Sunrise Highway and Green Acres Road
Nassau County (Town of Hempstead), New York
Plans for the second shopping mall on Long Island were announced in mid-1954. A 104-acre plot, previously the Curtiss Airfield, became the construction site for a 30 million dollar retail facility. The land parcel was located in a section of Nassau County's Town of Hempstead and was adjacent to the Village of Valley Stream.
GREEN ACRES CENTER was developed by the New York City-based Chanin Organization and designed by Irwin S. Chanin. The shopping complex was built as a component of the Chanin Organization's Green Acres housing development. This community was implemented between 1936-1942 and 1951-1959.
Open-air in format, the mall encompassed approximately 763,900 leasable square feet and consisted of a main mall level and service basement. In its original incarnation, GREEN ACRES CENTER contained seventy-one stores. The first to open for business was a 3-level (218,700 square foot), Gimbels-New York, which began business on October 11, 1956.
Charter inline stores included Lerner Shops, Regent Men's Shop, Oppenheim Collins and J.J. Newberry and F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10s. On the periphery of the mall were two supermarkets; a (38,000 square foot) First National Stores and (40,000 square foot) Grand Union.
The mall's (52,000 square foot) J.J. Newberry welcomed first shoppers on May 20, 1957. One of the final charter stores was a 1-level (53,400 square foot) J.C. Penney, which was dedicated on June 6, 1957. New York City-based Lanes added 3-level (216,400 square foot) department store to the east end of the complex. Dedicated on May 5, 1960, it shared space with Dime Savings & Loan.
The Redstone Theatres Sunrise Drive-In occupied a site adjacent to the west end of the mall. This venue, which was the first open-air cinema in New York State, had opened on August 10, 1938. The Century's Green Acres Theatre was built on the northwest corner of the mall site and showed its first feature on September 15, 1961.
The First National Stores grocery morphed into a Finast in January 1964. Another peripheral GREEN ACRES structure was a 4-level (320,000 square foot), New York City-based Alexander's. This store opened on September 18, 1967.
Shopping malls in the GREEN ACRES trade area included ROOSEVELT FIELD CENTER (1956) {7.4 miles northeast, in Nassau County}, KING'S PLAZA (1970) {10.8 miles southwest, in Brooklyn} and QUEENS CENTER (1973) {9 miles northwest, in Queens}. In order to keep up with its climate-controlled competitors, GREEN ACRES CENTER was roofed-in in 1969-1970.
The mall's (52,000 square foot) J.J. Newberry welcomed first shoppers on May 20, 1957. One of the final charter stores was a 1-level (53,400 square foot) J.C. Penney, which was dedicated on June 6, 1957. New York City-based Lanes added 3-level (216,400 square foot) department store to the east end of the complex. Dedicated on May 5, 1960, it shared space with Dime Savings & Loan.
The Redstone Theatres Sunrise Drive-In occupied a site adjacent to the west end of the mall. This venue, which was the first open-air cinema in New York State, had opened on August 10, 1938. The Century's Green Acres Theatre was built on the northwest corner of the mall site and showed its first feature on September 15, 1961.
The First National Stores grocery morphed into a Finast in January 1964. Another peripheral GREEN ACRES structure was a 4-level (320,000 square foot), New York City-based Alexander's. This store opened on September 18, 1967.
Shopping malls in the GREEN ACRES trade area included ROOSEVELT FIELD CENTER (1956) {7.4 miles northeast, in Nassau County}, KING'S PLAZA (1970) {10.8 miles southwest, in Brooklyn} and QUEENS CENTER (1973) {9 miles northwest, in Queens}. In order to keep up with its climate-controlled competitors, GREEN ACRES CENTER was roofed-in in 1969-1970.
In 1978, the mall was sold to the New York City-based Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. Equitable formed a joint venture with the Kravco Company, of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. A second mall renovation commenced in August 1982; this designed by the Gilboy, Sauffer, Giombetti, Skibinski and Davies firm, of Clark Summit, Pennsylvania.
During the 46 million dollar project, store spaces in the existing mall were reconfigured. It is likely that the sales area of J.C. Penney was expanded into the store's basement at this time, increasing its area to 113,160 square feet. A center store block was demolished to make way for a 2-level (235,000 square foot) North Wing. Skylights were installed in the existing mall, along with fountains, trees, hanging plants, terra cotta brick flooring and a glass-enclosed elevator. The new addition was anchored by a 2-level (150,000 square foot) Sears, with an attached parking garage and Auto Center.
