Smith Haven Mall

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Smith Haven Mall
Smith-haven-mall.jpg
Outdoor lifestyle center at Smith Haven Mall
Smith Haven Mall
Location Lake Grove, New York
Opening dateMarch 12, 1969;56 years ago (March 12, 1969)
Developer Macy's
ManagementSimon Property Group
Owner Simon Property Group (25%)
ArchitectCopeland, Novak, & Israel
No. of stores and services119
No. of anchor tenants 4
Total retail floor area 1,204,769 square feet (111,927 m2) [1]
No. of floors1
ParkingLighted lot
Public transit accessAiga bus trans.svg Suffolk County Transit : 4, 5, 51, 58, 62
Website Smith Haven Mall

The Smith Haven Mall is a shopping mall located in Lake Grove and St. James, New York, United States. It is the main mall for the "Middle Island" area of Long Island. It is also the easternmost enclosed mall on Long Island, and thus draws shoppers from the communities that make up the Hamptons, and the North Fork. The mall features Macy's, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Primark. The space last occupied by Sears is now a doctor's office operated by Stony Brook Medicine.

Contents

The complex covers an area of 1,204,769-square-foot (111,927 m2) of retail space, with the key building (opened in 1969) being one story and 800,000-square-foot (74,000 m2), which includes 119 shops and restaurants. The mall has been managed since 1995 by Simon Property Group; [2] it is one of the largest developers of shopping malls in the United States and the owner of Long Island's largest mall, Roosevelt Field in the East Garden City section of Uniondale.

The mall's name is a portmanteau of the towns of Smithtown and Brookhaven, as the mall overlaps the boundaries of these towns. It additionally overlaps the boundaries of the Smithtown and Middle Country Central School Districts.

History

Plans for the mall were first announced in October 1965 by Macy's, with the tentative name of Nesconset Shopping Center. [3] BY the time the mall was completed in 1969, the name had changed to Smith Haven Mall. Anchors Macy's and Abraham & Straus held a preview event on March 10, 1969, with guest of honor Robert Moses. The mall officially opened on March 12, 1969. [4] [5] Three more anchors soon opened: a 68,000-square-foot (6,300 m2) Martin's (later Steinbach, [6] JCPenney), [7] and Sears. [4] Century Theatres opened in May 1969. [8] [9]

The mall was notable for its public artworks. Developers, Leonard Holzer, was married to art dealer Jane Holzer, who had her husband set aside $350,000 in the mall's budget to commission sculptures and paintings by artists including Larry Rivers, Jim Dine, Robert Grosvenor, and Alexander Calder. [10] The mall's art installations included one of the final works by Calder, a giant mobile Janey Waney which was made especially for the mall's opening, and a 40-foot (12 m) mural by Larry Rivers. [10] [11] Calder's piece was taken down in 1972, but was refurbished and moved to the newly built food court in 1987, [10] [12] which was named Calder Court for the sculptor. [13] The food court was later renamed Saturn Court when the car dealership picked up the food court's sponsorship.

After Holzer sold his interest in the mall, the art work was dismantled. Rivers' mural, "40 Feet Of Fashion", was 40 feet (12 m) long and 20 feet (6 m) and consisted of an assemblage of giant Plexiglas objects including lips, a clock, bathing suits and giant women's legs. [14] When the art work was dismantled, the legs were installed in front of Rivers' home, where they remained until being sold at auction in 2021. [15] The Calder piece sold at auction for $1.7 million in 2002. [16] It was eventually installed in Gramercy Park and has since been placed on display around Europe. [17] [18]

A&S closed in 1995 and was replaced by Stern's [19]

Cineplex Odeon Corporation upgraded the existing movie theater to include four screens in 1989 [8] and added another eight in 1998. [20] However, the theater closed in May 2002. [8] Smith Haven Mall underwent a massive multi million-dollar renovation between 2006 and 2007, in which the space once occupied by Stern's [21] and the adjacent unused parking lots was redeveloped into an open-air "lifestyle center format. [12] [22] Major retailers there include Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Dick's Sporting Goods, and California Pizza Kitchen.

