Fishkill Plaza reaches full occupancy for 1st timeApril 2, 2002 The Fishkill Plaza on Route 9 in the Village of Fishkill has taken down all of its for rent signs, the first time in its 12-year history. The Dagar Group, which manages the Fishkill Plaza, said the strip mall is at 100 percent occupancy thanks to attracting a mix of stores, according to president and chief executive officer David Livshin. ''We've never been at 100 percent. We've always had one or two vacancies,'' Livshin said. ''We have (Dazzles) the hair salon, Radio Shack, and there's CellularOne, Blockbuster. People know the household names. You want that as a balance, and you want the locals, too.'' With 24 stores in 126,000 square feet, the Fishkill Plaza is home to national chains like ShopRite and Rite Aid as well as mom-and-pop shops like the Lexington Bagel Cafe and A Cat's Place. One of the most recent additions is a Subway sandwich shop that opened in January. Average rate 92 percent According to the International Council of Shopping Centers, the average national occupancy rate for strip and enclosed malls is 92 percent. Malachy Kavanagh, an ICSC spokesman, said even more important than the occupancy rate is attracting and maintaining the mall's anchor stores. ''If you lose the anchor, you've got a problem,'' Kavanagh said. ''ShopRite advertises every week, so all the other stores within the center feed off of that synergy.'' Big V, which operates ShopRite, filed for bankruptcy in November 2000, putting in question the fate of the Fishkill Plaza's anchor store. Livshin said as far as he knows ShopRite will remain open. ''It speaks well to the southern Dutchess area growing rapidly,'' he said. ''That store is a top store. The lease was reaffirmed in January 2001.'' AT A GLANCE Other stores include Radio Shack, H&R Block, Rite Aid, CellularOne, Blockbuster, Subway, Pet Supplies Plus, Michael's IV, A Cat's Place, Sushi Ya, Lexington Bagel Cafe, Dazzles. Source: The Dagar Group Ltd. |
