Peekskill’s Crossroads Blues: A City’s Retail Struggles

Peekskill's decision to move the Flea Market from Bank Street, which attracts numerous to the downtown area on Sundays, to the less appealing Crossroads Plaza parking lot is misguided.

Some city decisions are truly baffling—like moving a thriving Sunday Flea Market from the vibrant Bank Street, an ideal urban setting, to the deteriorating parking lot at Crossroads Plaza. Does Peekskill want the market, largely influenced by Latin vendors, to fail? It certainly seems that way.

But why is Crossroads Plaza in such disrepair in the first place? Since I moved here, its decline has been noticeable. What do the tenants think? Why hasn’t there been an effort to improve it? With crumbling overhead exteriors, neglected storefronts, and an atmosphere that would make anyone hesitate before dining there, it begs the question: why hasn’t the city stepped in? A place like Charleston, SC, would never allow such visible urban decay—it would be shut down to preserve that city’s opulent image.

I’m not expecting an Instagrammable overhaul, but a basic facelift would go a long way. At the very least, something cleaner, more inviting, and less of an eyesore. The state of Crossroads Plaza makes one think twice about grabbing a bite there or coffee at Dunkin' Donut—especially considering New York’s notorious rodent problem. The only aspect of New York I truly dislike is the presence of those bothersome, ridiculous rats that scurry about—more unnerving than a slithering snake.

Perhaps change is coming. A newly approved 24/7 gym is set to occupy the long-abandoned RiteAid—an eyesore for far too long—alongside the equally vacated Family Dollar next door. Maybe I’m wrong, but in my experience, the presence of a wig store in a plaza doesn’t bode well for its vitality. It seems unlikely that the key 18-49 demographic is purchasing a significant number of wigs.

Peekskill deserves better retail.

Peekskill Crossroads Plaza is deteriorating and lacks aesthetic appeal.