Located just outside of the Horseheads community, lies the regional mall that serves as the regional shopping complex for the region. Originally opening as a fairly small mall with around 40 stores in 1967, its anchors were JCPenney and store called Iszard's. JCPenney remains, but Iszard's would eventually be converted to a McCurdy's before ultimately becoming Bon-Ton. A 1980 expansion would add Bradlee's and Hess's as two additional anchors. The Bradlee's space became a Burlington Coat Factory in 2006 while Hess's converted to a Kaufman's before becoming a Macy's. I'm not exactly sure when Sears opened here as a fifth anchor, but its exterior architecture suggests it likely opened at some point in the 1990s. In total the mall has over 100 stores including a food court and Regal Cinemas.
Macy's closed their store in 2016, and Bon-Ton would relocate to it in 2017 before ultimately going belly up only a year later. While the mall has no doubt felt the affects of changing consumer preferences after losing 2 of its anchors, it is trying its best to adapt. The former Bon-Ton/Macy's space has been re-purposed as an event center with a mini-golf course on the side. The mall also plans to demolish the original Bon-Ton space and replace it with a hotel and more dining options.
I feel confident in saying that this mall is trying its best to survive.
The Arnot Mall was one of the first malls I ever photographed, so it has a special meaning to me and I'm glad to see it trying to survive unlike the Lycoming Mall, which is much more significant to my childhood, to its south.
I hope enjoy the pics; some of which go all the way back to 2013!
 |
| Former Macy's; taken before becoming Bon-Ton |
