Greece, New York - circa 1973
Sibley's & David's stores (left and right, respectively) at the rather spartan looking entrance to the old Greece Town Mall, which was merged in 1994 with Long Ridge Mall, to become The Mall at Greece Ridge, which is how it stands today.
I'm not sure exactly what year the original Greece Town Mall first opened, but I do know it was definitely around in the late '60s.
Mall history: ? - 1994
Current website: here (after merging)
Current aerial view
Greecetown was an amazing mall in its heyday. I remember going there as a kid. There were interesting fountains and conversation pits. There were huge TV screens for the time in the pits... they had abstract ethereal colors floating acrossed the screens... like the kind of colors that used to ghost on an old color TV after you shut it off. I don't think the combined Greecerige mall is doing very well. I think Eastview is the only mall in Rochester that is thriving.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is one spartan mall. Did they think that was appealing?
ReplyDeleteI find it fascinating that they connected two malls together to make one big mall. There are two malls in Stockton, CA (Sherwood and Weberstown) that are right next to each other. I wish they'd connect them. It's a shame most people just drive from one to the other.
Scott
Del Amo Fashion Center (owned by the Mills now) in Torrance California was once two malls.
ReplyDeleteThe Del Amo Fasion Square on the north of Carson St was anchored by I Magnin, Bullocks, Ohrbach's, and the top store in fashion, Montgomerey Wards.
The Del Amo Mall was on the south of Carson St, with Sears, JCPenney, and The Broadway. In the 80's, a Robinsons store was added to the Mall, and a wing connecting the old Square on the north from the Robinsons store. Literally you had to go through Robinsons to get from one side of the mall to the other (still like this today).
Greecetown and Long ridge...I've been nostalgic for pictures of this mall since they merged em, and haven't been able to find any. There used to be these "chill out" areas in the central court, where there was this great orange carpet on the floor and this stone carved gulchy feeling to the walls in these niches. Inside there were these tv monitors showing psychadelic, almost soothing images, they were circular and the whole mall was beautiful!!! Keith, if you can find some more pictures of Greece Ridge or anyone can, PLEASE post them!!!
ReplyDeletematt
Does anyone have a picture of the cheesy mural that was in the center of Greece Towne? It might still be there?
ReplyDeleteAs I recall (and maybe I just want to remember it this way) the "chill out areas" were actually called the "Contemplation Stations".
ReplyDeleteAm I making that up?
What about the kid's playground - I think in Long Ridge - with the big foam blocks that you jumped on from one to the next? And the wooden sculpture of progressively bigger animals to climb on.
Now that I write these things, it all sounds like a strange, unbelievable upstate new york trip...
I used to love those foam blocks. Now I think about it they were big germ magnets
DeleteIt was called the "Contemplation Area". I remember my Mom setting me on a bench in there while she did some shopping at B.Forman's. I LOVED the kalidoscope images on the monitors.
ReplyDeleteAnd the sponge playground - totally remember that! As a kid, it was my favorite thing in the mall. I remember the big wooden trojan horse with benches where the parents would sit while watching their kids bounce around on the foam cushions. I remember the red, white and blue tower that had all kinds of shapes on it - circles, stars, triangles. Kids could climb up it. I was too small at the time.
I wish there were pictures of all these great places on the web somewhere! I am really disappointed how the mall now looks just like any other mall. Greece Town and Long Ridge were both so unique.
I remember watching the big oil display where it looked like it was raining in Greece Town Mall. We'd take our ice cream from Baskin-Robbins there and enjoy it while watching the "rain". Ah, the memories!
The old Sibley´s department store (Bon Ton) at Greece Ridge may be demolished in January of 2009. Wilmorite wants to add a collection of smaller stores and give the previous Greece Towne Mall a modern look. After living in Rochester for about 23 years, I can honestly say that we have had our fair share of demolitions and improvements. Greece Ridge will never be Eastview Mall. Wilmorite is only doing this because their mall could end up like Irondequoit Mall (Medley Centre). There were plenty of stores in Greece Towne before it was connected and most of them were removed or covered up with drywall. Nothing is left over there to attract customers, unless you want to watch a movie or eat at T.C. Hooligans. That Bon Ton store is a landmark because Greece Towne was the very first indoor shopping mall in the suburbs when it opened on May 1, 1967. I created a new website where you can see pictures and a video clip of Sibley´s and Greece Towne five months after they opened! Please visit www.greecemallhistory.com!
