Rainbow Mall Redevelopment

Under an agreement with the City of Niagara Falls, Empire State Development (ESD), through its subsidiary USA Niagara Development Corporation (USAN), is leading the process for the redevelopment of the former Rainbow Centre Mall. The former 287,000-square-foot indoor shopping mall was developed in 1982 as a component of a city-owned parking structure and operated as a retail location until 2000.  In 2010, the development rights of the building were donated to the Niagara County Community College Foundation to allow the southern portion of the mall space, roughly 87,000 square feet, to be repurposed by the college as the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, while the redevelopment of the remaining 200,000 square feet space will be led by USAN.

Niagara Falls Culinary Institute

The Niagara Falls Culinary Institute is a $26 million, 90,000 square foot facility that is home to Niagara County Community College’s Hospitality and Tourism programs. It opened in September 2012.  The project was funded with both public and private sector support including $13.3 million from the Empire State Development and USA Niagara Development Corporations, as well as $2 million awarded through the Governor’s Regional Economic Development Council program in December 2011.

The facility encompasses one third of the former Rainbow Mall on Old Falls Street in Niagara Falls. The Culinary Institute features Savor, a year round student operated fine dining restaurant; La Patisserie, a French pastry shop; the Old Falls Street Deli, featuring traditional New York style deli sandwiches and salads; the Wine Boutique, a traditional wine store that offers wines primarily found on the Niagara Wine Trail; and a Barnes & Noble culinary themed bookstore. For more information, click here.

The cover of a 2012 Urban Land Institute Advisory Services Panel Report on Niagara Falls

Urban Land Institute Report

Upon completion of the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, over 200,000 square feet of unused interior space remain in the former Rainbow Centre Mall.  Toward that end, USAN obtained advisory services from the Urban Land Institute (ULI), a not-for-profit research and education organization specializing in urban real estate development issues.  ULI panel of members visited the property for a week in September 2012, studied the downtown area, consulted with public and private officials and later presented USAN with a written summary of its conclusions and recommendations.  Please see this link for the full report: ULI Advisory Services Panel Report.

Rainbow Centre Civic Improvement Project​

USAN has announced plans for a civic improvement project to redevelop the remaining 200,000 square feet at the former Rainbow Centre Mall. This project will establish greater public access and walkability, create commercial opportunity and also improve parking to support new and existing businesses at and near the site. A Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued seeking architectural design and engineering services to repurpose the remaining space into a high-density, mixed-use development with restored pedestrian access through the center of the building and active ground-level uses.  Marvel Architects was awarded the contract and has completed design development.

The property’s strategic location near Old Falls Street between Niagara Falls State Park and the Seneca Niagara Casino makes it an important development that could foster relationships between these areas and future development on adjoining parcels.