Samanea New York

Samanea New York is a mixed-use commercial development in East Garden City, commonly identified with Westbury, New York, on Long Island. The project occupies the mostly underused site of the former Mall at The Source, a two-level, L-shaped shopping center located near Old Country Road and Merchants Concourse, close to other major retail complexes in Nassau County. The property is owned by Lesso Mall Development Long Island Inc., a subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed LESSO Group. The site has a retail history that predates the mall by decades. Roosevelt Raceway acquired the land in the 1940s for additional parking as the harness-racing facility expanded. Ohrbach's later built a department store on leased land at the property's northeast corner. Fortunoff followed in 1964, establishing a major retail presence as the Brooklyn-based retailer expanded eastward. In the late 1980s, Fortunoff owner Alan Fortunoff proposed a much larger Long Island Galleria development, with Westfield Group as builder and Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom as prospective anchors. Community concerns about traffic and congestion led to a smaller plan. Part of the property was sold to Price Club, now Costco, while the remaining mall was developed under Simon Property Group. The Mall at The Source opened in 1997 under Simon's management and co-ownership. It gained attention for introducing several national chains to the Long Island market, including H&M, Old Navy, Nordstrom Rack, and Saks Off 5th. Its restaurant offering was also a significant component of the project, with tenants such as The Cheesecake Factory, Dave & Buster's, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, and Rainforest Cafe. The property was organized into separate courts associated with former anchor stores, including the Fortunoff Court, Saks Off 5th Court, and Center Court. The mall's original retail model deteriorated sharply after 2009. Fortunoff, Steve & Barry's, and Circuit City all closed, removing the property's three principal anchors. Lower foot traffic led additional retailers and the food court to leave, while restaurant tenants with independent destination appeal remained more resilient. Simon Property Group and unnamed co-owners defaulted in March 2009 on a $124 million interest-only balloon mortgage. The property later passed to lenders and was put through an unsuccessful auction process in 2012. Nearby competition also affected the center: after Gallery at Westbury Plaza opened in late 2012, Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy, and Saks Off 5th relocated there. Several replacement tenants and retail experiments did not reverse the decline. A Lord & Taylor outlet and the Jewelry Emporium and Mall opened in 2013, but occupancy continued to fall. Golf Galaxy closed its location in 2014, and David's Bridal moved to the nearby Roosevelt Raceway Shopping Center in 2015. By the time of the property's sale, much of the former mall was vacant or inactive, although restaurants and a Fortunoff-related outdoor furniture and jewelry operation continued serving customers. Lesso Mall Development Long Island Inc. acquired the property for $92 million in May 2017. Later that year, the owner announced plans to transform the former mall into a Lesso Home decoration hub and marketplace. The proposed format was intended to combine showrooms for home-furnishing and decor manufacturers with walkable retail areas, food, and entertainment. It was aimed at design professionals, contractors, retail buyers, and local shoppers, with a concept described as broadly comparable to a destination marketplace rather than a conventional enclosed mall. The project was initially expected to open in fall 2018, but the redevelopment was delayed. The available reference material does not establish a definitive completion date, final operating configuration, or current occupancy.

The commercial site now associated with Samanea New York began as part of the wider Roosevelt Raceway property. Roosevelt Raceway acquired land in the 1940s to support expansion of the harness-racing track and to provide additional parking. In the early 1960s, Ohrbach's built a department store on leased land at the northeast corner. Fortunoff subsequently established a store on the site in 1964, following the retailer's movement from its original Brooklyn base toward Long Island's growing suburban customer base. During the late 1980s, Alan Fortunoff proposed a large shopping-center project called Long Island Galleria. The concept was intended to approach the scale of Roosevelt Field Mall and was planned with Westfield Group involvement, as well as prospective Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom anchor stores. Local opposition focused on expected congestion and traffic, prompting a reduction in the project's size and scope. Approximately half of the property was sold to Price Club, now Costco, which developed its portion with a Kmart, now Walmart. Simon Property Group eventually developed the remaining mall and managed and co-owned it for many years. The Mall at The Source opened in 1997. It was a two-story, L-shaped center divided into courts connected with former anchor tenants. The project attracted a mix of apparel, specialty, entertainment, and restaurant operators. It was described as the first Long Island location for several national clothing chains, including H&M, Old Navy, Nordstrom Rack, and Saks Off 5th. Destination restaurants such as The Cheesecake Factory, Dave & Buster's, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, and Rainforest Cafe helped give the property a customer base beyond ordinary mall shopping. Rainforest Cafe closed in October 2000. The center entered a prolonged decline after the 2009 collapse of several anchor tenants. Fortunoff, Steve & Barry's, and Circuit City all closed, leaving large spaces vacant and reducing traffic through the interior mall. Additional stores, including Saks Off 5th, Forever 21, the food court, and several smaller chains, later departed. The remaining restaurants were comparatively durable because many operated as stand-alone destinations rather than relying solely on mall circulation. Financial pressure intensified in March 2009, when Simon Property Group and unnamed co-owners defaulted on a $124 million interest-only balloon mortgage. A European pension fund acquired the property in 2012, and the center was later placed into an auction process. An August 2012 auction failed to secure a buyer, after which lenders took control and Newmark Grubb Knight Frank assumed management responsibilities. Competition from Gallery at Westbury Plaza, which opened nearby in late 2012, contributed to further tenant movement, including the relocation of Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy, and Saks Off 5th. The owners attempted to replace departed tenants. A Lord & Taylor outlet and the Jewelry Emporium and Mall opened in 2013, but these additions did not materially restore traffic. Golf Galaxy closed its location in 2014, and David's Bridal moved to the nearby Roosevelt Raceway Shopping Center in June 2015. By this stage, much of the former Fortunoff Court and other sections had become vacant, although selected restaurants, Dave & Buster's, The Cheesecake Factory, and a Fortunoff outdoor furniture and jewelry store continued operating during the transition. In May 2017, Lesso Mall Development Long Island Inc., a subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed LESSO Group, bought the property for $92 million. In October of that year, the owner announced a redevelopment under the Lesso Home concept. The proposed Samanea New York model replaced conventional enclosed-mall retail with a home-furnishings and decoration hub containing manufacturer showrooms, marketplace-style retail, and planned food and entertainment elements. The target audience included design professionals, contractors, retail buyers, and local consumers. The project was initially scheduled for completion in fall 2018, but the available reference does not confirm that timetable or document a definitive completed opening.

