Our History

The DeWitt Mall is located in the heart of the beautiful Finger Lakes area in Ithaca, NY, home of Cornell University and Ithaca College. The five-story brick building was completed in 1915 and spent the next 55 years as a high school.

In 1970 the building was sold to local architect, William Downing, who completely renovated it into distinctive apartments, professional offices, specialty shops, and fine restaurants while retaining the unique architectural integrity of the building.

The 17 shops and restaurants include an art gallery, two book stores - new and antiquarian, a natural foods grocery, a children's store, a coin shop, a deli, a drum and import store, a guitar shop, a hair salon, a European style cafe, an antique store (Pastimes), and the internationally famous and critically acclaimed vegetarian restaurant, Moosewood.

Located one block north of the Ithaca Commons and just down the hill from Cornell or Ithaca College, the DeWitt Mall is a unique group of owner-operated shops. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, and the personal attention and relaxed ambience are a refreshing change from suburban malls. The building is warm in the winter and cool in the summer and the coffee is always fresh.

Most stores are open from 10 - 5:30 Monday thru Saturday with some shops open Sundays and evenings. There are two parking garages within easy walking distance as well as metered parking available.

Pastimes was founded in 1979 in the historic Dewitt Building (also known as the Dewitt Mall), and has remained in the same location for over 25 years.