Seneca Mall
Encyclopedia
Seneca Mall, which opened in 1969, was a shopping mall
south of Buffalo, New York
, USA. The mall was located in the Town of West Seneca at the intersection of Ridge Road (Erie CR 137) and Slade Avenue (Erie CR 91) immediately east of the New York State Thruway
(Interstate 90
).
The William Hengerer Company
originally sought to develop a location on this site in the early 1960s. This eventually led to the development and opening of the Mall in 1969 in direct competition to The Thruway Plaza. Seneca Mall at that time housed a large JCPenney store as well as local chain Sattler's
.
Seneca Mall was the major mall in the southtowns of Buffalo from its opening in 1969 through the 1980s. In 1985, the McKinley Mall
opened in Hamburg less than three miles away. Seneca hung on until 1989 when the Walden Galleria
opened in Cheektowaga. At that time, all of the mall anchors vacated as well as most of the specialty stores and restaurants. The mall soldiered on until 1994 finally becoming a haven for mall walkers with no retailers. In 1994, the mall's owners, The Pyramid Company
elected to demolish the mall and put a power center in its place, The Shops at West Seneca.
The Pyramid Company
, which also owns the Walden Galleria
, elected to build a power center on the site once the mall and outlying buildings were demolished. The center, known as the Shops at West Seneca, saw its first tenant, Tops Markets open in May 1997. Although many elaborate plans were put on the table by Pyramid, a Kmart
store is the only other development. A majority of the former mall site remains fenced off. The big signs of Seneca Mall's entries are still standing as the only standing remains from 1969, reading "TOPS", with "Shops at West Seneca" above. The town of West Seneca has many times attempted to push Pyramid into developing the site with no results. Many locals assume that Pyramid in no way wants to develop any retail center that will encroach on its popular Walden Galleria
.
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...
south of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, USA. The mall was located in the Town of West Seneca at the intersection of Ridge Road (Erie CR 137) and Slade Avenue (Erie CR 91) immediately east of the New York State Thruway
New York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
(Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
).
The William Hengerer Company
Hengerer's
The William Hengerer Company, known informally as Hengerer's was a Buffalo, New York-based department store chain, with stores exclusively located in the Western New York region.-History:...
originally sought to develop a location on this site in the early 1960s. This eventually led to the development and opening of the Mall in 1969 in direct competition to The Thruway Plaza. Seneca Mall at that time housed a large JCPenney store as well as local chain Sattler's
Sattler's
Sattler's was a regional department store chain headquartered at 998 Broadway, Buffalo, New York, two miles from the downtown core. They pioneered "bargain basement" retailing in the Buffalo area. Sattler's was founded in 1889 by 17-year-old John G. Sattler when he opened a one-room shoe store in...
.
Seneca Mall was the major mall in the southtowns of Buffalo from its opening in 1969 through the 1980s. In 1985, the McKinley Mall
McKinley Mall
McKinley Mall, which opened in 1985, is a shopping mall south of Buffalo, New York, USA. The mall is located in the Town of Hamburg at the intersection of McKinley Parkway and Milestrip Road immediately east of the New York State Thruway. McKinley Mall services the Southtowns of Erie County...
opened in Hamburg less than three miles away. Seneca hung on until 1989 when the Walden Galleria
Walden Galleria
Walden Galleria is an enclosed shopping mall located in the town of Cheektowaga, New York. Walden Galleria comprises more than of retail space, with 250 stores on two levels, including a food court and a movie theater. Anchor stores include Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, DSW Shoe Warehouse,...
opened in Cheektowaga. At that time, all of the mall anchors vacated as well as most of the specialty stores and restaurants. The mall soldiered on until 1994 finally becoming a haven for mall walkers with no retailers. In 1994, the mall's owners, The Pyramid Company
The Pyramid Company
The Pyramid Companies, also known as Pyramid Management Group, were formed in 1970 in Syracuse, New York by Robert J. Congel. Its first three malls, or the company's "pioneer malls", were Pyramid Mall Ithaca , Pyramid Mall Plattsburgh, and Pyramid Mall Saratoga...
elected to demolish the mall and put a power center in its place, The Shops at West Seneca.
The Pyramid Company
The Pyramid Company
The Pyramid Companies, also known as Pyramid Management Group, were formed in 1970 in Syracuse, New York by Robert J. Congel. Its first three malls, or the company's "pioneer malls", were Pyramid Mall Ithaca , Pyramid Mall Plattsburgh, and Pyramid Mall Saratoga...
, which also owns the Walden Galleria
Walden Galleria
Walden Galleria is an enclosed shopping mall located in the town of Cheektowaga, New York. Walden Galleria comprises more than of retail space, with 250 stores on two levels, including a food court and a movie theater. Anchor stores include Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, DSW Shoe Warehouse,...
