Sunrise Mall (New York)

{{For|other shopping malls bearing the name Sunrise|Sunrise Mall (disambiguation)}}

{{infobox shopping mall

| name = Sunrise Mall (Long Island)

| image = File:Sunrise Mall, LFE Mark IV, McCain, Econolite, and Peek.jpg

| caption = An intersection within the Sunrise Mall, East Massapequa.

| location = East Massapequa, New York, U.S.

| opening_date = {{start date and age |1973|08|30|paren=yes}}

| closing_date = 2023

| previous_names = Sunrise Mall (1973-2005)

Westfield Sunrise (2005-2019)

| developer = Muss-Tankoos Corporation

| architect = Lathrop Douglass

| manager = Urban Edge Properties

| owner = Urban Edge Properties

| number_of_stores = 1

| number_of_anchors = 1

| floor_area = {{cvt|1,244,386|sqft|0}}{{Cite web|title=Sunrise Mall|url=https://urbanedge.propertycapsule.com/web/property/68a63fb317c5f1a0e54f730b2898d9f2-372c93577110b4dc6743c3d158cd56f9?sitemapId=579#overview|access-date=2021-11-05|website=urbanedge.propertycapsule.com}}

| floors = 2

| website = {{url|sunrisemallny.com}}

| parking = 7,000

}}Sunrise Mall{{cite web|url=http://www.newsday.com/features/printedition/longislandlife/ny-lflist08,0,2822025.story?coll=ny-lilife-print|work=Newsday|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930220838/http://www.newsday.com/features/printedition/longislandlife/ny-lflist08,0,2822025.story?coll=ny-lilife-print|archive-date=30 September 2007|title=List of Geographical Misnomers|first=Bill|last=Bleyer}} is a shopping mall located in East Massapequa, New York. The mall opened on August 30, 1973, as the first two-level shopping mall on Long Island.

History

Built by the Muss-Tankoos Corporation, the 1.3-million-square-foot mall cost $45 million and featured 140 individual shops, plus four department stores, as the first two-floor mall on Long Island.{{Cite news |last=Sloane |first=Leonard |date=1973-08-03 |title=First Store Opens at Big Mall on L.I. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/08/03/archives/first-store-opens-at-big-mall-on-li-first-store-open-at-big-li-mall.html |access-date=2024-08-21 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |date=1991-02-24 |title=Postings: Sunrise Mall Renovation; A Second Dawning |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/24/realestate/postings-sunrise-mall-renovation-a-second-dawning.html |access-date=2024-08-21 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Opened on August 30, 1973, Sunrise Mall was originally anchored by JCPenney, Gertz, Macy's, and E. J. Korvette.{{Cite web |last=DiSclafani |first=Paul |date=2017-03-04 |title=The Sunrise Mall |url=https://farmingdale-observer.com/2017/03/04/the-sunrise-mall/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Farmingdale Observer |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Barrow |first=Elaine |date=August 26, 1973 |title=Huge Mall Casting Competitive Shadow |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/08/26/archives/huge-mall-casting-competitive-shadow-14632-median-income-small.html |access-date=August 22, 2024 |website=The New York Times}} Other stores included F. W. Woolworth, Fanny Farmer, Herman's, Thom McAn, Lerner Shops, Nathan's, and Sam Goody.{{Cite web |last=Sloane |first=Leonard |date=February 18, 1973 |title=Sunrise Mall Damning In Nassau Next August |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/02/18/archives/sunrise-mall-dawning-in-nassau-next-august.html |access-date=August 22, 2024 |website=The New York Times}} A five-screen movie theater operated by United Artists opened at the mall in 1976. Two more screens were added in 1979.{{Cite web |date=February 10, 2018 |title=Going to the Movies |url=https://www.massapequahistoricalsociety.org/blog/going-to-the-movies |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=Historical Society of the Massapequas |language=en}}

