Walt Whitman Shops

(Redirected from Walt Whitman Mall)

Shopping mall in Huntington Station, New York

Walt Whitman Shops
The Walt Whitman statue in front of Walt Whitman Shops

Location	Huntington Station, New York
Coordinates	40°49′20″N 73°24′35″W / 40.8223°N 73.4097°W / 40.8223; -73.4097
Opening date	November 23, 1962; 62 years ago (1962-11-23)
Owner	Simon Property Group
Architect	Welton Becket
No. of stores and services	105
No. of anchor tenants	3
Total retail floor area	1,089,350 sq ft (101,204 m)
No. of floors	1 (2 in Saks Fifth Avenue, 3 in Bloomingdale's, 4 in Macy's)
Parking	5,043 spaces
Public transit access	Suffolk County Transit: 1, 3, 6 Huntington Area Rapid Transit: H20, H30, H40 Nassau Inter-County Express: n79, n79x
Website	simon.com/mall/walt-whitman-shops

Walt Whitman Shops (formerly known as Walt Whitman Mall) is a shopping mall in Huntington Station, New York, on Long Island. The mall features the traditional retailers Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and Saks Fifth Avenue. The mall is named for the poet Walt Whitman due to the close proximity to his birthplace, a US National Historic Site, located near the mall.

The mall is owned and managed by Simon Property Group, one of the largest developers of shopping malls in the US.

History

Walt Whitman Shopping Center

Built as New York's first indoor shopping mall, the facility cost $20 million at included 75 stores. It opened around anchors R.H. Macy & Company and Abraham & Straus in November 1962. It was the first time both companies directly competed with each other in the same location.

The Walt Whitman Shopping Center, as it was called then, was built by the Winston-Muss Corporation and featured a Japanese garden, aviary, and sculpted mobile based on the poetry of Walt Whitman. By January 1963, the facility was fully rented. In May, a single-screen movie theater opened, operated by Century.

Walt Whitman Mall

By the early 1970s, the location was being referred to as the Walt Whitman Mall. Winston-Muss sold the mall to N.K. Winston, Inc. in 1973, who sold it to Corporate Property Investors three years later.

On November 13, 1984, a fire destroyed seven stores, damaged 25 others, and collapsed part of the roof. It took seven fire companies four hours to get the blaze under control; 13 people were treated for minor injuries. Two thirds of the stores were able to reopen soon after, while the rest were sealed off for repair.

On May 16, 1991, a fire killed two people and injured 36 others. It was the fourth fire at the McCrory's location in six months. In 1993, a McCrory's worker pleaded guilty to tossing a lit cigarette into a display of silk flowers set on a block of styrofoam, causing significant damage to the store and killing two of his coworkers, aged 20 and 27. The store never reopened.

By 1995, CPI was planning a massive, $50 million expansion project that would grow the mall 30% by adding a second floor, 80 stores, food court, multiscreen cinema, and two new garages. However, the plan faced significant protest from local homeowners. When Federated Department Stores merged A&S into Macy's, the Walt Whitman Mall became the first location in the country to have two Macy's storefronts. However, Bloomingdale's was soon brought in to serve as a new anchor store.

In February 1998, Simon DeBartolo Group purchased CPI and took control of the mall. Simon completed a $85 million renovation in March 1999, adding 32 stores, marble floor tiles, vaulted ceilings, skylights, and a glass domed center court to expand the mall to one million square feet. Programmable advertising displays and traffic monitoring features were also installed. Walt Whitman's poem "Leaves of Grass" was etched onto the outside of the building. Saks Fifth Avenue opened in March 1999, joining new tenants Williams Sonoma, L'Occitane, Sephora, and Brooks Brothers. By June 2000, sales had increased by 18%, putting it ahead of the national sales average. In July, Legal Seafoods opened a standalone location next to the mall. The Whitman Theater closed in 2002. In May 2003, an Apple Store opened at the mall.

In February 2012, Simon received approval for another expansion project that would add 72,000 square feet to the upper and lower levels of the mall and 30 new storefronts. Indoor renovations were completed in summer 2013 and the Walt Whitman Shops, as it was now called, was unveiled in November. The walls featuring quotes from "Leaves of Grass" were removed and replaced by a bronze statue of Walt Whitman at the Mall's new main entrance.

