The Shops at SunVet

The Shops at SunVet is a shopping center in Holbrook, Suffolk County, on Long Island's South Shore in New York. The property opened in 1974 as Sun Vet Mall, a conventional enclosed shopping mall whose name referred to its location near Sunrise Highway and Veterans Memorial Highway. It became an important local retail destination and hosted a mixture of national chains, regional businesses, restaurants, service providers, and smaller specialty stores. Over its history, the center's anchor and major tenants included Toys "R" Us, A.C. Moore, Pathmark, Citibank, Red Wing Shoes, Kid City, Mandee, and Payless Shoes. Other former occupants included Blockbuster Video, Sears Portrait Studio, Fashion Bug, RadioShack, FYE, Solar Flare Tanning, ClothesLine, Tuesday Morning, Building Star, SunVet Hobbies, SunVet Optical Center, Hallmark, Contour Express, Bundy Art, and Dollar King. The tenant mix reflected the traditional suburban shopping-mall model, combining general merchandise, apparel, groceries, crafts, entertainment, banking, personal services, and local businesses. The mall experienced a relatively strong occupancy period in the mid-2000s. In 2005, it reported a 2 percent vacancy rate, described as its best result since 1982, with 41 stores operating. Later, however, the center was affected by the broader decline of enclosed malls and the financial difficulties of several major retail chains. Toys "R" Us entered bankruptcy in 2018 and soon closed its Sun Vet location. A.C. Moore filed for bankruptcy in 2019 and subsequently shut its store at the property. Mandee's location was reported to be closing in March 2020, while the long-running Aegean Pizzeria closed in August 2022 after five decades of operation, citing financial reasons. The redevelopment process began to take shape under Schuckman Realty, which was associated with the property in 2017 and announced redevelopment plans in 2018. In July 2022, Syosset-based Blumenfeld Development Group acquired the property under a 99-year lease. Plans announced later that year called for the struggling mall to be transformed into an open-air shopping center featuring Whole Foods, Starbucks, and additional retail and service tenants. The project was structured as a joint venture between Blumenfeld Development Group and Regency Centers, with NYM Group serving as the construction partner. The planned project converts the former mall into an approximately 168,000-square-foot outdoor shopping destination. Construction was continuing in 2023, and updated renderings released in December of that year showed plans to repurpose portions of the existing property, including the left side of the former mall. By October 2024, approximately 60 percent of the center had reportedly been leased, with most stores expected to open during 2025 and Whole Foods scheduled for 2026. Later reporting put the redevelopment cost at approximately $93 million and described leasing at about 70 percent, with tenants or announced tenants including Tony's Tacos, California Closets, Strong Pilates, Club Champion, Shake Shack, Crumbl, J.Crew, Warby Parker, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, Starbucks, Aspen Dental, Whole Foods, Wells Fargo, and Citibank. The reconfigured center has begun receiving tenants while redevelopment continues. Starbucks opened in February 2025 with a double-sided drive-through designed to support mobile and conventional orders. Citibank, which had been the only operating store remaining in the old mall as of October 2023, reopened at the redeveloped center in April 2025 after relocating. Wells Fargo opened a branch in September 2025, and Whole Foods was scheduled to open in March 2026. The property is also served by Suffolk County Transit routes S54 and S59. The name and physical format therefore represent a transition from a legacy enclosed mall to a contemporary open-air, mixed-use-oriented shopping center.

The property now known as The Shops at SunVet opened in 1974 in Holbrook, Suffolk County, New York, as Sun Vet Mall. Its name was derived from its proximity to Sunrise Highway and Veterans Memorial Highway. The center became a significant local shopping destination, combining anchor stores with smaller shops, food businesses, service providers, and financial institutions. Its historical anchors and major tenants included Toys "R" Us, A.C. Moore, Pathmark, Citibank, Red Wing Shoes, Kid City, Mandee, and Payless Shoes. The mall also housed a wide range of former tenants, including Blockbuster Video, Sears Portrait Studio, Fashion Bug, RadioShack, FYE, Solar Flare Tanning, ClothesLine, Tuesday Morning, Building Star, SunVet Hobbies, SunVet Optical Center, Hallmark, Contour Express, Bundy Art, and Dollar King. In 2005, the property reported a 2 percent vacancy rate and 41 operating stores, its strongest vacancy performance since 1982. The mall later faced the same structural pressures affecting many traditional enclosed shopping centers. In 2017, a parody Twitter account portraying the mall as seeking shoppers and promoting fake offers received media attention. That year, the property was associated with Long Island-based Schuckman Realty. Schuckman announced in 2018 that redevelopment was planned, but the proposal was not initially detailed. The same year, Toys "R" Us filed for bankruptcy and closed its store at the mall. A.C. Moore filed for bankruptcy in 2019 and subsequently shut its location. Mandee's closure was reported in March 2020. A major ownership and redevelopment phase began in 2022. Blumenfeld Development Group, based in Syosset, acquired the property for a 99-year lease in July. Later that year, redevelopment proposals called for converting the struggling mall into an open-air shopping center, with Whole Foods, Starbucks, and other retailers identified as potential occupants. In August, Aegean Pizzeria closed after approximately 50 years at the mall, citing financial reasons. By October, only four tenants were reported to remain in business. The revitalization plan involves a joint venture between Blumenfeld Development Group and Regency Centers, with NYM Group responsible for construction. It is intended to create an approximately 168,000-square-foot open-air shopping center rather than preserve the previous enclosed-mall format. In May 2023, the Holbrook Chamber of Commerce confirmed the project and indicated that construction would begin later that year. Updated renderings released in December showed plans to reuse and reconfigure parts of the existing structure. Leasing and openings proceeded in stages. By October 2024, approximately 60 percent of the center had reportedly been leased. Announced or reported tenants included Whole Foods, Starbucks, Shake Shack, Crumbl, J.Crew, Warby Parker, Tony's Tacos, California Closets, Strong Pilates, Club Champion, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, Aspen Dental, Citibank, and Wells Fargo. The reported redevelopment cost reached approximately $93 million in 2025, while leasing was described as roughly 70 percent. Starbucks opened in February 2025 with a double-sided drive-through supporting both mobile and conventional ordering. Citibank reopened after relocating within the center in April, and Wells Fargo opened in September. A construction-debris dumpster fire behind the Whole Foods site was extinguished in November without a reported broader impact on the project. Whole Foods was scheduled to open on March 5, 2026. Shake Shack was announced for an April 15 opening, accompanied by a planned one-dollar-per-burger donation to Serve All NY on opening day. The center is served by Suffolk County Transit routes S54 and S59. The redevelopment marks the property's transition from a conventional suburban mall into an outdoor retail and service destination intended to combine grocery, restaurants, national brands, banking, health and wellness, and specialty services.

