Saratoga Mall (Wilton, New York)
Encyclopedia
Saratoga Mall was an enclosed shopping mall in Wilton, New York
near the city of Saratoga Springs, New York
. It was demolished in 1999. It was previously known as Pyramid Mall Saratoga and was located on Route 50
just off Exit 15 on I-87
(the Adirondack Northway portion). After demolition, it was replaced by a big box strip center known as Wilton Square.
The mall was on 45 acres (182,108.7 m²) of land. Landscaping included:. grass sod of land seeded for grass
For opening day, Miss New York State, Susan Carlson, was set to cut the ribbon. There was a drawing for a free flight for two to Nassau in the Bahamas.
Mostly due to the new shopping mall, Wilton town supervisor Robert Gavin announced a property tax reduction of 54 percent one month after the mall's opening.
Smaller Tenants
-Jo-Ann's Nut House
Unnamed Tenants
opened, bringing the total size of the mall to 435800 square feet (40,487.1 m²). The addition included 113502 square feet (10,544.7 m²). The Montgomery Wards store addition totaled 95500 square feet (8,872.2 m²).
Joanne's Nut House (candy)
Danielle's (formalwear rental)
Adirondack Dental?
planned to move to the newer Wilton Mall by 1991. At that time, the owner of the Saratoga Mall suggested the move would not be a problem but instead would be an opportunity to brand Saratoga Mall as a discount mall. Montgomery Ward never actually moved to Wilton Mall. When it announced its store closures for the area, its Wilton store was still located in the Saratoga Mall.
Due to competition from its newer, larger neighbor, the mall began trying to develop a mixed-use strategy by attempting to attract office space and businesses such as doctor's offices to bring traffic to the remaining retailers.
The final showings at the mall took place on Thursday, August 26, 1999. At the time, there were eight employees working for that cinema.
. This company completed demolition of the enclosed mall and built Wilton Square in its place. Starwood Ceruzzi Properties then sold the property in summer 2005 to Inland Western Saratoga Springs Wilton, LLC for almost four times what they paid.
The Price Chopper portion of the property was subdivided from the rest of the mall in 1998.
Demolition of the mall was completed in Fall, 1999.
Wilton, New York
Wilton is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 12,511 at the 2000 census.The Town of Wilton is in the northeastern part of the county, northeast of Saratoga Springs, which it borders.-History:...
near the city of Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
. It was demolished in 1999. It was previously known as Pyramid Mall Saratoga and was located on Route 50
New York State Route 50
New York State Route 50 is a state highway in the Capital District of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 5 in Scotia...
just off Exit 15 on I-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...
(the Adirondack Northway portion). After demolition, it was replaced by a big box strip center known as Wilton Square.
Development
Originally called Pyramid Mall Saratoga, the mall was built by The Pyramid Companies. Construction began in late 1972/early 1973. It was the first regional mall developed by the company.The mall was on 45 acres (182,108.7 m²) of land. Landscaping included:. grass sod of land seeded for grass
- 172+ trees
Opening
The mall opened for business on October 18, 1973 with fifty stores and no vacancies. The original size of the mall was 310000 square feet (28,799.9 m²). It employed more than 450 people.For opening day, Miss New York State, Susan Carlson, was set to cut the ribbon. There was a drawing for a free flight for two to Nassau in the Bahamas.
Mostly due to the new shopping mall, Wilton town supervisor Robert Gavin announced a property tax reduction of 54 percent one month after the mall's opening.
Initial Interior Features
There were four major courts in the mall that had fountains, skylights, bridges, and pools.Initial Tenants
Anchors- Albany Public Markets, Inc. (free-standing 25000 sq ft (2,322.6 m²). building)
- Barkers (discount department store in the chain - 70000 sq ft (6,503.2 m²).)
- Denby's (junior department store in the chain)
- The Carl Co. (36,000 sq ft.)
Smaller Tenants
- Anderson-Little
- Back Stage (restaurant)
- Baskin-RobbinsBaskin-RobbinsBaskin-Robbins is a global chain of ice cream parlors founded by Burt Baskin and Irvine Robbins in 1953, from the merging of their respective ice cream parlors, in Glendale, California. It claims to be the world's largest ice cream franchise, with more than 5,800 locations, 2,800 of which are...