On September 9, 2006, an Apple Store opened in the lifestyle center wing of the mall. [23] In addition, on November 16, 2006 the newly constructed Cheesecake Factory was opened. [24] In February 2008, Abercrombie & Fitch's Gilly Hicks, an underwear store for women, opened one of its first stores. [25] In July 2008, Bobby Flay's first Bobby's Burger Palace location was opened at the mall. [26]

In July 2013, Uniqlo opened its first Long Island store at the mall. [27] Gilly Hicks closed in December 2013. [28] A P.F. Chang's location opened at the mall that same month. [29] On June 23, 2017, L.L.Bean opened. [30]

JCPenney closed on July 15, 2019. [31] A Lego Store opened in November 2019. [32] Sears closed in 2020. [33]

The mall closed on March 19, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and remained closed until July. [34] [35] In July 2020, Bobby's Burger Palace closed. [36] A Ruth's Chris Steakhouse opened at the mall in December 2021. [37]

In July 2023, Stony Brook Medicine opened a new outpatient center in the space previously occupied by Sears. [38] In September 2023, Warby Parker opened. [39] Primark opened in the former JCPenney in November 2023. [40] [41] New York Fries opened in May 2024. [42] In November 2024, restaurant Ford's Garage opened. [43]

On February 10, 2025, a multi-million dollar renovation project was announced. [44] This includes a new outdoor plaza, refurbished food court, and new stores including Zara. [45] Forever 21 closed later in the year. [46]

On May 15, 2025, it was announced that Bahama Breeze would close. [47]

On the 2000 album This Time Next Year , by the band The Movielife, the mall is mentioned (as Smithtown Mall) in the song "Single White Female". [48]

