Viaport Rotterdam

Via Port Rotterdam

View of the Food Court Entrance
Location Rotterdam, New York
United States
Coordinates 42°48′32″N 73°59′17″W / 42.80889°N 73.98806°W / 42.80889; -73.98806
Opening date September 1, 1988[1]
Management Via Properties
Owner Via Properties
No. of stores and services 80+
No. of anchor tenants 5 (2 vacant)
Total retail floor area 900,000 sq ft (84,000 m2)
No. of floors 1

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

History

The mall is situated on a site once owned by the Vedder Family.[2] 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.[3]

Mike Kohan bought the mall from Macerich in January 2014 for $8.5 million.[4]

In January 2015, it was announced the Macy's store was closing as part of a plan to close 14 stores nationwide.[5]

On February 12, 2015, local power company National Grid disconnected electric service due to a rumored $300,000.00 unpaid utility bill.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8]

The carousel in the food court

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.[2]

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.[9]

Anchors

Former anchors

References

  1. ↑ Cermak, Marv (July 17, 1988). "Rotterdam Square opening Sept. 1". Times Union. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Library, Robert G. Sullivan, Schenectady County Public. "Genealogy of the Veeder Family of Schenectady County, New York". Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  3. ↑ Minutes of Schenectady City meeting 12/11/06
  4. ↑ "Rotterdam Square Mall's new owner has history of legal disputes". Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  5. ↑ Strauss, Gary (January 8, 2015). "J.C. Penney, Macy's to shut stores, lay off scores". USA Today. Gannett. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  6. ↑ Strauss, Gary (February 12, 2015). "No checks, no payments, no power". USA Today. Times Union. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  7. ↑ O'Brien, Tim (June 15, 2015). "Rotterdam mall sold for $9.25 million". Times Union. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  8. ↑ DeMasi, Michael (June 10, 2015). "New owners will bring aquarium to Rotterdam Square Mall". Albany Business Review. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Rotterdam Square Cinema in Schenectady, NY - Cinema Treasures". Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  10. 1 2 Odato, James (August 20, 1988). "Crews Rushing Rotterdam Square Mall Work". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Zurich Cinemas - Proudly serving New York with the latest movies from Hollywood". Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Big sports bar, entertainment venue opening in Viaport Rotterdam". Times Union. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  13. ↑ "Rotterdam aquarium opened Saturday". Times Union. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  14. 1 2 Cavanaugh, Tim (August 2, 1994). "Rotterdam Square Hess's will become a Filene's". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
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