Rego Center

The property was originally the only Queens location of Alexander's, a New York City department store. Caldor had bought up the location and was in the processes of opening their store in the fall of 1995 but those plans were stalled when the chain filed for bankruptcy that year. Sears later opened in 1996.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137471433//daily-news-caldor-bankruptcy-jitters/|title=Caldor bankruptcy jitters|first=Claire|last=Serant|date=September 19, 1995|work=Daily News|location=New York|access-date=December 27, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

File:Rego Center in Rego Park, Queens, New York.jpg

Phase II of the mall, which is an annex to the already open Phase I, opened on March 3, 2010{{Cite news |last=Kadinsky |first=Sergey |title=Rego Center II anchors open to fanfare |newspaper=Queens Chronicle |date=March 4, 2010 |url=http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20414072&BRD=2731&PAG=461&dept_id=574907&rfi=6 |access-date=March 15, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} with {{convert|950000|sqft|m2}} of retail space.{{Citation |author=Vornado Realty Trust |title=Rego Center, NY-Vornado Retail |url=http://retail.vno.com/property_home.aspx?propid=54 |access-date=March 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709165957/http://retail.vno.com/property_home.aspx?propid=54 |archive-date=July 9, 2011 |url-status=dead }} Costco with {{convert|145,000|sqft|m2}}, At Home with {{convert|135,000|sqft|m2}}, and T.J. Maxx have opened.{{cite news |url=https://commercialobserver.com/2018/12/bank-of-china-253m-refinance-alexanders-inc-vornado-realty-trust-rego-park-mall-ii-queens/ |work=Commercial Observer |last=Burke |first=Mack |date=December 28, 2018 |title=Bank of China Lends $253M to Vornado REIT to Refi Rego Park Mall in Queens}} Retailers also include Bed Bath and Beyond, Marshalls, Old Navy and Burlington Coat Factory in Phase I. An Aldi supermarket also opened on level 1 in February 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.massmarketretailers.com/inside-this-issue/news/03-07-2011/aldi-opens-first-outlet-in-nyc |title=Aldi opens first outlet in NYC - News - Inside This Issue - Mass Market Retailers :: The Global Newspaper For Supermarket, Drug, Discount Chains |publisher=Mass Market Retailers |date=March 7, 2011 |access-date=August 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321191842/http://www.massmarketretailers.com/inside-this-issue/news/03-07-2011/aldi-opens-first-outlet-in-nyc |archive-date=March 21, 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |first=Lisa |last=Fickenscher |url=http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20100526/REAL_ESTATE/100529877 |title=Grocer Aldi heads to Rego Park shopping center|website=Crain's New York Business |date=May 26, 2010 |access-date=August 13, 2011}} The nearest competitor malls are Queens Center and Queens Place Mall.

{{As of|2015|02}}, Vornado Realty Trust, the mall's owner, is developing a 24-story, 314-unit residential tower named The Alexander on top of the mall's phase II, due to a surge in young professionals moving into the area. About 20% of the units are studio apartments, with the rest being one- and two-bedroom apartments.{{cite web | last=Laterman | first=Kaya | title=New Residences, Proposed QueensWay Advance in Rego Park, Queens | website=Wall Street Journal | date=February 5, 2015 | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-residences-proposed-queensway-advance-in-rego-park-queens-1423187066 | access-date=August 18, 2015}}

On January 4, 2017, it was announced that Sears would be closing as part of a plan to close 150 stores nationwide. The store closed in April 2017.{{Cite web|last=Kern-Jedrychowska|first=Ewa|date=January 4, 2017|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170104/rego-park/sears-queens-boulevard-closing|title=Sears To Close Rego Park Location Amid Falling Sales|website=DNAinfo New York|access-date=January 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112044251/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170104/rego-park/sears-queens-boulevard-closing/|archive-date=January 12, 2019|url-status=dead}} A year later, in March 2018, Toys "R" Us announced that it would close all of its US stores, including the location at Rego Center.{{cite web | last=Pozarycki | first=Robert | title=Reported bankruptcy demise would spell the end of Toys R Us and its six remaining Queens stores | website=QNS.com | date=March 12, 2018 | url=https://qns.com/story/2018/03/12/reported-bankruptcy-demise-spell-end-toys-r-us-six-remaining-queens-stores/ | access-date=January 16, 2019}} The site was then occupied by a toy store called Toy City, operated by Party City.

