The White Plains Galleria will permanently close its doors on March 31.

The Galleria was once a bustling mall filled with people, but now most of the its stores are shuttered.

Geoffrey Thompson is a former journalist who was there when the Galleria opened in 1980.

“When this opened, it was a very big deal. It changed White Plains for the better,” he says. “People came in from New York City to see it, it was a very big deal. It was not only big, it was very glamorous. It was beautiful when it opened.”

There are only three businesses currently open at the mall: a LensCrafters, a dental and foot care office, and a hobby shop/toy store.

Resident Leo Ovalles says once the Galleria closes, it’s going to leave a hole in the community.

“There are so many memories there…I just feel like a whole big chunk of White Plains is going to be taken out,’ he says.

Thompson adds that the mall was a staple for many young people a few years ago.

“It’s a very nostalgic thing for a lot of people. People went on their first dates here, coming to shop here as a young teen. It played a role in a lot of people's lives,” he says.

It’s not yet clear what will replace the Galleria.