Vacant storefronts, an empty food court and more mall walkers than shoppers.

That’s the reality at the Hudson Valley Mall, a shopping center that opened in 1981 and was once a major retail destination for the region.

According to information shared by Ulster County, the mall once had about 50 stores. Today, the mall’s online directory shows just eight businesses remaining.

News 12 visited the mall this week and found long stretches of empty storefronts throughout the property.

Photos shared by Ulster County show a dramatically different scene during the mall’s heyday. The images depict packed hallways, busy stores and community events that drew crowds from across the Hudson Valley.

What happened in Kingston is not unique. Malls across the country have struggled as more consumers shop online and retailers continue closing brick-and-mortar locations.

One mall walker from Rhinebeck told News 12 he still enjoys coming to the property, even though there are few stores left.

“I like the mall. I like walking in it,” he said.

When asked about the mall’s future, he said he wasn’t sure what comes next.

“Years ago, it was every store taken,” he said. “I think COVID and all the other stuff didn’t help. It’s just kind of how things are.”

The question now is what should come next.

Kingston resident Carol Ingarra said she’d like to see apartments built on the property while still leaving room for smaller shops.

“I’d like to see apartments up there because that view over there in the mountains is spectacular,” she said. “All that parking you got out there for the tenants. And then down in there, little boutique shops.”

Others aren’t convinced retail can make a comeback.

“There’s no people to support it,” said Kingston resident Jessica Ginty. “It’s all retired people with no money to support the stores or restaurants.”

Ginty said the decline is especially noticeable because she remembers when national retailers filled the mall.

“My daughter worked in The Gap, which was right here,” she said.

The Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce told News 12 that opinions about the mall’s future vary throughout the community, with some residents hoping for revitalization and others favoring housing or another form of redevelopment.

The mall has also been the scene of several high-profile incidents over the years, including a deadly shooting inside Best Buy in 2005, a fatal stabbing in 2006 and a suicide in the parking lot in 2011.

The future of the property remains unclear, but redevelopment appears more likely than a return to a traditional enclosed mall.

John Mulherin, vice president of company relations for the mall’s ownership group, said demolition could eventually be part of the property’s future. However, he said there is little demand for the type of housing that would likely be built at the site.

Mulherin said the company is focused on being a good steward of the property and does not want to see it fall into decline. He also said the goal is not to fill vacant spaces with just any tenant.

“It will be a redevelopment project, not retail,” he said.

Mulherin noted that some businesses at the property continue to perform well, including Target and the movie theater.