It was remodeled in 1991 to modernize the space and add a glass elevator and skylights. A koi pond was installed in the mall in 1996, converting a 4,000-gallon duck pond.{{Cite web |last=Winzelberg |first=David |date=2022-09-01 |title=With Sunrise Mall closing, its fish are going to new homes |website=Long Island Business News |url=https://libn.com/2022/09/01/with-sunrise-mall-closing-its-fish-are-going-to-new-homes/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Dunson |first=Cheryl L. |date=1999-09-01 |title=As Fete Would Have It |url=https://www.nreionline.com/mag/fete-would-have-it |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=National Real Estate Investor |language=en}} The theater closed at the end of its lease in 1999 and was replaced by multiple stores. The mall was acquired by the Westfield Group in 2005 for $143 million and renamed Westfield Sunrise.{{Cite web |date=2005-06-06 |title=Westfield Group to buy US shopping mall |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/westfield-group-to-buy-us-shopping-mall-20050606-gdlgs7.html |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ritter |first=Ian |date=June 6, 2005 |title=Westfield Acquires Long Island Mall for $143M |url=https://www.globest.com/2005/06/06/westfield-acquires-long-island-mall-for-143m/?slreturn=20240821-30947 |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Globest.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Costello |first=Alex |date=2020-08-04 |title=Westfield Sunrise Mall Returning To Its Original Name |url=https://patch.com/new-york/massapequa/westfield-sunrise-mall-returning-its-original-name |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Massapequa, NY Patch |language=en}} In June 2007, a man was arrested after driving his car through the mall and causing $60,000 worth of damage.{{Cite web |date=2007-06-08 |title=Teen turns N.Y. mall into drive-through |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna19117123 |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=NBC News |language=en}}

Walmart closed its store in the mall on March 6, 2015 after 12 years and was replaced by Dick's Sporting Goods.{{Cite web |last=Doyle |first=Heather |date=2015-01-05 |title=Massapequa Walmart to Close |url=https://patch.com/new-york/massapequa/massapequa-walmart-close-0 |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Massapequa, NY Patch |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Stieglitz |first=Brian |date=2015-01-13 |title=Walmart to leave Sunrise Mall |url=https://www.liherald.com/stories/walmart-to-leave-sunrise-mall,62559 |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Herald Community Newspapers |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Korb |first=Priscilla |date=2016-06-16 |title=New Dick's Sporting Goods Store to Open in Massapequa |url=https://patch.com/new-york/massapequa/new-dicks-sporting-goods-store-open-massapequa |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=Massapequa, NY Patch |language=en}} On March 17, 2017, it was announced that JCPenney would be closing their store in the mall and liquidation sales were expected to begin on April 17, 2017.{{Cite web |last=Korb |first=Priscilla |date=2017-03-17 |title=Sunrise Mall JCPenney To Close |url=https://patch.com/new-york/massapequa/massapequa-jc-penney-close-down |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Massapequa, NY Patch |language=en}} However, on April 13, it announced that, due to more shoppers coming to the store, liquidation sales would begin on May 22, 2017 instead of April 17, 2017. The store ultimately closed on July 31, 2017.{{cite news|url=https://patch.com/new-york/massapequa/jcpenney-postpones-store-closures|title=JCPenney Postpones Store Closures|date=13 April 2017|last=Korb|first=Priscila|work=Massapequa, NY Patch|accessdate=16 July 2018}}

In October 2018, SeaQuest announced its plan to open an interactive aquarium in the Sunrise Mall.{{Cite web |last=Costello |first=Alex |date=2018-10-10 |title=Interactive Aquarium Could Come To Long Island |url=https://patch.com/new-york/massapequa/interactive-aquarium-could-come-long-island |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=Massapequa, NY Patch |language=en}} However, the company later pulled out in May 2019, citing the lengthy approval process and ongoing resistance from activists, including actor Alec Baldwin.{{Cite web |last=Costello |first=Alex |date=2019-05-17 |title=SeaQuest Pulls Application To Build Massapequa Aquarium |url=https://patch.com/new-york/massapequa/seaquest-pulls-application-build-massapequa-aquarium |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=Massapequa, NY Patch |language=en}}