On January 13, 2019, Kohl's announced that its store at Rego Center would be closing along with 3 other stores nationwide. The store closed on April 13, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://qns.com/2019/01/rego-park-kohls-is-one-of-four-store-locations-to-close-later-this-year-reports-say/|title=Rego Park Kohl's is one of four store locations to close later this year, reports say|first=Emily|last=Davenport|date=January 14, 2019|website=QNS.com}}

In September 2019, IKEA announced plans to convert the former Sears into its third New York City location.{{Cite news | title=Next Stop For IKEA… Queens, NY |website=Yahoo Finance |date=September 24, 2019 |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/next-stop-ikea-queens-ny-161700021.html}} It opened on January 11, 2021.{{Cite web|last=Acevedo|first=Angélica|date=January 11, 2021|title=A 'great opportunity' for Queens: IKEA officially opens new Rego Center location|url=https://qns.com/2021/01/ikea-officially-opens-at-rego-center/|access-date=2021-02-07|website=QNS.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|first=Michael|last=Shain|date=January 14, 2021|title=Queens' first IKEA store opens at Rego Center|url=https://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/queens-first-ikea-store-opens-at-rego-center/article_0a952d5d-9991-5331-abcf-03e2ef9b4a2b.html|access-date=2021-02-07|website=Queens Chronicle|language=en}} The IKEA store was severely damaged during Hurricane Ida in September 2021.{{cite web |last=Marshall |first=Ethan |date=October 26, 2022 |title=Rego Center IKEA announces it will close in December – QNS |url=https://qns.com/2022/10/rego-center-ikea-close-december/ |access-date=June 27, 2024 |website=QNS}} On October 26, 2022, it was announced that IKEA would be closing this location on December 3.{{Cite web |last=Rizzi |first=Nicholas |date=2022-10-26 |title=Ikea Closing 115K-SF Queens Outpost in December |url=https://commercialobserver.com/2022/10/ikea-close-queens-rego-center-96-05-queens-boulevard/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=Commercial Observer |language=en-US}} IKEA bought out its lease at Rego Center in February 2024.{{cite web |last=Cifuentes |first=Kevin |last2=Cryan |first2=Elizabeth |date=February 13, 2024 |title=Ikea Pays $10M To Terminate Queens Lease |url=https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2024/02/13/ikea-pays-10m-to-terminate-queens-lease/ |access-date=June 27, 2024 |website=The Real Deal}}{{cite web |last=Rogers |first=Jack |date=February 15, 2024 |title=IKEA Buys Out Lease for Queens Mall Store for $10M |url=https://www.globest.com/2024/02/15/ikea-buys-out-lease-for-queens-mall-store-for-10m/?slreturn=20240627123256 |access-date=June 27, 2024 |website=GlobeSt}}

On April 24, 2020, it was announced that At Home would be opening in the former Kohl's space in 2021.{{Cite web|last=Weiss|first=Lois|date=2020-04-24|title=At Home Signs Lease for Big Store at Rego Center, Queens|url=https://therealdeal.com/2020/04/24/major-home-goods-chain-signs-big-lease-at-rego-center-mall/|access-date=2021-02-07|website=The Real Deal New York|language=en-US}} At Home opened in April 2021.{{cite web |last=Acevedo |first=Angélica |date=April 26, 2021 |title=At Home store opens first New York City location at Rego Center mall – QNS |url=https://qns.com/2021/04/at-home-store-opens-at-rego-center-mall/ |access-date=June 27, 2024 |website=QNS}}

