A cannabis business with two locations in Cayuga County is getting ready to open its third — inside Fingerlakes Mall.
Consulting and marketing firm I’m Stuck will open a location called Willy Ganja in the mall’s Savannah Bank wing by April 20, the widely recognized cannabis holiday, owner David Tulley told The Citizen.
I’m Stuck opened a location on East Genesee Street in downtown Auburn in January, and last year opened the Weed Warehouse on Crane Brook Drive across from the mall in Aurelius. Like those locations, the new one at the mall will follow I’m Stuck’s business model of giving cannabis to customers as part of a priced consultation about which products would meet their needs the most.
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Tulley said he plans to gradually steer customers from the Weed Warehouse to Willy Ganja, then close the Crane Brook Drive location. The new location is one of the first businesses to open at the mall under Vachi Fingerlakes LLC, which purchased the 55-acre property last September for $3.6 million. Sutton Real Estate Co., of Syracuse, is working as the mall’s property management team.
Based in Wayne County, I’m Stuck is not licensed by the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, which has sent Tulley cease-and-desist letters. The office has also decried “gray market” businesses like I’m Stuck for threatening public health and compromising the legal market the state has been setting up since passing the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act in March 2021.
The first license for a legal dispensary in the central New York region was issued last week, to Boston lawyer Joseph B. Simons, who told The Citizen he is looking at opening his business in Syracuse. Dispensary licenses are currently being granted to “justice-involved” applicants only, criteria Simons meets because he was arrested for using cannabis as a high school student in Oneonta.
Still, Tulley criticized the state for issuing the region’s first license to someone in Massachusetts. He added that he has not recently heard from the Office of Cannabis Management, which seeks harsher penalties and stronger enforcement powers against gray market businesses like his. A bill granting both was introduced in January by state Sen. Liz Kreuger, and it is currently in committee.
Tulley said he intends to obtain a license for his business, and claimed he missed the submission deadline for the last round of issuances because the state told him about it on short notice. But if his plans at Fingerlakes Mall are any indication, he may need other licenses as well. Along with Willy Ganja, he mentioned a cannabis edible restaurant and an indoor growing facility as possibilities there.
“I want to transform that entire mall into New York state’s first marijuana mall,” he said. “We could have a movie theater with (cannabis) edible popcorn where you watch ‘Cheech & Chong’ movies. But that’s down the road. For now we’re showing Bass Pro Shops that we’re a good neighbor. … No one’s going to be smoking weed in the mall, kids aren’t going to be running around with edibles.”
However, the mall does not appear to be on board with Tulley’s future plans. In response to a version of this story published Wednesday morning, Sutton Real Estate Co. issued a statement to The Citizen on behalf of the mall’s owners and tenants, stressing their “unwavering commitment to maintaining a safe, family-friendly environment for all patrons and the surrounding community.”
The statement continued, “Adhering to all local, state, and federal laws is a top priority. … We categorically affirm that there are no such plans as described in the article.”
The Citizen has also been contacted by parents concerned about I’m Stuck’s influence on children. Specifically, as part of an Easter promotion held last week, plastic eggs containing stickers were scattered throughout 40 towns near the cannabis business’ six locations, including Auburn. The stickers could be redeemed for product consultations by adults, and toys by children. Tulley called it “the largest Easter egg hunt in New York state history,” spanning 2,500 eggs and more than $15,000 in prizes, including PlayStation 5s, a trip to the Bahamas, Buffalo Bills tickets and children’s bicycles.
Tulley denied the promotion having a negative influence on children, and noted that his locations require customers to show identification. But an April 6 Facebook post by someone affiliated with his business announced a rule that children would have to be present at I’m Stuck to redeem eggs that Saturday. The rule appears to have been added to prevent adults from redeeming all the eggs.
“We wanted to get children out and having fun, and get them off their game systems,” Tulley said. “The memories they made over those six days will last forever. That’s what it’s all about.”
Being unlicensed, I’m Stuck is technically not subject to the marketing rules of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, as it’s already an illegal business in the eyes of the state. But those rules expressly prohibit marketing to people younger than 21 or within 500 feet of elementary or secondary school grounds. Cannabis marketing also “cannot be attractive” to minors, the law says.
Fingerlakes Mall: A timeline of significant events and memorable moments
1. Announcement
Aug. 4, 1978: The Pyramid Companies, of Syracuse, announces that it plans to build a shopping mall in Aurelius. The proposed facility will cost $10 million to build and include two major retailers, a smaller department store, a four-screen cinema, a large cafe square and about 90 small stores and restaurants. It will also employ about 800 people, Pyramid projects. Pictured is an artist’s concept of the mall.
