Green Acres Mall

Green Acres Mall is a large regional shopping center in the South Valley Stream hamlet of Valley Stream, Nassau County, New York, close to the border with the New York City borough of Queens. The property occupies a strategically accessible position along Sunrise Highway and serves shoppers from Long Island as well as neighboring parts of New York City. Its location, substantial tenant mix, department-store anchors, restaurants, entertainment uses, and connections to regional bus services have made it one of the best-known shopping destinations in the area. The mall opened in 1956 on the northern part of the former Curtiss Airfield. The site was also associated with the former Columbia Aircraft Corporation, linking the shopping center to the aviation and industrial history of Long Island. Green Acres began as one of the region's early open-air malls, an important format during the postwar expansion of suburban retail. In its early years, the property also hosted live or remote broadcasts from New York radio stations, including WMCA and WABC, which helped give the center a public profile beyond ordinary retail activity. A major physical transformation took place in 1968, when the open-air center was enclosed to provide a more weather-protected shopping environment. At that point, its principal department-store anchors included Lane's, JCPenney, and Gimbels. The property continued to evolve as department-store chains changed ownership, failed, rebranded, or vacated space. Later anchor occupants included Alexander's, Sears, Abraham & Straus, Stern's, Macy's, Kohl's, Century 21, and other national retailers. These changes reflect the broader restructuring of American department-store retail. An important expansion occurred in 1983. The project added a second floor and a food court and brought Sears to the center as an additional anchor. Green Acres subsequently underwent further modernization to compete with other major Long Island malls, particularly Roosevelt Field. A substantial food-court renovation was completed in 2006, followed by upgrades to ceilings and flooring completed in 2007. New large-format and specialty tenants, including Best Buy, PetSmart, and BJ's Wholesale Club, also joined the wider complex during that period. The property changed ownership from Vornado Realty Trust to The Macerich Company in a transaction completed in early 2013. Macerich remains the owner and operator identified for the mall. In 2015, a separate open-air retail and dining component known as Green Acres Commons was developed on part of the wider complex. The project opened in October 2016 and added restaurants, apparel and specialty retailers, fitness, home goods, sporting goods, and other services. The Commons broadened the site beyond a conventional enclosed mall and created a more mixed-format retail destination. As of the supplied 2026 reference material, the enclosed mall has approximately 2,069,000 square feet of gross leasable area and is described as the 18th-largest mall in the United States. Its anchor lineup includes two Macy's operations and Primark, while stores such as Express, H&M, and Uniqlo represent its fashion-oriented tenant base. The property is also connected to retailers and services in the surrounding complex, including Walmart and Home Depot. In 2024, Macerich announced a major redevelopment involving the former Sears area. The plan calls for partial demolition of the former store and adjacent facilities, expanded retail, dining and entertainment uses, improved amenities, new green space, and a planned ShopRite supermarket. The project illustrates the mall's continuing shift from a traditional department-store format toward a broader, experience-led and convenience-oriented retail complex.

