For generations of Jamaica, Queens residents, the Jamaica Colosseum Mall wasn’t just where you shopped — it was where you grew up.

“It’s like legendary. This is where we all used to hang around. It’s just sad to see it go,” said Ketlyne, a Jamaica resident who did not give her last name.

After more than four decades as a neighborhood fixture, the Jamaica Colosseum Mall closed for good Saturday. The shopping center, which opened in 1984, served as a gathering place for families, entrepreneurs and a hub of hip-hop culture long before Jamaica’s skyline began to change.

What You Need To Know

The Jamaica Colosseum Mall, which opened in 1984, officially closed Saturday

Residents and shop owners say the mall was a cornerstone of community life in Jamaica, Queens

The property’s closure follows approval of the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, which allows for major redevelopment in the area

Community members plan a block party on Feb. 21 to mark the mall’s legacy and send it off

For longtime shoppers, the closure feels personal.

“That’s a legacy over there. I’ve been shopping with everybody — all the owners, they all work together, they’re family. It’s like losing a loved one. I’m hurt,” said Karen, another local resident who declined to give her last name.

Inside the mall, small business owners spent their final days packing up stores they had built over decades. Mike Nurse, whose family runs Sports in Effect, said the shop has been operating there since 1990.

“We were told we have to leave by the end of the month,” Nurse said.

Walking away has not been easy.

“It was a lot of struggle from the start. We built something, and it’s very hard to walk away from something you built,” he said.

Beyond retail, the mall became a cultural landmark. Hip-hop artists including LL Cool J and Wu-Tang Clan filmed music videos there, cementing the Colosseum’s place in New York City music history.

“We were involved in the mixtapes, the urban gear that goes with the music,” Nurse said.

Even younger residents say the loss leaves a void.

“I feel like our community is gone because this is basically a big part of our community, and it just means a lot to everybody,” said Fanta, who also did not share her last name.

The property was listed for sale in 2015. Its closure comes after the City Council approved the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan, a rezoning effort aimed at bringing new development to the area, including thousands of apartments and new retail space.

Across the street, deli owner Sharif El Samet worries about what comes next as the building sits vacant.

“The Colosseum is bringing people from everywhere to shop, but now they shut it — it’s gonna be slow around here,” El Samet said.

While some businesses have plans to reopen elsewhere, shop owners say the relationships they built inside the mall will be hardest to replace.

“I want them to know it’s not the end of everything — it’s a new beginning,” Nurse said.

The community plans to give the Jamaica Colosseum Mall a proper farewell with a block party scheduled for Feb. 21.