In August 2013, an Urban Outfitters opened. On February 22, 2014, a carbon monoxide leak at Legal Seafoods killed one person and sickened 28 others. All three restaurants in the complex (Legal Sea Foods, The Cheesecake Factory, and Panera Bread) were evacuated. The leak was blamed on a faulty water heater pipe. The restaurant permanently closed at the end of the year. On March 2, 2016, 10 people were hospitalized after Panera Bread suffered another carbon monoxide leak that originated from the construction site where Legal Seafoods used to be.

On March 19, 2020, the Walt Whitman Shops closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and didn't reopen until July 10. On August 27, 2020, it was announced that Lord & Taylor would shutter its traditional brick-and-mortar format as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous Lord & Taylor outpost is in the approval stages to become reconstructed for a vibrant modern office use concept.

References

"About", Walt Whitman Shops official website
"About Walt Whitman Shops". Simon Property Group. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
Rumsey, Spencer; Twarowski, Christopher (September 10, 2013). "Walt Whitman's Long Island Roots". www.longislandpress.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
^ Lisicky, Michael J. (2017). Abraham and Straus: It's Worth a Trip From Anywhere. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press. pp. 74–75, 128. ISBN 9781625858870.
Porterfield, Byron (November 24, 1962). "Big Garden-Like Mall Dedicated At Huntington Shopping Center". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
"David Muss, 74, a Real-Estate Developer". The New York Times. November 1, 1988. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
"Whitman S.C. 100% Rented". The Observer. Vol. 39. January 3, 1963. p. 14. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
"Century Whitman Theatre opening". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). May 28, 1963. p. 94. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
Andelman, David A. (January 5, 1973). "G.I. BUS COMPANY SEEKS RUN TO CITY". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
^ "An expensive facelift pays off | Long Island Business News". Long Island Business News. June 9, 2000. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
"L.I. MALL STILL ASSESSING FIRE LOSSES". The New York Times. November 23, 1984. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
McQuiston, John T. (November 14, 1984). "13 ARE INJURED AS STORES BURN IN HUNTINGTON". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
Mitchell, Ellen (November 18, 1984). "MALL FIRE DIMS HOLIDAY HOPES". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
Upi (November 15, 1984). "THE REGION; 16 Stores Reopen After Fire at Mall". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
Logeman, Henry G. (May 17, 1991). "Two killed in spectacular Long Island mall blaze". UPI. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
Lyall, Sarah (May 18, 1991). "Fatal Fire Is 4th in 6 Months at Store in Long Island Mall". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
Wasserman, Elizabeth (February 3, 1993). "Guilty Plea in Deadly Mall Fire Ex-guard set blaze at McCrory's". Newsday. p. 25. Archived from the original on May 20, 2008. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
Lyall, Sarah (September 28, 1991). "Store Detective Held in Blaze At Suffolk Mall". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
Ain, Stewart (October 29, 1995). "With Eye on Roosevelt Field, Walt Whitman Mall Plans Expansion". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
Kellerman, Vivien (August 20, 1995). "Huntington Projects Draw Fire". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
Bagli, Charles V. (February 20, 1998). "Simon DeBartolo Wins Fight For a Prime Group of Malls". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
Ain, Stewart (January 9, 2000). "Retailers Got What They Wanted". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
Madore, James T. (March 11, 1999). "New Saks Marks A Rebirth at Mall / Walt Whitman stays on an upscale course". ProQuest. Newsday. pp. A.55. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
Staff, LIBN (May 26, 2000). "Seafood chain drops anchor on the Island | Long Island Business News". Retrieved August 24, 2024.
Everitt, David (October 12, 2003). "Old Movie Palaces: Can They Be Saved?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
Sellers, Dennis (May 7, 2003). "Apple stores open Sat. in Bellevue, Wa., Long Island". Macworld. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
Morris, Keiko (February 16, 2012). "Walt Whitman mall gets OK for expansion". Newsday. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
^ Robinson, Pam (November 21, 2013). "Whitman Shops Celebrates Its New Look". Huntington, NY Patch. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
Robinson, Pam (April 7, 2013). "Whitman Mall Renovations to Be Done by November". Commack, NY Patch. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
"Walt Whitman Shops, formally the Walt Whitman Mall, reveals renovation with live entertainment, giveaways". News 12. November 21, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
Robinson, Pam (November 27, 2013). "Mall Plans New 9/11 Tribute". Huntington, NY Patch. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
Robinson, Pam (June 24, 2013). "Urban Outfitters to Open at Whitman Mall". Huntington, NY Patch. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
"1 Dead, 28 Others Exposed to Carbon Monoxide at NY Mall". NBC News. February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
"Water Heater Pipe Blamed In Deadly L.I. Mall Carbon Monoxide Leak". www.cbsnews.com. February 23, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
Genn, Adina (December 29, 2014). "Legal Sea Foods in Huntington Station Closes". Huntington, NY Patch. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
Paige, McAtee (March 2, 2016). "Carbon Monoxide Incident at Panera in Walt Whitman Mall Sends 7 to Hospital". Huntington, NY Patch. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
Tanner, Jeremy (March 2, 2016). "LI Panera Bread workers hospitalized after carbon monoxide leak". PIX11.
"5 Long Island malls to close today amid coronavirus outbreak". bronx.news12.com. March 19, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
DeSantis, Michael (July 10, 2020). "2 Suffolk Malls To Reopen". Smithtown, NY Patch. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
Parrish, Tory N. (August 20, 2020). "Lord & Taylor to close store at Walt Whitman Shops". Newsday. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
Robinson, Pam (March 10, 2023). "Medical Office Use Planned for Former Lord & Taylor Store at Mall". Huntington Now. Retrieved August 21, 2023.

