65°
Ridge Hill, the vast new outdoor mall, a public common of commerce perched on a hillside overlooking the New York Thruway in Yonkers, is a study in contrasts and ironies.
Long billed as both a resuscitator of the local economy and the ruin of local traffic patterns, Ridge Hill, at least by early indications, is amounting to neither.
By no means can you call it a dead mall walking. First off, stores are still in the process of opening. Moreover, during Christmas and over the weekend, Ridge Hill draws its share of crowds to stores that run the gamut from Cheesecake Factory to Sephora. There is also a movie theatre and -- count ‘em -- three sporting good/outdoor stores: Dick’s, LL Bean and REI.
But during the week, Rivertown residents in the surrounding communities of Dobbs Ferry, Irvington and Hastings have been raising brows over just how desolate Ridge Hill is. “Tumbleweed City,” someone honked and snorted at the bus stop recently, and several recent weekday visits bore that out. Trolleys there to transport shoppers across the vast complex passed nearly empty. Stores, with no shortage of “50 percent off” and “clearance” signs, appeared cavernous. The sidewalks languished, near empty. A notably light load of weekday shoppers puts outsized pressure on weekend business—one can only imagine how challenged their January sales numbers might be with the Saturday snowstorm two weeks ago knocking out business that day.
Speaking for Ridge Hill, Kathy Welch said in a statement that the mall is: “Extremely pleased at the response we’ve gotten from customers. We opened up a limited number of stores and have been moving right along. The more stores we open up, the greater the response.”
Read between the lines and you can see the underlying reality: we hope it improves. It very well might. The staggered opening of stores might not be helping; the frayed economy, too, offers no natural lift.
Besides, residents in the neighboring villages (even my wife) who petitioned for years against the complex nearly choked on their bone of contention when they saw desirable stores like Whole Foods and Sur la Table open. They’ve been going.
But the beat of strangeness at this nation-mall goes on.
Sandy Annabi, a former city of Yonkers Democratic council member, who was once expected to stand fast against the controversial project – and casting the deciding vote -- turned proponent at the very last moment. She was later indicted for selling her vote. If you believe federal prosecutors, there would not have been a Ridge Hill in the first place if it were not for Sandy Annabi’s money grab.
Her trial is expected to attract pretty decent crowds. We’ll see if the same can be said for Ridge Hill.
Comments (4)
Mr. Fuchs, why be so obstructionist and negative? Why not encourage people to go to Ridge Hill rather than tell them its a dead place that failed to meet its objective? I have been to Ridge Hill many times, and no, I do not go during the day because that is when I am at work. However, when I do go to Ridge Hill (which I hate to call a mall) I find that there are plenty of people walking around, shopping, and in particular patronizing the restaurants. It is a beautiful location, with amazing views that I hope Ridge Hill finds a way to capitalize on. I would not mind a white napkin establishment with the western facing view and amazing sunsets I have seen while up on the hill. I also hope they add some additional upscale shopping to Ridge Hill. But what I hope Ridge Hill does the most is attract people, and I hope people like you do not detract them from going. Rather than talk about the "tumbleweeds" I implore you to talk about the lovely stores (I cannot help myself but visit Sur La Table every time I there), the quaint village like atmosphere that exists in Ridge Hill, and the convenience it provides (its nice to have an option other than White Plains).
Thanks for your note, even if we might disagree a bit. I don't see my role as that of automatic cheerleader for any business--or politician, for that matter. Other countries do it that way and--well, it doesn't seem to turn out so well. I'm just noting what I see initially and what I see is this: those weekday crowds are noticeably light. Does that condemn the mall to the ash bin of history? No, but that's not what I said. What I said was that nothing with this mall has been easy and, at least initially (and perhaps not surprisingly) they might have a slight challenge on their hands. Best Wishes, Marek
Opening shopping malls in the era of online shopping is a fool's game. You need look no further than the Palisades Center and its vast expanses of emptiness to see that. But then, Yonkers politicians have never been accused of making thoughtful and reasonable business decisions.
Well, video might have killed the radio star...but brick and mortar malls aren't dead just yet. That said, early indications seem to be that this one will have to find a way to boost weekday traffic or go beyond gangbusters on the weekends. Best, Marek