• 2026

  Whole Foods and Shake Shack scheduled to open

  [1]The Shops at SunVeten.wikipedia.org

  Whole Foods is scheduled for March 5, while Shake Shack is announced for April 15 with an opening-day charitable promotion.

• 2025

  First major redeveloped-center openings

  [1]The Shops at SunVeten.wikipedia.org

  Starbucks opens in February, Citibank reopens after relocation in April, and Wells Fargo opens in September.

• 2024

  Leasing reaches approximately 60 percent

  [1]The Shops at SunVeten.wikipedia.org

  Reporting indicates that about 60 percent of the redeveloped center has been leased, with most stores expected to open in 2025.

• 2023

  Open-air redevelopment moves toward construction

  [1]The Shops at SunVeten.wikipedia.org

  Project plans for an approximately 168,000-square-foot open-air center are confirmed, with Blumenfeld Development Group, Regency Centers, and NYM Group involved.

• 2022

  Blumenfeld Development Group takes a 99-year lease

  [1]The Shops at SunVeten.wikipedia.org

  The developer acquires a long-term lease and advances proposals to transform the mall into an open-air shopping destination.

• 2019

  A.C. Moore closes

  [1]The Shops at SunVeten.wikipedia.org

  A.C. Moore's bankruptcy results in the permanent closure of its location at the mall.

• 2018

  Toys "R" Us closes and redevelopment is announced

  [1]The Shops at SunVeten.wikipedia.org

  The major anchor closes following bankruptcy, and Schuckman Realty announces that redevelopment is planned.

• 2017

  Property associated with Schuckman Realty

  [1]The Shops at SunVeten.wikipedia.org

  The Long Island-based real-estate group is reported as the property's owner or property representative, while a parody social-media account draws attention to the mall.

• 2005

  Lowest reported vacancy rate in decades

  [1]The Shops at SunVeten.wikipedia.org

  The mall reports a 2 percent vacancy rate and 41 operating stores, described as its best vacancy performance since 1982.

• 1974

  Sun Vet Mall opens

  [1]The Shops at SunVeten.wikipedia.org

  The shopping mall opens in Holbrook and takes its name from nearby Sunrise Highway and Veterans Memorial Highway.

A local and regional shopping destination transitioning from a traditional enclosed mall into a modern open-air shopping center anchored by grocery, foodservice, national retail, banking, and personal-service tenants.

• Retail property · 2023

  Open-air shopping center

  The redevelopment replaces the traditional enclosed-mall format with an approximately 168,000-square-foot outdoor shopping center. The planned tenant mix spans grocery, restaurants, apparel, specialty retail, financial services, health and wellness, beauty, fitness, and other personal services.

• Shopping mall · 1974

  Legacy enclosed mall

  From its 1974 opening, Sun Vet Mall operated as a conventional suburban shopping mall. Its historical assortment included department-style and specialty anchors, apparel, groceries, crafts, entertainment, banking, restaurants, and locally operated stores.

• 2026Shake Shack opening-day donation

  United States

  For the announced Shake Shack opening, each burger purchase on opening day was planned to generate a one-dollar donation to Serve All NY.

  Source
• 2017Parody social-media promotions

  United States

  A Twitter account parodying the mall reportedly solicited shoppers and circulated fake promotions.

  Outcome. The account was reported as a parody and was not an official mall campaign.

  Source

• 2023

  Open-air shopping-center transformationStrategy

  Background

  The legacy enclosed mall was being repositioned after anchor closures and declining occupancy.

  Action taken

  A joint venture between Blumenfeld Development Group and Regency Centers advanced a plan to create an outdoor retail destination, with NYM Group handling construction.

  Aftermath

  Construction continued, updated renderings were released, and leasing began for a new tenant mix.

  Redevelopment cost. $93 million (Reported in 2025)

  Source

• 2022

  Blumenfeld Development Group takes a 99-year leaseM&A

  Background

  The mall had experienced tenant departures and was reported to have only four operating tenants in October 2022.

  Action taken

  Blumenfeld Development Group acquired the property for a 99-year lease and pursued redevelopment proposals.

  Aftermath

  The property entered a formal transformation into an approximately 168,000-square-foot open-air center.

  Source

• 2018

  Redevelopment of the enclosed mall announcedStrategy

  Background

  The property faced changing retail conditions and later lost major anchors including Toys "R" Us and A.C. Moore.

  Action taken

  Schuckman Realty announced that redevelopment was planned, without initially releasing full project details.

  Aftermath

  The concept developed into a larger open-air shopping-center project under Blumenfeld Development Group and Regency Centers.

  Source

1. 1The Shops at SunVeten.wikipedia.org