduced their presence. By the mid-1990s, occupancy had fallen to approximately 75 percent, and the property entered a prolonged period of financial and operational difficulty. Ownership changed several times. The mall was sold to AP Massena Partners in 1995 and then to Carlyle Development Group in September 2003. General Growth Properties was engaged to manage the property beginning in February 2004. Later, around 2017, a group of Canadian investors acquired the mall and funded physical improvements. During this period, mall director Erica Leonard pursued a local-business strategy intended to replace departing national chains with smaller regional merchants. Tenants and attractions included North Country Showcase, an event-planning business, a specialty popcorn store, and vendors selling locally themed products such as carved wooden figures and bourbon maple syrup. The former Sears space was also used for a large seasonal Christmas village assembled from discarded refrigerator boxes. The property nevertheless continued to face tenant losses. TJ Maxx left during the 2011–2012 period, Sears closed in 2014, and the replacement Sears Hometown Store closed in 2017. Payless ShoeSource departed in spring 2017, intensifying local concern about the mall's future. Bon-Ton closed in early 2018, leaving JCPenney as the only remaining traditional anchor. Subsequent reporting described the mall as having only JCPenney as its tenant after Maurice's closed. On April 30, 2024, additional interior demolition began as the property was converted for use as a shipping warehouse and rebranded as the St. Lawrence Industrial Complex. This marked a substantial shift from a conventional enclosed shopping mall toward industrial and logistics use. The available reference material does not establish whether the original St. Lawrence Centre brand remains active as a retail property, whether JCPenney continues operating independently within the converted site, or the final ownership and operating structure of the industrial complex.

St. Lawrence Centre was constructed in Massena, New York, by the Heritage Company and opened in 1990. Its development reflected the economic conditions of the area at the time. Massena had a substantial manufacturing base associated with several Alcoa plants, while the mall's location near the St. Lawrence River made it accessible to Canadian shoppers from Cornwall, Ontario. The combination of industrial employment and cross-border retail demand gave the property a stronger customer base than its local population alone might have provided. The center was built as a conventional enclosed shopping mall with national department stores and specialty retailers. One principal anchor was occupied by Hills until 1998, followed by Ames until 2002 and Steve & Barry's from 2007 to 2008. Other important tenants over the property's history included TJ Maxx, Sears, Bon-Ton, and JCPenney. The mall also contained an ice rink, later adapted into a multi-use sports arena after mechanical problems caused the rink to close in August 2016. In 1995, St. Lawrence Centre was sold to AP Massena Partners. During this ownership period, the property encountered serious financial and occupancy problems, with occupancy reported at about 75 percent. In September 2003, Carlyle Development Group acquired the mall for $3.6 million. General Growth Properties began managing the center in February 2004. The property also faced unsuccessful or unrealized efforts to repurpose a vacant anchor building. In 2006, Massena considered using eminent domain to facilitate a Walmart replacement for the former Hills/Ames space. In 2009, the owners circulated a petition proposing Target for the same building. The mall's difficulties increased during the 2010s. Several stores left in 2011 and 2012, including original anchor TJ Maxx. Sears closed in 2014 and was replaced by a Sears Hometown Store, which itself closed in 2017. Payless ShoeSource departed in spring 2017. These closures led some local residents to characterize the mall as effectively finished and to call for its closure or demolition. The decline was linked in public discussion to the weakening of the regional manufacturing economy, including the reduction of Alcoa operations, and to a fall in Canadian shopping traffic. Around 2017, a group of Canadian investors acquired the property and made physical improvements. Mall director Erica Leonard pursued a turnaround based less on national anchors and more on local businesses and community activity. She recruited North Country Showcase, an event planner, a specialty popcorn retailer, and other merchants selling locally made or regionally themed products. Management also sought to discourage criminal activity on the premises. For the 2017 holiday season, local residents converted the former Sears space into an elaborate Christmas village using empty cardboard refrigerator boxes. Some participating local stores reportedly performed better than expected during the holiday period, although the mall's structural retail challenges remained. Bon-Ton closed in early 2018, leaving JCPenney as the only remaining anchor. Later, after Maurice's closed, reference material described JCPenney as the mall's sole tenant. On April 30, 2024, interior demolition began as the property shifted toward use as a shipping warehouse. The site was rebranded as the St. Lawrence Industrial Complex, representing a transition from regional shopping-center operations to industrial logistics. The available sources do not provide a definitive current ownership structure, a confirmed operating status for the original mall brand, or a final account of JCPenney's status after the conversion.

• 2024

  Conversion to St. Lawrence Industrial Complex begins

  [1]St. Lawrence Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Interior demolition begins on April 30 as the mall is repurposed as a shipping warehouse and given a new industrial name.

• 2018

  Bon-Ton departs

  [1]St. Lawrence Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Bon-Ton's closure leaves JCPenney as the sole remaining traditional anchor.

