Empire Outlets

The {{cvt|350,000|ft2|m2|adj=on}} mall, the city's first outlet mall, was to feature 100 designer outlet stores and a {{cvt|120,000|ft2|m2|adj=on}} hotel with 200 rooms as it originally was approved. There are also {{convert|3.5|acre|ha}} of outdoor space with a staircase leading to a green roof. The mall includes a 1,200-space underground parking lot, as well as 22 escalators and 21 elevators. {{As of|July 2018}}, tenants leasing significant amounts of space included H&M, Nordstrom Rack, Levi's, Nike Factory, and Gap Inc.'s subsidiaries Banana Republic and Old Navy.

Empire Outlets is located between St. George Terminal and SIUH Community Park.{{cite web|last1=Goldman |first1=Henry |last2=Deprez |first2=Esmé E. |date=September 27, 2012 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-27/world-s-biggest-ferris-wheel-will-anchor-staten-island-complex.html |title=World’s Biggest Ferris Wheel Will Anchor Staten Island Complex |work=Bloomberg |access-date=September 27, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/04/developer_staten_island_retail.html|title=Staten Island outlet mall planned near New York Wheel to include Nike, Adidas, Coach|work=SILive.com|last=Randall|first=Judy L.|date=April 24, 2013|access-date=April 11, 2016}} The mall is located next to the site of the unbuilt New York Wheel, a {{Convert|625|ft|m|1|adj=on}} tall giant Ferris wheel that was canceled in 2018.{{cite web|last=McGeehan|first=Patrick|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/23/nyregion/ferris-wheel-staten-island.html|title=A 630-Foot Ferris Wheel Meant to Boost Staten Island’s Image Is No More|date=October 23, 2018|website=The New York Times|access-date=October 24, 2018}} The two projects initially went through the approval process simultaneously and shared consultants on issues such as traffic and the waterfront, but were separate projects with separate funding.{{cite web|url=http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/10/new_york_wheel_ceo_says_staten.html|title=New York Wheel CEO says Staten Island neighborhood will be riding high|work=SILive.com|last=Jorgensen|first=Jillian|date=October 9, 2012|access-date=April 11, 2016}}{{Cite web |last=Farinacci |first=Amanda |date=July 24, 2013 |url=http://statenisland.ny1.com/content/top_stories/186075/more-parking--more-green-spaces-part-of-updated-plans-for-si-ferris-wheel--outlet-mall |title=More Parking, More Green Spaces Part Of Updated Plans For SI Ferris Wheel, Outlet Mall |work=NY1 |access-date=July 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130728224224/http://statenisland.ny1.com/content/top_stories/186075/more-parking--more-green-spaces-part-of-updated-plans-for-si-ferris-wheel--outlet-mall |archive-date=July 28, 2013 |url-status=dead }}

File:Future Site of Empire Outlets Mall, Staten Island, New York - 08-27-17 (02).jpg

Construction on Empire Outlets started in 2015. BFC Partners, based in Brooklyn, constructed Empire Outlets under the auspices of the developer, an Economic Development Corp named Empire Outlets Builders, LLC. SHoP Architects provided architectural design services; DeSimone Consulting Engineers was the structural engineering firm; and Casandra Properties and EB were the leasing agents.{{cite web|url=http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/08/staten_island_outlet_mall_will.html|title=Empire Outlet developers says they'll deliver jobs for Staten Island (photos and video)|work=SILive.com|date=August 1, 2013|last=Lavis|first=Ryan|access-date=April 11, 2016}}

