Zara, Sur la Table, Ford’s Garage burger and brewhouse and an updated food court are among the new retailers and features coming to the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove, N.Y., as Simon Property Group moves to transform its “B” malls across the country.
Simon said Monday that transforming the Smith Haven Mall, located on eastern Long Island, is multimillion-dollar project that will begin this summer and is expected to be completed in 2026. The company did not specify its budget on the project.
Simon, a real estate investment trust, described the project as “a major redevelopment” that will include new marquee retailers, dining destinations, a green outdoor plaza, new landscaping, seating and amenities throughout the property. The exterior will be repainted and the signage, entryways and floors will be updated.
“We do think there’s a real effort, focus and growth in the ‘Bs’ where we’re investing our dollars. So that’s a big program for us in 2025 and ’26,” David Simon, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Simon, said last week, after the company released its results for the fourth quarter. Simon implied that much of what occurs at Smith Haven, in terms of improvements, will be seen at some other B malls around the country, as the company continues to also invest in improvements at its A properties. In real estate jargon, a “B” mall is typically a shopping center in a secondary market with mid-tier retailers, while an “A” mall generates greater sales productivity with more upscale retailers and is situated in a larger market.
“At Simon, we are committed to making significant investments across our portfolio to ensure that our centers continue to deliver exceptional customer experiences for today’s shoppers,” Mark Silvestri, president of development at Simon, said in a statement Monday.
Golf Lounge 18, an indoor golf facility with a bar, is scheduled to open in March. The Dublin-based, value-oriented fashion retailer Primark and the Spanish retailer Mango both recently opened in the mall, which features more than 130 stores, including L.L. Bean, Apple, H&M, White House Black Market, LoveSac, Aerie, Forever 21, The Lego Store and Sephora.
