Developed by Sol Atlas, Cross County Shopping Center opened in 1954 as the first mall in Westchester County. Its parking lot was built atop a former peat bog. The 72-acre site included a hospital in the middle of the mall campus complete with a rooftop helipad the Cross County Hospital closed in the early 1980s. The original anchor stores were Gimbels, John Wanamaker, and F. W. Woolworth Company. Woolworth operated a main store and a garden store in the mall. Starting in 2007, The Cross County Shopping Center underwent a new development and upgrade, which was completed in 2012. The huge building that now houses Macy's Department Store has been enlarged by one third. It also features a new covered parking lot that is almost as large as the store; the underground loading complex has also been enlarged. The buildings housing the stores on Mall Walk have been renovated and look different, externally, than they did previously, and the catwalk around some second floor stores has been permanently removed. All of the smaller stores, such a those that housed cookie shops and lingerie stores, have been demolished. Nearby buildings have been extended, and one parking lot now faces several large stores. As of October 2014, construction is underway to convert the former Cross County Hospital and Office Tower into a Hyatt Place Hotel. The eight floor, 155 guest room, 60,000 square foot lodging is slated to open in early 2015. In 2010, Red Lobster opened, and in 2015, Olive Garden, and Longhorn Steakhouse restaurants opened. On the north side of the mall, Wilsker's restaurant was located, and it was a diner. On June 6, 2019, it was announced that Sears would be closing in late July 2019. The store's last day was supposed to be on Thursday, August 1st, 2019. However, due to Sears store closing scheduling it ended three days earlier than expected on Sunday, July 28, 2019, marking and end of era after being there for 35 years.
Name
The Cross County Shopping Center was originally named "Cross County Center"; the shorter name can still be seen on older signs. However, newer signs now say "Cross County Shopping Center" as does the mall's official website. Plans now state that the two giant 50-year-old neon signs on Central Avenue and Kimball Avenue will be replaced with new signs.