The original opening date for Empire Outlets was scheduled for fall 2017. However, in early 2017, the opening was delayed to March 2018 in order to coincide with the New York Wheel's opening.{{cite web | last=Porpora | first=Tracey | title=Empire Outlets may delay opening to coincide with NY Wheel launch | website=SILive.com | date=March 27, 2017 | url=http://www.silive.com/news/2017/03/empire_outlets_may_delay_openi.html | access-date=August 1, 2018}} Later that year, the mall's opening was delayed again to late 2018.{{cite web | last=Porpora | first=Tracey | title=Exclusive: Empire Outlets opening delayed until fall 2018 | website=SILive.com | date=November 27, 2017 | url=http://www.silive.com/northshore/index.ssf/2017/11/empire_outlets_opening_delyed.html | access-date=August 1, 2018}} By July 2018, the mall was mostly complete, and was projected to open that November.{{cite web | last=Schram | first=Lauren Elkies | title=Empire Outlets: The Biggest Thing to Hit SI Is Opening This November | website=Commercial Observer | date=July 20, 2018 | url=https://commercialobserver.com/2018/07/empire-outlets-the-biggest-thing-to-hit-staten-island-is-opening-this-november/ | access-date=August 1, 2018}} However, in September 2018, the mall's opening date was postponed again, this time to spring 2019.{{cite web | last=Porpora | first=Tracey | title=Exclusive: Empire Outlets opening delayed until spring 2019 | website=silive.com | date=September 21, 2018 | url=https://www.silive.com/news/2018/09/exclusive_empire_outlet_openin.html | access-date=December 30, 2018}} The mall's opening date was later set at May 15, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2019/05/10/staten-island-empire-outlets-opening-day-preview-|title=Even Without Wheel, Empire Outlets Ready to Roll|last=Farinacci|first=Amanda|date=May 10, 2019|website=www.ny1.com|language=en|access-date=May 14, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.silive.com/empireoutlets/2019/05/exclusive-sneak-peek-of-empire-outlets-heres-the-list-of-stores-opening-in-may.html|title=Exclusive: Sneak peek of Empire Outlets: Here’s the list of stores opening in May|last=Porpora|first=Tracey|date=2019-05-10|website=silive.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-14}}

Even though the grand opening was held on May 15,{{Cite web|url=https://www.amny.com/news/empire-outlets-open-1.31152319|title=Empire Outlets opens its doors on Staten Island|website=am New York|last=Rajamani|first=Maya|date=May 16, 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-05-17}}{{cite web|url=https://www.silive.com/empireoutlets/2019/05/stores-report-high-traffic-on-first-shopping-day-at-staten-islands-empire-outlets.html|title=Stores report high traffic on first shopping day at Staten Island’s Empire Outlets|last=Porpora|first=Tracey|date=May 16, 2019|website=silive.com|access-date=May 17, 2019}} most retailers opened on a staggered schedule through mid-2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.silive.com/news/2019/04/exclusive-empire-outlets-opening-delayed-again.html|title=Exclusive: Empire Outlets opening delayed again|last=Porpora|first=Tracey|date=March 1, 2019|website=silive.com|access-date=May 17, 2019}} By November 2019, there were thirty stores operating at Empire Outlets, and hundreds of thousands of visitors had traveled to the mall, with international tourists making up almost two-thirds of all spending at Empire Outlets. This, in turn, increased international spending on Staten Island by almost 50%. A 600-seat beer garden and a food market were expected to further increase visitation to Empire Outlets once they opened in early 2020, which they never did.{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2019/11/28/empire-outlets-mall-boosts-staten-island-tourism/|title=Empire Outlets mall boosts Staten Island tourism|last=Fickenscher|first=Lisa|date=2019-11-29|website=New York Post|language=en|access-date=2020-03-06}} By late 2020, Empire Outlets was struggling to make payments on loans.{{cite web |last=Michel |first=Clifford |date=September 1, 2020 |title=Staten Island Outlet Mall Struggles to Pay Back $8.5M City Debt |url=https://www.thecity.nyc/staten-island/2020/8/31/21409583/empire-outlet-mall-staten-island-city-debt |access-date=August 28, 2023 |website=The City}}

In February 2022, Empire Outlets went into foreclosure; it owed $38 million to Sterling National Bank and $174 million to Goldman Sachs' Urban Investment Group.{{cite web | last=Jones-Gorman | first=Jessica | title=Exclusive: NYC’s first outlet mall, Empire Outlets, to enter into foreclosure | website=silive | date=2022-02-11 | url=https://www.silive.com/business/2022/02/exclusive-nycs-first-outlet-mall-empire-outlets-to-enter-into-foreclosure.html | access-date=2022-02-13}}{{cite web | last=Young | first=Celia | title=Lenders Foreclosing on Staten Island’s Empire Outlets Mall | website=Commercial Observer | date=2022-02-11 | url=https://commercialobserver.com/2022/02/goldman-sachs-sterling-national-bank-foreclosure-empire-outlets-mall/ | access-date=2022-02-13}} Foreclosure proceedings continued through mid-2023, when Empire Outlets was still 60 percent vacant.{{cite web |last=Jones-Gorman |first=Jessica |date=May 29, 2023 |title=NYC Empire Outlets: As foreclosure process continues, many storefronts remain vacant |url=https://www.silive.com/business/2023/05/nyc-empire-outlets-as-foreclosure-process-continues-many-storefronts-remain-vacant.html |access-date=August 28, 2023 |website=silive}} In August 2023, a foreclosure auction for the complex was scheduled for that September.{{cite web |last=Jones-Gorman |first=Jessica |date=August 25, 2023 |title=NYC’s first outlet mall, Empire Outlets, to be sold at auction next month |url=https://www.silive.com/business/2023/08/nycs-first-outlet-mall-empire-outlets-to-be-sold-at-auction-next-month.html |access-date=August 28, 2023 |website=silive}} At the auction, which took place on September 21, 2023, Goldman Sachs acquired Empire Outlets for $10 million.{{cite web | last=Jones-Gorman | first=Jessica | title=NYC Empire Outlets sold at auction for $10 million | website=silive | date=September 21, 2023 | url=https://www.silive.com/business/2023/09/nyc-empire-outlets-sold-at-auction-for-10-million.html | access-date=September 22, 2023}}{{cite web | last=Manna | first=Victoria | title=Empire Outlets sold to Goldman Sachs for $10 million in auction | website=Spectrum News NY1 | date=September 21, 2023 | url=https://ny1.com/nyc/staten-island/news/2023/09/21/empire-outlets-sold-to-goldman-sachs-for--10-million-in-auction | access-date=September 22, 2023}}

