Rotterdam

The buyers of Rotterdam Square Mall plan to invest $10 million to create a family entertainment center including an aquarium.

Besides the 25,000-square-foot Rotterdam Aquarium, Via Properties also plans an almost 30,000-square-foot family entertainment zone and a complete facelift.

"We are very enthusiastic about investing in Rotterdam Square Mall, and we see tremendous potential in the property," Cenk Hayirlioglu, who oversees U.S. operations for ViaPort USA, said in a prepared statement. "Schenectady County is the place to be, and our vision fits seamlessly with the area's growth. Our significant investment will transform the mall into an entertainment destination for the whole family. We have experience transforming properties like Rotterdam Square Mall into successful ventures and creating unique experiences for our patrons."

The company said visitors will see specimens of sharks and deep-sea fish from all over the world.

The family entertainment zone will feature a bowling alley, sports bar and restaurant and more than 50 arcade games.

It will be positioned near the aquarium, creating an entire wing of the mall dedicated to family fun.

"Capital Region residents, local officials and our existing tenants should be excited about these investments," Hayirlioglu added in his statement. "We are serious about our plans to revitalize this mall and make it something the area can be proud of."

As the Times Union reported Tuesday, the mall has been sold by Mehran Kohansiek. More than 30 of the mall's spaces are vacant including a former Macy's anchor store.

In September, another of Kohansiek's malls, Lake Square Mall, was sold to Via and is being renamed ViaPort Florida.

Via, based in Istanbul, owns hotels, theme parks, outlet malls and other retail properties. Two of its malls in Turkey feature aquariums.

Kohan Retail Investment Group bought Rotterdam Square for $8.5 million from the Macerich Corp. in January 2014. There is no information on what Via paid for the mall.

tobrien@timesunion.com • 518-454-5092 • @timobrientu