Mohawk Mall

Mohawk Mall was an enclosed shopping center in Niskayuna, New York, located at the intersection of State Street and Balltown Road on a roughly 50-acre parcel that had previously been the Stanford Golf Course. It opened on October 5, 1970, after a reported construction investment of $25 million. Stanford Associates developed the property, Evantash-Friedman Associates of Philadelphia designed it, and Frank J. Nigro Realty handled local leasing. The mall was managed by Genesee Management. At opening, Mohawk Mall had three anchor department stores and approximately seventy additional stores. Its original anchors included Montgomery Ward, Boston Store, and J.M. Fields, the latter later replaced by Bradlees. Montgomery Ward occupied approximately 160,000 square feet, while Boston Store operated an approximately 80,000-square-foot, two-story location with fifty departments. The center also included Woolworth's, Flah's of Albany, Mack Drug, later associated with CVS, specialty retailers, restaurants, a bank, a liquor store, and a mall arcade. The site provided parking for about 4,000 vehicles. The developers promoted Mohawk Mall as an early example of a shopping center incorporating a dedicated mini-mall area. Approximately 9,000 square feet in the southwest portion was reserved for fifteen to twenty boutiques representing businesses from major metropolitan areas, alongside space for smaller local operators. The interior featured three courts with fountains and seating areas. Its opening program combined retail promotion with community entertainment, including Native American dances and ceremonies, free toys and balloons, and a scheduled religious invocation. The property experienced several ownership and operating changes. Balcor Realty Investors acquired the mall in 1976, and Wilmorite purchased the center section in 1983. A Price Chopper grocery store occupied space formerly used by Pantry Pride from the late 1970s until 1987. The mall also hosted promotional and public events, including a 1985 Pepsi Challenge appearance, a 1987 visit by astronaut Donald Slayton, and a 1991 talent search by the television program America's Funniest People. Mohawk Mall declined as newer retail destinations opened in the surrounding Capital Region. Marshall's Plaza was built next door in 1985, Rotterdam Square Mall opened in the late 1980s under Wilmorite's ownership, and Niskayuna Square added further competition in the 1990s. Crossgates Mall and other newer regional centers also drew tenants and shoppers away. By October 1991, approximately one-quarter of the mall was vacant. Bradlees closed in 1996, Montgomery Ward left at the end of 1997, and occupancy had fallen to about half by early 1998. The seven-screen movie theater closed in July 1999. The property was sold in June 2000 to Myron M. Hunt and Benderson Development Co. Most of the enclosed mall was demolished by spring 2001, although portions remained temporarily in use. Media Play and Rex TV & Appliances closed during the redevelopment, while Marshall's continued operating through construction and reopened in a new 30,010-square-foot space on April 25, 2002. The remaining mall structure was subsequently removed, and the property was redeveloped as Mohawk Commons, an open-air lifestyle and power-center-style retail complex.

Mohawk Mall was built on the former Stanford Golf Course site in Niskayuna, New York. Stanford Associates developed the approximately 50-acre property, with design by Evantash-Friedman Associates and local leasing handled by Frank J. Nigro Realty. Construction reportedly cost $25 million. The enclosed center was planned with three interior courts, fountains, seating areas, and parking for roughly 4,000 vehicles. The mall opened on October 5, 1970, with three department-store anchors and about seventy other stores. Montgomery Ward opened a large approximately 160,000-square-foot unit in August, followed by Boston Store and J.M. Fields. The Boston Store occupied the mall's only two-story space and contained approximately fifty departments. The tenant mix also included Woolworth's, Flah's of Albany, Mack Drug, Hickory Farms, Fanny Farmer Candies, specialty apparel and shoe shops, a bank, restaurants, a liquor store, and an arcade. A southwest section of approximately 9,000 square feet was promoted as a mini-mall for boutiques representing larger metropolitan markets and smaller businesses. The center changed hands and tenants during the following decades. Balcor Realty Investors acquired the mall in 1976, while Wilmorite bought the central section in 1983. Golub Corp. converted the former Pantry Pride space into a Price Chopper grocery store in the second half of the 1970s. Price Chopper closed in 1987 after a larger supercenter opened in nearby Colonie. Other notable changes included the replacement of J.M. Fields by Bradlees and the later arrival of Marshall's. Mohawk Mall hosted retail promotions and public appearances, including the Pepsi Challenge in 1985, astronaut Donald Slayton's 1987 anniversary appearance, and an America's Funniest People contestant search in 1991. The mall also experienced an unusual and tragic incident after Thanksgiving in 1986 when the person playing Santa Claus suffered a fatal heart attack in front of children. Its long-term decline reflected increasing competition and changing regional retail patterns. Marshall's Plaza opened next door in 1985. Rotterdam Square Mall, developed by Wilmorite in the late 1980s, attracted some former Mohawk Mall tenants. Niskayuna Square and larger destinations such as Crossgates Mall added further pressure. By October 1991, around 25 percent of Mohawk Mall was vacant. Local officials urged management to pursue more upscale stores and amenities, including a food court and additional fountains. Addis and Dey's closed its location after a liquidation sale in 1992, Anderson Little also departed, Bradlees closed in 1996, and Montgomery Ward shut down at the end of 1997. By early 1998, occupancy was approximately 50 percent. The seven-screen Loew's theater closed in July 1999. Although management considered mixed-use alternatives such as offices for government agencies and doctors, the property ultimately moved toward full redevelopment. Myron M. Hunt and Benderson Development Co. bought the property in June 2000. Unoccupied sections were demolished by spring 2001. Media Play and Rex TV & Appliances closed during construction, while Marshall's remained open through much of the transition. Marshall's moved into a new 30,010-square-foot building on April 25, 2002. The remaining mall sections were then removed, and the site was transformed into Mohawk Commons, an open-air lifestyle and power-center-style retail complex.