On September 10, 2024, it was announced that Nordstrom Rack would be closing on December 4, 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.silive.com/business/2024/09/nordstrom-rack-to-close-empire-outlets-location-before-years-end.html|title=Nordstrom Rack to close Empire Outlets location before year’s end|last=Jones-Gorman|first=Jessica|date=September 10, 2024|access-date=September 16, 2024|website=SILive|language=en}}

In January 2019, NYC Ferry announced that it would start operating its St. George route in 2020. The route opened in 2021 and runs from the St. George Terminal to Battery Park City Ferry Terminal and West Midtown Ferry Terminal in Manhattan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ferry.nyc/routes-and-schedules/route/st-george/|title=Routes and Schedules: St. George|publisher=NYC Ferry}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amny.com/transit/nyc-ferry-routes-1.25782023|title=NYC Ferry is adding 2 new routes|date=January 10, 2019|last=Barone|first=Vincent|website=am New York|access-date=January 11, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://ny.curbed.com/2019/1/10/18177078/nyc-ferry-transportation-staten-island-coney-island|title=NYC Ferry will launch service to Staten Island, Coney Island|last=Plitt|first=Amy|date=January 10, 2019|website=Curbed NY|access-date=January 11, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ferry.nyc/nycferry-2020-2021-service-route-expansion/|title=2020-2021 Expansion|website=New York City Ferry Service|access-date=January 11, 2019|archive-date=January 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111232547/https://www.ferry.nyc/nycferry-2020-2021-service-route-expansion/|url-status=dead}} However, due to concerns that the massive Staten Island Ferry boats and the small NYC Ferry craft might not be able to share a dock, the New York City Economic Development Corporation announced in January 2020 that a NYC Ferry dock would instead be built close to the existing terminal, at Empire Outlets closer to SIUH Community Park.{{cite web | last=Michel | first=Clifford | title=NYC Ferry’s a No-Go at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal | website=The City | date=January 30, 2020 | url=http://thecity.nyc/2020/01/nyc-ferrys-a-no-go-at-the-staten-island-ferry-terminal.html | access-date=February 14, 2020 | archive-date=February 5, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205122814/https://thecity.nyc/2020/01/nyc-ferrys-a-no-go-at-the-staten-island-ferry-terminal.html | url-status=dead }} The St. George ferry stop began operating in August 2021.{{cite web|last=Gartland|first=Michael|date=August 23, 2021|title=De Blasio touts NYC Ferry from Staten Island to Manhattan|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/new-york-elections-government/ny-nyc-de-blasio-staten-island-ferry-service-20210823-zxqum6wihvb5ji735jdy4mulea-story.html|access-date=August 24, 2021|website=New York Daily News}}{{cite web|last=Liotta|first=Paul|date=August 23, 2021|title=NYC fast ferry is finally citywide as St. George route launches|url=https://www.silive.com/news/2021/08/nyc-fast-ferry-is-finally-citywide-as-st-george-route-launches.html|access-date=August 24, 2021|website=silive}}

{{Reflist}}

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• {{Official website|http://www.empireoutletsnyc.com/}}
• [http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/empire-outlets-celebrates-groundbreaking-on-staten-islands-north-shore-300067178.html Empire Outlets Celebrates Groundbreaking on Staten Island's North Shore]

{{New York City Malls}}

Category:2019 establishments in New York City

Category:Commercial buildings in Staten Island

Category:History of Staten Island

Category:Shopping malls in New York City

Category:St. George, Staten Island

Category:Tourist attractions in Staten Island

Category:Shopping malls established in 2019