• 2017

  LESSO Group subsidiary purchases the property

  [1]Samanea New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  Lesso Mall Development Long Island Inc. acquired the former mall for $92 million.

• 2017

  Lesso Home redevelopment announced

  [1]Samanea New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  The owner announced plans to convert the property into a decoration and home-furnishings marketplace.

• 2015

  David's Bridal relocates

  [1]Samanea New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  David's Bridal moved to the nearby Roosevelt Raceway Shopping Center in June.

• 2013

  Replacement outlet and jewelry tenants open

  [1]Samanea New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  A Lord & Taylor outlet and the Jewelry Emporium and Mall opened in former anchor-related spaces.

• 2012

  Auction fails and lenders take control

  [1]Samanea New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  An August auction did not produce a buyer, after which lenders assumed ownership and Newmark Grubb Knight Frank was appointed manager.

• 2009

  Three major anchors close

  [1]Samanea New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  Fortunoff, Steve & Barry's, and Circuit City closed, triggering a major decline in traffic and occupancy.

• 2000

  Rainforest Cafe closes

  [1]Samanea New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  The Rainforest Cafe location closed on October 19, 2000.

• 1997

  Mall at The Source opens

  [1]Samanea New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  The enclosed shopping center opened under Simon Property Group's management and co-ownership.

• 1964

  Fortunoff opens a store on the site

  [1]Samanea New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  Fortunoff established a major store on the former Roosevelt Raceway property as the retailer expanded eastward from Brooklyn.

A former enclosed regional shopping mall being repositioned as a mixed-use home-furnishings, decor, showroom, and marketplace destination for design professionals, contractors, retail buyers, and consumers.

• Shopping mall · 1997

  Former Mall at The Source retail center

  The original development was a two-story, L-shaped enclosed shopping mall divided into courts associated with former anchor stores. It combined national apparel chains, specialty retailers, restaurants, entertainment venues, and a food court. Its commercial identity was built around anchor-led suburban mall shopping, although the loss of major anchors after 2009 left large portions vacant.

• Mixed-use retail development · 2017

  Samanea New York

  Samanea New York is the announced redevelopment concept for the former Mall at The Source site. The planned format centers on home furnishings, interior decor, manufacturer showrooms, and walkable marketplace areas. It is intended to serve both trade audiences, such as designers, contractors, and retail buyers, and local consumers, with food and entertainment components also contemplated.

• Home furnishings marketplace · 2017

  Lesso Home decoration hub

  The proposed Lesso Home hub was designed as a destination for home-furnishing and decor manufacturers and their customers. Rather than reproducing a conventional department-store or enclosed-mall tenant mix, the concept was planned around showrooms, trade-oriented displays, walkable retail markets, and complementary dining and entertainment.

• 2017

  Lesso Mall Development acquires the propertyM&A

  Background

  The former mall had experienced declining occupancy, anchor closures, lender control, and competition from nearby retail developments.

  Action taken

  Lesso Mall Development Long Island Inc., a LESSO Group subsidiary, purchased the property for $92 million.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition enabled a proposed conversion from a struggling enclosed mall into a Lesso Home-oriented home-furnishings and decor marketplace.

  Purchase price. $92 million (May 2017)

  Source

• 2017

  Conversion to a home-furnishings marketplace announcedStrategy

  Background

  The traditional mall format had lost several anchors and much of its tenant base.

  Action taken

  The owner announced plans for a Lesso Home decoration hub with manufacturer showrooms, walkable retail markets, and possible food and entertainment uses.

  Aftermath

  The redevelopment was initially expected to open in fall 2018 but was delayed; the available source does not establish the final completion status.

  Source

• 1980

  Large Long Island Galleria proposal scaled backStrategy

  Background

  Alan Fortunoff proposed a major shopping mall comparable in scale to Roosevelt Field Mall, but community concerns about traffic and congestion affected the plan.

  Action taken

  The proposed development was reduced in size and scope, and roughly half of the property was sold for separate development.

  Aftermath

  The remaining portion was developed as the Mall at The Source under Simon Property Group rather than as the originally envisioned larger regional mall.

  Source

1. 1Samanea New Yorken.wikipedia.org