The Shops at Ithaca Mall

The Shops at Ithaca Mall is a regional shopping center in Lansing, New York, just north of the city of Ithaca. The property stands at the junction of New York State Route 13 and North Triphammer Road and serves consumers from the Ithaca area, Tompkins County, Cortland County, and nearby communities. Its tenant mix has historically combined department stores, specialty retailers, entertainment, food-service businesses, and community-oriented services. The mall opened in 1976 as Pyramid Mall Ithaca. It was developed by The Pyramid Companies at a time when the proposed project faced substantial local opposition. The original anchor lineup included JW Rhodes, JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, and Hills, with Hills later becoming Ames. Those original anchors were eventually replaced as the property adapted to changes in department-store retailing and regional shopping patterns. A Sears department store opened during the mall's 1989 expansion, replacing a Sears catalog store that had operated at the nearby Triphammer Mall. The property underwent a major identity and tenant transition in the 2000s. JCPenney closed in 2002, and portions of the former space were subsequently occupied by Best Buy, Borders Books & Music, and Dick's Sporting Goods. In 2007, the mall adopted the name The Shops at Ithaca Mall under new management. That year, Regal Cinemas moved from its original location near Cafe Square into the former Hills/Ames space, linking the rebranding with a significant entertainment and anchor-space redevelopment. Later changes reflected broader pressures on American enclosed malls. Borders' 2011 bankruptcy and closure led to multiple subsequent uses of its space, including Ultimate Athletics and later Ulta Beauty and DSW, both of which have since closed. BJ's Wholesale Club opened next to the mall in January 2012, adding a major warehouse-shopping destination to the surrounding retail complex. Sears announced its closure in 2014, and the former Sears and JW Rhodes/Bon-Ton buildings were eventually acquired and converted into Cayuga Health facilities. Bon-Ton's nationwide liquidation in 2018 removed another traditional department-store anchor, leaving Target as the mall's only remaining traditional department-store anchor at that point. The current complex has been anchored or supported by Target, Regal Cinemas, Michaels, Best Buy, and two Cayuga Health centers, although the tenant roster continues to change. Regal Cinemas was announced for closure in early 2023 as part of a national theater-closing plan, but the location remained open beyond the initially announced closing date. In 2024, CubeSmart was announced as the planned occupant of the former Best Buy and former Dick's Sporting Goods, Ulta, and DSW areas, illustrating the property's continuing shift toward a mixed-use and service-oriented tenant base. Beyond retail, The Shops at Ithaca Mall has hosted local events, including health and wellness programming, pet-oriented activities, bridal events, charitable fundraisers, and community gatherings. A former SPCA of Tompkins County annex provided animal-adoption services and children's activities for a period. The center therefore functions not only as a shopping destination but also as a regional venue combining commerce, entertainment, health services, and community activity.

The Shops at Ithaca Mall originated as Pyramid Mall Ithaca, a development by The Pyramid Companies that opened in 1976 in Lansing, New York. The project was built north of Ithaca at the junction of New York State Route 13 and North Triphammer Road. Its development encountered widespread community opposition, but the completed center became a regional retail destination for residents of Ithaca, Tompkins County, Cortland County, and nearby areas. The original mall included four principal anchors: JW Rhodes, JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, and Hills. Hills later operated under the Ames name. Over time, every original anchor was replaced, reflecting the turnover that affected many American shopping centers as department-store chains consolidated, failed, or changed their real-estate strategies. The mall expanded in 1989, adding a Sears department store. Sears replaced the catalog operation that had previously served local customers from the nearby Triphammer Mall. A significant restructuring began in the early 2000s. JCPenney closed in 2002, and the resulting space was associated with Best Buy, Borders Books & Music, and Dick's Sporting Goods. In 2007, new management renamed the property The Shops at Ithaca Mall. The same period brought a major entertainment change: Regal Cinemas moved from its original space adjacent to Cafe Square into the former Hills/Ames anchor area. The cinema conversion gave the center a substantial leisure component while the new name positioned the property as a broader shopping and entertainment complex rather than simply a traditional department-store mall. The tenant base continued to evolve after the rebranding. Borders closed in 2011 after its corporate failure. Its former space was used successively by Ultimate Athletics and later by Ulta Beauty and DSW, both of which eventually closed. A BJ's Wholesale Club opened adjacent to the mall in January 2012, strengthening the wider retail node even as enclosed-mall department stores faced increasing pressure from online commerce, discount formats, and changing consumer habits. Sears announced its closure in September 2014. Bon-Ton, which had occupied the former JW Rhodes space, announced in April 2018 that it would close as part of a nationwide liquidation plan. The Bon-Ton closure left Target as the only traditional department-store anchor identified in the mall's tenant mix at that stage. Former anchor buildings subsequently found nontraditional commercial uses. In March 2022, Cayuga Health announced the acquisition of the former JW Rhodes/Bon-Ton and Sears buildings and their conversion into health centers, bringing medical services into the complex. The mall also lost or changed specialty retail uses. Dick's Sporting Goods announced in October 2022 that it would relocate to the former Tops Friendly Market site in Ithaca. Regal Cinemas was included in a January 2023 announcement covering the closure of 39 theaters nationwide, with February 15, 2023 identified as the planned closing date for the location. The theater nevertheless remained open beyond that date. In June 2024, CubeSmart was announced as the planned operator of a self-storage facility using the former Best Buy and former Dick's Sporting Goods, Ulta, and DSW areas. Community programming has been an additional part of the property's role. Past activities have included a local American Idol-related contest, bridal shows, radio-sponsored weddings, health and wellness fairs, pet days, and nonprofit fundraising events such as Habitat for Humanity activities. The center also hosted an SPCA of Tompkins County annex for a period, including animal adoptions, children's reading materials, story hours, and craft activities. These uses demonstrate how the property has adapted from a conventional enclosed mall into a more varied regional destination containing retail, entertainment, healthcare, community services, and prospective self-storage use.

