Vernon Hills Village

On February 25, 1948, the Lord & Taylor-Westchester store opened with floodlights, models, and 70 mannikins, to large crowds, with 18,000 visitors in total that day, and the worst traffic jams that that community had experienced for years.{{cite news |last1=Goetz |first1=Theodore |title=18,000 Flock to Lord & Taylor for Eastchester Store Opening |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/mount-vernon-argus-18000-flock-to-lord/134794903/ |access-date=7 November 2023 |work=Mount Vernon Argus |date=26 February 1948 |pages=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} The store on a 14-acre site, provided parking for 1040 cars, and the store employed around 300 people.{{cite news |title=Plan Unit Backs Lord, Taylor Case |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-star-plan-unit-backs-lord/134795984/ |access-date=7 November 2023 |work=The Standard-Star |date=14 March 1946 |location=Eastchester, New York |pages=8 |via=Newspapers.com}}

In 1955, Mount Vernon, New York-based developer Salvatore Pepe released plans to build shopping center on the {{cvt|9|acre|adj=on}} parcel next to Lord & Taylor, promoting it as the future "Fifth Avenue of Westchester" and already envisioning luxury department store Bonwit Teller as the anchor, more than a decade before Bonwit's would actually move from White Plains to Vernon Hills in 1967.{{cite news |title=Construction Faces Banner '56, Says Pepe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/mount-vernon-argus-construction-faces-ba/134796225/ |access-date=7 November 2023 |work=Mount Vernon Argus |date=17 January 1956 |pages=42 |via=Newspapers.com}}

In 1964 Bonwit Teller had branch store in a two-and‐a‐half‐story building in downtown White Plains, where it had operated since April 1941, on the current site of the Westchester One tower. Bonwit had a 20‐year lease ending in 1976, but Pepe went to the landlord Archie Davidow and bought it, including the remainder of the lease, thus permitting Bonwits to move; it ceased operations at White Plains at the close of business on April 13, 1967.{{cite news |last1=Oser |first1=Alan F. |title=About Real Estate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/07/04/archives/about-real-estate-westchester-builder-looks-ahead.html |access-date=7 November 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=4 July 1975}}

Five days later, on April 18, 1967, the new {{cvt|43000|sqft|0|adj=on}}, Bonwit Teller Scarsdale store opened. Guests included actress Arlene Francis (member of the company's Board of Directors), Princess Marcella Borghese and Mildred Custin, president of Bonwit Teller.{{cite news |title=Bonwit Teller Opens Store in Eastchester |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-reporter-dispatch-bonwit-teller-open/134797661/ |access-date=7 November 2023 |work=The Reporter Dispatch |date=18 April 1967 |pages=6 |via=Newspapers.com}} Designed by architectural firm Copeland, Novak & Israel, it consisted of 36 fashion departments, and featured a {{cvt|7900|sqft|0|adj=on}} center court of Italian marble, with a crystal chandelier hanging above. Two additional chandeliers had once hung in the Ambassador Hotel in New York. {{cvt|1700|ft|0}} of murals by Richard Neas decorated the walls of the court, and additional Neas murals adorned the shoe salon. 85 employees from the White Plains store were transferred to Vernon Hills, and 40 additional employees were hired specifically for the new branch.{{cite news |title=Move from White Plains: Bonwit Teller OPens Store in Eastchester |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-item-move-from-white-plains-b/134796923/ |access-date=7 November 2023 |work=The Daily Item |date=18 April 1967 |pages=25 |language=en |via=Newspapers.com}}

In 2019 owner and developer Bianco & Pepe Inc. sold the center to Ashkenazy Acquisition.{{cite news |last1=Marroquin |first1=Mario |title=Westchester affluence, density keys to sale of Vernon Hills Shopping Center |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/money/real-estate/2019/11/06/vernon-hills-eastchester-sold-nyc-investor/4176405002/ |access-date=7 November 2023 |work=The Journal News / Lohud |date=6 November 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Katz |first1=Peter |title=Vernon Hills Shopping Center sold for over $125 million |url=https://westfaironline.com/real-estate/vernon-hills-shopping-center-sold-for-over-125-million/ |work=Westfair Business Journal |date=5 November 2019}}

As of 2023, tenants include Saks Off Fifth ({{cvt|38000|sqft|0}}),{{cite web |title=750 White Plains Road |url=https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/750-White-Plains-Rd-Eastchester-NY/27192882/ |website=LoopNet |access-date=7 November 2023}} New York Sports Club, Starbucks, Barnes & Noble (opened in 2016),{{cite news |date=21 November 2016 |title=Barnes & Nobles opens new store with restaurant in Eastchester |url=https://www.lohud.com/picture-gallery/news/local/westchester/2016/11/21/photos-barnes--nobles-opens-new-store-with-restaurant-in-eastchester/94226100/ |access-date=7 November 2023 |work=The Journal News}} West Elm, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta.

• [https://vernonhillsvillage.com Official website]
• [https://images1.showcase.com/d2/rBtVvv6JvUTVpjf--UGkOA/document.pdf Map of tenants]
• [https://cms5.revize.com/revize/eastchester/departments/docs/670%20White%20Plains%20Rd%20Drawings.pdf Architectural diagram of site]

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Category:Shopping malls in New York (state)

Category:Buildings and structures in Westchester County, New York

Category:Scarsdale, New York

Category:Eastchester, New York