ShoppingTown Mall in DeWitt set for redevelopment under new partnership
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon stood outside the boarded-up food court at ShoppingTown Mall on November 12, flanked by local legislators and DeWitt Town Board members, to announce a new partnership aimed at redeveloping one of Central New York’s most visible vacant properties. The announcement, made in front of the mall’s shuttered entrance, marks the first public step toward a long-awaited transformation of the site, according to Eagle News.
Ryan McMahon, Onondaga County Executive, called the press conference on a gray Thursday morning, gathering county and town officials outside the mall’s food court entrance. The group included DeWitt Town Board members and county legislators, all standing in front of plywood-covered doors and faded signage that once welcomed shoppers from across the eastern suburbs. Eagle News reported that this is the first time McMahon has announced a new partnership for the site.
This story came from public records we pulled ourselves
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ShoppingTown Mall, located at 3649 Erie Boulevard East, has been a question mark for residents of DeWitt, East Syracuse, and the surrounding neighborhoods since it closed. The mall, which opened in 1954 as an open-air shopping center before being enclosed in the 1970s, was once a retail anchor for the eastern suburbs. Its closure in 2020 left a 65-acre property empty, with only a handful of outparcel businesses still operating along the perimeter.
For years, drivers heading down Erie Boulevard East have passed the mall’s empty parking lots and boarded-up entrances. The site sits at a key intersection near Bridge Street, just a few blocks from the Wegmans plaza and the DeWitt Town Hall. Its vacancy has been a constant reminder of changing retail habits and the challenges facing older malls across Central New York.
By The Numbers
- 1: Number of new redevelopment partnerships announced for ShoppingTown Mall, per Eagle News
- November 12: Date of the redevelopment announcement, according to Eagle News
- 1: Number of times Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon has announced a new partnership for the site, per Eagle News
What changed: A new partnership for a long-vacant site
McMahon’s announcement signals the first coordinated action on the property in years. The presence of both county and town officials at the press conference shows a joint effort to move the project forward, Eagle News reports. The partnership, while not yet detailed publicly, is expected to bring together public and private interests to redevelop the site.
ShoppingTown Mall’s location on Erie Boulevard East keeps it in the public eye. Commuters from Fayetteville, Manlius, and East Syracuse pass the property daily on their way into downtown Syracuse. The mall’s decline has been a topic at DeWitt Town Board meetings, with residents asking about everything from traffic impacts to the future of the old Sears building.
For decades, ShoppingTown Mall was a destination for shopping, dining, and community events. The mall once housed anchors like JCPenney, Sears, and Macy’s, along with a movie theater and a busy food court. Its closure left a gap in the commercial landscape, and the empty parking lot has become a symbol of retail change in DeWitt.
Why this matters for Central New York residents
The future of ShoppingTown Mall affects more than just DeWitt. Erie Boulevard East is a main artery for commuters from Fayetteville, Manlius, and East Syracuse heading toward downtown Syracuse. Any redevelopment could change traffic patterns, especially at intersections like Bridge Street and Kinne Road, where backups are already common during rush hour.
Local businesses along Erie Boulevard East have watched the mall’s decline with concern. Some shop owners say the empty property has hurt foot traffic and made the corridor less attractive to new tenants. A successful redevelopment could boost property values and bring new investment to the area, according to conversations at recent DeWitt planning meetings.
Residents who remember the mall’s heyday see the announcement as a chance to restore a community anchor. The mall once hosted everything from holiday craft fairs to high school proms. Its loss left a hole in the social fabric of the eastern suburbs. Now, with the county and town working together, there is hope that the site will once again serve as a gathering place.
The timing of the announcement comes as other major projects are underway in Central New York. The I-81 viaduct project is already reshaping downtown Syracuse and neighborhoods like Eastwood and Tipp Hill. Redevelopment of ShoppingTown Mall fits into a broader pattern of change across both urban and suburban parts of Onondaga County.
Context: ShoppingTown Mall’s history and the trend of mall redevelopment
ShoppingTown Mall’s decline reflects a national trend. Across the country, aging malls have struggled as shoppers turn to online retailers and big-box stores. ShoppingTown lost major tenants over the past decade, with Macy’s closing in 2015 and Sears following in 2018. By 2020, only a handful of stores remained, and the mall officially closed its interior to the public.
Destiny USA, up on Hiawatha Boulevard in Syracuse, has faced its own challenges but remains open, drawing shoppers from across Central New York. Other malls, like Great Northern in Clay, have also seen declining occupancy. ShoppingTown’s fate has been a regular topic at DeWitt Town Board meetings, with proposals ranging from mixed-use redevelopment to demolition and new construction.
Previous plans for the site have stalled. In 2021, a proposal to turn the mall into a mixed-use complex with apartments, offices, and retail space failed to move forward. The new partnership announced by McMahon and local officials could mark a turning point, especially with both county and town governments involved. Eagle News reports that the coordinated approach may help speed up the process compared to earlier efforts.
What’s next for the ShoppingTown Mall site?
While the partnership has been announced, county and town officials have not yet released specific redevelopment plans. Residents of DeWitt, Salina, and Fayetteville are waiting for details on what will replace the empty mall. Questions remain about the project’s timeline, the types of businesses or housing that might be included, and how construction could affect traffic along Erie Boulevard East.
The announcement comes as Central New York’s retail landscape continues to shift. Some malls have closed, while others have adapted to new uses, such as medical offices or community centers. The fate of ShoppingTown Mall will be closely watched by residents and business owners in the eastern suburbs, who are eager to see the property put back to use.
Officials have not set a date for the release of redevelopment plans. In the meantime, the boarded-up mall remains a daily sight for thousands of drivers and a reminder of the challenges facing older commercial properties in Central New York.
Where to check for updates
Residents looking for updates on the ShoppingTown Mall redevelopment can follow announcements from Onondaga County and the Town of DeWitt. Eagle News will continue to provide coverage as new details become available. The DeWitt Town Board is expected to discuss the project at upcoming meetings, and county officials have said they will share information as plans progress.
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Sources
- Eagle News, new partnership announced for ShoppingTown Mall in DeWitt