The 16-bay International Food Court occupied a second level of the new mall wing, which was dedicated on October 10, 1983. With its completion, the complex, now promoted as GREEN ACRES MALL, encompassed approximately 1,215,300 leasable square feet and housed 200 stores and services. By the mid-1980s, the two anchor stores at GREEN ACRES MALL had been rebranded. Gimbels morphed into a New York City-based Abraham & Straus on October 10, 1986 and was "Macy-ated" on April 30, 1995.
The mall's east anchor space has a more involved history. Lanes was shuttered in late 1965. The space re-opened as Love's, a division of New York City-based S. Klein, in March 1966. By early 1968, the store was operating as a bona fide S. Klein. This lasted until 1975. Klein's was replaced by a New York City-based Korvettes discount mart. This became a Queens-based Gertz in the fall of 1982, which was rebranded by Paramus, New Jersey-based Stern's in late 1983. Stern's closed in August 2001 and re-opened as today's Macy's Men's Store & Furniture Gallery.
Meanwhile, the Sunrise Drive-In had closed and been replaced by the National Amusements Sunrise Cinemas 1-6, which began business on December 7, 1979. The freestanding Alexander's department store had been shuttered in June 1992. Its building was demolished, with a 1-level (135,000 square foot), Norwalk, Connecticut-based Caldor discount mart built nearby. It was dedicated July 28, 1994. A Home Depot, situated on the mall's southwestern periphery, had opened for business in May of the same year.
More changes occurred during the late 1990s. The mall's owner, the Conshohocken, Pennsylvania-based Arbor Property Trust, merged with the New Jersey-based Vornado Realty Trust in August 1997. The Caldor chain went bust in May 1999. The GREEN ACRES store was assumed by Target. A Kmart, located in the adjacent PLAZA AT GREEN ACRES strip center went out of business in 2002. Wal-Mart occupied its spot in October 2003.
In March 2007, GREEN ACRES MALL emerged from its third remodeling. The interior had been given a face lift and a parking garage added south of Macy's. New peripheral stores were built, such as Best Buy, Levitz Furniture and a 1-level (122,000 square foot), Westborough, Massachusetts-based BJ's Wholesale Club. The Century's Green Acres Theatre closed for good in September 2011.
In October 2012, Southern California's Macerich Company acquired GREEN ACRES MALL. In June 2014, they embarked on a 2-year-long renovation. The south facade was rebuilt with new entrances and a small Streetscape housed three exterior-entranced restaurants. Chipotle Mexican Grill and Panera Bread welcomed first diners in February 2015. PizzaRev began business in May 2016.
The final phase of the 80 million dollar renovation added a 2-level (72,200 square foot), New York City-based Century 21 discount fashion store. Installed in existing North Wing space, it was dedicated on October 25, 2015. An interior remodeling included a rebuild of the existing Food Court and installation of new soft-seating, escalators and lighting in common areas.
In January 2015, the Sunrise Cinemas 1-6 was shuttered and demolished. Work got underway on Green Acres Commons, an 84 million dollar strip complex, in August 2015. The 350,000 square foot power plaza opened for business in October 2016. Some of its tenants were Ashley Furniture HomeStore, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, Burlington (Coat Factory) and Dick's Sporting Goods.
J.C. Penney shuttered their GREEN ACRES store on April 24, 2020, ending over 62 years of operation. The ground floor space was divided two ways. Ireland's Primark opened a (35,000 square foot) unit on June 22, 2023. Japan's Uniqlo dedicated an (18,300 square foot) store on October 22nd. The Century 21 chain folded in December 2020. New York City-based Shoppers World leased the vacant space, debuted on September 30, 2021, and had closed for good by July 2024.
The 16-bay International Food Court occupied a second level of the new mall wing, which was dedicated on October 10, 1983. With its completion, the complex, now promoted as GREEN ACRES MALL, encompassed approximately 1,215,300 leasable square feet and housed 200 stores and services. By the mid-1980s, the two anchor stores at GREEN ACRES MALL had been rebranded. Gimbels morphed into a New York City-based Abraham & Straus on October 10, 1986 and was "Macy-ated" on April 30, 1995.
The mall's east anchor space has a more involved history. Lanes was shuttered in late 1965. The space re-opened as Love's, a division of New York City-based S. Klein, in March 1966. By early 1968, the store was operating as a bona fide S. Klein. This lasted until 1975. Klein's was replaced by a New York City-based Korvettes discount mart. This became a Queens-based Gertz in the fall of 1982, which was rebranded by Paramus, New Jersey-based Stern's in late 1983. Stern's closed in August 2001 and re-opened as today's Macy's Men's Store & Furniture Gallery.