, elected to build a power center on the site once the mall and outlying buildings were demolished. The center, known as the Shops at West Seneca, saw its first tenant, Tops Markets open in May 1997. Although many elaborate plans were put on the table by Pyramid, a Kmart
Kmart
Kmart, sometimes styled as "K-Mart," is a chain of discount department stores. The chain acquired Sears in 2005, forming a new corporation under the name Sears Holdings Corporation. The company was founded in 1962 and is the third largest discount store chain in the world, behind Wal-Mart and...
store is the only other development. A majority of the former mall site remains fenced off. The big signs of Seneca Mall's entries are still standing as the only standing remains from 1969, reading "TOPS", with "Shops at West Seneca" above. The town of West Seneca has many times attempted to push Pyramid into developing the site with no results. Many locals assume that Pyramid in no way wants to develop any retail center that will encroach on its popular Walden Galleria
Walden Galleria
Walden Galleria is an enclosed shopping mall located in the town of Cheektowaga, New York. Walden Galleria comprises more than of retail space, with 250 stores on two levels, including a food court and a movie theater. Anchor stores include Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, DSW Shoe Warehouse,...
.
Former anchors
- Gutman's - Original mini-anchor, located next to JCPenney, closed 12/24/89.
- Hengerer'sHengerer'sThe William Hengerer Company, known informally as Hengerer's was a Buffalo, New York-based department store chain, with stores exclusively located in the Western New York region.-History:...
- Original anchor, located at the south end of the mall. Converted to Sibley'sSibley'sSibley, Lindsay & Curr Company, known informally as Sibley's, was a Rochester, New York-based department store chain with stores located exclusively in the state of New York...
in 1981. - JCPenney - Original anchor, located at the north end of the mall. Closed in April 1989.
- KleinhansKleinhansKleinhans, formally The Kleinhans Company, was a high-end mens clothing store located in Buffalo, New York. Edward Kleinhans and his brother Horace opened the store in 1893, and shortly after located in the Brisbane Building at Main and Clinton Streets in Downtown Buffalo. The store would...
- Original mini-anchor, located at center court, closed in 1990. - L.L. Berger - Original mini-anchor, located next to Hengerer'sHengerer'sThe William Hengerer Company, known informally as Hengerer's was a Buffalo, New York-based department store chain, with stores exclusively located in the Western New York region.-History:...
/Sibley'sSibley'sSibley, Lindsay & Curr Company, known informally as Sibley's, was a Rochester, New York-based department store chain with stores located exclusively in the state of New York...
, closed 1989. - The SampleThe SampleThe Sample, also known as The Sample Dress Shop or The Sample Shop, was a family-owned, ladies clothing and furnishings store based in Buffalo, New York. The original store was established by Anne W. Bunis on Hertel Avenue in North Buffalo in 1928. The company started when Mrs...
- Original mini-anchor, located just south of center court, closed 12/24/89. - Sattler'sSattler'sSattler's was a regional department store chain headquartered at 998 Broadway, Buffalo, New York, two miles from the downtown core. They pioneered "bargain basement" retailing in the Buffalo area. Sattler's was founded in 1889 by 17-year-old John G. Sattler when he opened a one-room shoe store in...
- Original anchor, located on the east side of the mall at center court. Closed in Fall 1982. - Sibley'sSibley'sSibley, Lindsay & Curr Company, known informally as Sibley's, was a Rochester, New York-based department store chain with stores located exclusively in the state of New York...
- Converted from Hengerer'sHengerer'sThe William Hengerer Company, known informally as Hengerer's was a Buffalo, New York-based department store chain, with stores exclusively located in the Western New York region.-History:...
in 1981, closed in April 1989.
See also
- Walden GalleriaWalden GalleriaWalden Galleria is an enclosed shopping mall located in the town of Cheektowaga, New York. Walden Galleria comprises more than of retail space, with 250 stores on two levels, including a food court and a movie theater. Anchor stores include Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, DSW Shoe Warehouse,...
- The Summit
- Eastern Hills MallEastern Hills MallEastern Hills Mall, which opened in 1971, is a shopping mall located at the west border of the Town of Clarence in Erie County, New York, USA. It lies on Transit Road , which divides Clarence from the Town of Amherst...
- Boulevard MallBoulevard MallBoulevard Mall, which opened in 1962, is a shopping mall located north of City of Buffalo at the western edge of the Town of Amherst in Erie County, New York, USA. The name derives from its location on Niagara Falls Boulevard , which divides Amherst from the Town of Tonawanda...