- Bavarian Pretzel
- Bay Street (jeans)
- Casual Corner (women's clothing)
- Casual Male and Female (clothing)
- Chess King (men's)
- Corbat's Shoes
- Endicott-Johnson (shoes)
- Erlanger's Fashions (8,400 sq ft.) Remember the neat spiral staircase!!
- Frankel's Fabrics (5,000 sq ft.) or was it Joanne's Fabrics?
- Hallmark
- Hickory FarmsHickory FarmsHickory Farms is an American specialty foods company based in Maumee, Ohio. The company was established in 1951 when founder Richard Ransom began selling hand cut cheese at local fairs. By 1959, the company added summer sausage and opened their first retail store outside Toledo, Ohio...
- Household Finance Co.
- Jade Valley Gifts (& jewerly)
- Jonathan Reed, Ltd. (5,300 sq ft.)
-Jo-Ann's Nut House
- Mack Drug Store
- Orange Julius
- RadioShackRadioShackRadioShack Corporation is an American franchise of electronics retail stores in the United States, as well as parts of Europe, South America and Africa. As of 2008, RadioShack reported net sales and operating revenues of $4.81 billion. The headquarters of RadioShack is located in Downtown...
- Schatz (stationary)
- Stuart's (women's clothing)
- Thom McAnn (shoes)
Unnamed Tenants
- apparel stores
- banks (2)
- bookstore
- drug store
- gift stores
- liquor store
- restaurants (3)
- specialty stores
- supermarket
Expansion
In Spring, 1976, Montgomery WardMontgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
opened, bringing the total size of the mall to 435800 square feet (40,487.1 m²). The addition included 113502 square feet (10,544.7 m²). The Montgomery Wards store addition totaled 95500 square feet (8,872.2 m²).
Later Tenants
Tenants in this list are based on articles or advertisements. Some of these tenants may be initial tenants that were not specifically named in the earliest articles.| Tenant Name | Date Opened |
|---|---|
| Mechanics Exchange Savings Bank | before February 28, 1975 |
| Kirsch | before April 20, 1975 |
| Hilton's Music | before October 21, 1975 |
| Montgomery Ward Montgomery Ward Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001... |
before Spring, 1976 |
| Marine Midland Bank | before March 26, 1976 |
| Movie Cinemas (3 theaters) | before April 27, 1976 |
| Kinney Shoes G.R. Kinney Company G.R. Kinney Company was an American manufacturer and retailer of shoes from 1894 until September 16, 1998. Its listing on the New York Stock Exchange, symbol KNN, began in March 1923. The shoe concern was started by... |
1976 |
| Carl's Drug (later became Fay's Drug) | before January 18, 1981 |
| Record Town Trans World Entertainment Trans World Entertainment Corporation is a chain of entertainment media retail stores in the United States. It currently operates just over 440 freestanding and shopping mall-based stores under several brand names.... |
before June 17, 1981 |
| Penney Catalog Store J. C. Penney -External links:*... |
March 11, 1987 |
| Friar Tuck Bookshops | before November 26, 1989 |
| Wilton Town Supervisor's Office | before March 10, 1990 |
| McDonald's McDonald's McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948... |
before March 18, 1990 |
| Gifts & Novelties | before August 19, 1990 |
| New York State Labor Department Community Service Center | October 1, 1990 |
| KB Toys KB Toys K·B Toys was a chain of mall-based retail toy stores in the United States. It was founded in 1922 by the Kaufman brothers. K·B operated 605 stores in 44 U.S. states, Puerto Rico as well as Guam. It was privately held in Pittsfield, Massachusetts... (simultaneously in Wilton Mall next door) |
before December 9, 1990 |
| Jamesway Jamesway Jamesway was a chain of discount department stores based in Secaucus, New Jersey. It was founded in 1961 with a store in Jamestown, New York, and at its peak operated 138 stores in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions.... |
before July 24, 1991 |
| Fay's Drug (took over Carl's Drug) | before August 23, 1991 |
| Benson's Pet Shop | before October 12, 1991 |
| Saratoga Computer Shoppe | before July 31, 1998 |
| Service Merchandise Service Merchandise Service Merchandise is an online retailer and former retailer chain of catalog showroom stores carrying fine jewelry, toys, sporting goods, and electronics that existed for 68 years... |
before December 15, 1991 |
| Ryan Jewelers | before December 15, 1991 |
