New Rochelle's New Roc City Mall: From Urban Renewal Dream to Urban Blight
Once envisioned as a catalyst for downtown revitalization, the massive shopping center now stands as a symbol of disrepair, safety concerns, and missed opportunities.
Opened in 1999 with the ambitious goal of revitalizing New Rochelle's downtown, the 1.2 million-square-foot New Roc City shopping center has devolved into a troubled urban blight, according to local retailers and residents. Costing nearly $200 million to construct, the mall was initially lauded for features like the county's first IMAX theater, fitness centers, and diverse dining and recreation options.
Nearly three decades later, the mall is characterized by numerous vacant storefronts, a dwindling customer base, and persistent safety issues. Retailers describe the venture as a significant failure. "It was a really bad idea and it didn't work," one retailer told The Post. "It's obviously been a big flop."
Community leaders attribute the mall's decline to several factors, including its enclosed design, shifts in consumer and entertainment trends, and a redirection of New Rochelle's downtown development strategy. This strategy has increasingly focused on attracting New York City commuters who do not frequent local businesses, creating a disconnect between the mall and the broader downtown area.
"It's like Oz, and Oz isn't real," said Jim Killoran, executive director of the Fuller Center for Housing of Greater New York City, referring to the mall as a separate, disconnected entity from the rest of downtown.
Security and safety have become significant concerns. Despite a police outpost within the shopping center, recent years have seen disturbing incidents. In 2025, a man was arrested on federal charges following a fire linked to a drug lab in the adjacent Residence Inn hotel. In July 2024, authorities apprehended two individuals with firearms in the New Roc parking garage after a shooting nearby. Four months prior, shots were fired during an altercation outside a Burger King inside the mall.
Signs of neglect are apparent throughout the facility, with reports of non-functioning escalators and elevators, rodent issues, and the presence of homeless individuals in garage areas. "The fire system does not work after the city just installed a new one, most of the doors to the stairwells don't work and most exit signs are not lit," stated local activist James O'Toole.
New Rochelle, a city of approximately 80,000 residents, has experienced significant growth with the construction of new high-rise residential buildings. The city's Democrat-led council has emphasized transit-oriented development around its Metro-North station.
Originally developed by Cappelli Enterprises, New Roc City was sold nearly a decade ago to EPR Properties. A spokesperson for EPR Properties stated that the mall "remains an active entertainment and mixed-use destination" and that the company is "evaluating opportunities to enhance its long-term role in New Rochelle." The spokesperson asserted that the property is not unsafe and has rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic, citing new tenants like an Audi dealership and Soccer Roof.
New Rochelle City Hall echoed this sentiment, describing the mall as an "important part of New Rochelle's downtown" that continues to evolve alongside the area's "significant growth investment."
However, retailers and residents express skepticism regarding these optimistic assessments. "It's abandoned," said New Rochelle resident Keith Collins, suggesting the need for anchor stores like Old Navy or Uniqlo to drive foot traffic. As of Labor Day, the mall appeared largely vacant, with many stores closed and few shoppers present.
