East River Plaza

East River Plaza is a shopping center in East Harlem, New York City, located along FDR Drive near the Harlem River, between East 116th and East 119th Streets and between Pleasant Avenue and the highway. The center occupies a six-level complex attached to a parking garage and was developed as a large-format retail destination for Upper Manhattan and surrounding neighborhoods. Its tenant mix has included Costco, Burlington Coat Factory, Marshalls, ALDI, Planet Fitness, Target, Best Buy, Old Navy, PetSmart, Bob's Discount Furniture, and Ashley Furniture HomeStores, although the lineup has changed substantially over time. The site has an industrial history. Before the shopping center was built, it contained the Washburn Wire Factory Complex, a group of six buildings constructed in 1903 for the manufacture of wire products. The company was associated with Ichabod Washburn, and the factory reportedly employed as many as 1,200 people at the height of its operations. The plant closed in 1976, leaving a large redevelopment site in East Harlem. BDG acquired the property in 1996, and the former factory buildings were subsequently demolished to make way for a retail project. The redevelopment took approximately 15 years from the initial property acquisition to the shopping center's opening. Construction began in 2006, and East River Plaza opened on November 12, 2009. Costco was the first major tenant to open. Other retailers, including Best Buy, Bob's Discount Furniture, Marshalls, Old Navy, PetSmart, and Target, arrived during 2010. Target and PetSmart were particularly notable because their locations were described as first Manhattan stores for those chains. The center was designed to combine destination retailers with neighborhood-oriented services, including a supermarket, discount apparel stores, fitness facilities, and health clinics. The plaza's development also generated criticism. Early commentary focused on the cost of parking, particularly for Costco customers, at a time when Costco was the only operating tenant. Critics argued that parking charges could discourage visits and contribute to weak early sales, while the developer partnership involving Forest City Ratner and Blumenfeld Development said the charges were needed to service project-financing loans. The debate reflected broader tensions around a suburban-style shopping format, automobile access, and the needs of a dense East Harlem neighborhood. Tenant turnover has been a defining feature of the center's later history. Best Buy announced in April 2012 that it would close its East River Plaza store as part of a company restructuring; the location shut on May 12, 2012. ALDI opened its East River Plaza supermarket on October 1, 2012, adding a value-oriented grocery option and expanding the center's food retail offer. Burlington Coat Factory later occupied the former Best Buy space, with the store operating by January 2014. PetSmart closed on April 4, 2020, after the retailer and landlord were unable to agree on lease terms. Old Navy also permanently closed by January 2021. Ashley Furniture HomeStores subsequently announced a 10-year lease for the former Old Navy space in April 2022 and opened there in September 2022. Target announced on September 26, 2023, that its East River Plaza store was among nine locations it planned to close, citing continuing organized theft and vandalism. The store closed on October 21, 2023, despite protests from community members who argued that its departure would reduce local access to retail and affect nearby small businesses. East River Plaza therefore remains best understood as a locally significant, evolving retail complex rather than a fixed collection of stores: its role has been shaped by industrial-site redevelopment, anchor-tenant turnover, parking economics, neighborhood demand, and the operating decisions of national chains.

East River Plaza was built on a former industrial property in East Harlem, New York City. The predecessor site was the Washburn Wire Factory Complex, constructed in 1903 as a six-building wire-manufacturing operation associated with Ichabod Washburn. At its peak, the factory employed up to 1,200 workers. Production ended in 1976, leaving the property available for redevelopment. BDG acquired the site in 1996. The redevelopment process lasted roughly 15 years and ultimately involved the demolition of the former factory buildings, construction of a retail complex, and integration of a parking garage. Building work began in 2006. East River Plaza opened on November 12, 2009, with Costco as the first operating tenant. The center was planned as a substantial retail destination along FDR Drive, with access to large-format stores that had been comparatively limited in Manhattan. During 2010, the center added several prominent tenants, including Best Buy, Bob's Discount Furniture, Marshalls, Old Navy, PetSmart, and Target. Target and PetSmart were identified as first Manhattan locations for their respective chains. The completed complex contained seven stores, three anchor stores, a fitness gym, and two health clinics, and occupied six levels connected to a parking structure. The center faced early criticism over parking costs. Because Costco was initially the only open tenant, some observers argued that parking charges made the destination less attractive and contributed to disappointing early sales. The development partnership, described as involving Forest City Ratner and Blumenfeld Development, maintained that the fees were necessary to repay loans used to finance construction. This controversy highlighted the difficulty of adapting a car-oriented retail model to a dense urban neighborhood. The tenant roster changed repeatedly during the 2010s and 2020s. Best Buy announced a closure in April 2012 during a corporate restructuring and left the center by May 12. ALDI opened on October 1, 2012, introducing a discount grocery format and reportedly becoming the chain's first Manhattan store. Burlington Coat Factory later took over the former Best Buy premises and was operating there by January 2014. PetSmart closed on April 4, 2020, after the retailer and landlord could not agree on lease terms. Old Navy had also closed permanently by January 2021. In April 2022, Ashley Furniture HomeStores announced a 10-year lease for the former Old Navy unit; its store opened in September of that year. Target's departure became another major change. On September 26, 2023, Target listed the East River Plaza store among nine closures, attributing the decision to ongoing organized theft and vandalism. The store closed on October 21, 2023, despite protests by community members concerned about local retail access and effects on nearby businesses. The history of East River Plaza is therefore a history of adaptive urban redevelopment and continuing tenant substitution. The center transformed a long-closed factory site into a mixed retail and service complex, but its performance and identity have depended on parking arrangements, lease negotiations, national-chain strategy, security concerns, and the retail needs of East Harlem.

