Viaport Rotterdam
Viaport Rotterdam is a shopping mall in Rotterdam, New York, formerly known as Rotterdam Square.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Viaport Rotterdam is a regional shopping mall in Rotterdam, New York, United States. The property opened as Rotterdam Square and was developed as a large, single-level retail and entertainment destination serving the Rotterdam and wider Schenectady-area market. Its approximately 900,000-square-foot footprint historically included retail stores, restaurants, a 450-seat food court, entertainment uses, an aquarium, and a multiplex cinema. The mall was designed not simply as a collection of shops but as a mixed retail and leisure complex, with attractions intended to increase visitor dwell time. The property occupies land with a long pre-mall history. The site was associated with the Vedder family from the seventeenth century, and a family cemetery dating to approximately 1715 remains within the mall complex. In the nineteenth century, the property was sold to Colonel Daniel David Schermerhorn Campbell, who built a large mansion there. Before and during the mall's development, environmental groups expressed concern that construction could affect wildlife and wetlands in the area across Route 337, now associated with the Great Flats Nature Trail and Preserve. Rotterdam Square was initially owned by Wilmorite Properties, a regional mall owner that also owned Wilton Mall in Wilton, New York. In 2005, Wilmorite was acquired by The Macerich Company, which assumed ownership and management of most of the acquired properties. During the Rotterdam Square period, the mall included a full-size Italian carousel in its food court. The carousel operated from 1988 until it was dismantled after being sold in late 2006; it subsequently operated at Southland Mall in Miami. The property's ownership changed during a period of significant pressure on traditional American shopping malls. In January 2014, Mike Kohan acquired the mall from Macerich for $8.5 million. The following year, Via Properties purchased it for $9.25 million and later repositioned it under the Viaport Rotterdam name in 2016. Via Properties announced a planned investment of approximately $10 million in improvements, including exterior upgrades, a 25,000-square-foot aquarium, and an almost 30,000-square-foot entertainment center featuring bowling, a sports bar, a restaurant, and an arcade. The mall also experienced anchor-store departures. Macy's, whose store history included earlier Hess's and Filene's identities, announced a closure in January 2015 as part of a national store-reduction program. The former Macy's space later became a call center for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Sears announced a closure in April 2016, and the store closed in July of that year. In October 2018, Sears Holdings announced that the mall's Kmart would close in December 2018. By January 2019, the property had lost its traditional anchor stores and retained several in-line tenants alongside the state taxation call center. Entertainment remains an important part of the property's identity. The on-site cinema began as part of the Sony-Loews Cineplex network and later had an association with AMC. It was subsequently operated by independent company Zurich Cinemas. The theater expanded from six to seven screens and received stadium seating, digital projection, 3D capability, and some D-BOX seats. The VIA Aquarium was another major attraction, although a tank rupture on August 4, 2024 flooded part of the mall and temporarily closed the aquarium area. Viaport Rotterdam therefore represents both the traditional enclosed-mall model and the continuing effort to adapt such properties through entertainment, food, attractions, and non-retail uses.
History
The land occupied by Viaport Rotterdam predates the shopping mall by several centuries. Harmen Albertse Vedder acquired the property in 1672 and established a home there. His descendant Johannes later sold the site in 1832 to Colonel Daniel David Schermerhorn Campbell, who built a 26-room mansion. A Vedder family cemetery, dating to around 1715, remains within the modern mall complex and is one of the property's notable historical features. The mall was developed as Rotterdam Square, a large enclosed retail center in Rotterdam, New York. Its construction generated environmental concern because the surrounding area included wildlife habitat and wetlands. Environmental groups feared that the project could damage local ecosystems and pollute wetlands across Route 337, an area now associated with the Great Flats Nature Trail and Preserve. Rotterdam Square was originally owned by Wilmorite Properties, which also operated Wilton Mall in Wilton, New York. The property later became part of The Macerich Company's portfolio after Macerich acquired Wilmorite in 2005. The mall's original format combined retail with food and entertainment. At its peak configuration described in reference material, it contained roughly 900,000 square feet of space on one level, approximately 36 stores, a 450-seat food court, restaurants, an aquarium, an entertainment center, and a multiplex cinema. From 1988 through early 2007, the food court contained a full-size Italian carousel. Management sold the carousel in late 2006, and it was dismantled and removed in January 2007. The attraction later operated at Southland Mall in Miami. The property also maintained a movie theater that began as a six-screen Sony-Loews Cineplex. After later operation associated with AMC, the theater became independently operated by Zurich Cinemas. It expanded to seven screens and received stadium seating, digital projection, 3D presentation, and selected D-BOX seating. Ownership changed again in January 2014, when Mike Kohan purchased the mall from Macerich for $8.5 million. In June 2015, Via Properties acquired the property for $9.25 million. Via Properties proposed approximately $10 million in improvements, including exterior renovations, a 25,000-square-foot aquarium, and an entertainment center of nearly 30,000 square feet with bowling, a sports bar, a restaurant, and an arcade. In 2016, the mall was renamed Viaport Rotterdam, reflecting the new ownership and repositioning strategy. The property was affected by the contraction of department-store retail. Macy's announced its closure in January 2015, and the former store space was later used by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance as a call center. Sears announced a closure in April 2016 and left the mall in July. In October 2018, Sears Holdings announced that Kmart would close in December. By January 2019, the mall had no remaining traditional anchor stores, with several in-line tenants and the state call center continuing to occupy space. The aquarium became one of the mall's principal newer attractions, but it also experienced a significant operational incident in 2024. On August 4, a tank burst and released water into much of the aquarium area, producing approximately one inch of flooding and temporarily closing the attraction. The incident illustrates the operational risks associated with converting a conventional mall into a mixed retail, entertainment, and attraction-based destination. Viaport Rotterdam's history consequently reflects several broader trends in American retail property: ownership consolidation, department-store contraction, adaptive reuse, entertainment-led repositioning, and the search for non-retail tenants and attractions to support regional visitation.