External links

Shopping malls in the New York metropolitan area

New York

New York City	Atlantic Terminal Bay Plaza Shopping Center The Boulevard Bronx Terminal Market Brookfield Place East River Plaza Empire Outlets Empire Stores Gateway Center Kings Plaza Manhattan Mall New World Mall Queens Center Mall Queens Place Rego Center The Shops at Atlas Park The Shops at Columbus Circle The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards Staten Island Mall South Street Seaport Westfield World Trade Center
Long Island	Americana Manhasset Broadway Commons Green Acres Mall Lake Success Shopping Center Mall at The Source Roosevelt Field Smith Haven Mall South Shore Mall Sunrise Mall Sun Vet Mall Tanger Outlets at the Arches Tanger Outlets Riverhead Walt Whitman Shops Wheatley Plaza
Hudson Valley	City Center at White Plains Cross County Shopping Center Galleria at Crystal Run The Galleria at White Plains Jefferson Valley Mall Hudson Valley Mall Newburgh Mall Palisades Center Poughkeepsie Galleria The Shops at Nanuet The Source at White Plains The Westchester South Hills Mall Westchester's Ridge Hill Woodbury Common Premium Outlets

New Jersey

Connecticut

Pennsylvania

Stroud Mall

Italic text indicates unbuilt and defunct malls

Simon Property Group

v t e Simon Property Group malls in the western United States
Alaska	Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall
Arizona	Arizona Mills
California	Brea Mall Coddingtown Mall Del Amo Fashion Center Fashion Valley Mall Great Mall of the Bay Area Ontario Mills The Outlets at Orange Santa Rosa Plaza The Shops at Mission Viejo Stanford Shopping Center Stoneridge Shopping Center
Colorado	Colorado Mills
Nevada	The Forum Shops at Caesars Meadowood Mall
New Mexico	ABQ Uptown
Washington	Columbia Center Mall Northgate Station Tacoma Mall

v t e Simon Property Group malls in the midwestern United States
Illinois	Chicago Premium Outlets Gurnee Mills Orland Square Mall White Oaks Mall Woodfield Mall (50%, co-owned with CalPERS)
Indiana	Castleton Square Mall College Mall Fashion Mall at Keystone Greenwood Park Mall Hamilton Town Center Tippecanoe Mall University Park Mall
Kansas	Towne East Square
Michigan	Briarwood Mall
Minnesota	Miller Hill Mall Southdale Center
Missouri	Battlefield Mall Independence Center
Ohio	Summit Mall
South Dakota	Empire Mall
Wisconsin	Bay Park Square