| Price Chopper (60,000 sq ft. free-standing building) | 1991 |
| Creative Fashion Eyewear | before July 26, 1992 |
| Van Arnum Flowers and Gift Shop | before July 26, 1992 |
| Hair 2000 | before July 26, 1992 |
| Dime Savings Bank of New York | before July 26, 1992 |
| Papa Gino's | before July 26, 1992 |
| Lazer Pix | before April 11, 1993 |
| Short Stop | June 10, 1993 |
| General Nutrition Centers General Nutrition Centers General Nutrition Centers is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based American commercial enterprise focused on the retail sale of health and nutrition related products, including vitamins, supplements, minerals, herbs, sports nutrition, diet & energy products.-History:In 1935, David Shakarian opened a... |
before October 14, 1993 |
| Arcade (Games People Play?) | before October 14, 1993 |
| Eckerd (took over Fay's Drug - remained to the end and continued to new Wilton Square) | 1997 |
| The Gardeners | before April 3, 1998 |
| Spa.Net | before July 31, 1998 |
| Praises Christian Book Store | before September 3, 1998 |
| Senior Solutions | before September 4, 1998 |
| New Life Christian Church | before 1999 |
| Pasanno Paints | before 1999 |
Danielle's (formalwear rental)
Adirondack Dental?
Proposed strip mall
Owners of the Saratoga Mall in 1989 proposed a small strip mall called Wilton Square (the eventual name of the successor to the mall after demolition) of 29000 square feet (2,694.2 m²) with 135 parking spaces. The number of parking spaces was not enough for Wilton town code. An exception was not made as it was for the Wilton Mall at Saratoga being developed next door to the Saratoga Mall.Montgomery Ward planned move to Wilton Mall
Montgomery WardMontgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
planned to move to the newer Wilton Mall by 1991. At that time, the owner of the Saratoga Mall suggested the move would not be a problem but instead would be an opportunity to brand Saratoga Mall as a discount mall. Montgomery Ward never actually moved to Wilton Mall. When it announced its store closures for the area, its Wilton store was still located in the Saratoga Mall.
Stores in Saratoga Mall and Wilton Mall at the same time
A handful of stores opened in the new Wilton Mall while simultaneously having stores in the Saratoga Mall. They included:- Kaybee Toys
- Record Town
- Friar Tuck Books
- Kinney Shoes
- RadioShack
Due to competition from its newer, larger neighbor, the mall began trying to develop a mixed-use strategy by attempting to attract office space and businesses such as doctor's offices to bring traffic to the remaining retailers.
Second run movie theater
In mid-1992, the movie theaters at Saratoga Mall were managed by Hoyts. Hoyts also had newer theaters in the Wilton Mall next door. On June 19, 1992, the Saratoga Mall theaters became a second-run theater with ticket prices at $1.99. At that point, the mall had six theaters.The final showings at the mall took place on Thursday, August 26, 1999. At the time, there were eight employees working for that cinema.
Ownership
The mall was originally owned and developed by The Pyramid Companies. The mall again changed ownership in 1987, changing its name from Pyramid Mall Saratoga to Saratoga Mall in the process. In 1991, it was owned by Pyramid Centers of Empire State Co. In 1999, it was sold by Pyramid Centers of Canada to Starwood Ceruzzi Properties, Inc., of Fairfield, ConnecticutFairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...
. This company completed demolition of the enclosed mall and built Wilton Square in its place. Starwood Ceruzzi Properties then sold the property in summer 2005 to Inland Western Saratoga Springs Wilton, LLC for almost four times what they paid.
Demolition
The possibility of demolition was announced in late 1998. Mall management began talking to big box retailers such as Target about location on the site. At the time, it was mentioned that this would offer flexibility in case the owners wanted to sell the mall. The mall was 450000 square feet (41,806.4 m²) at that point and did not have any major anchors. Former anchors included Montgomery Ward, Jamesway, and Service Merchandise. At the time, the mall was owned by Pyramid Center & Co. Ltd.The Price Chopper portion of the property was subdivided from the rest of the mall in 1998.
Demolition of the mall was completed in Fall, 1999.