• 2024

  CubeSmart self-storage plan announced

  [1]The Shops at Ithaca Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A CubeSmart self-storage facility is announced for several former retail spaces.

• 2022

  Cayuga Health begins anchor-space conversion

  [1]The Shops at Ithaca Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Cayuga Health acquires two former anchor buildings for conversion into health centers.

• 2018

  Bon-Ton closes

  [1]The Shops at Ithaca Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Bon-Ton closes as part of the chain's nationwide liquidation.

• 2014

  Sears closes

  [1]The Shops at Ithaca Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Sears announces and completes the closure of its mall department store.

• 2012

  BJ's Wholesale Club opens next door

  [1]The Shops at Ithaca Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A BJ's Wholesale Club opens next to the mall, expanding the area's large-format retail offer.

• 2011

  Borders closes

  [1]The Shops at Ithaca Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Borders Books & Music location closes following the company's failure and liquidation.

• 2007

  Mall adopts its current name

  [1]The Shops at Ithaca Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Under new management, Pyramid Mall Ithaca is renamed The Shops at Ithaca Mall.

• 2007

  Regal Cinemas relocates into former anchor space

  [1]The Shops at Ithaca Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Regal Cinemas moves from its original location near Cafe Square into the former Hills/Ames space.

• 2002

  JCPenney closes

  [1]The Shops at Ithaca Mallen.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney closes and its former space is subsequently associated with Best Buy, Borders Books & Music, and Dick's Sporting Goods.

• 1989

  Sears joins the expanded mall

  [1]The Shops at Ithaca Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A Sears department store opens during the mall's expansion, replacing the nearby Triphammer Mall Sears catalog store.

• 1976

  Pyramid Mall Ithaca opens

  [1]The Shops at Ithaca Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Pyramid Companies opens the shopping center in Lansing, New York, under the name Pyramid Mall Ithaca.

A community-serving regional shopping center that combines national retail chains, entertainment, food service, health facilities, and local events for the greater Ithaca and surrounding Central New York market.

• General merchandise

  Target

  Target serves as a major general-merchandise anchor, offering groceries, household goods, apparel, consumer products, and other everyday merchandise. It became the mall's only traditional department-store anchor after the closure of Bon-Ton.

• Cinema and entertainment · 2007

  Regal Cinemas

  Regal Cinemas operates the mall's cinema and entertainment component. The theater moved into the former Hills/Ames anchor space in 2007 and remained open after a 2023 announcement that had identified it for closure.

• Arts and crafts retail

  Michaels

  Michaels provides arts, crafts, hobby, seasonal, and do-it-yourself merchandise as one of the mall's current anchor-format specialty retailers.

• Healthcare services · 2022

  Cayuga Health centers

  Two Cayuga Health facilities occupy former department-store buildings acquired in 2022. Their presence adds outpatient and community healthcare functions to the mall complex.

• Self-storage · 2024

  CubeSmart self-storage facility

  CubeSmart was announced as the planned operator of a self-storage facility using space formerly associated with Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, Ulta, and DSW. The plan represents a shift from conventional retail toward service and storage use.

• Community events and nonprofit fundraisers

  Lansing · Ithaca · Tompkins County

  The mall has hosted community programming such as health and wellness fairs, pet days, bridal shows, radio-sponsored events, and fundraising activities for nonprofit organizations including Habitat for Humanity.

  Outcome. These activities reinforced the property’s role as a local gathering and services venue in addition to a shopping center.

  Source
• SPCA of Tompkins County annex

  Tompkins County

  A former mall storefront operated as an SPCA of Tompkins County adoption annex, with adoptable animals, children's reading materials, story hours, and craft activities.

  Outcome. The annex provided an accessible community and animal-welfare presence within the shopping center for several years.

  Source

• 2024

  Plan to convert former retail areas to self-storageStrategy

  Background

  Several large spaces formerly occupied by Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, Ulta, and DSW had become available.

  Action taken

  CubeSmart was announced as the planned operator of a self-storage facility in those areas.

  Aftermath

  The proposal further diversified the property beyond traditional enclosed-mall retail.

  Source

• 2022

  Cayuga Health acquires former anchor buildingsM&A

  Background

  Former department-store spaces had become available following the closures of Bon-Ton and Sears.

  Action taken

  Cayuga Health purchased the former JW Rhodes/Bon-Ton and Sears buildings and planned health-center conversions.

  Aftermath

  Healthcare services became a major component of the mall complex and replaced two traditional retail-anchor uses.

  Source

• 2007

  Rebrand as The Shops at Ithaca MallStrategy

  Background

  The property was undergoing tenant and entertainment changes, including the relocation of Regal Cinemas into a former anchor space.

  Action taken

  New management changed the name from Pyramid Mall Ithaca to The Shops at Ithaca Mall.

  Aftermath

  The new identity presented the property as a broader retail and entertainment destination.

  Source

1. 1The Shops at Ithaca Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Shops at Ithaca Mall official websitetheshopsatithacamall.com