More than a year after demolition of the Poughkeepsie Inn, the South Road Crossing development will soon be open for customers.
Five businesses are scheduled to open at the development through the rest of 2021, with more coming next year and a hotel to follow.
Kevin Langan, leasing a development partner with the Cameron Group, one of the developers for the site, said the project is bringing new shopping destinations to the area, while also remedying an eyesore along a busy section of Route 9.
“When you’re able to take a blighted motel well past its best days and bring something like this, it’s just great for everyone,” he said.
The former Poughkeepsie Inn, at 2625 South Road, was demolished last year. The building was originally constructed in 1940 and underwent numerous expansions over the years, as well as several ownership changes. The only consistency, in recent decades, was its status among the cheapest overnight lodging options in Poughkeepsie.
The 17.45-acre property is located just south of the City of Poughkeepsie southern border.
While there is no planned opening date as of yet, South Road Crossing’s first business is scheduled to open within the next 30 days, according to Langan.
The following businesses are on track to open this year:
- Sleep Number
- uBreakiFix
- Buff City Soap
- Smoothie King
- Jersey Mike’s Subs
It will be the first Dutchess County location for Sleep Number, a bed manufacturer, uBreakiFix, an electronics repair store, and Buff City Soap, which sells handmade soaps.
These openings also mark new locations for food chains with relatively few Dutchess County locations. This marks the county’s third Smoothie King, with the other two in Fishkill and Wappingers Falls, and Jersey Mike’s Subs, which has one Fishkill location, all also along Route 9.
And, South Road Crossing will bring one more food chain in 2022. Wingstop has signed a lease with the developers to open its first Dutchess County location.
In addition to the site’s retail options, construction will soon begin on a hotel. Home2 Suites by Hilton will be a four-story, 111-room hotel scheduled to open next summer, Langan said.
The openings come as a bordering property is also being revitalized. The former Coyote Grill, which has been closed since a 2016 electrical fire, was demolished three months ago; Foam & Wash express car wash will be taking its place.
Town Supervisor Jon J. Baisley, before Poughkeepsie Inn was demolished, noted, ““It served its purpose during its time.” Its purposes in the weeks before its destruction included training. The Arlington Fire District and the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department’s SWAT team ran drills without fear of damaging the property.
While plans for the South Road Crossing’s development are mostly finalized, Langan said they are still seeking community feedback and would benefit from learning what businesses residents are interested in seeing open.
“We’ve been able to attract tenants due to community wants or needs, we don’t have a ton of space left, but sometimes leaving comments on social media can help attract tenants,” he said.
Though the development has been able to mostly stick to its deadline, the project faced some challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Langan said.
“There’s been some supply chain issues as everyone’s aware of, getting certain items and the cost of materials increasing significantly through all of this,” he said. “Everything takes more time than it’s ever taken.”
Geoffrey Wilson: gwilson@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4882; Twitter: @GeoffWilson_