Cross County Shopping Center

Developed by Sol Atlas,{{Cite news|title=Sol Atlas Dies; Build was 66 |work=The New York Times|date=July 31, 1973 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/07/31/archives/sol-atlas-dies-builder-was-66-expert-on-shopping-centers-also.html }} Cross County Center opened in 1954 as one of the nation's first open-air shopping destinations. Its parking lot was built atop a former peat bog.{{cite news|work=The New York Times|url= http://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/05/16/realestate/commercial/westchesters-cross-county-shopping-center-gets-a-makeover.html?_r=0|date=May 16, 2012|title=Westchester's Cross County Shopping Center Gets a Makeover}} The 72-acre site included the Cross County Hospital in the middle of the mall campus complete with a rooftop helipad (the hospital closed in the early 1980s).{{cite news|first=Barbara |last=Nachman |title=Shopping: More than ever, Westchester is a shopper's paradise |url=http://www.lohud.com/LivingHere/westchester05/features/shopping.html |work=The Journal News |publisher=Gannett Company, Inc. |date=2005-10-30 |access-date=2006-12-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208101650/http://www.lohud.com/LivingHere/westchester05/features/shopping.html |archive-date=2007-02-08 |url-status=dead }}

The original anchor stores were Gimbels (later Stern's, now Macy's), John Wanamaker (later Sears, now Target), and F. W. Woolworth Company. Woolworth operated a main store and a garden store in the mall (the former is now mall space, while the latter was converted to Odd-Job Trading before becoming Old Navy).{{cite news |last1=Brenner |first1=Elsa |title=Choosing Sides In the Way We Shop |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/31/nyregion/choosing-sides-in-the-way-we-shop.html |work=The New York Times |date=October 31, 1993}} In September 1954, the women's clothing store Russeks opened a store in the shopping center, selling women's sportswear, dresses, coats, suits, furs, millinery, and accessories, as well as children's coats and dresses.[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1954/09/10/93409017.html?pageNumber=33 "Russeks to Open Branch,"] The New York Times. The 1981 CBS TV movie Bill starring Mickey Rooney had the scene with Santa Claus filmed here.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

Starting in 2007, Cross County Center underwent a new development and upgrade overseen by The Macerich Company on behalf of the mall's owners, which was completed in 2012.{{cite web|url= http://www.johnmeyerconsulting.com/crosscounty/|title= Cross County Shopping Center Renovation and Expansion|website= John Meyer Consulting|access-date= 2006-02-25|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060311153156/http://www.johnmeyerconsulting.com/crosscounty/|archive-date= 2006-03-11|url-status= dead}} The huge building that now houses Macy's Department Store (that was initially Gimbel's and then Stern's) has been enlarged by one third. It also features a new covered parking lot{{cite web|title=Visitor Information|access-date=October 10, 2014|url=http://mobile.crosscountycenter.com/Information|website=Cross County Center|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018090741/http://mobile.crosscountycenter.com/Information|archive-date=October 18, 2014}} that is almost as large as the store; the underground loading complex has also been enlarged.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}} The buildings housing the stores on Mall Walk have been renovated and look different, externally, than they did previously, and the catwalk around some second floor stores has been permanently removed. All of the smaller stores, such a those that housed cookie shops and lingerie stores, have been demolished. Nearby buildings have been extended, and one parking lot{{which|date=June 2014}} now faces several large stores.{{which|date=June 2014}}{{citation needed|date=June 2014}}

The former Cross County Hospital and Office building was reconstructed for a Hyatt Place hotel, with 155 rooms, an indoor pool, cocktails bar, business center and fitness center in 2015.{{cite web|access-date=October 12, 2014|url=http://www.crosscountycenter.com/hyattplace|website=CrossCountyCenter.com|title=Cross County Shopping Center Announces Hotel Development}}

In 2010, Red Lobster opened, and in 2015, Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse restaurants opened. On the north side of the mall, Wilsker's restaurant was located, and it was a diner.

