KINGS PLAZA
Flatbush Avenue and Avenue UNew York, New York (Brooklyn Borough)
New York's first in-city, regional-class shopping mall was developed by a joint venture of R.H. Macy & Company and the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company. The 2-level shopping facility was built on 26 acres, located 22 miles southeast of Times Square, in the Mill Basin section of Brooklyn.
KINGS PLAZA was designed by New York City's Emery Roth & Sons. Ground was broken on July 8, 1968. An official dedication for the 50 million dollar venue was held September 11, 1970, with forty-two stores and services opening their doors. Attending the grand opening were Sebastian Leone (Interim Borough President), Louis J. Lefkowitz (State Attorney General), David Yunich (President of R.H. Macy & Company) and Ruth L. Farkas (Director of Alexander's).
The 1,078,700 square foot shopping complex was originally anchored by a 4-level (325,000 square foot) Macy's and 4-level (330,000 square foot) Alexander's. By December 1970, the mall housed seventy-nine stores. In December 1971, there were 118.
Charter tenants included Sbarro Italian Eatery, Chess King, Sam Goody Music, Waldenbooks, Bun 'n Burger, Orange Bowl, Roaman's, Barracini Candy, Zum Zum's Deli and the twin-screen Century's Kings Plaza North & South. This venue was quaded in 1983 and reconfigured as a 6-plex in 1995.
Meanwhile, in 1985, R.H. Macy had sold its 50-percent share of KINGS PLAZA to Paramus, New Jersey-based Alexander's, Incorporated. 3 years later, Alexander's established full ownership. The Paramus-based Vornado Realty Trust absorbed the holdings of Alexander's, Incorporated in the mid-1990s.
The Alexander's department store was shuttered in August 1992. The empty space was sectioned into three stores. A 4-level (289,200 square foot) Sears opened for business October 25, 1997. Remaining First Level space was configured as a (16,800 square foot) Modell's Sporting Goods. Second Level space became a (28,100 square foot) Old Navy.
A 50 million dollar, mall-wide face lift got underway in May 1999. Two large skylights were installed in court areas, four obtrusive stairways were removed and replaced by new escalators and floors were recovered in terrazzo and carpet.
The remodeled KINGS PLAZA, which now housed 130 stores and services, was re-dedicated on January 18, 2001. Its tenant list now included Ann Taylor Loft, American Eagle Outfitters, New York & Company and Avenue. Later in the decade, a 1-level (94,000 square foot) Lowe's Home Improvement Center was added to the north end of the mall site. The freestanding store opened for business July 23, 2010. The 6-plex cinema had been shuttered earlier in the year.
On the level below, an existing H & M was shifted north, taking in space previously leased by Washington Mutual Bank and Payless ShoeSource. Area vacated by the move became the first floor of a new Best Buy, whose second floor occupied the old cinema. The (56,400 square foot) store opened for business in the spring of 2011.
Southern California's Macerich Company bought the shopping hub from the Vornado Realty Trust in October 2012. Within a few years, the mall would lose one of its anchor stores. Sears went dark in September 2016. The vacant space was gutted and reconfigured as four stores; a 3-level, (57,900 square foot), Primark, 2-level Zara, 2-level (75,000 square foot) J.C. Penney and 1-level (52,900 square foot) Burlington.
Primark opened for business on July 7, 2018. J.C. Penney held its grand opening on August 10. The mall's Flatbush Avenue facade was also rebuilt to accommodate the new tenants, while its courts and concourses were refurbished with new elevators, escalators, soft seating areas and lighting.
J.C. Penney was short-lived. The KINGS PLAZA store was shuttered on September 27, 2020, after only 2 years of operation. Target assumed the Penney's space and welcomed first customers on August 13, 2023. The new Target included CVS Drug and Starbucks Coffee departments.
Sources:
The New York Times
The New York Daily News
http://www.kingsplazaonline.com
https://www.amny.com
http://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.macerich.com / The Macerich Company
http://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.macerich.com / The Macerich Company
"Kings Plaza" article on Wikipedia
