Wikipedia

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.

Smith Haven Mall
Outdoor lifestyle center at Smith Haven Mall
Map
LocationLake Grove, New York
Opening dateMarch 12, 1969; 55 years ago (March 12, 1969)
DeveloperMacy's
ManagementSimon Property Group
OwnerSimon Property Group (25%)
ArchitectCopeland, Novak, & Israel
No. of stores and services119
No. of anchor tenants4
Total retail floor area1,204,769 square feet (111,927 m2)[1]
No. of floors1 (2 in Dick's Sporting Goods, former JCPenney, and former Sears, 3 in Macy's)
ParkingLighted lot
Public transit accessBus transport Suffolk County Transit: 4, 5, 51, 58, 62
WebsiteSmith Haven Mall

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

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Plans for the mall were first announced in October 1965 by Macy's, to be called "Nesconset Shopping Center".[3] After a preview event with guest of honor Robert Moses on March 10, 1969, the mall, with anchors Macy's and Abraham & Straus (later Stern's and now a lifestyle village), opened on March 12.[4][5] They were followed soon after by a 68,000-square-foot (6,300 m2) Martin's (later Steinbach,[6] then JCPenney),[7] and then Sears.[4] Century Theatres opened a location in the mall in May 1969.[8][9]

The mall is notable for the works of public art which it originally held. One of the developers, Leonard Holzer, was married to art dealer Jane Holzer. She had her husband set aside $350,000 in the mall's budget to commission sculptures and paintings 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, after being taken down in 1972, 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 Garmercy Park and has since been placed on display around Europe.[17][18]

Cineplex Odeon Corporation upgraded the existing movie theater to include four screens in 1989[8] and added another eight in 1998.[19] However, the theater ultimately closed in May 2002.[8] Smith Haven Mall underwent a massive multimillion-dollar renovation project between 2006 and 2007, in which the space once occupied by Stern's and the adjacent unused parking lots was redeveloped into an open-air "lifestyle center format.[12][20] 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.[21] In addition, on November 16, 2006 the newly constructed Cheesecake Factory was opened.[22] In February 2008, Abercrombie & Fitch's new concept Gilly Hicks, an underwear store for women, opened one of its first stores.[23] In July 2008, Bobby Flay's first Bobby's Burger Palace location was opened at the mall.[24]

In July 2013, Uniqlo opened its first Long Island store at the mall.[25] Gilly Hicks closed in December 2013 when the company decided to move away from brick-and-mortar locations.[26] A P.F. Chang's location opened at the mall that same month.[27] On June 23, 2017, L.L.Bean opened its first Long Island location at the Smith Haven Mall.[28]

On February 28, 2019, JCPenney announced it would be closing its Lake Grove location on July 15 as part of 18 store closures nationwide.[29] A Lego Store opened in November 2019.[30] On February 12, 2020, it was announced Sears would shut down as part of an ongoing decision to eliminate its brick-and-mortar format.[31]

The mall closed on March 19, 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and remained closed until July.[32][33] In July 2020, Bobby's Burger Palace permanently closed.[34] A Ruth's Chris Steakhouse location opened at the mall in December 2021.[35]

In July 2023, Stony Brook Medicine opened a new outpatient center in the space previously occupied by Sears.[36] In September 2023, Warby Parker opened a store at the Smith Haven Mall.[37] In October 2023, it was announced that Primark would be replacing JCPenney that November.[38][39] New York Fries opened in May 2024.[40]

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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".[41]

References

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  1. ^ "Leasing & Advertising at Smith Haven Mall, a SIMON Center". business.simon.com. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  2. ^ Petrone, Justin (August 18, 2004). "Mall owners want breezy restoration". The Times Beacon Record. Archived from the original on 2013-07-31. 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. ^ a b 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 (1986-06-29). "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. ^ a b c "Smith Haven Mall Theatre in Lake Grove, NY - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  9. ^ "Century's Smith Haven Mall opening". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). 1969-05-27. p. 129. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  10. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b Sobel, Elizabeth W. (November 21, 2005). "Smith Haven Mall renovations unveiled". The Times Beacon Record. Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. 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 2024-08-22.
  14. ^ "Larry Rivers Artist Index". Veredart.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2011.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ^ Mohr, Ian (2021-09-07). "Giant 'Legs' sculpture walks off for $100K at Hamptons art fair". New York Post. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  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 (2011-10-05). "Exclusive: Major Alexander Calder Sculpture Goes on View at Gramercy Park". Observer. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  18. ^ Greenberger, Alex (2014-11-20). "Calder Sculpture Returns to Gramercy Park". ARTnews.com. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  19. ^ Enchin, Harvey (1997-07-03). "Cineplex expands N.Y. sites". Variety. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  20. ^ Cotsalas, Valerie (November 20, 2005). "Long Island; Making a Mall More Like Main Street". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  21. ^ Caolo, David (2006-09-04). "New York, Virginia Apple Stores open this weekend". Yahoo Life. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  22. ^ "The Cheesecake Factory Opens in Lake Grove, New York". Business Wire. November 17, 2006. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  23. ^ Moin, David (2008-01-22). "A&F's Growing Family: Gilly Hicks Launched as Kin to Other Brands". WWD. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  24. ^ Powderly, Henry E. II (July 15, 2008). "Bobby Flay meets the mall". Long Island Business News. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  25. ^ Morris, Keiko (2013-07-12). "Uniqlo to open first Long Island store at Smith Haven Mall". Newsday. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  26. ^ Sloat, Jennifer (2013-12-06). "Gilly Hicks to Shutter Mall Location Next Month". Sachem, NY Patch. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  27. ^ Walsh, Sara (2013-12-02). "P.F. Chang's Opens at Smith Haven Mall". Smithtown, NY Patch. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ 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 2021-07-12.
  30. ^ Cohen, Lon (November 2, 2019). "Lego Store opens in Smith Haven Mall". Longisland.com. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  31. ^ Parrish, Tory N. (February 12, 2020). "Sears at Smith Haven Mall closing". Newsday. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020.
  32. ^ "5 Long Island malls to close today amid coronavirus outbreak". bronx.news12.com. March 19, 2020. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  33. ^ DeSantis, Michael (2020-07-10). "2 Suffolk Malls To Reopen". Smithtown, NY Patch. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  34. ^ DeSantis, Michael (2020-07-09). "Bobby's Burger Palace At Smith Haven Mall Closes: Report". Smithtown, NY Patch. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  35. ^ Borruto, Ana (2021-12-06). "Ruth's Chris Steak House now open in Smith Haven Mall". Greater Long Island. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  36. ^ "Building a Healthier Future for LI: Stony Brook Medicine Unveils New State-of-the-Art Outpatient Care Facility in Lake Grove". Stony Brook University. 2023-07-24. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  37. ^ DeSantis, Michael (2023-09-28). "Warby Parker Opening In Smith Haven Mall Of Lake Grove". Smithtown, NY Patch. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  38. ^ Wilson, Marianne (August 9, 2022). "Primark continues expansion into new states; announces price freeze". Chain Store Age. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  39. ^ Parrish, Tony N. (2023-10-11). "Primark, Irish value retailer, opening 3rd Long Island store in November". Newsday. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  40. ^ Spiess, Hayden (2024-05-28). "New York Fries Opens at Smith Haven Mall in New York". Shopping Center Business. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  41. ^ "THE MOVIELIFE LYRICS - Single White Female". www.plyrics.com. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
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