After only 20 years of operation, the Marble City's original shopping mall quickly declined into a veritable ghost town. In 2001, it was razed and replaced by the Home Depot depicted here.
Drawing from https://rutlandtown.com / Annual Report Town of Rutland January 2001
We end our RUTLAND MALL jaunt with a recent site plan of the mall's successor, HOME DEPOT PLAZA. Entirely open-air, this power center encompasses around 163,000 leasable square feet, with a tenant list of five stores and services. Structures held over from the 1974-2001 mall are surrounded in blue.
Original drawing from http://www.justerdevelopment.com / Juster Development
Woodstock Avenue / US 4
Rutland County, Vermont
The development of the Green Mountain State's first enclosed shopping center was underway by the spring of 1972. In September, Yonkers, New York's Juster Associates submitted plans to the Rutland District Environmental Commission and State Environmental Conservation Agency. The developers were told that their proposed 186,900 square foot mall was too large for the intended land parcel.
By April 1973, several agencies and individuals were blocking construction of the mall due to the traffic congestion it might create and potential drainage problems. A lot of resistance also came from downtown Rutland (City) merchants, The Board of Aldermen, Rutland City Planning Commission and William H. Foley, former Mayor of Rutland (City), were united in their opposition. More hearings were held. Approval was granted by the Rutland District Environmental Commission, but this decision was appealed.
Juster Associates finally gained full approval to build their retail complex in December 1973. Ground was broken soon after. RUTLAND MALL was being built on a 31-acre site, situated 1 mile northeast of the Rutland (City) Central Business District. The mall-to-be, which would encompass approximately 217,800 leasable square feet, was designed by G.K. Wasser of New York City's Kahn Associates.
A 1-level (61,200 square foot) Montgomery Ward became the first operational store on October 30, 1974. The grand opening of a 1-level (55,100 square foot) Zayre discount mart was held on November 6th. On the south end of the complex, a (25,000 square foot) Martin's Food Center was inaugurated on February 25, 1975, with a (10,000 square foot) Osco Drug opening its doors on May 26th.
Thirty stores and services were in operation by the spring of 1975. Charter tenants included Bee Gee Tapes & Records, So-Fro Fabrics, Erlanger Fashion Store, Lauriat's Book Card & Gift Shop, Regis Hairstylists, Fritt's Photo & Camera, Lynn's Hallmark, Jonathan Reid, Limited men's wear and The Clothes Hut. Entertainment Enterprises' The Theatre Studio I & II showed its first features on July 4, 1975. The mall's parking area included a freestanding Bonanza Steakhouse.
Shopping strips in the vicinity of RUTLAND MALL included GREEN MOUNTAIN SHOPPING PLAZA (1963) {2.5 miles southwest, in Town of Rutland}, RUTLAND SHOPPING PLAZA (1966) {1.7 miles southwest, in Rutland (City)} and WESTWAY MALL (1977) {4.7 miles southwest, in Town of West Rutland}.
In May 1977, a RUTLAND MALL expansion was announced. This project would have added 150,000 square feet to the north side of the complex. Over the ensuing years, mall plans were modified. Juster Associates would encounter a great deal of resistance to their renovation plan; a scenario similar to that they experienced when trying to gain approval for the construction of the original mall in the early 1970s.
Likewise, there was competition from two local mall development projects. A shopping venue for the northern environs of Rutland, tentatively known as The Commons, would never be built. News of a prospective "Zamias Mall," a project of Pittsburgh's Damian Zamias, surfaced in 1987. This complex was being developed in Rutland's southern environs.
An amended RUTLAND MALL expansion plan proposed by Juster Associates would have added 177,000 leasable square feet and seventeen new stores. By the time government approval for the addition was granted, in March 1992, the national economy had tanked. Moreover, planning for the "Zamias Mall," now promoted as DIAMOND RUN MALL, was well underway. At this juncture, Juster Associates abandoned their plan to expand RUTLAND MALL.
The only RUTLAND anchor nameplate change involved the conversion of Zayre into an Ames. This took place on October 26, 1989. DIAMOND RUN MALL {2.8 miles south, in Town of Rutland} was officially dedicated, with 451,000 leasable square feet and an initial twelve stores, on August 23, 1995.
The new retail center quickly usurped RUTLAND MALL. Its anchor stores and twin cinema had been shuttered by early 1998. The mall quickly deteriorated into a run-down, boarded-up, graffiti-covered eyesore. In the year 2000, only an outparcel oriental restaurant (in the old Bonanza Steakhouse) was still open for business.
RUTLAND MALL was demolished in 2001, leaving only the freestanding restaurant and South Wing drug store / supermarket building standing. A 1-level (120,000 square foot) Home Depot was built, which began business on July 11, 2002. The entirely open-air shopping center was, then, renamed HOME DEPOT PLAZA.
In 2003, an (8,000 square foot) store structure was built, which linked the new Home Depot and old South Wing drug store and supermarket building. New facades were installed. A Columbus, Ohio-based Big Lots set up shop in the old grocery space on March 12, 2004. The old Osco Drug became an Ashley HomeStore furniture outlet in March 2016.
Sources:
The Brattleboro Reformer (Brattleboro, Vermont)
The Caledonian Record (St. Johnsbury, Vermont)
The Rutland Daily Herald (Rutland, Vermont)
Rutland City Directories 1963, 1966, 1974 and 1983 / Rutland Historical Society
https://law.justia.com / Justia US Law
"The Home Depot USA, Incorporated, & Ann Juster & Homer & Ruth Sweet Land Use Permit" / Conclusions of Law & Order / 2001
