Queens Center

Queens Center is a major urban shopping mall in Elmhurst, Queens, New York City. The property occupies a prominent site on Queens Boulevard between 57th Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard, near Queens Place Mall, the Woodhaven Boulevard station on the New York City Subway, and Exit 19 of the Long Island Expressway. Its location gives it an unusually strong combination of subway, road, and neighborhood access, helping it serve residents of central and western Queens as well as visitors from other parts of New York City. The mall opened on September 12, 1973, on land that had previously included the Fairyland children's amusement park, a supermarket, and automobile parking. Its original department-store anchors were Abraham & Straus and Ohrbach's. The center later changed substantially as department-store retail evolved. Ohrbach's closed in 1987 and was replaced by Steinbach, which itself closed in 1990. JCPenney opened at the property in 1989, while Macy's replaced Abraham & Straus after that chain's closure in 1995. Primark became another major anchor in 2024. Queens Center underwent a large-scale redevelopment between 2002 and 2004. The project renovated the original mall and added an eastern wing beyond 92nd Street, nearly doubling the center's size. The completed property has approximately 967,000 square feet of gross leasable area and more than 150 stores. Its tenant mix combines large department and apparel anchors with specialty retailers, footwear, beauty, dining, and services. The lower-level food court includes national and regional fast-food and casual dining operators such as Charleys Philly Steaks, Chick-fil-A, Chipotle Mexican Grill, KFC, Kido Sushi, Noodle House, Panda Express, Sarku Japan, and Shake Shack, subject to tenant changes over time. The Macerich Company acquired the mall in the 1990s and currently owns and manages the main portion of the property. The building containing JCPenney and Burlington is separately owned by Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp., although it is connected to the Macerich-owned section. This split ownership is an important feature of the center's property structure. Queens Center is therefore both a consumer destination and a large-scale urban real-estate asset rather than a conventional product manufacturer or standalone retail chain. The mall has also been associated with notable operating and public-safety events. During the 2006 Christmas shopping season, the Macy's store operated continuously for a limited period, making it the first Macy's location to do so; similar all-day holiday hours have subsequently been used during Christmas shopping seasons. In March 2019, the mall was evacuated after a canceled appearance by rapper A Boogie wit da Hoodie was followed by disorder involving largely teenage attendees. Stores, including Foot Locker, were looted, and the mall reopened the following day. Renovation work in the mid-2020s included updates to furnishings, lighting, and parking areas.

Queens Center opened on September 12, 1973, in Elmhurst, Queens, on a site that had previously contained the Fairyland children's amusement park, a supermarket, and parking. The original center reflected the department-store-led suburban mall model of the period, with Abraham & Straus and Ohrbach's serving as its principal anchors. The anchor lineup changed as American department-store retail consolidated. Ohrbach's left in 1987 and its space was taken by Steinbach. JCPenney opened at the mall in 1989, but Steinbach closed in 1990 and was replaced by JCPenney in the anchor configuration. Abraham & Straus closed in 1995, after which Macy's opened at the property. These changes connected Queens Center to broader shifts in the department-store sector while preserving the mall's role as a major regional retail destination. Ownership and property control also developed over time. The Macerich Company purchased the mall in the 1990s and became the owner and manager of the principal portion of the complex. The structure containing JCPenney and Burlington is separately owned by Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp., although it remains physically interconnected with the Macerich-controlled main mall. Queens Center consequently operates as a connected retail complex with more than one property owner. A major expansion and renovation took place from 2002 to 2004. The project modernized the original building and added an eastern wing beyond 92nd Street, nearly doubling the mall's size. The resulting center has roughly 967,000 square feet of gross leasable area and more than 150 stores. Its location beside the Woodhaven Boulevard subway station and near the Long Island Expressway supports access by both public transportation and automobile. The mall has periodically experimented with high-traffic operating and tenant strategies. During the 2006 Christmas shopping season, Macy's at Queens Center operated around the clock for a limited period, making it the first Macy's location to do so. Continuous holiday opening hours have since been associated with later Christmas shopping seasons. In 2024, Primark joined the current anchor lineup, reinforcing the center's fashion and value-retail positioning. Queens Center's history also includes a significant public-order incident. On March 8, 2019, a canceled appearance by rapper A Boogie wit da Hoodie drew a large crowd, after which disorder and looting occurred in the mall. The center was evacuated, stores including Foot Locker were affected, and operations resumed the following day. In the mid-2020s, further renovation work addressed interior furnishings and lighting as well as parking facilities. Today the mall remains an active urban shopping center anchored by Macy's, Primark, and JCPenney, with a broad specialty-retail tenant base and a substantial lower-level food court.