On June 6, 2019, it was announced that Sears would shutter as part of an ongoing decision to eliminate its brick-and-mortar format.{{Cite web|last=Matsuda|first=Akiko|title=Sears in Yonkers closing in late July, the latest in the retailer's sinking saga|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/2019/06/05/sears-cross-county-shopping-center-yonkers-closing/1356486001/|website=The Journal News|language=en-US}} Target signed a 40-year lease for 132,000 sq. ft. of space in the previous Sears outpost.{{Cite web|last=Clark|first=Heather|title=Target signs lease for first ever Yonkers location|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/money/business/2020/10/12/yonkers-target-location-cross-county/5965789002/|website=The Journal News|language=en-US}} On September 13, 2023, Target announced that they will open their first store on October 22 on the location of the former Sears store.{{cite web |title=Target sets opening date for new store in Yonkers |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/2023/09/13/yonkers-ny-target-store-opening-soon-at-cross-county-center/70843500007/ |website=The Journal News |access-date=6 October 2023 |date=September 13, 2023}} The store had its ribbon cut on October 18, and opened 4 days later.{{Cite web|url=https://longisland.news12.com/ribbon-cutting-for-long-awaited-target-store-in-yonkers-cross-county-shopping-center|title=Highly anticipated Target store set to open in Yonkers this Sunday|website=News 12 - Long Island}}{{Cite web|url=https://westfaironline.com/latest-news/target-opening-produces-upbeat-feelings-about-brick-and-mortar-retailing/|title=Target opening produces upbeat feelings about brick and mortar retailing|first=Peter|last=Katz|date=October 23, 2023}}

The mall has long been owned by Brooks Shopping Center LLC, jointly owned by Marx Realty and Benenson Capital Partners, and was managed by Macerich since 2006. On January 17, 2020, Westfair Communications reported that Marx Realty took over the mall's leasing and management from Macerich.{{Cite web|url=https://westfaironline.com/120318/marx-takes-over-cross-county-leasing-working-on-filling-former-sears-store/|title=Marx takes over Cross County leasing, working on filling former Sears store|date=17 January 2020 |access-date=2020-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813154857/https://westfaironline.com/120318/marx-takes-over-cross-county-leasing-working-on-filling-former-sears-store/|archive-date=2020-08-13}}

In late 2021, it was announced that Westchester Community College would expand their current Yonkers campus by opening up a concept at Cross County on the third floor of the previous Sears outpost.{{Cite web |last=Katz |first=Peter |date=2021-09-13 |title=WCC approved to move into former Sears store at Cross County Center |url=https://westfaironline.com/140279/wcc-approved-to-move-into-former-sears-store-at-cross-county-center/ |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=Westfair Communications |language=en-US}} WCC will add 30,000 square feet of space, using it to build new lab spaces, and new design school, and expand their current academic offerings at the campus.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-24 |title=Community College Leases 40K SF at Ex-Sears in Yonkers |url=https://therealdeal.com/tristate/2022/01/24/college-leases-40k-sf-at-ex-sears-in-yonkers/ |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=The Real Deal Tri-State |language=en-US}} The WCC expansion opened in November 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-17 |title=SUNY WCC Opens Expanded Yonkers Location In Cross County Center |url=https://patch.com/new-york/newrochelle/suny-wcc-opens-expanded-yonkers-location-cross-county-center |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=New Rochelle, NY Patch |language=en}}

"Cross County Center" is the official name of the shopping center.

Adjacent to Cross County Center, at 750 Central Park Avenue,{{cite news|website=YellowPages|url=http://www.yellowpages.com/yonkers-ny/mip/cross-county-shopping-center-3196255| title=Cross County Shopping Center|access-date=10 June 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://web.westchesterny.org/Shopping-Malls |website=WestchesterNY.org|title= Westchester County Shopping Malls}}{{cite web|website=Google+|title=The Mall At Cross County|url=https://plus.google.com/115617217011827341394/about?gl=us&hl=en}} is a shopping center called The Mall at Cross County,{{cite news|website=Mapquest|url=http://www.mapquest.com/us/new-york/business-yonkers/the-mall-at-cross-county-270063055| title=Mall at Cross County|access-date=10 June 2014}} which hosts a variety of stores and a large covered parking garage. Current tenants include Michaels, Marshalls, T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods, and Micro Center.

