WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. -- There are new plans to make the vacant stores in the Eastern Hills Mall less outdated.
In January, major department store Macy's closed their doors and the mall was left with no control over the 128,352-square-foot building. The two-story building is attached to the mall, but it was still owned by the retailer until recently.
The mall purchased the building from Macy's for $1.8 million last Tuesday.
The mall can now move forward with new plans for expansion, which had all been held back since the store's closing.
These plans have been presented to the Clarence town supervisor, zoning board and town attorneys, who have been very supportive of the redevelopment.
For the time being, Eastern Hills Mall General Manager Russell Fulton says that he plans to lease the space for cash flow purposes until redevelopment begins.
Fulton believes that converting it into another shopping space would be too outdated, so his plans include making it into a mixed use space with residential, retail and entertainment purposes.
The building--which had been owned by Macy's for more than 20 years--announced its closing after sales plummeted during the holiday season.
The Eastern Hills location was one of 40 stores that closed. Since that time, the building and the land around it remained without purpose until it was purchased by the mall.
Now, with the mall in a position with plans for redevelopment, the space will be looking at a very different future.
