DEAD MALL - MCKINLEY MALL - BLASDELL, NY

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McKinley Mall, located in Hamburg, New York (serving the adjacent village of Blasdell and Buffalo's Southtowns area), opened on October 7, 1985. 
1980s: Development & Expansion
Opening: Developed by Zamias Services, Inc., it opened with 80 inline stores, a food court named "The Garden," and three original anchor tenants: Sears, local department store AM&A’s, and The Sample. 
Anchor Growth: Local high-end retailer L.L. Berger joined in 1988. In 1989, regional department store Sibley's relocated to McKinley Mall from the nearby Seneca Mall. 
Surviving Regional Competition: When the massive Walden Galleria opened in 1989 in Cheektowaga, it triggered the decline and eventual demolition of older area centers like Seneca Mall and Thruway Mall. McKinley Mall survived by establishing itself as the dominant retail center specifically tailored to Erie County's Southtowns. 
1990s: Peak Era & Surrounding Development
Tenant Shifts: JCPenney relocated from Seneca Mall in 1991. Sibley's was rebranded to Kaufmann's (1990), and AM&A's was acquired by The Bon-Ton (1994). 
Retail Hub: The mall’s success spurred major commercial sprawl along McKinley Parkway and Milestrip Road, drawing surrounding big-box stores (Home Depot, Wegmans, BJ's Wholesale) and chain dining. 
2000s–2010s: Mid-Era Additions & Onset of Decline
Junior Anchors: To fill changing layouts, retail additions included Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond (2006), Barnes & Noble (2008), and Old Navy (2011). Kaufmann's was rebranded as Macy's in 2006. 
Anchor Losses: Like many suburban enclosed malls, McKinley suffered severe anchor losses during the national retail shift:
Macy's closed in 2016. 
The Bon-Ton closed in 2018 following chain bankruptcy. 
Sears closed in February 2020. 
2020s–Present
Ownership Change: In July 2021, the distressed mall was purchased at auction by Kohan Retail Investment Group for $8.5 million. 
Current Status: While facing high vacancy rates in its main corridors, it remains open, anchored primarily by JCPenney, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, and Old Navy, along with non-traditional adaptive reuses such as an indoor sports facility.

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