The mall first opened in 1987 as Cross County Square and had different stores than today, such as Thriftway Drug, Finders Keepers, Crazy Eddie, plus various specialty stores and restaurants.

Before 2009, the mall also hosted a Circuit City on the second floor.

In 2010, Micro Center opened where the Circuit City was.

Prior to 2017, the mall hosted a variety of stores and restaurants such as National Wholesale Liquidators, LensCrafters, Powerhouse Gym, GNC, Payless ShoeSource, Nail Pro, Pizza In The Square, Subway, Pretzel Time, and TCBY on the first floor, and Sports Authority, Kid City, Ideal Jewelers, and Sleepy's on the second floor. Before 2004, the mall also hosted a Kids "R" Us, which was the children's clothing chain owned by the Toys "R" Us brand.{{Cite news|last=Brown|first=Betsy|date=1987-08-02|title=35-STORE SHOPPING MALL IS MAJOR RETAIL ADDITION FOR YONKERS|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/02/nyregion/35-store-shopping-mall-is-major-retail-addition-for-yonkers.html|access-date=2021-08-09|issn=0362-4331}}

In 2017, it was announced that, as part of a $10,000,000 renovation to the mall, Century 21 would open a store which covered up the whole interior part of the mall, closing all of the previous tenants mentioned above.{{Cite web|last=Eberhart|first=Michael P. McKinney, and Christopher J.|title=Mall at Cross County was starting $10M renovation; Century 21 coming|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/yonkers/2017/01/13/mall-at-cross-county-renovations-century-21/96540284/|access-date=2021-08-09|website=The Journal News|language=en-US}} On September 10, 2020, it was announced that Century 21 would be closing all of its stores, including the Mall at Cross County location.{{Cite web|last=Thomas|first=Lauren|date=2020-09-10|title=Discount retailer Century 21 files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is closing all of its 13 stores|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/10/discount-retailer-century-21-files-for-bankruptcy-to-close-all-stores.html|website=CNBC|language=en}} In November 2022, Burlington opened a store in the space formerly occupied by Century 21.{{Cite web |date=November 4, 2022 |title=Burlington opens new store in Yonkers |url=https://westchester.news12.com/burlington-opens-new-store-in-yonkers |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=News 12 - Westchester}}

The National Wholesale Liquidators location, which was housed in a separate structure attached to the rest of the mall, closed in 2017 after a construction accident occurred when a front-loader fell through the unused portion of the roof parking deck on top of the store.{{Cite web|last=Garcia|first=Ernie|title=Condemned Yonkers rat refuge begins demolition|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/yonkers/2018/05/07/condemned-yonkers-rat-refuge-national-wholsesale-liquidators-begins-demolition/585798002/|access-date=2021-08-09|website=The Journal News|language=en-US}} The building was subsequently condemned and demolished, with plans to rebuild a new store. However, no timeline was disclosed for the construction of the new store, and as of 2021, the lot is still empty and construction has not begun.

File:01 CCSC marquee.JPG|The iconic former marquee of the Cross County Center with Macy's in the background

File:Cross_County_Shopping_Center_Sign_March_2012.jpg|New entrance sign

File:New_Cross_County_Shopping_Center_April_2012.jpg|The new mall

File:The_Trading_Rock_at_Cross_County_Shopping_Center_2011.jpg|The trading rock

File:Cross_County_Mall_Marquee_March_2012.jpg|Marquee at The Mall at Cross County

File:Cross County Shopping Center.jpg|The mall walk before the start of the reconstruction project

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|http://www.crosscountycenter.com}}

{{New York City Malls}}

Category:Shopping malls in New York (state)

Category:Shopping malls established in 1954

Category:Buildings and structures in Yonkers, New York

Category:Tourist attractions in Westchester County, New York

Category:Shopping malls in the New York metropolitan area