Hamilton Square, formerly named 20 Mall, is looking to redefine not only the plaza’s name, but also what residents have come to expect of its offerings.
VENT Fitness opened the first phase of its new 45,000-square-foot fitness center at Hamilton Square in Guilderland on Monday, July 22. Also in the works for the shopping center: M&T Bank has started construction on a new branch and Starbucks has revealed plans for a new store. Construction has also begun on VENT’s second phase of its facility, which is expected to be completed in January 2014.
William Lia Jr., of Lia Group, which owns Hamilton Square and VENT Fitness, said the company is excited about the shopping center’s transformation. Lia said the renovations will offer “a more inviting experience” and provide a “diverse mix of shops and services” for town residents.
“It has been a project that is a lot of years in the making, but we really wanted to modernize the entire center and make it more customer friendly,” Lia said. “I would call us a neighborhood community shopping center. We are really about providing services people in the immediate area need.”
The planning process lasted three to four years as design and approvals were acquired, he said. The first phase of renovations tackled the back area, inline stores, parking lot lights and infrastructure. He said traffic flow within the plaza was also improved to be more efficient and safe.
Once the new M&T Bank opens, the old bank will be demolished and construction of the new Starbucks will begin, he said.
VENT Fitness, which opened in the former Gold’s Gym, features include tanning, hydro-massage, oxygen bar, kids club, modern cardio equipment, free weight and express training and group exercise classes. The second phase of the facility will add a basketball court, volleyball, swimming pool, rock climbing and a several small and large group training rooms.
M&T Bank hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, July 25, for its new, energy-efficient, 2,600-square-foot retail branch. Construction of the branch has begun, with Latham-based Bette & Cring, LLC, performing the work. The branch is designed to have a modern look mixed with traditional bank features. There will also be energy-efficiency elements.
“Branches continue to play a critical role in serving our communities, and it’s important for us to provide great facilities for our customers to bank,” Mike Keegan, regional president of M&T Bank, said in a statement. “M&T has been a dedicated financial partner to consumers and businesses in Guilderland for years, and investing in this branch with an energy-efficient design positions us to serve the community responsibly for years to come.”
Starbucks will also add a new store with a drive-thru in the shopping center and is projected to open in January 2014.
“Starbucks is thrilled to be a part of the transformation of Hamilton Square,” Michael Wells, regional director of operations of Starbucks, said in a statement. “We look forward to being a positive part of the community and providing the residents of Guilderland a Starbucks experience they can be proud of and look forward to.”
The plaza has gone through a few name changes even before shifting from 20 Mall to Hamilton Square, which include Loehmans Plaza and Guilderland Barkers Center. The plaza’s name is now tied to the history of the town.
“We said, ‘Let’s do something that speaks to the history of the area,’ so we did some research and came up with Hamilton Square,” Lia said.
He said in the 1700s the area where the plaza is located was settled by the Dutch and once known as the Village of Hamilton. The community was very different in those days, he said, with a glass factory located in the former village.
Hamilton Square is located at 2080 Western Ave. in Guilderland. For a list of tenants, visit its website at www.hamiltonsquareshops.com.