Pyramid Management Group
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File:PyramidManagementGroup.jpg | |
Company type | Private |
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Industry | Real estate |
Founded | 1970 |
Headquarters | Syracuse, New York |
Key people | Robert J. Congel, founder and managing partner |
Products | Shopping malls, mixed-use |
Website | http://www.pyramidmg.com |
The Pyramid Companies, also known as Pyramid Management Group, were formed in 1970 in Syracuse, New York by Robert J. Congel. The first three malls the company had built were Pyramid Mall Johnstown in Johnstown, New York,[1] Pyramid Mall Fulton in Fulton, New York,[2] and Pyramid Mall Oneonta in Oneonta, New York.[3] All three malls opened in 1972. Each mall featured a White-Modell's department store and Loblaws supermarket as anchors. These malls were much smaller, community-type centers compared to the company's current malls.
The next three malls built by Pyramid, regarded as the company's "pioneer malls", were Pyramid Mall Ithaca (later The Shops at Ithaca Mall) in Lansing, New York, Pyramid Mall Plattsburgh (later Champlain Centre South) in Plattsburgh, New York, and Pyramid Mall Saratoga (later Saratoga Mall) in Saratoga Springs, New York. All three malls opened in 1975 and marked the beginning of an advance in shopping center construction and ownership. Of these three malls, the Plattsburgh and Saratoga properties were demolished for strip centers, but the Ithaca property still continues to operate as an enclosed mall.
Currently, Pyramid is the largest privately owned developer of shopping malls in the country. The company has since grown to own 17 properties throughout New York, Massachusetts and Virginia.
Pyramid developed, and currently manages, four out of the 20 most visited shopping malls in America - Destiny USA in Syracuse, New York, Palisades Center in West Nyack, New York, Walden Galleria in Buffalo, New York, and Crossgates Mall in Albany, New York.
List of properties
Current malls
- Aviation Mall - Glens Falls, New York - Opened 1975
- Champlain Centre - Plattsburgh, New York - Opened 1987
- Crossgates Mall - Albany, New York - Opened 1984
- Destiny USA formerly known as Carousel Center - Syracuse, New York - Opened 1990
- Galleria at Crystal Run - Middletown, New York - Opened 1992
- Hampshire Mall - Hadley, Massachusetts - Opened 1978
- Holyoke Mall - Holyoke, Massachusetts - Opened 1979
- Kingston Collection formerly known as Independence Mall - Kingston, Massachusetts - Opened 1989
- Manassas Mall - Manassas, Virginia - Opened 1972
- Palisades Center - West Nyack, New York - Opened 1998
- Poughkeepsie Galleria - Poughkeepsie, New York - Opened 1987
- Salmon Run Mall - Watertown, New York - Opened 1986
- Sangertown Square - New Hartford, New York - Opened 1980
- The Shops at Ithaca Mall formerly known as Pyramid Mall Ithaca - Lansing, New York - Opened 1976
- Walden Galleria - Buffalo, New York - Opened 1989
Past malls
The following is a list of malls that were either closed by Pyramid, or sold to another company.
- Berkshire Mall - Lanesborough, Massachusetts - Opened 1988 - sold interest in 2014, now owned and managed by CBL & Associates Properties.
- Pyramid Mall Plattsburgh - Plattsburgh, New York - Opened 1975 - Later named Champlain Centre South. Closed 1999. Demolished 1999 and revamped into a big box center with Lowe's, Price Chopper, and retaining the original Kmart store. Sold to Champlain Center South Associates in 2001.
- Pyramid Mall Saratoga - Saratoga Springs, New York - Opened 1975 - Later named Saratoga Mall after being sold. Closed in 1997. Demolished in 1999. Now power center called Wilton Square.
- Emerald Square - North Attleborough, Massachusetts - Opened 1989 - co-developed with partner New England Development, sold interest 1998 to partner, now owned by Simon Property Group.
