Smashburger, Dollar Tree set for Niskayuna plaza

PHOTOGRAPHER: Patrick Dodson

The ShopRite Supermarket on Nott Street East in Niskayuna is pitcured on Oct. 2, 2011. New stores are coming to the ShopRite plaza.

The ShopRite Plaza in Niskayuna has seen drastic changes in the past few years, with the addition of TCBY Yogurt, Starbucks and Splash Nails.

Now, two new tenants will be added to the list of occupants: Smashburger and Dollar Tree. Smashburger, a burger and sandwich chain, is scheduled to open in December. Discount store Dollar Tree will follow in the spring.

Inland Mortgage Capital, a private lender based in Illinois, owns a portion of the ShopRite Plaza. It has been behind the improvements and the demolition of the abandoned Friendly’s building in March 2013. The addition of Smashburger and Dollar Tree will bring the plaza occupancy to 80 percent, according to a press release.

“The center has been through a lot and I would like to believe we have had a lot to do with that,” said Art Rendak, president at Inland Mortgage Capital.

Between both projects, the total cost will be $750,000. “It’s worth it to us to make that kind of investment,” said Rendek. The Smashburger project will cost $250,000, while the new Dollar Tree will cost $500,000, much of it for replacing the roof in the building that the store will occupy, Rendak said.

Smashburger, with a planned outdoor patio, is expected to profit from being within walking distance of Niskayuna High School. The Starbucks and TCBY in the plaza are hot spots for students. The new Niskayuna location will be one of three Smasburger franchises in the area.

Dollar Tree has 16 locations throughout the Capital Region. Rendak said he’s excited about the traffic the two new businesses will bring to the plaza.