• 2017

  Local-merchant turnaround effort

  [1]St. Lawrence Centreen.wikipedia.org

  New investors and mall director Erica Leonard improve the property and recruit local retailers and community-oriented attractions.

• 2016

  Ice rink becomes multi-use sports facility

  [1]St. Lawrence Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Mechanical problems close the ice rink in August; it later reopens with a broader sports and events function.

• 2014

  Sears closes

  [1]St. Lawrence Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The Sears store at the mall closes and is subsequently replaced by a Sears Hometown Store.

• 2009

  Target petition

  [1]St. Lawrence Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Mall owners circulate a petition proposing Target as a replacement for the former anchor building.

• 2006

  Walmart replacement proposal

  [1]St. Lawrence Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Massena attempts to use eminent domain in connection with a proposal to replace the vacant former Hills/Ames anchor with Walmart.

• 2003

  Carlyle Development Group acquires property

  [1]St. Lawrence Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Carlyle Development Group purchases the mall in September; General Growth Properties takes over management in February 2004.

• 1995

  Ownership transfers to AP Massena Partners

  [1]St. Lawrence Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The mall is sold to AP Massena Partners as occupancy and financial conditions begin to deteriorate.

• 1990

  Shopping mall opens

  [1]St. Lawrence Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Heritage Company completes and opens St. Lawrence Centre in Massena, New York.

A regional enclosed shopping center serving Massena and the surrounding North Country, with historical reliance on national department stores, local manufacturing employment, and cross-border shoppers from eastern Ontario. In its later retail period, management attempted to reposition the property around local merchants, community uses, and experiential attractions.

• Retail real estate · 1990

  Enclosed shopping mall

  The core offering was leased retail space organized around department-store anchors and specialty tenants. The center served Massena and the wider North Country, while also targeting shoppers from nearby Ontario. Its tenant mix historically covered apparel, footwear, general merchandise, food, and local specialty goods.

• Leisure and community facility

  Ice rink and multi-use sports arena

  St. Lawrence Centre included an ice rink intended to broaden the property beyond conventional shopping. After mechanical problems led to a closure in August 2016, the facility reopened in a multi-use sports format, supporting a wider range of recreational and community activities.

• Community retail and events · 2017

  Local merchant and seasonal event program

  During its later retail period, management filled vacant national-chain space with local businesses and seasonal attractions. Examples included North Country Showcase, a specialty popcorn shop, an event planner, regional crafts, carved wooden figures, bourbon maple syrup, and a large Christmas village assembled in the former Sears space.

• Industrial and logistics property · 2024

  St. Lawrence Industrial Complex

  Beginning in 2024, the former mall was being converted into a shipping warehouse and rebranded as the St. Lawrence Industrial Complex. This represents a change from consumer-facing retail real estate to an industrial logistics use.

• 2024

  Repurposing as an industrial complexStrategy

  Background

  After years of tenant losses, JCPenney was described as the only remaining tenant following Maurice's closure.

  Action taken

  Interior demolition began on April 30 to convert the former shopping mall into a shipping warehouse under the name St. Lawrence Industrial Complex.

  Aftermath

  The property moved toward industrial and logistics use. The sources do not clarify the final status of the original mall brand or JCPenney's occupancy.

  Source

• 2017

  Local-business repositioningStrategy

  Background

  Departures by national chains, including Payless ShoeSource, generated concern that the mall was no longer viable as a conventional shopping center.

  Action taken

  New investors and mall director Erica Leonard improved the property, recruited local merchants, addressed disruptive activity, and introduced community-focused seasonal programming.

  Aftermath

  Some local stores reportedly exceeded expectations during the 2017 holiday season, but additional anchor and tenant closures continued afterward.

  Source

• 2016

  Conversion of ice rink useOther

  Background

  Mechanical problems forced the mall's ice rink to close in August.

  Action taken

  The facility was reopened as a multi-use sports arena rather than returning solely to its prior rink format.

  Aftermath

  The change broadened the facility's potential community and recreational use, although later operating details are not provided.

  Source

• 2009

  Proposal to recruit TargetStrategy

  Background

  The mall continued to face a vacant former anchor space and sought a national retailer to restore the site's commercial appeal.

  Action taken

  The owners circulated a petition proposing Target as the replacement tenant.

  Aftermath

  The available material does not establish that Target opened at the property.

  Source

• 2006

  Consideration of Walmart replacementStrategy

  Background

  A major anchor building formerly occupied by Hills and Ames was vacant, creating pressure to find a replacement capable of restoring traffic.

  Action taken

  Massena attempted to use eminent domain in connection with a proposal to replace the building with Walmart.

  Aftermath

  The reference material does not indicate that the proposed Walmart replacement was completed.

  Source

1. 1St. Lawrence Centreen.wikipedia.org