News story made available courtesy of Mid Hudson News.Com

Old Dutchess Mall to begin new life with Home Depot

October 21, 2004

The old Dutchess Mall shopping center on Route 9 at Interstate 84 in the Town of Fishkill will be reborn as a new national chain store today announced it will act as the anchor for the new facilities with the developer expecting to attract other stores to the crossroads location.

Fishkill town officials and representatives of the Dagar Group and Home Depot announced that a new 132,000 square foot home improvement store would be constructed at the mall. A portion of the existing facility will be demolished to make way for the new store, which will employ about 150 people both full-and part-time.

“The Dutchess Mall represents to us a crowning achievement that we’re able to redevelop it through the leadership of the supervisor and the commitment of Home Depot,” said Ronald Coan, president of the Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation. “This is a very visible project that symbolizes the great success of the overall county and the Town of Fishkill.”

Dagar Group President David Livshin said he would hope to draw other stores into the new shopping center; however, he did not specify which retailers with which he has been in contact.

Home Depot spokesman Don Harrison said the Route 9/I84 location "reaches out and grabs you."

The largest home improvement retailer is not concerned about the possibility of the new store siphoning off business from other area stores like the Wappinger facility.

If local approvals are secured in a timely fashion, officials said Home Depot could break ground in May of next year and be ready to open in early 2006.