Green Acres Mall opened in 1956 on the northern portion of Curtiss Airfield in what is now South Valley Stream, Nassau County, New York. The site was partly associated with the former Columbia Aircraft Corporation, and the mall's creation formed part of the postwar growth of suburban retail on Long Island. It was among the area's early open-air shopping centers. During its first years, the property also served as a location for radio activity, with WMCA's "Good Guys" and WABC broadcasting from the mall at different times. The center was enclosed in 1968 in an effort to create a more comfortable and attractive shopping environment. Its early enclosed-era anchors included Lane's, JCPenney, and Gimbels. Green Acres then passed through repeated retail transformations as department-store operators changed. Lane's was replaced through a succession of occupants that included Love's, S. Klein, Korvettes, Gertz, and Stern's. Gimbels was replaced by Abraham & Straus and later Macy's. Alexander's operated as a large freestanding department store near Sunrise Highway until the chain's bankruptcy in 1992; that site later became a Caldor and then Target. A 1983 expansion added a second floor, a food court, and Sears as another anchor. The mall's competitive environment was shaped by other major Long Island properties, especially Roosevelt Field. In response, Green Acres invested in improvements during the 2000s. A multimillion-dollar food-court renovation was completed in 2006, while ceiling and flooring renovations were completed in March 2007. Best Buy, PetSmart, and BJ's Wholesale Club also opened in or around the complex during early 2007. Ownership changed in the early 2010s. Vornado Realty Trust operated the mall until the property was marketed for sale. The Macerich Company acquired it in a transaction completed in early 2013 and continued as owner and operator in the supplied reference material. Under Macerich, the broader property adopted a more mixed-format approach. The former Sunrise Cinemas complex at 750 Sunrise Highway was acquired in 2015 by RIPCO NY, which completed a 366,000-square-foot open-air expansion for Macerich. Named Green Acres Commons, the expansion opened in October 2016 with a mix of restaurants, retailers, fitness providers, home stores, and service businesses. Its initial or subsequent occupants included BJ's Brewhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, Ulta, 24 Hour Fitness, DXL, Five Below, Dick's Sporting Goods, HomeGoods, Sonic Drive-In, Ashley HomeStore, and Burlington. Capital One Bank and AT&T were later added, while Bronx BBQ remained at the northwest corner. Walmart and Home Depot operate south of the principal mall area. The mall's anchor history continued to reflect the decline and restructuring of traditional department stores. JCPenney, which opened in 1957 and was expanded in 1982, closed in 2020 after almost 63 years. Its former ground-floor space was divided between Uniqlo and Primark, with Primark opening in 2023. Century 21 opened in 2015 in space assembled from former interior stores but closed in 2021 after the chain went out of business; a temporary Shoppers World use followed before the space was returned to a more conventional mall configuration. Sears closed in 2021. The former Kohl's space, created from part of the former Stern's footprint, was vacant after Kohl's closed in 2019. The former J. J. Newberry space had already been absorbed into general mall space. In 2024, a major redevelopment was announced for the Sears area. The proposal includes partial demolition of the former Sears building, its adjacent parking garage and auto center, and the addition of green space, dining, expanded retail and entertainment uses, and enhanced amenities. The plan also identifies an approximately 80,000-square-foot ShopRite supermarket intended to open in 2027. As of the supplied 2026 reference material, Green Acres Mall contains roughly 2,069,000 square feet of gross leasable area, has Macy's and Primark as principal anchor operations, and remains a major retail destination for Nassau County and nearby Queens. It is served by Nassau Inter-County Express and New York City bus routes, with a bus terminal at the south end of the mall.

• 2024

  Former Sears redevelopment announced

  [1]Green Acres Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Plans are announced to replace portions of the former Sears area with expanded retail, dining, entertainment, amenities, and green space.

• 2023

  Primark opens in former JCPenney space

  [1]Green Acres Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Primark opens in part of the former JCPenney location, alongside Uniqlo's use of the subdivided space.

• 2021

  Century 21 and Sears close

  [1]Green Acres Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Century 21 closes following its corporate bankruptcy, and Sears also vacates the property.

• 2020

  JCPenney closes

  [1]Green Acres Mallen.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney closes after nearly 63 years at the mall; its former space is later divided among replacement retailers.

• 2016

  Green Acres Commons opens

  [1]Green Acres Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A 366,000-square-foot open-air expansion opens in October, adding retail, dining, fitness, and service uses.

• 2013

  Macerich becomes owner and operator

  [1]Green Acres Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Macerich Company completes its acquisition of the mall from Vornado Realty Trust.

• 2007

  Interior modernization and new tenants

  [1]Green Acres Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Ceiling and flooring upgrades are completed, while Best Buy, PetSmart, and BJ's Wholesale Club open at the complex.

• 2006

  Food court renovation completed

  [1]Green Acres Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A multimillion-dollar renovation updates the food court as part of a broader effort to strengthen the mall's competitiveness.

• 1983

  Second floor, food court, and Sears are added

  [1]Green Acres Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A major expansion adds a second floor and food court and brings Sears to the property as a fourth anchor.

