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Another Anchor Store Closes; What's in Shoppingtown's Future?

Front of J.C. Penny, from inside of Shoppingtown mall
Davis Hovey
/
WAER News

   Shoppingtown Mall was once a powerhouse jammed packed with stores.  But after 60 years, J.C. Penny closed its doors forever at 5 p.m. Friday.  The only anchor store left is Sears. 

Shoppers like Ryan Kelley of Eastwood question how long the mall can survive with so many stores leaving.  

“They keep getting a little bit emptier, a little bit more barren,”  Kelley said. “There’s only a certain amount of emptiness a mall can take before, you know,  it’s lost forever.”

Directly facing the J.C. Penny is a small business, Room to Improve, that specializes in selling U.S. made products.

  Despite the growing number of vacancies, the store’s owner, Sharon Valerio, hopes shoppers will keep coming to Shoppingtown Mall from inside and outside of the Syracuse area.

“We have customers that come from as far as way as Canada and Ireland,” Valerio said. "When they’re in the area, they’re not coming specifically for the store, but they come in. It’s a wonderful mall to be at, and we hope the community continues to come to Shoppingtown.”

Credit Davis Hovey
/
WAER News
Officials say their plan to revamp the mall will happen in 2017, but there has been no comment made about what businesses are interested in opening there.

  Moonbeam Capital bought the mall in 2013 for $14 million.  Officials say their plan to revamp the mall will happen in 2017, but there has been no update about what businesses are interested in opening there.

Ryan Kelley isn’t sure what kind of new businesses he would like to see open their doors.

“I don’t know what I want until it’s there,”  Kelley said. I think if someone could come in and have some fresh, new ideas and give people some things maybe they’re not expecting - some things that are going to appeal to them – I think that’s great. I will continue to shop at Shoppingtown Mall.”

The owners of the mall say it has a future, but, as time passes, empty store fronts continue to be the norm, and the Food Court contains only a few remaining options.