Colonie Center
Encyclopedia
Colonie Center is a shopping mall
located in Albany
at the intersection of Central Avenue
, Wolf Road, and Interstate 87
. Opening in 1966, it was the first enclosed shopping mall in New York State's Capital Region
. The mall has successfully updated its tenant mix, image, and look on an ongoing basis to keep up with the times, as can be seen from the list of stores on the mall's website. The two-story mall has an area of about 1300000 square feet (120,774 m²) and contains approximately 120 stores as well as a food court
. Colonie Center is owned by Heitman Value Partners as of June 2009.
While the mall found itself in danger of possibly becoming a dead mall
in the 1990s after the opening of rival mall Crossgates
and then its expansion in 1994, vacant space never reached critical levels. However, the opening of Boscov's
and Christmas Tree Shops
in 1998 rejuvenated the mall, and the 2007 redesign increased traffic even further to the point where it rivals Crossgates Mall
.
According to a local newspaper article, at the time the 2007 expansion was announced, the mall was at 73% occupancy. Since the expansion, occupancy has generally continued to increase.
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
located in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
at the intersection of Central Avenue
New York State Route 5
New York State Route 5 is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and several other smaller cities and...
, Wolf Road, and Interstate 87
Interstate 87
Interstate 87 is a Interstate Highway located entirely within New York State in the United States of America. I-87 is the longest intrastate Interstate highway in the Interstate Highway System. Its southern end is at the Bronx approaches of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in New York City...
. Opening in 1966, it was the first enclosed shopping mall in New York State's Capital Region
Capital District
New York's Capital District, also known as the Capital Region, is a region in upstate New York that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of the state: Albany County, Schenectady County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County...
. The mall has successfully updated its tenant mix, image, and look on an ongoing basis to keep up with the times, as can be seen from the list of stores on the mall's website. The two-story mall has an area of about 1300000 square feet (120,774 m²) and contains approximately 120 stores as well as a food court
Food court
A food court is generally an indoor plaza or common area within a facility that is contiguous with the counters of multiple food vendors and provides a common area for self-serve dining. Food courts may be found in shopping malls and airports, and in various regions may be a standalone development...
. Colonie Center is owned by Heitman Value Partners as of June 2009.
While the mall found itself in danger of possibly becoming a dead mall
Dead mall
A dead mall or greyfield is a shopping mall with a high vacancy rate or a low consumer traffic level, or that is dated or deteriorating in some manner. Many malls in the United States are considered "dead" when they have no surviving anchor store or successor that could serve as an entry into or...
in the 1990s after the opening of rival mall Crossgates
Crossgates Mall
Crossgates Mall is a shopping mall located in Albany, New York, United States, not far from Schenectady. The mall opened on March 4, 1984, and in October 1994 underwent a large expansion that nearly doubled its size. It now has a gross leasable area of with two floors including 250 shops and...
and then its expansion in 1994, vacant space never reached critical levels. However, the opening of Boscov's
Boscov's
Boscov's is an American department store founded by Solomon Boscov in 1911. The first store was in Reading, Pennsylvania, and today 40 stores are spread throughout the Mid-Atlantic states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, New York, and Delaware....
and Christmas Tree Shops
Christmas Tree Shops
Christmas Tree Shops are a retail chain that started in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts on Cape Cod in 1970 as a complex of three small stores; the Front Shop, the Back Shop, and the Barn Shop. The multiple store location, which was located on Route 6A, explains why the name is Christmas Tree Shops...
in 1998 rejuvenated the mall, and the 2007 redesign increased traffic even further to the point where it rivals Crossgates Mall
Crossgates Mall
Crossgates Mall is a shopping mall located in Albany, New York, United States, not far from Schenectady. The mall opened on March 4, 1984, and in October 1994 underwent a large expansion that nearly doubled its size. It now has a gross leasable area of with two floors including 250 shops and...
.
According to a local newspaper article, at the time the 2007 expansion was announced, the mall was at 73% occupancy. Since the expansion, occupancy has generally continued to increase.
Anchors
- Macy'sMacy'sMacy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
(opened 1991; 300000 sq ft (27,870.9 m²)). Replaced an older 1966 store 180000 sq ft (16,722.5 m²), now mall space. - Sears (opened 1966; 246000 sq ft (22,854.1 m²))
- Boscov'sBoscov'sBoscov's is an American department store founded by Solomon Boscov in 1911. The first store was in Reading, Pennsylvania, and today 40 stores are spread throughout the Mid-Atlantic states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, New York, and Delaware....
(opened 1998; 228000 sq ft (21,181.9 m²)) - Christmas Tree ShopsChristmas Tree ShopsChristmas Tree Shops are a retail chain that started in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts on Cape Cod in 1970 as a complex of three small stores; the Front Shop, the Back Shop, and the Barn Shop. The multiple store location, which was located on Route 6A, explains why the name is Christmas Tree Shops...
(opened 1998) - L.L.Bean (opened 2007; 30000 sq ft (2,787.1 m²))
- Barnes & NobleBarnes & NobleBarnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...
(opened 2007; 34000 sq ft (3,158.7 m²))
Former anchors
- Flah's (Later became Herman's World of Sporting Goods)
- Herman's World of Sporting GoodsHerman's World of Sporting GoodsHerman's World Of Sporting Goods was a sporting goods retailer in the United States. It was founded by Herman Steinlauf in 1916 as a music store. At one time, there was a gentleman's agreement with west coast competitor Oshman's Sporting Goods, that the Herman's chain would stay east of the...
(now Christmas Tree Shops) - Macy's (Opened 1966, replaced 1990s; 180000 sq ft (16,722.5 m²).)
- SteinbachSteinbach (store)Steinbach was a department store chain based in Asbury Park, New Jersey.- History :Steinbach was founded in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and maintained branch stores along the New Jersey shore, and in the central part of New Jersey. The company was at one time affiliated with the Kresge-Newark...
- (opened 1992, closed August 1995, now Boscov's; originally 80,000 sq ft)