• 1968

  Open-air mall is enclosed

  [1]Green Acres Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The center is enclosed and operates with Lane's, JCPenney, and Gimbels as principal anchors.

• 1956

  Mall opens as an early open-air shopping center

  [1]Green Acres Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Green Acres Mall opens on the northern portion of the former Curtiss Airfield, partly associated with the former Columbia Aircraft Corporation.

A large, accessible regional shopping and dining destination serving Nassau County, western Long Island, and nearby Queens, combining an enclosed mall with open-air retail, restaurants, services, and redevelopment-led amenities.

• Regional shopping mall · 1956

  Enclosed Green Acres Mall

  The main enclosed center provides a broad mix of fashion, department-store, beauty, electronics, home, footwear, and specialty retail. Its tenant base includes Macy's, Primark, Express, H&M, and Uniqlo, alongside food-service and customer amenities. The enclosed format evolved from the property's original open-air design and remains the core retail component.

• Open-air retail and dining district · 2016

  Green Acres Commons

  Green Acres Commons is a large open-air expansion adjacent to the enclosed mall. It extends the property into restaurants, fitness, home furnishings, sporting goods, discount retail, beauty, banking, telecommunications, and other services. The district opened in 2016 and helped reposition Green Acres as a mixed-format destination rather than a conventional enclosed mall alone.

• Redevelopment project · 2024

  Former Sears redevelopment

  The announced redevelopment of the former Sears area is intended to create additional retail, dining, entertainment, landscaped open space, and enhanced customer amenities. The supplied reference material also identifies a planned ShopRite supermarket of approximately 80,000 square feet. The project is designed to reuse or replace obsolete department-store-era space within the wider complex.

• 2016

  Tax-incentive and assessment dispute

  A tax-incentive arrangement involving the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency led to protests and lawsuits concerning an approximately $4.5 million increase in tax liability affecting the surrounding three-town area. The incentive was connected to commitments involving security, renovations, and higher-end retail additions, including the broader Green Acres Commons development.

  Source

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• 2024

  Redevelop the former Sears areaStrategy

  Background

  Sears closed in 2021, leaving a large department-store building and associated facilities that no longer matched the property's preferred tenant mix.

  Action taken

  A major redevelopment was announced involving partial demolition, new green space, expanded retail, dining and entertainment, enhanced amenities, and a planned ShopRite supermarket.

  Aftermath

  The project is intended to replace obsolete anchor space with a more diversified and service-oriented destination; the supplied material identifies a planned 2027 ShopRite opening.

  Source

• 2016

  Add an open-air mixed-use retail componentStrategy

  Background

  Changing consumer behavior and the decline of traditional department stores increased the value of restaurants, services, and open-air retail formats.

  Action taken

  Macerich and development partner RIPCO NY delivered Green Acres Commons, a 366,000-square-foot open-air expansion.

  Aftermath

  The property gained a broader collection of restaurants, specialty retailers, fitness operators, and services beyond the enclosed mall.

  Source

• 2006

  Modernize the food court and interiorsStrategy

  Background

  Green Acres faced competition from major regional properties, particularly Roosevelt Field.

  Action taken

  The operator undertook a major food-court renovation followed by ceiling and flooring improvements.

  Aftermath

  The upgrades were accompanied by new large-format tenants and an effort to refresh the center's customer environment.

  Source

• 1983

  Expand with a second floor and food courtGeneration change

  Background

  The mall sought to increase capacity and strengthen its regional appeal as Long Island's shopping landscape developed.

  Action taken

  A second floor and food court were added, and Sears opened as a new anchor.

  Aftermath

  The expansion increased the mall's scale and diversified its department-store and dining offer.

  Source

• 1968

  Enclose the open-air centerStrategy

  Background

  The original open-air format exposed shoppers and tenants to weather and reflected an earlier generation of suburban retail design.

  Action taken

  The mall was enclosed to create a more consistent, protected shopping environment.

  Aftermath

  The enclosure established the property as a conventional regional mall and supported later expansions and department-store additions.

  Source

1. 1Green Acres Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Green Acres Mall official websitegreenacresmallonline.com