- Finger Lakes Mall - Auburn, New York - Opened 1980 - Sold to Jager Management in 1999.
- Hudson Valley Mall - Kingston, New York - Opened 1981 - sold to CBL & Associates Properties.
- Riverside Mall - Utica, New York - Opened 1974 - converted to a strip mall in 1998, sold to Nightingale Properties in 2011.
- Silver City Galleria - Taunton, Massachusetts - Opened 1992 - sold to General Growth Properties.
- Pyramid Mall Geneva - Geneva, New York - Redeveloped by Centro Properties Group.
- Pyramid Mall Johnstown - Johnstown, New York - Opened 1972 - sold
- Pyramid Mall Fulton - Fulton, New York - Opened 1972 - sold and converted into a strip mall.
- Pyramid Mall Oneonta - Oneonta, New York - Opened 1972 - sold to Bettiol Enterprises in 1994, converted to an outpatient center for A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in 1997.
Power Centers
The Pyramid Company owns the following shopping plazas:
- Crossgates Commons - Albany, New York - Opened 1994 - Across the street from Crossgates Mall.
- Shops at West Seneca (old Seneca Mall - West Seneca, New York - Opened 1998 - On the site of former Seneca Mall.
ThEATery
The "ThEATery" concept was developed by the Pyramid Companies in conjunction with the opening of Palisades Center in 1998. It mixes movie theaters and upscale restaurants together for a combination of a movie/dinner experience. Currently, there are two centers with the ThEATery concept - with a major renovation and expansion at the Walden Galleria in 2007. Scott R. Congel (son of Robert J. Congel) had also stated his intention to use the ThEATery concept in Medley Centre project in Irondequoit, a suburb of Rochester, New York. Mr. Congel lost the mall in winter 2016 for failure to pay his payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) obligations to the Town of Irondequoit and the Irondequoit School District after the mall sat nearly vacant for years.
A predecessor to this can be seen in the expanded portion of Crossgates Mall as that mall's Johnny Rockets and Houlihan's are located across from that mall's theaters. Also, the Galleria at Crystal Run has a new Johnny Rockets location, and a couple of new restaurants located near its movie theaters as well.
Policies
MB-18
In 2005, Pyramid began the implementation of a Parental Escort policy (branded MB-18) at the group's largest malls. The policy states that between 4:00 p.m. and closing on Friday and Saturday evenings, all children younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older (exceptions are made for mall employees under 18 not employed at anchor stores and, depending on cases, those with valid college identification). This policy, similar to one that originated at the Mall of America in 1996 from 6:00 pm to closing (it was changed to 4:00 pm at around the same time Pyramid initiated its MB-18 policy), is currently in effect at Destiny USA (Syracuse), Crossgates Mall (Albany), Galleria at Crystal Run (Middletown, NY), Walden Galleria (Cheektowaga-Buffalo, NY), Holyoke Mall at Ingleside, and the Poughkeepsie Galleria. All Pyramid Malls have security programs managed by IPC International).
Smoke Free Environment
In 2010, Pyramid implemented a non-smoking policy unlike any other at Destiny USA - this policy restricts smoking, not only inside the shopping center, but outside as well. The policy covers the entire mall property. The response to the policy was so positive, Pyramid quickly implemented their Smoke Free Environment across all Pyramid owned shopping centers.
References
- ^ http://extras.leaderherald.com/millennium/19701979/mall.html
- ^ http://www.fultonhistory.com/Process%20small/Newspapers/Valley%20News/Oswego%20Valley%20News%201972%20pdf/Newspaper%20Oswego%20Valley%20News%201972%20-%201028.pdf
- ^ http://www.thedailystar.com/opinion/columns/oneonta-s-first-shopping-mall-pyramid-mall-opened-in/article_dafdb053-1537-5180-aee2-44e59cefc2f9.html
External links
- Pyramid Company website
- Deadmalls.com — Website showcasing dead and struggling malls. Features some Pyramid-owned malls.