ReplyDelete¨Does anyone have a picture of the cheesy mural that was in the center of Greece Towne? It might still be there?¨
ReplyDeleteAre you talking about the Old Trolley Route mural? That was in Greece Ridge for a while and one day, some idiot either removed it or painted the spot where it was. During that time, someone also removed an original outdoor lighted mall entrance sign from Greece Towne. It was located near where T.C. Hooligans is now. We never did hear about where it ended up. After all these years, I still want that sign! The original entrance/exit signs from Long Ridge are still around. Who knows for how long though... God I miss those beautiful shopping malls.
One thing no one mentioned about Long Ridge Mall is the cafeteria that used to be in Woolworth´s. I remember eating there as a toddler in 1987. Forgot all about it until now. I miss those days.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI can't help but think that there may be some confusion here. The contemplation pits were at Long Ridge Mall not at Greece Towne Mall. I used to work at Long Ridge Mall and there were many times when I would sit in those pits during my dinner breaks. Greece Towne Mall was sparsely decorated but they did have that huge, fantastic oil/glycerin fountain.
ReplyDeleteRecently, I received interior and exterior photos of Long Ridge Mall. Most of what everyone is describing has been displayed on my website. Please visit www.greecemallhistory.com and check them out. All I ask is that these pictures remain on the website, unless you want to copy some for your own personal use.
ReplyDeleteHey Digitaljunkie, thanks for posting those pictures on your site, they're great! They sure do bring back a lot of memories. I was really blown away when I saw the picture of the store where I worked at, Hanover Shoes at Long Ridge Mall.
ReplyDeleteYou´re welcome. I was actually going to IM you about these photos being on my website. Most of those stores I do not even remember and I almost forgot what this place looked like inside. I am glad you enjoyed the pictures!
ReplyDeleteI remember the Greece Town Mall and the Long Ridge Mall. They were pretty good malls for the time and area. The Orange Julius was in Greece Town Mall, although it could have been at Long Ridge. They used real oranges. Also, they were the forerunner of the smoothies and so on as far as I'm concerned. Today I think they use (wherever they may be)puree and juice. I used to go to both malls with my Ma from Holley, New York. But, we mostly went to the Ridgemont Plaza shopping center there in the area on Ridge Road and later to Two Guys farther west on Ridge Road. Oh to have that era back again; the 60's and 70's! Oh well.
ReplyDeleteThank you for listening.
Todd DeFrank
Can anyone tell me the name of the Italian restaurant that was in the original mall? Had a big salad bar. I think it was called the Vine Yard? And do you know what happen to it? Thanks! Nicole
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, Nicole, it was called the Vineyard. They had at least one other location at Pittsford Plaza. I used to love going there. You could get a good meal there and it wouldn't break the bank. Not really sure whatever happened to that company.
ReplyDeleteGood memories, good times, great time to live in Greece!
ReplyDeleteSo many here have touched on the things that made these malls so different from each other and so unique!
Greece Towne Mall. Loved the "rain/oil" fountain at Greece Towne. I don't remember if it had a name or it "just was"... Loved the Vineyard, remember going there for my birthday. Good food and very cozy inside, a great place to go on a cold winters night! Does anyone remember the picture that was hanging in the Sibley's customer service office? It was a picture of an Astronaut in front of the mall that said "Blueprint for the Future" across the bottom. I have never found any reference or mention of it. How about Cricket on the Hearth? Neat little store!
Long Ridge Mall. Loved the Contemplation Areas with the changing murals, and all the mechanical sculptures that were located throughout the mall!! Someone mentioned the Woolworths cafeteria. I remember the Harvest House coffee shop and next to it was the Harvest House cafeteria. As a treat, I would get to go to the Harvest House cafeteria and get a big slice of roast beef with au jus and a roll, hope this helps. How about Friendly's and their Fribble? Time Out? The big orb fountain outside of Penney's? Carousel Hot Dogs? McCurdy's?
What a GREAT trip down memory lane! I grew up in Rochester in the late '60's and '70's and left in 1981. What a fabulous place to live. I don't know if any of us realized it at the time. We were lucky to live in an era that is gone forever...
The current joined mall is just another mall and a shadow of its former self/selves.
Thank You!
RH
Any photos of Star Market that was between the malls before they connected?
ReplyDelete