Poughkeepsie fixture Luckey Platt department store closed its large location on the east end of the Mall at Academy Street. Shortly after the Luckey Platt closure, the Dutchess County Department of Social Services moved their offices to a location on the opposite side of the mall from that building. As seen with indoor malls and outdoor strip malls, the loss of a primary commercial store anchor played a role in the Main mall's decline during the 1980s. Later years With the election of mayor Colette Lafuente in 1995, the future of the Main Mall was brought into question. Lafuente had a plan to revitalize the City of Poughkeepsie by a process that would replace blighted areas with new housing and businesses. A native to the area, Lafuente had an intention to plant the seeds that would return Main Street to its prominence and such a plan would involve the elimination of the Main Mall. In early 2001, the Main Mall was closed and Main Street between Catharine/Academy and Market streets was reconstructed as a two-lane street with ample on-street parking; the remaining business in what had been the mall stayed open during the construction. The Main Mall officially went into history in November 2001 when Main Street was once again made whole. With the removal of the mall downtown Poughkeepsie began its recovery and is now attracting new businesses, stores, restaurants and galleries. References Shopping malls established in 1973 Buildings and structures in Poughkeepsie, New York 2001 disestablishments in New York (state) Pedestrian malls in the United States