An aquaculture operation could be developed inside an abandoned department store at the former Endicott Plaza.

The building that had housed a Kmart store for more than three decades has been unused since it was damaged by flooding in September 2011.

A representative of the property owner said there's been renewed interest in the site in recent weeks.

The former Kmart store in the Endicott Plaza on April 28, 2021. Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News
The former Kmart store in the Endicott Plaza on April 28, 2021. Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News
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John Tokos said one person is considering the old store for a shrimp farming operation. Tank-based indoor shrimp aquaculture has been on the rise in the United States.

The operations require plenty of water and use a lot of energy. Tokos said the person who has expressed an interest in raising shrimp at the site has indicated the project could include a solar farm. An array could generate electricity that would be needed to keep the water warm.

Tokos says others have been looking at the large building for potential projects. The operator of Grippen Park BMX has expressed an interest in staging races at the site.

Three years ago, the state awarded money to the village of Endicott to pay for the demolition of the former Kmart building. Since then, officials have expressed an interest in repurposing the structure.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 772-8400 extension 233.

For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter..

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