Staten Island Mall
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The Staten Island Mall is a shopping mall in the Staten Island borough of New York City. The only indoor shopping mall in the borough, the mall is located in the New Springville neighborhood along a busy stretch of Richmond Avenue, which served as a courtyard for the Fresh Kills Landfill. Its location puts it near the geographic center of the island. It opened for business on August 9, 1973, built on a 105 acre site of what was once a semi-public airport. It is the largest retail center on the island and is the site of the island's second largest public transit hub after the St. George ferry terminal, with numerous bus routes that connect to the periphery of the mall area. Service is even available, via the S79, to the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn
The video for the New Radicals hit "You Get What You Give" was filmed in the mall.
[edit] Description and History
The mall is owned by the General Growth Properties of Chicago, Illinois. It has approximately 185 stores employing approximately 3,000 people. Anchor tenants include JC Penney, Macy's and Sears.
Prior to the construction of the mall, the land was occupied by the Staten Island Airport, which opened in 1941. The site was sold in 1955 with a shopping and amusement center, known as the Staten Island Center, envisaged. Construction, however, did not commence until the 1960s and the opening did not occur until 1973.
The opening of the mall was a turning point in the economic history of the island. It was considered an immediate success by the local press. The effect of the mall on the island economy was not without consequence, however, and was particularly devastating to established commercial districts in such older areas as Port Richmond and Stapleton. Commercial traffic rapidly shifted away from the family businesses in these areas in favor of the larger brand name establishments at the mall. Since its construction the mall has attracted a burgeoning commercial district that now stretches along Richmond Avenue in its vicinity. It also attracted nearby high-density residential construction, and a new elementary school built in 2004. Rouse acquired its previous 100% ownership in the mall in August 2003 when it purchased the ownership share of its previous partner, Rodamco. The Mall was purchased by General Growth Properties in early 2005.
The last major renovation and expansion of the mall was in 1993, when the JC Penney wing was completed. It has an "X Shaped" architectural classification with two-stories. It includes a food court on the second floor. It currently has a gross leasable area (GLA) of 1,229,000 square foot (114,000 m²), and a tenant GLA of 622,000 square feet (58,000 m²). It is classified as a "Super Regional" shopping center, with a Marketing Position of "Traditional Tenant Mix." The parking lot has a capacity of 7,200 spaces
A new renovation is due to happen soon. This dramatic expansion to the borough's only major retail complex will add approximately 110,000 square feet, rounding out the mix of retail offerings with new clothing shops, a bookstore, a home furnishings store and four new restaurants. This addition will feature an inviting streetfront with a new and relocated Food Court that has seating for 900 guests.
The Staten Island Mall is also due to expand in the near future; with an up and coming Anchor dept store, and a variety of new specialty stores, sources within the mall say. [1]