2. Opening day
April 9, 1980: Pyramid Co. opens Fingerlakes Mall with approximately a dozen stores and 10 restaurants, including Gino & Joe’s Pizza, General Nutrition, Kay Jewelers and movie theater Cinema 1-2-3-4, and anchor store J.C. Penney. The mall is designed by Alfred H. Dal Pos’ Skaneateles firm.
3. Kmart opens
May 1, 1980: A 68,337-square-foot Kmart opens on the mall’s west end. The discount department store sells clothing, appliances, books and more, and also contains an automotive center with an auto music section, sporting goods and building materials departments, and a pharmacy. The store employs more than 70 people full-time.
4. Car lift
January 1981: A 1940 DeSoto is lifted from the ground floor of Fingerlakes Mall onto its second level. The car would be used as a sound booth for the Interskate 90 skating rink.
5. Interskate 90 opens
Feb. 13, 1981: Interskate 90 skating rink opens, offering skating, electronic games and a pro shop on a 13,000-square-foot maple wood U-shaped surface.
6. Chappell’s opens
April 1, 1981: Syracuse-based department store chain Chappell’s opens a location in the mall, celebrating the day with a wine and cheese demonstration and a fashion show.
7. Sale to First Union
Sept. 29, 1981: Ownership and management of the mall is transferred from Pyramid Co. to First Union Real Estate Investments and First Union Management Company, then the owner of 15 major regional shopping centers.
8. Sears opens
March 1, 1982: Sears, Roebuck & Co. opens a new 41,536-square-foot store in the mall, featuring a five-bay automotive center and a department store with clothing, electronics, sporting goods and more. Pictured is a crane raising steel framework for the store in September 1981.
9. Santa Claus arrives
Nov. 25, 1984: Reindeer pull Santa Claus’ sleigh into Fingerlakes Mall.
10. All quiet on Christmas Eve
Dec. 24, 1986: Cafe Square at the mall is calm on Christmas Eve as retailers brace for an onslaught of after-Christmas business.
11. High occupancy
1988: More than 65 stores occupy space in the mall, The Citizen reported in January. Pictured is Dana Hutchinson revving his chainsaw as Amy Sincebaugh, Kari Marchitell and Kim Dumas shriek at the mall’s Fright Night Mansion in October.
12. Ferret shopping
Dec. 24, 1991: Jamie Nervina, 2, gets a front-row seat at two ferrets at Ebelings Pet Center while shopping at the mall with his mother, Barbara.
13. From the air, 1991
1991: An aerial view of Fingerlakes Mall.
14. Chappell’s closes
November 1993: Chappell’s department store closes and moves to a cheaper, but bigger location in Camillus Mall. All 70 full- and part-time employees are offered positions at the new store. Shoppers interviewed at the time relate the closure to the rise of shopping options in Syracuse, namely Carousel Mall, which opened in 1990. “Carousel has got everybody,” one shopper said. “I try to come here to give Auburn the business.”
15. Kmart closes
Aug. 27, 1995: Kmart closes, leaving 92 employees out of work. It is one of 72 Kmart stores to close nationwide at the time, and follows the February closure of a location on Grant Avenue. Sears would later move into the store’s space on the mall’s west end.
16. Peebles opens
Nov. 9, 1995: Peebles department store opens in the space formerly occupied by Chappell’s. Pictured is Robin Rapp, of Auburn, pausing to secure a balloon to her daughter Autumn’s wrist.
17. Sale to Jager Management
June 1999: First Union sells the mall for $2,500,000 to GP Properties, an affiliate of Jager Management. The price falls far below the mall’s assessed value of $17 million at the time.
18. Sale to Gregory Greenfield Associates
October 1999: Jager sells the mall to Gregory Greenfield Associates, of Atlanta. “We have a history of buying undervalued properties and redeveloping them for the benefit of both [the property], and the investors,” said Gregory Greenfield, president of the development firm, at the time of the purchase. “We think the property could be in better health than it has been — that it has been under performance, relative to its potential.”
19. Black Friday, 2002
Nov. 29, 2002: Rose Bent, center, Marc Dushatinski, foreground, and sales assistant John Colvin were part of the mass of people filling K•B Toys at Fingerlakes Mall at 7 a.m. on Black Friday. Bent braved the crowd for deals on gifts for her nephew and stepdaughter. According to Jessica Warner, assistant store manager, the hot item that day was the FurReal Friends kitten, which sold out at 4:15 a.m., 45 minutes before the store opened its doors. Shoppers waiting in line were given tickets for the coveted toy.
