Demolition began earlier this week at Latham Circle Mall. It's the first stage of implementing the long-awaited redevelopment there. Our Megan Cruz tells us the only thing louder than the demo work is the chatter about the future of the site.

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LATHAM, N.Y. -- "I'd like to see a restaurant come in," said Priscilla Pare.

"A store like Boscov's," said Marie Egan.

Richard Giordano said, "A little bookstore."

And there's many more suggestions out there. Colonie's Town Supervisor Paula Mahan said she's heard them all.

What would she like to see once they rebuild Latham Circle Mall?

"Anybody!" joked Mahan. "People have been waiting for this to be developed for a long time."

Well, the wait's over, at least for phase one. Demolition of the so-called "dead mall" began earlier this week.

"A beautiful sight," said Mahan.

People across the circle at Latham Circle Diner said while excited for whatever's to come, the destruction of a piece of Latham's history is hard to swallow.

"Loved shopping there; I used to work at the Boston store," said Ruth Richards.

"A lot of people miss Latham Mall," said Giordano.

When redone it will be called Shoppes at Latham Circle. It'll be an outdoor mall, the way it was when it first opened in 1957.

"It's nice to have it go back to its roots again," said Pare.

But with so many other shopping centers in the area - Latham Farms, Colonie Center, Crossgates - people are wondering if the Shoppes at Latham Circle will be a success.

"You've got so many that it's really hard to say," said Pare. "Depends on what they put in and how they do it."

Mahan says no concrete tenants have been announced yet, but Lowe's and JCPenney will be staying put. She's says she not worried about the nearby competition.

"People are looking for a lot of different options," she said.

Mahan says the developer is hoping to open at least one store by October, the whole mall by spring 2014.

Customers here said they hope Shoppes at Latham Circle serves them well.

"That it makes money for the community and jobs," said Richards.