References

  1. ↑ "Leasing & Advertising at Smith Haven Mall, a SIMON Center". business.simon.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  2. ↑ Petrone, Justin (August 18, 2004). "Mall owners want breezy restoration". The Times Beacon Record . Archived from the original on July 31, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Macy's Plans A New Long Island Department Store". The New York Times . October 22, 1965. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Barmash, Isadore (October 16, 1969). "Island Shopping Centers Seek Same Buyers". The New York Times . Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  5. ↑ Salpukas, Agis (March 11, 1969). "Two Major Stores Hold Previews on L.I." The New York Times . Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  6. ↑ Barmash, Isadore (June 29, 1986). "Store Shifts Expected to Heat Up Competition". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331.
  7. ↑ "Martin's Fashion Chain Opens Long Island Store". The New York Times . August 8, 1969.("Martin's, a fashion specialty store chain, opened its fifth store yesterday in the new Smith Haven Mall")
  8. 1 2 3 "Smith Haven Mall Theatre in Lake Grove, NY - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Century's Smith Haven Mall opening". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). May 27, 1969. p. 129. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 Halbfinger, David M. (February 17, 2002). "A Genuine Calder Was Here, at the Mall? (Psst, What's a Calder?)". The New York Times . Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  11. ↑ Horsley, Carter B. (June 22, 1970). "A Shopping Mall In Suffolk Offering More Than Goods". The New York Times . Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  12. 1 2 Sobel, Elizabeth W. (November 21, 2005). "Smith Haven Mall renovations unveiled". The Times Beacon Record . Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  13. ↑ Doda, Bob (February 29, 2020). "Ghosts of Smith Haven: Sears' closure sparks nostalgia for Suffolk's mallrats". News 12. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Larry Rivers Artist Index". Veredart.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2011.
  15. ↑ Mohr, Ian (September 7, 2021). "Giant 'Legs' sculpture walks off for $100K at Hamptons art fair". New York Post. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  16. ↑ Halbfinger, David M. (February 17, 2002). "A Genuine Calder Was Here, at the Mall? (Psst, What's a Calder?)". The New York Times . Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  17. ↑ Douglas, Sarah (October 5, 2011). "Exclusive: Major Alexander Calder Sculpture Goes on View at Gramercy Park". Observer. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  18. ↑ Greenberger, Alex (November 20, 2014). "Calder Sculpture Returns to Gramercy Park". ARTnews.com. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  19. ↑ "A&S Final Days". Newsday (Nassau Edition). January 18, 1995. p. 3.
  20. ↑ Enchin, Harvey (July 3, 1997). "Cineplex expands N.Y. sites". Variety. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  21. ↑ Cotsalas, Valerie (November 20, 2005). "Making a Mall More Like Main Street" – via NYTimes.com.
  22. ↑ Cotsalas, Valerie (November 20, 2005). "Long Island; Making a Mall More Like Main Street". The New York Times . Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  23. ↑ Caolo, David (September 4, 2006). "New York, Virginia Apple Stores open this weekend". Yahoo Life. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  24. ↑ "The Cheesecake Factory Opens in Lake Grove, New York". Business Wire . November 17, 2006. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  25. ↑ Moin, David (January 22, 2008). "A&F's Growing Family: Gilly Hicks Launched as Kin to Other Brands". WWD. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  26. ↑ Powderly, Henry E. II (July 15, 2008). "Bobby Flay meets the mall". Long Island Business News . Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  27. ↑ Morris, Keiko (July 12, 2013). "Uniqlo to open first Long Island store at Smith Haven Mall". Newsday. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  28. ↑ Sloat, Jennifer (December 6, 2013). "Gilly Hicks to Shutter Mall Location Next Month". Sachem, NY Patch. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  29. ↑ Walsh, Sara (December 2, 2013). "P.F. Chang's Opens at Smith Haven Mall". Smithtown, NY Patch. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  30. ↑ Al-Muslim, Aisha (June 13, 2017). "L.L.Bean set to open first LI location at Smith Haven Mall". Newsday . Archived from the original on July 17, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  31. ↑ The Associated Press (February 28, 2019). "J.C. Penney store in Lake Grove to close". Newsday. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  32. ↑ Cohen, Lon (November 2, 2019). "Lego Store opens in Smith Haven Mall". Longisland.com. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  33. ↑ Parrish, Tory N. (February 12, 2020). "Sears at Smith Haven Mall closing". Newsday . Archived from the original on February 13, 2020.
  34. ↑ "5 Long Island malls to close today amid coronavirus outbreak". bronx.news12.com. March 19, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  35. ↑ DeSantis, Michael (July 10, 2020). "2 Suffolk Malls To Reopen". Smithtown, NY Patch. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  36. ↑ DeSantis, Michael (July 9, 2020). "Bobby's Burger Palace At Smith Haven Mall Closes: Report". Smithtown, NY Patch. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  37. ↑ Borruto, Ana (December 6, 2021). "Ruth's Chris Steak House now open in Smith Haven Mall". Greater Long Island. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  38. ↑ "Building a Healthier Future for LI: Stony Brook Medicine Unveils New State-of-the-Art Outpatient Care Facility in Lake Grove". Stony Brook University. July 24, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  39. ↑ DeSantis, Michael (September 28, 2023). "Warby Parker Opening In Smith Haven Mall Of Lake Grove". Smithtown, NY Patch. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  40. ↑ Wilson, Marianne (August 9, 2022). "Primark continues expansion into new states; announces price freeze". Chain Store Age. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  41. ↑ Parrish, Tony N. (October 11, 2023). "Primark, Irish value retailer, opening 3rd Long Island store in November". Newsday. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  42. ↑ Spiess, Hayden (May 28, 2024). "New York Fries Opens at Smith Haven Mall in New York". Shopping Center Business. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  43. ↑ Ford's Garage takes New York with its first restaurant in Long Island
  44. ↑ News 12 Staff (February 10, 2025). "Smith Haven Mall to add new restaurants, stores as part of multimillion-dollar transformation". News 12 Long Island. Retrieved February 11, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  45. ↑ Parrish, Tory (February 10, 2025). "Smith Haven Mall to get multimillion-dollar revamp". Newsday. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  46. ↑ Esposito, Nick (February 28, 2025). "Forever 21 to close Long Island stores as bankruptcy looms". GreaterLongIsland. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  47. ↑ Cervantes Jr, Fernando (May 15, 2025). "Bahama Breeze abruptly closes 15 restaurants: Here's where". USA Today. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  48. ↑ "THE MOVIELIFE LYRICS - Single White Female". www.plyrics.com. Retrieved May 8, 2023.

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