Wouldn't it be great if...
We recently took a trip down to the Main Place Mall and couldn't believe how much potential this space has. Upon walking through The Tower entrance on Main at Church, the first thing we noticed was the renovated marble, art deco elevator lobby. We passed the reception desk and found ourselves in the expansive three-story mall entrance lit by skylights. It was at this point we realized the Main Place Mall we were in was not the Main Place Mall that we remembered. The building is a well-designed 1960's contemporary mall, just waiting for some one with retail know-how to create what could be an urban retail hub on Main Street.
How great would it be to not have to schlep to a suburban mall for the simple amenities of day-to-day living; a lipstick, a wallet, a bra, socks... really, how great would it be? Throw in a stereo shop, great shoes, and suits for herds of Buffalo bankers and lawyers that populate downtown. You get the idea. Retail spaces of various sizes are already built out. The 3-dimensional glass storefronts provide limitless possibilities for display purposes. The stores on the Main Street side of the building even offer shop owners the ability to utilize existing display windows for pedestrian viewing.
Escalators leading up to the mostly vacant mezzanine level offer a direct route to the open sky lit food court. It is here that a variety of local ethnic food choices can be found. When we arrived, there were a few lingering patrons who, when asked, described the daily bustling lunch crowds.
Main Place Mall is directly linked to several buildings by enclosed walkways. The only one still operational leads to the Liberty Building. Main Place Towers and the Liberty Building offer a 'built-in' customer base that feeds the thriving food court and offers the potential to support urban retail.
With the right vision to go along with the city's 'plans' to reinstate traffic on Main Street, Main Place Mall has the ability to once again become a downtown retail destination. We hear that the mezzanine level might soon become yet more office space. What a shame that would be. Like Buffalo needs more office space? -fifi and queenseyes
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John C.
What a shame this place has very little retail stores left. This Mall has room for department stores (Macy's, Ikea, etc) if you build up the retail space to the buildings third floor. Even move the move court to a third floor, with a movie theatre (as the Newport Mall is designed in Downtown Jersey City, NJ). I can picture this mall being a HOT SPOT for city residents and workers if it's expanded and full of retail (NOT OFFICES).
Downtown Malls do work: Cleveland, Jersey City and even Manhattan have successful malls in the urban core. (Others of course, but these are the three I have personaly visited).
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John C.
What a shame this place has very little retail stores left. This Mall has room for department stores (Macy's, Ikea, etc) if you build up the retail space to the buildings third floor. Even move the move court to a third floor, with a movie theatre (as the Newport Mall is designed in Downtown Jersey City, NJ). I can picture this mall being a HOT SPOT for city residents and workers if it's expanded and full of retail (NOT OFFICES).
Downtown Malls do work: Cleveland, Jersey City and even Manhattan have successful malls in the urban core. (Others of course, but these are the three I have personaly visited).
Report this