Former Macy’s Site to Become New Skating Rink in Salem

Salem Center merchants should prepare for new visitor traffic as the facility launches in early January.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Bold vector editorial illustration of a pair of roller-skate wheels on a concrete floor, representing a new community skating facility. — Developers are converting the former Macy's location at Salem Center into The Expo, a new roller-skating facility launching in early January. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Developers plan to transform the shuttered Macy’s at Salem Center into a roller-skating facility called The Expo. The project, which involves relocating the existing Skateland 2 You operation, is expected to begin its first phase of activity on Jan. 2, 2027.

Why it matters

This move marks a shift for Salem Center, which is actively pivoting from traditional retail to a community-focused hub featuring experiential activities like skating, music, and local markets to draw foot traffic.

The former Macy’s site was listed for sale at $7.9 million before developers secured it for the new skating facility. This transition represents a significant change in asset use for the 400 High St. NE location.

The players

Skateland 2 You

A local skating operator transitioning its business model into a larger indoor facility at the shopping center.

The Expo

The new experiential skating facility occupying the former department store space.

Salem Center

A commercial retail property management group attempting to diversify its tenant mix with community activities.

The details

The Expo will repurpose the vacant Macy’s footprint into a multi-use skating rink, incorporating a main skating floor alongside designated zones for beginners and advanced ramp and rail usage. This transition forces the closure of the current Skateland 2 You site at Roto-Rooter Park, effectively centralizing their operations within the mall’s new experiential activity zone.

Nov. 28, 2026: The mall hosts the Mall Rats Music Festival.
Dec. 12, 2026: A holiday craft fair takes place on-site.
Dec. 31, 2026: Operations cease at the existing Roto-Rooter Park site.
Jan. 2, 2027: Skating operations are scheduled to begin at The Expo.

Market Landscape

The conversion at Salem Center mirrors a broader, documented trend of regional malls repurposing vacant department store anchors into activity-based hubs to sustain foot traffic. This strategy follows the departure of traditional anchor retailers that previously defined the mall business model.

Business owners in the mall or surrounding area should prepare for the shift in foot traffic patterns accompanying the move from traditional retail to experiential activities. Watch for how the November and December event schedule influences daily visitor volume before the facility’s full launch in January.

The takeaway

Operators should monitor the success of experiential anchors like The Expo as they replace traditional retail space. Track the mall’s upcoming event traffic on Nov. 28 and Dec. 12 to gauge how these shifts impact total visitor engagement.