- 2024
Aquarium flooding incident
[1]A VIA Aquarium tank burst on August 4, flooding part of the attraction and causing a temporary closure.
- 2018
Kmart closure announced
[1]Sears Holdings announced that the mall's Kmart would close in December, removing the last traditional anchor-store tenant.
- 2016
Rotterdam Square becomes Viaport Rotterdam
[1]The mall was renamed Viaport Rotterdam under Via Properties' ownership.
- 2016
Sears closes
[1]The Sears store closed in July after the retailer announced a nationwide store-reduction program.
- 2015
Via Properties purchases the property
[1]Via Properties acquired the mall for $9.25 million and announced an improvement program centered on exterior upgrades and new attractions.
- 2014
Kohan Retail Investment Group acquires the mall
[1]Mike Kohan purchased the mall from Macerich for $8.5 million.
- 2007
Carousel removed
[1]The food-court carousel was dismantled and removed after management sold it in late 2006.
- 2005
Macerich acquires Wilmorite
[1]The Macerich Company acquired Wilmorite Properties and assumed ownership and management of most of its properties, including Rotterdam Square.
- 1988
Italian carousel begins operation
[1]A full-size Italian carousel began operating in the mall's food court.
- 1832
Campbell mansion constructed
[1]Johannes Vedder sold the property to Colonel Daniel David Schermerhorn Campbell, who constructed a 26-bedroom mansion on the site.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping and entertainment center that has sought to supplement conventional retail with dining, cinema, aquarium, and family-oriented attractions.
Shopping mall retail
Retail stores
Viaport Rotterdam historically contained approximately 36 stores in a single-level, roughly 900,000-square-foot enclosed mall. Its retail mix included department-store anchors and in-line tenants, although the major department stores later closed as the American mall sector contracted. The property subsequently combined remaining retail space with non-retail uses such as government office operations and entertainment.
Aquarium attraction
VIA Aquarium
The VIA Aquarium was developed as part of the property's entertainment-led repositioning under Via Properties. The planned attraction was described as approximately 25,000 square feet and served as a family-oriented destination intended to complement shopping, dining, and cinema uses. A tank rupture in August 2024 flooded part of the aquarium area and temporarily closed the attraction.
Cinema
Zurich Cinemas
The mall's cinema originated as a Sony-Loews Cineplex and was later associated with AMC before becoming independently operated by Zurich Cinemas. The theater expanded from six to seven screens and was fitted with stadium seating, digital projectors, 3D capability, and some D-BOX seats.
Dining
Food court and restaurants
Dining has been a longstanding component of the mall, including a food court with approximately 450 seats and separate restaurant space. The food court also formerly housed the property's full-size Italian carousel, which operated there from 1988 until its removal in 2007.
Family entertainment · 2015
Entertainment center
Via Properties announced plans for an entertainment center of nearly 30,000 square feet. The proposed concept included bowling, a sports bar, a restaurant, and an arcade, forming part of an effort to make the property less dependent on conventional retail and department-store anchors.
Brand decisions
2016
Brand renaming to Viaport RotterdamStrategyBackground
Following Via Properties' acquisition and proposed investment program, the property adopted a new identity.
Action taken
Rotterdam Square was renamed Viaport Rotterdam.
Aftermath
The new name aligned the mall with its Via Properties ownership and its intended retail-and-entertainment positioning.
2015
Via Properties acquisition and repositioning planM&ABackground
The property faced anchor-store contraction and needed additional attractions and uses to support visitation.
Action taken
Via Properties purchased the mall for $9.25 million and announced plans for about $10 million in improvements, including exterior work, an aquarium, and an entertainment center.
Aftermath
The property was renamed Viaport Rotterdam in 2016. The planned repositioning combined retail with aquarium, cinema, dining, and family entertainment uses.
Purchase price. $9.25 million (June 2015)
2014
Kohan acquisitionM&ABackground
Rotterdam Square changed ownership during a difficult period for enclosed shopping malls and department-store retail.
Action taken
Mike Kohan purchased the property from The Macerich Company for $8.5 million in January 2014.
Aftermath
The mall was sold again to Via Properties the following year.
Purchase price. $8.5 million (January 2014)
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