Dough Life, a raw cookie dough franchise, will open at the Oakdale mall. Maggie Gilroy / Staff video
The topic of Johnson City’s Oakdale Mall — and its future — is constantly talked about as bricks and mortar retail stores across the country die out.
Store closings and other fiscal stress has caused the community to question the mall’s future.
But, before we discuss the future, let’s talk about the mall’s history. Here’s everything you need to know about the Oakdale Mall.
What year did the mall open?
The mall first opened in 1973.
Its first store was Montgomery Ward, a Chicago-based catalog retailer, also with bricks and mortar.
The store opened its doors at the new Oakdale Mall in November of 1973.
The store shut down its 60,000-square-foot outlet at 35 Main St. in downtown Binghamton to move to its 135,000-square-foot store at the mall.
More: Oakdale Mall’s first store was a downtown Binghamton transplant. What store was it?
Joining the mall later were Bon-Ton, Macy’s and Sears — all longtime Oakdale Mall anchors that are now closed.
Who owns the mall?
The mall is owned by Interstate Properties (“Interstate”), a New Jersey general partnership, with three partners: Stephen Roth, Russell B. Wight, Jr. and David Mandelbaum.
Oakdale Mall: Recent mortgage transfer spells trouble for mall
Interstate Properties’ principal place of business is Clifton, New Jersey, and each of its partners is a resident of New Jersey. The partnership was formed in 1968, and since then has been principally involved in the development and operation of regional mall shopping centers in Manassas, Virginia; Reading, Pennsylvania; Battle Creek, Michigan; Huntington, West Virginia; Binghamton and Utica, along with five or six other locations.
Who manages it?
The mall is managed by Vornado Realty Trust, an owner, manager and developer of office and retail assets.
According to its website, Vorando’s portfolio is mainly focused in New York City, along with both Chicago and San Francisco.
In New York, the company owns all or portions of 20.2 million square feet of Manhattan office space in 36 properties, 2.7 million square feet of Manhattan street retail space in 71 properties and Pennsylvania in the heart of Manhattan’s Penn District.
“Vornado is also the real estate industry leader in sustainability policy,” the website states.
What were its past anchor stores?
Previously, anchor stores include Bradlee’s, Montgomery Ward, Fowler’s, Kaufmann’s, the Bon-Ton,Macy’s and Sears.
They are now closed.
What are its current anchor stores?
The two remaining stores are home and clothing retailers JCPenney and Burlington Coat Factory.
JCPenney first came to the mall in 1985, after closing its downtown Binghamton location. Burlington arrived in 2003 in the former location of Bradlee’s.
What’s in the mall, now?
Here is a list of all the stores currently in the mall, according to its website:
- Aeropostale
- All About Collectibles and More
- American Eagle Outfitters
- Auntie Anne’s Soft Pretzels
- AT&T
- Bath & Body Works
- Burlington
- Champs
- Charlotte Russe
- Christopher & Banks / cj banks
- Cinnabon / Carvel
- Claire’s
- Cutting Crew
- Dakota Watch Company
- Dough Life
- Eddie Bauer
- Express Factory
- Fashion Nails
- Foot Locker
- Forever 21 RED
- f.y.e.
- Gertrude Hawk Chocolates
- Gamestop.com
- Girl Scouts of NYPenn Pathways, Inc.
- GNC
- Hollister
- Hot Topic
- i Fix
- JCPenney
- Joli Hair Studio (Formerly Hot Cuts)
- Justice
- Kay Jewelers
- Lids
- Motherhood Maternity
- Nail Trix
- Paradise Hair World
- Payless ShoeSource
- Phi Hair Studio
- Piercing Pagoda
- Pro Image Sports
- Totally Pagoda
- rue 21 etc!
- SHOE DEPT ENCORE
- Shop 607
- SHS Sebastiano Hair Studio
- Spencer’s
- T-Mobile
- The Children’s Place
- The Legging Store
- The Threading Place
- Thing’s Remembered
- Torrid
- Tracy’s Hallmark
- Tuxedo Junction
- Victoria’s Secret / PINK
- Verizon Wireless
- Yankee Candle
- Zales Jewelers
- Zumiez
Other services:
- JC Police Sub-Station
- Oakdale Mall dental
- Oakdale Mall Offices – Gift cards, customer service
- UHS Stay Healthy
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