Paddock Arcade and the Woolworth Connection

 

    Although I had visited Watertown, NY once before, I wasn't aware of what retail history lied in downtown. Once I became aware of the Paddock Arcade, I knew I had to make a visit the next time I was in the area. What makes this place so special? Read on to find out....

    The Paddock Arcade now has the designation of being of the oldest continuously operating shopping mall in the United States. Technically, a similar arcade styled mall in Rhode Island is older, but it had closed for a time therefore interrupting that status. The Paddock Arcade opened all the way back in 1850! It is has been a part of the National Register of Historic Places since 1976. 

A Woolworth painting on the wall. There's a bit more to discuss about Woolworth at the end of this post.

This is what an arcade shopping mall is like.

I had teased you Woolworth- well here's why: Woolworth would eventually come to Watertown and in doing so it apparently took away a good chunk of the arcade by demolishing that portion in 1916. Woolworth opened a brand new store within a newly built 6-story building; and that building remains in place although repurposed. The remaining arcade mall underwent some updating in 1920. 

    If ever in the Watertown area, it might be worth checking this place out. Even if for no other reason, just to get to a glimpse of a shopping mall before shopping malls went huge.