On March 19, 2020, the mall closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |date=March 19, 2020 |title=5 Long Island malls to close today amid coronavirus outbreak |url=https://bronx.news12.com/5-long-island-malls-to-close-today-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-41913674 |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=bronx.news12.com}} It remained closed until July 15.{{Cite web |last=Costello |first=Alex |date=2020-07-10 |title=Westfield Sunrise Mall To Reopen Next Week |url=https://patch.com/new-york/massapequa/westfield-sunrise-mall-reopen-next-week |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=Massapequa, NY Patch |language=en}} On August 4, 2020, it was announced that the mall would be going back to its original name, Sunrise Mall.{{Cite web |last=Costello |first=Alex |date=2020-08-04 |title=Westfield Sunrise Mall Returning To Its Original Name |url=https://patch.com/new-york/massapequa/westfield-sunrise-mall-returning-its-original-name |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Massapequa, NY Patch |language=en}} On January 4, 2021, Sunrise Mall was purchased by Urban Edge Properties from Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield for $29.7 million.{{Cite web |last=Costello |first=Alex |date=2021-01-04 |title=Sunrise Mall Sold For Nearly $30 Million |url=https://patch.com/new-york/massapequa/sunrise-mall-sold-nearly-30-million |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Massapequa, NY Patch |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Bonfiglio |first=Briana |date=2021-01-06 |title=Sunrise Mall in East Massapequa Sold For $29.7M |url=https://www.longislandpress.com/2021/01/06/sunrise-mall-in-east-massapequa-sold-for-29-7m-to-urban-edge-properties/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=www.longislandpress.com |language=en-US}}

In October 2021, Sears closed.{{Cite web|last=Valinote|first=Nicole|date=2021-10-04|title=Final Long Island Sears Store Closing, Report Says|url=https://dailyvoice.com/new-york/nassau/business/final-long-island-sears-store-closing-report-says/817476/|website=Nassau Daily Voice|language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sweet |first=Jacqueline |date=2021-10-05 |title=Long Island's Last Sears Store, In Massapequa Mall, Closes |url=https://patch.com/new-york/massapequa/long-islands-last-sears-store-massapequa-mall-closes |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Massapequa, NY Patch |language=en}} In February 2022, it was announced that Urban Edge Properties would not be renewing leases for its remaining 50 tenants and was considering other ways to redevelop the space.{{cite web | last=McLogan | first=Jennifer | date=February 23, 2022 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/sunrise-mall-massapequa-closing/ | title=Sunrise Mall in Massapequa tells tenants to vacate, leaving store owners and employees scrambling | website=CBS News }}{{Cite web |last=Winzelberg |first=David |date=2022-02-22 |title=New owners planning redevelopment of Sunrise Mall |url=https://libn.com/2022/02/22/new-owners-planning-redevelopment-of-sunrise-mall/ |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Long Island Business News |language=en-US}} By September, the mall's 50 koi had been relocated to local schools and the Long Island Aquarium.

On January 9, 2025, it was announced that Macy's would be closing as part of a plan to close 66 stores nationwide while prioritizing higher-earning stores.{{Cite web|url= https://www.axios.com/2025/01/09/macys-store-closing-list-2025|title= Macy's closing 66 more stores in 2025. See the closure list.|last=Tyko|first=Kelly|date=January 9, 2025|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=Axios|language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Parish |first=Tony N. |date=2024-02-28 |title=Macy's to close 150 unproductive namesake stores amid sales slip as it steps up luxury business |url=https://www.newsday.com/business/macys-fourthquarter-tony-spring-investor-160-stores-otfigs79 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240401134618/https://www.newsday.com/business/macys-fourthquarter-tony-spring-investor-160-stores-otfigs79 |archive-date=2024-04-01 |work=Newsday}} The store closed on March 23, 2025, leaving Dick's Sporting Goods as the last remaining tenant at the mall.{{Cite news |last=Brodsky |first=Robert |date=2025-01-09 |title=Macy's set to close 3 stores on Long Island, 5 in New York City |url=https://www.newsday.com/business/macys-backstage-department-stores-long-island-qwzqu54x |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250110014641/https://www.newsday.com/business/macys-backstage-department-stores-long-island-qwzqu54x |archive-date=2025-01-10 |access-date=2025-01-10 |work=Newsday}}

Transportation

Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) buses that serve the mall are the n54 (Hempstead-Sunrise Mall via Washington Avenue), n55 (Hempstead-Sunrise Mall via Jerusalem Avenue), and the n71 Farmingdale State College-Amityville via Hempstead Turnpike). The n54 does not run on Sundays, while the n55 and n71 run seven days a week.

As of September 1, 2024, the n19 and n80 no longer serve the mall, with the n19 terminating at Hicksville Road and the n80 terminating near the mall at Unqua Road and Sunrise Highway.{{Cite web |title=Service Alerts |url=https://www.nicebus.com/Service-Alerts |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830153945/https://www.nicebus.com/Service-Alerts |archive-date=2024-08-30 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Nassau Inter-County Express}}