PALISADES CENTER
Routes 59 and 303
Rockland County (Town of Clarkstown), New York
Plans for a lower Hudson Valley shopping mall were first envisaged in 1982. 3 years later, Syracuse's Pyramid Companies announced plans for an upscale shopping center which was to comprise 875,000 leasable square feet.
This complex would be developed on a 130-acre plot, located 23 miles north of New York City's Times Square, in Rockland County. The parcel was situated in West Nyack, an unincorporated section of Town of Clarkstown. The site was a wetland area with a printing plant, bowling alley, diner, cemetery, several car dealerships and two landfills.
Getting approval to build PALISADES CENTER was a difficult and time-consuming process. An initial plan, sanctioned by the local government in 1990, was met with a tidal wave of community opposition. Several years of litigation followed.
All legal challenges had been overcome by 1995. By this time, the size of the prospective shopping center had grown to 1.8 million leasable square feet. Moreover, the original plan for an upscale retail venue had evolved into one for a more middle-market "power mall." This would house traditional department stores and several big box tenants. It would be an East Coast version of Minnesota's MALL OF AMERICA and feature an indoor roller coaster, similar to one at Canada's WEST EDMONTON MALL.
PALISADES CENTER was designed by Dal Pos Associates, of Syracuse. The complex would encompass 5 floors, with the first housing a subterranean parking deck. Anchoring the mall would be a 3-level (204,000 square foot) Boston-based Filene's, 3-level (156,000 square foot) J.C. Penney and 2-level (120,000 square foot) Lord & Taylor.
A vertically-stacked structure on the west end of the complex would house three stores. On the first floor would be a 1-level (140,000 square foot) B.J.'s Wholesale Club. The second and third floors would contain a 1-level (135,000 square foot) Home Depot. A 1-level (134,000 square foot) Target would fill the fourth floor. This would be the only west end anchor store with a connection into the shopping concourse.
Junior anchor spaces on various floors would accommodate Bed Bath & Beyond, Old Navy, Sports Authority, Barnes & Noble, CompUSA, Staples, Jo-Ann Fabrics, a J.C. Penney Home Store and Dave & Buster's.
The third floor would feature a 12-bay Food Court. It would include a ferris wheel and 1907-vintage carousel. Charter Food Court vendors included Cajun Cafe, Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs, Little Tokyo, Panda Express, Sbarro The Italian Eatery and Burger King.
TheEATery adjoined the two cinematic venues on the fourth floor and featured nine casual dining restaurants. These included Chili's Grill & Bar, T.G.I. Fridays, Legal Seafood, Romano's Macaroni Grill and Don Pablo's Mexican Kitchen.
A mall-wide preview took place on March 4, 1998, when tenants such as J.C. Penney and the J.C. Penney Home Store threw open their doors. An official grand opening was held on April 15, 1998. Target welcomed first shoppers on July 26th.
Charter inline stores included The Great Train Store, Rainforest Cafe, Catskill Corners Store, Laura's Hallmark, Ann Taylor, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, 9 West, J. Crew, The Disney Store and Restoration Hardware. The original plan for an inside roller coaster had been abandoned.
PALISADES CENTER had but one retail rival in its immediate vicinity, NANUET MALL (1969) {2.7 miles southwest, in Rockland County}. This center began a downward spiral soon after the completion of "Palisades Mall."
Other shopping facilities in the PALISADES CENTER trade area included CROSS COUNTY CENTER (1954) {12.7 miles southeast, in Yonkers}, PARAMUS PARK (1974) {11.2 miles southwest, in Paramus, New Jersey}, WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN GARDEN STATE PLAZA (1957) {13.6 miles southwest, also in Paramus, New Jersey} and BERGEN MALL (1957) {13.5 miles southwest, in Paramus and Maywood, New Jersey}.
Although PALISADES CENTER comprised nearly as much physical space as Minnesota's MALL OF AMERICA, the area it was permitted to lease was restricted by local statute. This required the passage of a voter referendum before any unused sections could be utilized. Such a referendum failed in November 2002.
A few nameplate conversions have taken place. The Loews Palisades Center 21 was rebranded, as the AMC-Loews Palisades Center 21, in January 2006. Filene's became a Macy's on September 9 of the same year.
PALISADES CENTER was given an interior face lift between May and December 2013. Surfaces were painted, with new ceiling treatments and soft seating areas installed. ThEATery was given new tile flooring and lighting fixtures. Center Court was also refurbished.
In 2015, the main (21-screen) cinema complex was renovated. A separate IMAX auditorium relocated into the 21-plex, with the combined venue being renamed the AMC Palisades 21 & IMAX. The Sports Authority chain went bust in August 2016. Its space at PALISADES CENTER was taken by the Autobahn Indoor Speedway, which opened for business on March 4, 2019.
Sources:
The New York Times
http://www.malletin.com
http://www.worldlingo.com
http://www.palisadescenter.com
http://www.pyramidmg.com / Pyramid Companies
