Viaport Rotterdam, formerly Rotterdam Square, is a shopping mall located in Rotterdam, New York, United States. When it opened, the mall was originally called Rotterdam Square and owned by Wilmorite Properties (who also owned Wilton Mall in Wilton) until 2005, when Wilmorite was acquired by The Macerich Company, who then took over ownership and management of most of their properties. The mall has an area of 900,000 square feet (84,000 m2) on one level with over 80 stores, a 450-seat food court as well as restaurants and a seven-screen Sony-Loews Cineplex, now operated by Zurich Cinemas (independent company). The mall was purchased by Kohan Retail Investment Group in January 2014, and was later sold to Via Properties in June 2015. In 2016 Via Properties renamed the mall to Via Port Rotterdam
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
History
The mall is situated on a site once owned by the Vedder Family. Harman Albertse Vedder of Schenectady bought the land in 1672 and built a home on it. In 1832 Harmens' great-grandson Johannes sold it to Colonel Daniel David Schermerhorn Campbell, who constructed a 26-bedroom mansion on the site.
At the time of construction, the area around the mall was a nature preserve, and environmental groups were concerned that the building of the mall would endanger wildlife and pollute the wet lands on the opposite side of Route 337, now the Great Flats Nature Trail and Preserve.
Mike Kohan bought the mall from Macerich in January 2014 for $8.5 million.
In January 2015, it was announced the Macy's store was closing as part of a plan to close 14 stores nationwide.
On February 12, 2015, local power company National Grid disconnected electric service due to a rumored $300,000.00 unpaid utility bill. The service was turned back on the next day.
In June 2015, the mall was sold for $9.25 million to Via Properties, which renamed the mall to Viaport Rotterdam in 2016. They plan to invest $10 million into mall improvements, including exterior upgrades, a 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) aquarium, and a nearly 30,000 sq ft (2,800 m2) entertainment center with a bowling alley, sports bar, restaurant, and arcade.
Carousel
From 1988 until January 2007, Rotterdam Square featured a full-size Italian carousel in the food court. The management sold the carousel in late 2006 and in January 2007 it was dismantled and removed.
Graveyard
The mall features a graveyard within the complex. Located in a corner between the food court entrance and the front side entrance, the graveyard is the family cemetery of the Vedder Family dating back to around 1715.
Theater
A basic mall-based theater that was previously part of the Sony-Loews Cineplex (and then AMC) circuit. The theater is a six-screen cinema now operated by an independently owned theater company named Zurich Cinemas. The theater added a 7th screen and has been refitted with stadium seating, and digital projectors along with 3D capabilities.
Anchors
- Kmart - The last KMart in the Albany, New York, area (opened 1988) - 86,479 sq ft (8,034.2 m2)
- Rotterdam Square Cinema (previously AMC/Sony-Loews Cineplex) - 19,800 sq ft (1,840 m2)
- Shoe Dept. Encore
- Via Entertainment (formerly TJ Maxx))
- Via Aquarium (Opened November 12, 2016)
Former anchors
- Hess's (closed 1994)
- Filene's opened 1995 in Hess's space, became Macy's in 2006 after the Federated-May merger.
- TJ Maxx opened September 16, 2004, and closed in March 2014. In 2016 Via Properties remodeled the store to their Via Entertainment bowling alley and sports bar.
- Macy's (opened 2006, closed in 2015) - 120,000 sq ft (11,000 m2) Scheduled to become a call center for the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.
- Sears (opened in 1998, closed in 2016) - 101,985 sq ft (9,474.7 m2).
Source of the article : Wikipedia
EmoticonEmoticon