Once again, I must start this post off with a disclaimer of not knowing a lot about the history of this particular mall nor can I find a lot of information about the mall. So some of the maps below map have anchor placement in the wrong spot.
I can definitely say that this place was once a mall thanks to past Google Earth satellite imagery. (see below) I believe the anchors to have been Kmart and Ames. I was able to confirm that Kmart operated a store here thanks to a local news article.
Similar to how both the Camillus Mall and Fairmount Fair Mall were redeveloped, this mall too was repurposed but instead by other means. Thanks to its proximity to Binghamton University, the mall be would ultimately wind up being a site for student housing with a small strip mall to serve the students. But some changes did occur before the housing project would occur. While it is a little change, it is worth noting that the Kmart store closed in 1999 and was used as a call center for various companies. I believe the Ames and perhaps even parts of the mall would be used for the same purpose for bit too.
In this 1994 satellite view, we can see a building design that is hard to deny being a mall:
Flash forward to 2002, we can see things are so lively based on this view:
You can definitely see some cars clustered around the south end of what was likely the Kmart.
2006's view shows some changes seeing some parts of the mall being demolished.
2011 brings very little change to the property, though it is evident that at least a few shops must be open to attract the amount of cars seen. Planet Fitness also opened at some point in the lower right.
The next change for 2017's view is a major one. This change caught me off guard at the time when I visited the property in person because satellite view hadn't showed any changes from the 2011 view but now does. The pictures that follow the satellite view are my own and come from 2017 while construction was occurring.
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| I don't believe this clock tower is a leftover from the mall, but I can't dismiss the possibility. |
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| This view would basically be the mall corridor. |
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| Construction |
A special thanks to Google Earth and its historic satellite views for being able to provide some information on this property.
This actually wasn't an enclosed mall but instead a strip mall or plaza with covered corridors. It was called Vestal Park Plaza and according to an article I found in the Press & Sun it was the first plaza to open in the town of Vestal back in 1962.
ReplyDeleteThe location you have marked Ames was actually Kmart. When you stood in the center of the plaza and faced the Vestal Parkway; Kmart was on the far left and Grand Union/Later Ames was on the far right. The rest were inline stores between them. Ames and Kmart both became call centers before being demolished for student housing.
Ah, so it was like the Clearfield Mall in a way. I understand that you are saying it wasn't a proper mall, but it still acted like one thanks to the enclosed corridors. I put Kmart where I did because one article mentioning the student housing construction said Kmart was on the south end of the complex. What you are saying makes a lot more sense, though that must of been a smaller Ames.
DeleteYes, the corridors were open air on the ends, so almost enclosed. I did see that article about the student housing as well but the Kmart was for sure on the far left hand side when standing facing the Vestal Parkway. It was an insurance agency for a number of years and then a call center before demo happened. It closed in 1993 I believe as part of the bankruptcy.
DeleteIf I remember correctly the Ames was small. It was only open for about 2 years as well. It was one of the stores that was opened when Ames started rapidly expanding in 2000, which in the end lead towards their eventual liquidation.
Kmart didn't have any bankruptcies in the '90s, unless I mistaken. I was under the impression they simply closed some stores during this timeframe. I believe both Kmart stores that operated in Auburn would of also closed around the same time as this one then.
DeleteI could see why Ames was interested in the area. Ames also had a lot of debt from going on a buying spree of other chains like Hills.
ReplyDeleteYou’re right. It was 2002 that they had a bankruptcy. They just did a closing spree in the early 90s.
I did find out there was a Brits Department Store in the Plaza that closedon the late 70s, early 80s.
Brits must of been a local chain? Can't say I've heard of them before.
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