A new department store aiming to bring back the traditional in-person shopping experience opened its doors to a cheering crowd in downtown Middletown, New York, on Nov. 17.
Dubbed “New Middletown,” the store occupies the same North Street building once used by the former Tompkins Department Store during the heyday of downtown shopping.
“Our mission in opening ‘New Middletown’ is to bring back those sweet childhood memories to the community and to bring back a shopping tradition,” Sammie Song, New Middletown’s marketing director, said at the grand opening. “We hope you will be a part of this journey with us.”
Several people who remembered it told The Epoch Times about the old Tompkins store, which left downtown for a suburban mall in the 1970s, along with many other businesses at the time, big and small.
Middletown economic development director Maria Bruni said she used to visit Santa Claus in the store as a child during the holiday season; Middletown Alderman Joe Masi said he still remembers many of the store employees; Lance Davoren, an Otisville village trustee, said he would shop at the store with his parents for almost all clothing needs.
“This brings back a lot of childhood memories,” Ms. Bruni said of the New Middletown store. “It also brings back my passion for the city and downtown—we are moving forward in all this great growth in Middletown, and this is just an amazing part of it.”
Mayor Joseph DeStefano said at the grand opening ceremony that the new department store represented yet another major private investment into the city, which has gradually snowballed along with the infusion of the $10 million downtown revitalization state grant over the past years.
“I am sure most of you, when you walked in the door, you were shocked, as I was last week when I came for a visit,” Mr. DeStefano said of the New Middletown store. “Thank you for your investments.”
The interior design of the two-level department store followed traditional aesthetics to create a positive and uplifting shopping experience for visitors, according to Ms. Song.
Exclusive merchandise from Shen Yun Collections and Shen Yun Dancer are displayed on the first floor, including handbags, scarves, jewelry, clothing, and home goods.
Ms. Song said the store served as the first physical U.S. location for the two companies, which seek to bring the traditional aesthetics and values embodied in Shen Yun performances beyond the stage to everyday life through apparel and other products.
Headquartered in Orange County, New York, Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company that seeks to revive traditional Chinese culture on stage.
The second level of the store features everyday products locally made in the United States and thoughtfully sourced from around the world, including a special holiday gift section, Ms. Song said.
“Our goal is to get people [to] go out to shop at your local department store, communicate with your neighbor, and mingle with the local community,” she said.
“New Middletown will not only honor the past but also pave the way for the future,” New Middletown CEO Lili Zhou said. “Let us cherish the new beginning and work hand in hand to create a legacy full of promises for the next generation and generations to come.”
Maria Ingrassia, director of constituent services for Rep. Patrick Ryan (D-N.Y.) and a longtime Middletown resident, noted the revival of the city in the past years at the grand opening ceremony.
“To see what is happening in Middletown is unbelievable, and it makes such a difference,” she said. “We are continuing to try to bring funds into this wonderful city.”
“This model of using public money as seed to incentivize private investment really works,” Mr. DeStefano told The Epoch Times. “My goal is to get every building in the city filled, occupied, looking nice, and full of life, and to improve the tax base and quality of life for all city residents.”
Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, Orange County Economic Development Director Steve Gross, Orange County Chamber of Commerce President Heather Bell-Meyer, Miss NTD Cynthia Sun, Middletown City Council President Miguel Rodrigues, Middletown public works commissioner Jacob Tawil, and Middletown councilmen Gerald Kleiner, Paul Johnson, and Jude Jean-Francois were also in attendance.