• 2002

  Marshall's reopens in replacement space

  [1]Mohawk Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Marshall's moved into a new 30,010-square-foot building as the site transitioned from the enclosed mall to Mohawk Commons.

• 2000

  Redevelopment ownership changes

  [1]Mohawk Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Myron M. Hunt and Benderson Development Co. purchased the property and began planning its replacement.

• 1998

  Occupancy falls to about half

  [1]Mohawk Mallen.wikipedia.org

  After the closure of Montgomery Ward, the mall was reported to be approximately 50 percent occupied.

• 1991

  Vacancy reaches approximately one-quarter of the mall

  [1]Mohawk Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The center's declining occupancy reflected tenant movement to newer competing shopping destinations.

• 1985

  Marshall's Plaza opens next door

  [1]Mohawk Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A neighboring strip center increased competition for Mohawk Mall, although Marshall's later moved into the mall itself.

• 1983

  Wilmorite acquires the center section

  [1]Mohawk Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Wilmorite purchased approximately 23.9 acres forming the mall's center section.

• 1976

  Balcor Realty Investors acquires the mall

  [1]Mohawk Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Balcor Realty Investors purchased the property, while a Price Chopper grocery store later entered the former Pantry Pride space.

• 1970

  Mohawk Mall opens

  [1]Mohawk Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The enclosed shopping mall opened on October 5 with three anchor stores and approximately seventy additional retailers.

A regional enclosed shopping mall serving Niskayuna and the wider Capital Region, with a mix of department-store anchors, specialty retailers, local businesses, entertainment, and an early mini-mall boutique concept.

• Department stores · 1970

  Department-store retail

  Mohawk Mall's principal commercial offering was department-store shopping. Original and later anchors included Montgomery Ward, Boston Store, J.M. Fields, and Bradlees, providing apparel, household goods, general merchandise, and other broad-line retail categories.

• Specialty retail · 1970

  Specialty and boutique retail

  The mall combined national and regional specialty shops with local operators. Its advertised mini-mall section reserved space for boutiques associated with major metropolitan areas, while stores such as Hickory Farms, Fanny Farmer Candies, Fabric Fair, Schatz Stationery, and Thom McCann served focused shopping needs.

• Food retail · 1970

  Grocery and convenience retail

  Food retail was represented first by Pantry Pride and later by Price Chopper, which operated in the mall from the late 1970s until January 1987. Other food-related tenants included McDonald's, Hickory Farms, Fanny Farmer Candies, and a pizza establishment.

• Entertainment · 1970

  Entertainment and leisure

  Entertainment offerings included a video-game arcade known as Dream Machine, Barrel of Fun & The Dark Room, along with a movie theater that eventually operated seven screens under Loew's Theatres. The theater closed in 1999, before the mall was demolished.

• 1991America's Funniest People contestant search

  United States

  A crew from ABC's America's Funniest People held a public search for potential contestants at the mall's center court on February 10.

  Source
• 1985Pepsi Challenge

  United States

  The Pepsi Challenge promotional program visited Mohawk Mall as part of the center's event and marketing activity.

  Source

• 2000

  Replace the enclosed mall with an open-air retail developmentStrategy

  Background

  Declining occupancy, anchor-store closures, theater loss, and competition from newer regional shopping centers weakened the enclosed mall's viability.

  Action taken

  Myron M. Hunt and Benderson Development Co. purchased the property and initiated demolition and redevelopment into Mohawk Commons.

  Aftermath

  Most of the enclosed structure was removed by 2001, the final remaining sections were demolished after 2002, and the property became a lifestyle and power-center-style retail complex.

  Source

• 1976

  Convert former Pantry Pride space to Price ChopperStrategy

  Background

  The Pantry Pride grocery operation had closed in May 1976, leaving a significant retail space available.

  Action taken

  Golub Corp. acquired the lease and opened a Price Chopper grocery store in the former supermarket location.

  Aftermath

  Price Chopper operated at the mall until January 1987, when it closed after a larger nearby supercenter opened in Colonie.

  Source

1. 1Mohawk Mallen.wikipedia.org