Macerich, a real estate investment trust, launched a significant redevelopment of its Green Acres Mall located in New York, US in January 2024. The redevelopment aims to introduce up to 400,000ft² (37,161m²) of retail, entertainment, and dining spaces.
Attracting 18.4 million visitors annually, Green Acres Mall ranks as the second most frequented destination within Macerich’s portfolio of premium properties.
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The redevelopment aligns with Macerich’s strategy to ensure the long-term success of its properties. The strategy includes enhancing the 100-acre Green Acres campus with attractive new features and superior design to boost the mall’s offerings and attract more customers.
The revamped mall is slated to open its doors in 2026.
Location of Green Acres Mall
Strategically positioned at the juncture of New York City and suburban Long Island, in Valley Stream, New York, US, the Green Acres Mall capitalises on the retail potential of the Metro New York City area.
The absence of significant retail zones within a four-mile (6.4km) radius presents a unique opportunity for the mall, which is surrounded by affluent suburbs and densely populated New York City areas. Its prime location on Sunrise Highway sees a daily traffic of more than 60,000 vehicles.
Green Acres Mall redevelopment details
The project will transform former department store spaces to introduce an 80,000ft² ShopRite grocery store supermarket as a new anchor tenant. Additionally, 300,000ft² of space will be redeveloped to include new retail shops, entertainment options, and new-to-market dining venues. The enhanced campus will offer two million square feet of gross leasable area (GLA).
The plan includes the demolition of the old Sears and Sears Auto Center buildings, alongside the repurposing of the former Kohl’s department store. This will improve visibility and make room for the ShopRite supermarket and other leading brands.
The redevelopment will also add a new grand entrance for the north-east wing, an attractive streetscape with outward-facing shops, outdoor dining areas, new green spaces, and visually appealing common areas. The northeast quadrant will also see new external shops and facades.
An existing anchor building will be repurposed, and nearby retail spaces reconfigured to achieve a cohesive and modern exterior look that is inviting and comfortable. The expansion also includes a larger parking area to accommodate increased vehicle traffic.
Macerich is applying a leasing strategy at Green Acres similar to the one used at the Kings Plaza property in Brooklyn, which successfully introduced a range of high-performing stores in the former Sears space. The strategy is expected to result in an eightfold increase in sales compared to the previous tenant.
Retail offerings at Green Acres Mall
The store has several grocery options, totalling nearly two million square feet, from Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s and Costco Wholesale to Safeway, Aldi USA and more.
The redevelopment will bring a variety of key retail and mixed-use brands to Green Acres, including ShopRite, which will feature its array of fresh foods and value offerings.
The mall hosts a range of popular retailers and large-format stores such as Macy’s, Old Navy, HomeGoods, new Primark, Uniqlo, H&M, Victoria’s Secret, Burlington, Pandora, and many more. Additional stores such as Asphalt NYC, AT&T Mobility, Best Buy, and Be-Jeweled cater to diverse customer needs.
Dining facilities at Green Acres Mall
Green Acres Mall offers a selection of dining choices, such as Panera Bread, Wetzel’s Pretzels, Wendy’s, Trini Street Food, TGI Fridays, Red Lobster, Popeyes, Olive Garden, OB Express, My Kitchen Salad Bar, Red Lobster, Lasaka Noodle House, A & D Buffalo’s, Auntie Anne’s, Applebee’s, Chipotle, and more.
Other options include Sarku Japan, San Wei, Fresh Smoothies, Real Fruit Bubble Tea BJ’s Restaurant/Brewhouse, and Starbucks.
Contractors involved
JPRA Architects, a US-based architecture company, has been appointed to handle the design and architectural tasks for the transformation of Green Acres Mall.
