The Shops at Atlas Park
An open-air shopping and lifestyle center in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens, New York City.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Shops at Atlas Park is an open-air shopping and lifestyle center at the intersection of Cooper Avenue and 80th Street in Glendale, Queens, New York City. It opened in April 2006 after the redevelopment of the former Atlas Terminals industrial property. The center combines retail stores, restaurants, entertainment, landscaped public space, and fitness-oriented services in a suburban-style format within the dense New York metropolitan area. The site has a long industrial history. It began as approximately 19 acres of farmland. In 1902, the American Grass Products Company acquired the land and built a brick factory, followed by a power plant in 1903. In 1922, Henry Hemmerdinger, whose family operated ATCO Properties, purchased a warehouse in the area. The property gradually developed into Atlas Terminals, an industrial park that, during its mid-twentieth-century peak, accommodated companies including General Electric, Kraft, Westinghouse, and New York Telephone. Rail freight access was provided by the Long Island Rail Road's Montauk Branch along the southern edge of the property. By the late twentieth century, the industrial park had difficulty attracting and retaining tenants. ATCO Properties subsequently pursued a large-scale redevelopment. Four existing buildings, ranging from roughly 13,000 to 93,000 square feet, were renovated for reuse. Sixteen nearby structures were demolished, and the redevelopment created a landscaped park of approximately 2.3 acres. The resulting center opened in late April 2006 under the Atlas Park name, which preserved the historical identity of the former industrial site. The name ultimately refers to bodybuilder Charles Atlas, who lived in nearby Middle Village and was also associated with the earlier Atlas Terminals name. The center's tenant mix has included national retail, restaurant, entertainment, and fitness brands. Major tenants identified in reference material include Regal Cinemas, TJ Maxx, ULTA, Foot Locker, California Pizza Kitchen, Chili's, Johnny Rockets, White House Black Market, and New York Sports Club. These occupants positioned the property as a destination for everyday shopping, dining, casual entertainment, and personal services rather than as a specialist luxury shopping district. Atlas Park experienced financial distress during the late 2000s. The complex entered foreclosure proceedings on February 19, 2009, and control passed to lenders Caylon Bank and Société Générale. In February 2011, The Macerich Company acquired the property for $54 million. In 2025, Ben Ashkenazy purchased the shopping center for $72 million, marking another change in ownership while leaving the property operating as a neighborhood-oriented retail and leisure destination. The center is served by the Q29, Q47, and Q54 bus routes. Changes that routed the Q54 and the former Q45, now the southern portion of the Q47, toward Atlas Park in 2007 and 2008 generated controversy because MTA chairman H. Dale Hemmerdinger was also president of ATCO Properties. The nearest subway station is Middle Village–Metropolitan Avenue on the M line, approximately 1.3 miles away. Atlas Park's identity therefore reflects both adaptive reuse of a former industrial site and the continuing importance of automobile and bus-oriented neighborhood retail in eastern Queens.
History
The property occupied by The Shops at Atlas Park evolved from farmland into an industrial complex before becoming a retail center. Approximately 19 acres between Cooper Avenue and Dry Harbor Road, now 80th Street, were purchased in 1902 by the American Grass Products Company. The company built a 40,000-square-foot brick factory, and a power plant followed in 1903. In 1922, Henry Hemmerdinger acquired a warehouse in the area. His family-operated ATCO Properties expanded the industrial presence, and the site became known as Atlas Terminals. Atlas Terminals reached its industrial peak during the 1950s. Its tenants included large companies such as General Electric, Kraft, Westinghouse, and New York Telephone. The Long Island Rail Road's Montauk Branch ran along the southern edge of the property and supported freight movements. Over time, however, the industrial park struggled to secure tenants and the site became a candidate for substantial redevelopment. During the 2000s, ATCO Properties converted the underused industrial property into a mixed retail and entertainment complex. Four existing structures, ranging from approximately 13,000 to 93,000 square feet, were renovated. Sixteen other buildings near Cooper Avenue and 80th Street were removed, while the plan created a landscaped park covering about 2.3 acres. This adaptive-reuse and replacement strategy produced an open-air center designed to provide shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and public gathering space. The Shops at Atlas Park opened in late April 2006. Its name continued the Atlas identity used by the former industrial terminal and referenced Charles Atlas, the bodybuilder who lived in nearby Middle Village. The tenant roster has included Regal Cinemas, TJ Maxx, ULTA, Foot Locker, California Pizza Kitchen, Chili's, Johnny Rockets, White House Black Market, and New York Sports Club. The combination of national chains, restaurants, cinema, fitness, and landscaped outdoor areas gave the property a lifestyle-center profile. The center faced ownership and financial changes soon after opening. Foreclosure proceedings began on February 19, 2009, placing control with Caylon Bank and Société Générale. The Macerich Company acquired the property in February 2011 for $54 million. In 2025, Ben Ashkenazy bought the center for $72 million. The property remains an active Queens shopping destination, served by the Q29, Q47, and Q54 buses. Its transit history has also been contentious: route changes in 2007 and 2008 directed additional bus service to the complex, while raising questions because MTA chairman H. Dale Hemmerdinger was simultaneously president of ATCO Properties. The closest subway station, Middle Village–Metropolitan Avenue on the M line, is about 1.3 miles away.
