New plans in the works for Medley Centre

Another store is leaving the Medley Centre in Irondequoit, but there is renewed hope for the mall.

“For Your Entertainment” or “FYE” is closing January 22. The store’s manager says lack of business is forcing the entertainment and electronic retailer to close.

There have been some noted successes, bringing in Target and Steve and Barry’s.  And according to town board member Stephanie Aldersley, the Congel family who owns the Medley Centre is renewing hope for the shopping center.

“They want to make the mall one of their showplace malls, and that they have interesting plans to be announced fairly soon,” Aldersley said.

Aldersley says some people may not visit the Medley Centre because of unfounded rumors of crime in the mall, dating back to its opening twelve years ago.

“Right from the start that sort of gossip or buzz about the mall was very harmful,” she said.

And Aldersley says it might come down to location.

“It's awfully easy to drive past the mall both on 104 and East Ridge Road.”

There is several other shopping center close by, including Greece Ridge Mall, Marketplace Mall in Henrietta and Eastview Mall in Victor. And some people say, those malls are more preferable.

“They'd rather go to the outlet malls and you know other places, bigger stores, cheaper prices,” said Mary Ann Borzillary.

“I go to Greece Ridge because they have a lot of stores, a lot of good stores,” said Nichole Soregi.

So without stores, will the Medley Centre survive? Aldersley says she hopes so, as the town looks at bringing other businesses in to help the process along.

“Offices residences, maybe have apartments built somewhere on the property, so that's there's a natural flow of people in and through the mall.”

Scott Congel who owns the Medley Centre could not be reached for comment.