• 2023

  Target closes

  [1]East River Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Target closed its East River Plaza store on October 21 following a corporate closure announcement citing theft and vandalism.

• 2022

  Ashley Furniture opens

  [1]East River Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Ashley Furniture HomeStores opened in the former Old Navy space in September.

• 2020

  PetSmart closes

  [1]East River Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  PetSmart left the center after a lease disagreement with the landlord.

• 2012

  Best Buy closes and ALDI opens

  [1]East River Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Best Buy departed in May, while ALDI opened on October 1.

• 2010

  Initial retail expansion

  [1]East River Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Best Buy, Bob's Discount Furniture, Marshalls, Old Navy, PetSmart, and Target joined the center during 2010.

• 2009

  East River Plaza opens

  [1]East River Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The shopping center opened on November 12, with Costco as its first operating tenant.

• 2006

  Shopping-center construction begins

  [1]East River Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Construction started after the former factory structures were cleared.

• 1996

  BDG acquires the redevelopment site

  [1]East River Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  BDG purchased the former factory property for redevelopment.

• 1976

  Factory operations end

  [1]East River Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The Washburn Wire factory closed after decades of industrial use.

• 1903

  Washburn Wire Factory Complex constructed

  [1]East River Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  A six-building wire-manufacturing complex was established on the future East River Plaza site.

A destination-oriented neighborhood shopping center serving East Harlem and nearby Upper Manhattan communities with value retail, grocery, household goods, furniture, fitness, and services.

• Retail real estate · 2009

  Shopping-center retail services

  East River Plaza is not a packaged-goods brand; its principal offering is a physical retail environment that brings together large-format stores, discount merchants, grocery, furniture, fitness, and health-related services. Its tenant mix has changed over time, so the center's commercial proposition is best described as a multi-tenant neighborhood shopping destination rather than a single retail assortment.

• Wholesale club · 2009

  Costco warehouse retail

  Costco was the first tenant to open at East River Plaza and served as an early destination anchor. Its warehouse-club format brought bulk groceries, household products, and other merchandise to the center, while also contributing to the initial debate over parking charges and automobile access.

• Grocery · 2012

  ALDI supermarket

  ALDI opened at the center in October 2012. The discount supermarket expanded East River Plaza's everyday shopping function beyond destination retail and was reported as the chain's first Manhattan location.

• General merchandise · 2010

  Target

  Target was one of the center's early major tenants and was described as the retailer's first Manhattan location. It provided general merchandise and household shopping until Target announced the store's closure in September 2023 and shut it on October 21 of that year.

• Furniture · 2022

  Ashley Furniture HomeStores

  Ashley Furniture HomeStores leased the former Old Navy space under a 10-year agreement announced in April 2022. The store opened in September 2022, adding home furnishings and furniture to the center's large-format retail mix.

• Fitness services

  Planet Fitness

  Planet Fitness has been identified as the fitness-gym component of East River Plaza. It broadens the center's use beyond shopping by providing membership-based exercise and wellness services.

• 2023

  Target closure following security concernsOther

  Background

  Target cited continuing organized theft and vandalism when announcing the closure of nine stores, including East River Plaza.

  Action taken

  Target announced the closure on September 26 and shut the store on October 21, 2023.

  Aftermath

  Community members protested, arguing that the departure would reduce local shopping access and affect surrounding small businesses.

  Source

• 2022

  Ashley Furniture takes former Old Navy unitStrategy

  Background

  After Old Navy's departure, East River Plaza had a large vacant retail space available for replacement.

  Action taken

  Ashley Furniture HomeStores announced a 10-year lease in April 2022 and opened in September.

  Aftermath

  The tenant replacement maintained a large-format home-goods presence at the center.

  Source

• 2020

  PetSmart lease endsOther

  Background

  PetSmart and the landlord were unable to reach an agreement on the store's lease.

  Action taken

  PetSmart closed its East River Plaza location on April 4, 2020.

  Aftermath

  The center lost a pet-supply and services tenant; no successor is specified in the available material.

  Source

• 2012

  Best Buy store closureOther

  Background

  Best Buy announced that its East River Plaza store would close during a company-wide restructuring.

  Action taken

  The location closed by May 12, 2012.

  Aftermath

  The former Best Buy space was later occupied by Burlington Coat Factory.

  Source

• 2012

  ALDI enters Manhattan through East River PlazaProduct launch

  Background

  The center sought to broaden its tenant mix with an everyday grocery offering.

  Action taken

  ALDI opened a supermarket at East River Plaza on October 1, 2012.

  Aftermath

  The opening added discount grocery retail to the center and expanded its neighborhood-service role.

  Source

1. 1East River Plazaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2East River Plaza official websiteeastriverplaza.com