20. Bass Pro ceremony
Sept. 4, 2003: After speeches were over at a Bass Pro Shops ceremony at the mall, a portion of the crowd of attendees passed by a newly unveiled drawing of what the outside of the store would look like. Anticipation of Bass Pro’s addition to the mall would lure more than 20 other stores there, including Steve & Barry’s, Olympia Sports and Maurices. Plans also begin for the Fingerlakes Crossing plaza across the street, which would include Kohl’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods and other retailers. A hotel was also in the works, with Marriott and Hampton Inn attached to the project at different points.
21. Bass Pro Shops opens
June 10, 2004: Bass Pro Shops opens, marking the outdoor retailer’s first store in New York state and drawing thousands of visitors to Cayuga County that day. “Bass Pro Shops is not a store. It is a destination,” said Gov. George Pataki to a crowd of 2,500-strong crowd who gathered for a sneak preview prior to the opening.
22. Gina Speno
Dec. 24, 2004: Gina Speno served as the general manager of Fingerlakes Mall from 1999 to early 2007. In addition to overseeing a $1 million-plus renovation of the mall’s flooring, lighting and food court, she is widely credited with bringing Bass Pro Shops to the mall. “Her heart and vision communicated to the public, time and time again, that this (was) going to happen. … And it did,” Assemblyman Brian Kolb told The Citizen in 2003, following the deal’s announcement.
23. Baiting the hook
June 5, 2005: Three-year-old Kristian Wheeler, of Oswego, points to a huge bass swimming in the tank at Bass Pro Shops in Fingerlakes Mall. The youngster, a budding fisherman, was accompanied his grandparents, who traveled from Oswego to shop at the store.
24. Sale to Sam Abram
October 2006: Gregory Greenfield Associates sells the mall to Sam Abram, CEO of Siba Corporation, via Fingerlakes Mall Acquisition LLC. In light of Bass Pro Shops’ opening and other recent improvements, Abrams calls the mall an “attractive purchase.”
25. No tricks, just treats
Nov. 1, 2009: Joan Neuman gives some candy to Alexander Sturgill, 4, who is dressed as a Transformer outside of Jo-Ann Fabric during the Fingerlakes Mall’s trick-or-treat parade.
26. Book Bonanza
July 14, 2012: The 21st annual Book Bonanza drew a large crowd to the mall, offering bargains on books, magazines and DVDs. St. Joseph School hosts the event each year, and it’s the school’s largest fundraiser.
27. Theater closes
Sept. 27, 2012: Movie-goers arriving at Fingerlakes Theaters find a paper sign taped to its doors announcing that owners Rochester Theater Management had closed it. It is not the first time the mall went without a movie theater: In July 2005, RTM revived the theater after the closure of Fingerlakes 4 Cinema left it dormant for a few weeks.
28. Produced in New York
Jan. 12, 2013: Ana Brickner explains to judge Nigel Gannon how she came up with a chicken-filled crepe recipe during the 2013 Produced in New York cooking contest at the mall.
29. Track Cinema opens
April 14, 2014: Tracie and Randall Currier open the four-screen Track Cinema at the mall, giving it back a movie theater.
30. Sears closes
Oct. 15, 2014: Sears Holdings announces that it will close its Fingerlakes Mall location the following January. Pictured is inventory remaining on Jan. 7, during its going-out-of-business sale. The store would close Jan. 11.
31. Santa visit
Dec. 14, 2018: Not even a bomb threat at Fingerlakes Mall could deter Santa from his holiday duties as he visits with Bradley Hanna, 3, outside of Bass Pro Shops while shoppers and employees are evacuated for nearly two hours until police finally secured the building in Aurelius.
32. MMA in the mall
Nov. 13, 2019: Mark Murray, left, and Brad Vargason, representing Viking Martial Arts and Fitness, spar as they prepare to compete in professional kickboxing matches at Gladius 38 at Fingerlakes Mall.
33. J.C. Penney closes
June 2020: J.C. Penney announces that its Fingerlakes Mall location will be among several to close as part of a “store optimization strategy.” It is the last of the mall’s original stores to leave since opening in 1980.
34. COVID-19 vaccine clinic
March 11, 2021: People wait after receiving their second COVID-19 vaccine for possible reactions during a Cayuga County Health Department vaccine clinic at Fingerlakes Mall’s Event Center.
35. Out the door
November 2021: The Great Outdoors RV Superstore has pulled out of Fingerlakes Mall.
36. Sale to Vachi Fingerlakes LLC
Sept. 19, 2022: Siba Corporation sells the mall to Vachi Fingerlakes LLC for $3.6 million.
Lake Life Editor David Wilcox can be reached at (315) 282-2245 or david.wilcox@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @drwilcox.
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