v t e Simon Property Group malls in the northeastern United States
Delaware	Dover Mall
Maryland	Arundel Mills St. Charles Towne Center
Massachusetts	Auburn Mall Burlington Mall Cape Cod Mall Copley Place Liberty Tree Mall The Mall at Chestnut Hill Northshore Mall South Shore Plaza Square One Mall
New Hampshire	Mall at Rockingham Park Mall of New Hampshire Pheasant Lane Mall
New Jersey	Menlo Park Mall Newport Centre Ocean County Mall Quaker Bridge Mall Rockaway Townsquare The Shops at Riverside The Mills at Jersey Gardens
New York	Roosevelt Field Smith Haven Mall Walt Whitman Shops The Shops at Nanuet The Westchester
Pennsylvania	King of Prussia Lehigh Valley Mall (majority-owned by PREIT, managed by Simon) Oxford Valley Mall Ross Park Mall South Hills Village Springfield Mall (co-owned with PREIT, managed by PREIT)
Virginia	Apple Blossom Mall Fashion Centre at Pentagon City Potomac Mills

v t e Simon Property Group malls in the southern United States
Arkansas	McCain Mall
Florida	Aventura Mall The Avenues Brickell City Centre Coconut Point Coral Square Cordova Mall Dadeland Mall The Falls The Florida Mall Miami International Mall Pier Park Sawgrass Mills St. Johns Town Center Town Center at Boca Raton Treasure Coast Square Tyrone Square Mall
Georgia	Lenox Square Mall of Georgia Phipps Plaza Sugarloaf Mills
Louisiana	Prien Lake Mall
North Carolina	Concord Mills Southpark Mall
Oklahoma	Penn Square Mall Woodland Hills Mall
South Carolina	Haywood Mall
Tennessee	Opry Mills West Town Mall Wolfchase Galleria
Texas	Barton Creek Square Broadway Square Mall Cielo Vista Mall The Domain Firewheel Town Center Grapevine Mills The Galleria Houston Premium Outlets Katy Mills Lakeline Mall North East Mall La Plaza Mall Midland Park Mall

v t e Premium Outlets and Factory Stores outlet centers in the eastern United States
All malls are suffixed with Premium Outlets unless noted otherwise.
Florida	Orlando International Premium Outlets
Maryland	Hagerstown
Massachusetts	Wrentham Village
Michigan	Birch Run
New Hampshire	Merrimack
New York	Woodbury Common
Pennsylvania	Grove City Philadelphia
Virginia	Norfolk Williamsburg

v t e Premium Outlets and Factory Stores outlet centers in the western United States
All malls are suffixed with Premium Outlets unless noted otherwise.
Southern California	Las Americas
Minnesota	Albertville
Nevada	Las Vegas North
Oregon	Woodburn
Texas	Round Rock
Washington	Seattle
Wisconsin	Johnson Creek Pleasant Prairie

v t e Premium Outlets and Factory Stores outlet centers in Canada
Ontario	Toronto Premium Outlets
Quebec	Premium Outlets Montreal
Alberta	Premium Outlet Collection EIA

v t e Walt Whitman
Leaves of Grass (1855–1892)	"Come Up from the Fields Father" (1865) "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" (1855) "Hush'd Be the Camps To-Day" (1865) "I Sing the Body Electric" (1855) "A Noiseless Patient Spider" (1891) "O Captain! My Captain!" (1865) "One Hour to Madness and Joy" (1860) "One's Self I Sing" (1867) "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking" (1859) "Patrolling Barnegat" (1856) "Pioneers! O Pioneers!" (1865) "Prayer of Columbus" (1900) "The Sleepers" (1855) "Song of Myself" (1855) "Song of the Open Road" (1856) "This Dust Was Once the Man" (1871) "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd" (1865) Sections Calamus Sea-Drift Drum-Taps
Other works	List of poems Franklin Evans (1842) Life and Adventures of Jack Engle (1852) Democratic Vistas (1871) Passage to India (1871)
Adaptations	Elegiac Ode (1884) Sea Drift (1906) A Sea Symphony (1909) Ode to Death (1919) Morning Heroes (1930) Sea Drift (1933) Dona nobis pacem (1936) Secular Cantata No. 2: A Free Song (1942) When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd (1946) The Wound-Dresser (1989) Lilacs (1996) Symphony No. 2 (1999) Dooryard Bloom (2004)
Life and honoraria	Walt Whitman Award Walt Whitman and Abraham Lincoln Lectures Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site Walt Whitman House The Long Islander Walt Whitman Bridge Walt Whitman (Davidson) Walt Whitman High School (Maryland) Walt Whitman High School (New York) Walt Whitman Shops Whitman-Walker Health

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