News From Home: ViaPort Rotterdam Is On An Upswing

Struggling Rotterdam Square Mall

was purchased by Via Properties

in the spring of 2015.

The struggling mall had a sixty percent occupancy rate when it was sold.  The new owners have been developing new uses for the mall and opened entertainment and dining venues.

The Fun Zone, with an arcade
& bowling allies opened in
February, 2016.

A shot of the bar &

dining booths from

a comfy couch at

the Social House.

This venue opened in March, 2016.

A Daily Gazette photo of

workmen at the Aquarium.

The flooring needed to be reinforced to accommodate 26,000 gallons of water & fish in the ViaPort's walk through Aquarium.

ViaPort Rotterdam management

lured Something Fishy Aquarium

 Sales to the mall in the fall of 

2016 to bring in new shoppers

& to provide home aquariums 

& fish to enthusiastic

 Aquarium visitors.

The Aquarium's opening day was delayed while extra work was being done.  On November 12, 2016, it opened to the public.  Since last year, over 100,000 visits have been made to ViaPort's newest attraction.

Mall management announced in January, 2017 that it has negotiated with New York State to lease space for five hundred New York State Tax and Finance employees to work in a call center in the former Macy's store.

A March 5, 2017 Daily Gazette article states that ViaPort's occupancy rate is rising to 78 per cent. Eric and I look forward to visiting the mall to visit the Aquarium after we return to Rotterdam this coming spring.