- 2025
Ashkenazy acquisition
[1]Ben Ashkenazy purchased The Shops at Atlas Park.
- 2011
Macerich acquisition
[1]The Macerich Company acquired the property from its lenders.
- 2009
Foreclosure proceedings begin
[1]The complex entered foreclosure and lender control passed to Caylon Bank and Société Générale.
- 2006
The Shops at Atlas Park opens
[1]The redeveloped open-air shopping center opened in late April following conversion of the former Atlas Terminals industrial site.
- 1922
Hemmerdinger family acquires warehouse
[1]Henry Hemmerdinger purchased a warehouse, establishing the property history associated with ATCO Properties and Atlas Terminals.
- 1903
Power plant constructed
[1]A power plant was added to support the developing industrial property.
- 1902
Industrial development begins
[1]The American Grass Products Company acquired the future Atlas Park site and constructed a large brick factory.
Products and positioning
A neighborhood-oriented open-air lifestyle center combining retail, dining, entertainment, and landscaped public space in Queens.
Retail and lifestyle center · 2006
Open-air shopping center
The core offering is a pedestrian-oriented open-air complex providing a mix of shopping, dining, entertainment, fitness, and personal-service uses. The center was created through renovation of selected industrial buildings and replacement of other structures with new development and landscaped public space.
Fashion, beauty, discount, and specialty retail · 2006
Retail tenant mix
The center has hosted national and specialty retailers including TJ Maxx, ULTA, Foot Locker, and White House Black Market. The assortment is oriented toward practical apparel, beauty, footwear, and everyday consumer purchases rather than high-end luxury retail.
Restaurants and leisure · 2006
Dining and entertainment
Restaurant and entertainment uses have been central to Atlas Park's lifestyle-center positioning. Referenced tenants include Regal Cinemas, California Pizza Kitchen, Chili's, and Johnny Rockets, providing casual dining and cinema-oriented destination activity.
Brand decisions
2025
Sale to Ben AshkenazyM&ABackground
The operating shopping center changed ownership again after its period under Macerich.
Action taken
Ben Ashkenazy purchased The Shops at Atlas Park for $72 million.
Aftermath
Ben Ashkenazy became the reported owner of the active Queens shopping center.
Acquisition price. $72 million (2025)
2011
Sale to The Macerich CompanyM&ABackground
Following foreclosure and lender control, the property was offered to a new owner.
Action taken
The Macerich Company acquired the complex for $54 million.
Aftermath
Macerich became the shopping center's owner until the later 2025 transaction.
Acquisition price. $54 million (February 2011)
2009
Foreclosure and lender controlOtherBackground
The complex entered foreclosure proceedings during a difficult period for the property.
Action taken
Control passed to Caylon Bank and Société Générale.
Aftermath
The property was later sold to The Macerich Company in 2011.
2000
Redevelopment of Atlas TerminalsStrategyBackground
The former industrial park had difficulty attracting tenants and was selected for conversion into a mixed retail, restaurant, entertainment, and public-space project.
Action taken
ATCO Properties renovated four existing buildings, demolished sixteen nearby structures, and created a landscaped park as part of the new shopping center.
Aftermath
The redevelopment produced The Shops at Atlas Park, which opened in 2006.
Sources2 sources
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