On September 10, 2020, it was announced that Century 21 would be closing its location as part of a plan to close all 38 stores nationwide.{{Cite web|last=Thomas|first=Lauren|date=2020-09-10|title=Discount retailer Century 21 files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is closing all of its 13 stores|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/10/discount-retailer-century-21-files-for-bankruptcy-to-close-all-stores.html|access-date=2021-02-07|website=CNBC|language=en}}{{Cite web|first=David|last=Russell|date=September 17, 2020|title=Century 21 bankrupt; Rego site will close|url=https://www.qchron.com/editions/central/century-21-bankrupt-rego-site-will-close/article_0566d0fe-9898-5eab-b06a-f738fc28dbe3.html|access-date=2021-02-07|website=Queens Chronicle|language=en}} One month later, Century 21 permanently closed its Rego Park store.

On April 23, 2023, Bed Bath & Beyond announced that they filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, and announced that they would close all remaining stores in the United States, including the location at Rego Center. The store closed in July 2023.

Recently, as of April 27, 2025, Best Buy has moved inside of the former Toys "R" Us space, which has been vacant since 2018. Best Buy relocated from the nearby Queens Place Mall.

The Home Depot withdrew from the rental deal with Vornado in late 2008 due to drop in profit.{{Cite news |last=Fogarty |first=Lisa |title=Retailer Reconsidering Rego Park Mall Site |newspaper=Queens Tribune |date=April 16, 2009 |url=http://www.queenstribune.com/news/1239912889.html |access-date=March 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408101031/http://www.queenstribune.com/news/1239912889.html |archive-date=April 8, 2010 |url-status=dead }} The space vacated by Home Depot was replaced by Costco. This is Costco's fifth location in New York City and second in Queens.

In 2005, Walmart had been dropped as a potential tenant, as an early part of its bid to open a store within New York City. Opposition by various groups killed the plan.{{Cite news |last=Greenhouse |first=Steven |title=Wal-Mart Drops Plans for Its First Store in New York City |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 24, 2005 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/24/nyregion/24walmart.html?scp=1&sq=Wal-Mart%20Drops%20Plans%20for%20Its%20First%20Store%20in%20New%20York%20City&st=cse}}

The following layout of retail space is taken from Vornado's Property website.{{Cite web |last=Maverick |first=Mall |title=Rego Center |url=https://regocenter.com/map/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=regocenter.com |language=en}}

• Level 3: T.J. Maxx, Burlington Coat Factory
• Level 2: At Home, Best Buy
• Street Level: Marshalls, Dallas BBQ, T-Mobile, Mandee, The Vitamin Shoppe, Aldi, Petco, Starbucks, Panera Bread, Teriyaki One, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Five Below, Red Mango
• Lower Level: Costco

{{reflist}}

• {{commonscatinline}}
• {{official|http://www.regocenter.com}}
• [http://www.regoparkcenter.com Rego Park Center]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100530143129/http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/cpc/040542.pdf Department of City Planning Resolution 27 July 2005 ]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090707135108/http://www.plannyc.org/taxonomy/term/736 PlanNYC-Rego Park II]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090625044204/http://plannyc.org/archive/dir/736 PlanNYC-Archival Search for Rego Park Mall II]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110709165957/http://retail.vno.com/property_home.aspx?propid=54 Rego Center details at Vornado Realty Trust website]
• [http://www.eekarchitects.com/portfolio/15-retail-entertainment-and-commercial/40-rego-park-center Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects project profile page]

{{New York City Malls}}

Category:Shopping malls in New York City

Category:Shopping malls established in 2010

Category:Tourist attractions in Queens, New York

Category:Commercial buildings in Queens, New York

Category:2010 establishments in New York City

Category:Rego Park, Queens