Meanwhile, the Sunrise Drive-In had closed and been replaced by the National Amusements Sunrise Cinemas 1-6, which began business on December 7, 1979. The freestanding Alexander's department store had been shuttered in June 1992. Its building was demolished, with a 1-level (135,000 square foot), Norwalk, Connecticut-based Caldor discount mart built nearby. It was dedicated July 28, 1994. A Home Depot, situated on the mall's southwestern periphery, had opened for business in May of the same year.
More changes occurred during the late 1990s. The mall's owner, the Conshohocken, Pennsylvania-based Arbor Property Trust, merged with the New Jersey-based Vornado Realty Trust in August 1997. The Caldor chain went bust in May 1999. The GREEN ACRES store was assumed by Target. A Kmart, located in the adjacent PLAZA AT GREEN ACRES strip center went out of business in 2002. Wal-Mart occupied its spot in October 2003.
In March 2007, GREEN ACRES MALL emerged from its third remodeling. The interior had been given a face lift and a parking garage added south of Macy's. New peripheral stores were built, such as Best Buy, Levitz Furniture and a 1-level (122,000 square foot), Westborough, Massachusetts-based BJ's Wholesale Club. The Century's Green Acres Theatre closed for good in September 2011.
In October 2012, Southern California's Macerich Company acquired GREEN ACRES MALL. In June 2014, they embarked on a 2-year-long renovation. The south facade was rebuilt with new entrances and a small Streetscape housed three exterior-entranced restaurants. Chipotle Mexican Grill and Panera Bread welcomed first diners in February 2015. PizzaRev began business in May 2016.
The final phase of the 80 million dollar renovation added a 2-level (72,200 square foot), New York City-based Century 21 discount fashion store. Installed in existing North Wing space, it was dedicated on October 25, 2015. An interior remodeling included a rebuild of the existing Food Court and installation of new soft-seating, escalators and lighting in common areas.
In January 2015, the Sunrise Cinemas 1-6 was shuttered and demolished. Work got underway on Green Acres Commons, an 84 million dollar strip complex, in August 2015. The 350,000 square foot power plaza opened for business in October 2016. Some of its tenants were Ashley Furniture HomeStore, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, Burlington (Coat Factory) and Dick's Sporting Goods.
J.C. Penney shuttered their GREEN ACRES store on April 24, 2020, ending over 62 years of operation. The ground floor space was divided two ways. Ireland's Primark opened a (35,000 square foot) unit on June 22, 2023. Japan's Uniqlo dedicated an (18,300 square foot) store on October 22nd. The Century 21 chain folded in December 2020. New York City-based Shoppers World leased the vacant space, debuted on September 30, 2021, and had closed for good by July 2024.
Sears at GREEN ACRES had gone dark on April 18, 2021. This prompted Macerich to envision another mall redevelopment; this project announced in January 2024. Some 400,000 square feet of retail will be reconfigured or built from the ground up. The abandoned Sears, and its Auto Center, will be demolished. An (80,000 square foot) ShopRite supermarket and new northeast mall entrance will be constructed.
Sources:
The New York Times
The New York Daily News
The Long Island Herald (Lawrence, New York)
http://www.vsvny.org / "Green Acres: The Greatest Planned Neighborhood You've Never Heard Of" / Ted Orosz & Sean Di Luccio / 2014
Nassau County, New York tax assessor website
http://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.newyorkdriveins.com
http://www.vno.com / Vornado Realty Trust
http://www.greenacresmallonline.com (website on Internet archive Wayback Machine)
The New York Times
The New York Daily News
The Long Island Herald (Lawrence, New York)
http://www.vsvny.org / "Green Acres: The Greatest Planned Neighborhood You've Never Heard Of" / Ted Orosz & Sean Di Luccio / 2014
Nassau County, New York tax assessor website
http://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.newyorkdriveins.com
http://www.vno.com / Vornado Realty Trust
http://www.greenacresmallonline.com (website on Internet archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.shopgreenacres.com
http://www.macerich.com / The Macerich Company
http://www.macerich.com / The Macerich Company
https://investing.macerich.com
https://patch.com
https://patch.com
https://therealdeal.com
https://corporate.primark.com
https://greaterlongisland.com
"Green Acres Mall" article on Wikipedia