• 2024

  Primark joins the anchor lineup

  [1]Queens Center Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Primark became a current anchor tenant, expanding the mall's fashion-retail offering.

• 2019

  Mall evacuated after crowd disorder

  [1]Queens Center Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The center was evacuated following disorder and looting after a canceled artist appearance; it reopened the next day.

• 2006

  Macy's introduces continuous holiday hours

  [1]Queens Center Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Macy's at Queens Center operated continuously for part of the Christmas shopping season, described as the first such Macy's operation.

• 2004

  Major redevelopment completed

  [1]Queens Center Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The expansion and renovation were completed, nearly doubling the center's size.

• 2002

  Expansion and renovation begin

  [1]Queens Center Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Queens Center began a major redevelopment that renovated the original mall and added an eastern wing.

• 1995

  Macy's replaces Abraham & Straus

  [1]Queens Center Mallen.wikipedia.org

  After Abraham & Straus closed, Macy's opened at the mall and became one of its principal anchors.

• 1990

  Steinbach closes

  [1]Queens Center Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Steinbach closed its Queens Center location, with JCPenney occupying the relevant anchor position.

• 1989

  JCPenney opens

  [1]Queens Center Mallen.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney opened at Queens Center and later became the replacement for Steinbach after that retailer closed.

• 1987

  Ohrbach's closes

  [1]Queens Center Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Ohrbach's ended its presence at the mall and was replaced by Steinbach.

• 1973

  Queens Center opens

  [1]Queens Center Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Queens Center opened on September 12 on a former Fairyland amusement-park, supermarket, and parking site, with Abraham & Straus and Ohrbach's as original anchors.

A large, transit-accessible urban shopping destination serving Queens and the wider New York City market, with department stores, international and national fashion retailers, specialty shops, and a substantial food court.

• Department store · 1995

  Macy's

  Macy's is one of Queens Center's principal anchors. Its department-store format contributes apparel, accessories, beauty products, home merchandise, and other broad consumer categories to the mall's offering. The location opened in 1995 after replacing Abraham & Straus.

• Department store · 1989

  JCPenney

  JCPenney is a current anchor at Queens Center, offering mass-market apparel, accessories, home goods, and related department-store merchandise. It opened at the property in 1989 and subsequently occupied the anchor position associated with Steinbach after Steinbach closed.

• Fashion retailer · 2024

  Primark

  Primark is a value-focused fashion anchor offering clothing, accessories, and related lifestyle merchandise. Its Queens Center presence began in 2024, adding an international fast-fashion and value-retail component to the mall's current anchor mix.

• Food and beverage

  Queens Center food court

  The lower-level food court is a major amenity serving shoppers and visitors. Reported operators include Charleys Philly Steaks, Chick-fil-A, Chipotle Mexican Grill, KFC, Kido Sushi, Noodle House, Panda Express, Sarku Japan, and Shake Shack, although individual tenants may change.

• 2024

  Primark becomes an anchor tenantProduct launch

  Background

  Queens Center continued to refresh its anchor mix as department-store and specialty-retail patterns changed.

  Action taken

  Primark opened at the mall and joined Macy's and JCPenney among the current anchor tenants.

  Aftermath

  The addition strengthened the center's fashion and value-retail positioning.

  Source

• 2006

  Continuous Christmas-season Macy's hoursOther

  Background

  The holiday shopping period generated demand for extended access at the Macy's anchor.

  Action taken

  Macy's at Queens Center operated 24 hours a day for a limited period during the 2006 Christmas season.

  Aftermath

  The location was described as the first Macy's to use all-day operating hours, and similar holiday hours continued in later Christmas seasons.

  Source

• 2002

  Major expansion and modernizationStrategy

  Background

  The original mall required a substantial modernization and expansion to maintain its role as a major urban retail destination.

  Action taken

  The property renovated its original section and added an eastern wing beyond 92nd Street.

  Aftermath

  The project, completed in 2004, nearly doubled the mall's size and produced a center with approximately 967,000 square feet of gross leasable area.

  Source

1. 1Queens Center Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Queens Center official websiteshopqueenscenter.com