South Shore Mall
A super-regional shopping mall in Bay Shore, Suffolk County, New York, formerly operated under the Westfield South Shore name.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
South Shore Mall is a super-regional shopping center in Bay Shore, Suffolk County, on Long Island, New York. The property was developed by the R. H. Macy Company and opened in 1963 with a three-level Macy's department store serving as its original anchor. Its first phase was an open-air center containing approximately 70 stores, and the complex was completed in stages during the 1960s. Early tenants included Record Town, Woolworth's, Lerner Shops, Bond's, and JCPenney, with the center also featuring a Loews Theaters location. JCPenney's presence was notable because it was reportedly the retailer's first in-line location in the New York area at that time. During the 1970s, the property included a bazaar-style area called Captree Corners, where smaller specialty shops were arranged in a village-like retail environment. The mall was fully enclosed in 1975, reflecting the period's broader shift toward climate-controlled suburban shopping centers. In December 1986, ownership transferred to the Westfield Group for $85 million. Westfield subsequently pursued a substantial redevelopment program intended to modernize the center and strengthen its department-store and specialty-retail mix. The major redevelopment was under way by 1996. It replaced much of the northern end of the center with approximately 40,000 square feet of additional retail space and introduced a new, three-level Sears store of approximately 216,300 square feet, which opened in September 1997. A two-level Lord & Taylor store of approximately 120,000 square feet opened in late 1998, replacing the former Woolworth's space. The Macy's anchor also underwent a significant transition: its original store closed on March 4, 2012, the building was demolished, and Macy's relocated to a newly constructed adjacent store that opened on August 14, 2013. The property later experienced department-store consolidation and changing tenant economics. Sears announced the closure of its mall store in 2015, and Dick's Sporting Goods announced in 2016 that it would remodel and reuse the former Sears space. Lord & Taylor permanently closed its store in 2020 as the retailer shut its remaining department stores amid the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For much of its modern history, the center was associated with the Westfield Group and later Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, operating under the Westfield South Shore name. On January 3, 2023, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield sold the property together with Westfield Trumbull in Connecticut to Namdar Realty Group in a combined transaction reported at $196 million. The mall now operates as South Shore Mall. Its approximately 1,165,000 square feet of gross leasable area and regional tenant base make it a significant retail property serving communities on Long Island, although its current ownership and operating identity are distinct from the former Westfield branding.
History
South Shore Mall began as a project of the R. H. Macy Company and opened in 1963 in Bay Shore, New York. Its original anchor was a three-level Macy's store measuring approximately 318,800 square feet. The first phase of the shopping center was open air and contained about 70 stores. The early tenant roster included Record Town, Woolworth's, Lerner Shops, Bond's, and JCPenney, as well as a Loews Theaters location. JCPenney was notable at the time as the retailer's first in-line store in the New York area. The center expanded its retail identity during the 1970s. A small-shop district known as Captree Corners used a bazaar-like, village-style format to group independent and specialty tenants. In 1975, the property was enclosed, bringing it into line with the dominant format for large suburban malls in the United States. Westfield Group acquired the mall in December 1986 for $85 million. After the acquisition, Westfield developed plans for a major physical and tenant upgrade. Work was under way by 1996 and focused on the northern end of the center. The redevelopment removed existing portions of the mall and added approximately 40,000 square feet of retail area. It also introduced a new, three-level Sears store measuring about 216,300 square feet, which opened in September 1997. A two-level Lord & Taylor store of approximately 120,000 square feet opened in late 1998, replacing Woolworth's. The mall's original Macy's building was eventually replaced. Macy's closed that store on March 4, 2012. The building was demolished, and Macy's relocated to a newly constructed adjacent store that opened on August 14, 2013. This preserved Macy's role as an anchor while changing the physical arrangement of the property. The center subsequently reflected broader structural changes in American department-store retailing. Sears announced in May 2015 that it would close its location. In June 2016, Dick's Sporting Goods announced plans to remodel the former Sears space, representing a shift from a traditional department-store anchor to a large-format specialty retailer. Lord & Taylor closed permanently on August 27, 2020, as the retailer shut its department stores during the severe economic disruption associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The property was historically branded as Westfield South Shore under Westfield ownership and management. On January 3, 2023, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield sold the mall and Westfield Trumbull to Namdar Realty Group in a combined transaction reported at $196 million, or approximately $100 million for each property. Following the sale, the property returned to the South Shore Mall name. The center is described as a super-regional mall with approximately 1,165,000 square feet of gross leasable area. It remains an active retail property in Suffolk County, though its ownership, branding, anchor composition, and future tenant strategy have changed substantially since its Macy's-era opening.
- 2023
Property sold to Namdar Realty Group
[1]Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield sold South Shore Mall and Westfield Trumbull in a combined transaction to Namdar Realty Group.
- 2020
Lord & Taylor store closes permanently
[1]The Lord & Taylor location closed as the department-store chain shut its stores during the pandemic-era retail crisis.
- 2016
Dick's Sporting Goods targets former Sears space
[1]Dick's Sporting Goods announced plans to remodel the former Sears anchor.
- 2015
Sears announces closure
[1]The Sears anchor was announced for closure, creating a large redevelopment opportunity within the center.
- 2013
Replacement Macy's opens
[1]Macy's reopened in a newly constructed adjacent anchor store on August 14.
- 2012
Original Macy's store closes
[1]The original Macy's anchor closed on March 4, preceding demolition of the building.
- 1998
Lord & Taylor joins the redeveloped center
[1]A two-level Lord & Taylor store opened in late 1998 in space that had previously been occupied by Woolworth's.
- 1997
New Sears anchor opens
[1]A new three-level Sears store opened as part of the northern-end redevelopment.
- 1986
Westfield Group acquires the property
[1]Westfield Group purchased the mall in December for $85 million and later pursued a substantial expansion and renovation.
- 1975
Mall becomes fully enclosed
[1]The center completed its transition from an open-air format to a fully enclosed shopping mall.
Products and positioning
A large suburban, super-regional shopping mall serving Bay Shore and surrounding Long Island communities, with a tenant mix built around department-store, specialty-retail, sporting-goods, dining, and service uses.
Retail property · 1963
Shopping-center retail
The mall provides a broad regional retail environment rather than a single branded product line. Its approximately 1,165,000 square feet of gross leasable area accommodates department stores, large-format specialty retailers, apparel, sporting goods, beauty, home, food, and service tenants. The center's tenant mix has changed over time as traditional department-store anchors have closed or been replaced.
Commercial real estate · 1963
Anchor-store space
Large anchor premises have been a central feature of the property since its opening. Macy's served as the original anchor, while later redevelopment added Sears and Lord & Taylor. Subsequent closures and conversions illustrate the mall's continuing adaptation from a department-store-centered format toward a more diversified large-format retail model.
Shopping-center services · 1963
Specialty retail and services
In-line stores and smaller specialty tenants provide apparel, footwear, personal care, lifestyle goods, food, entertainment, and consumer services. The property's earlier Captree Corners area also demonstrated an intentional effort to create a smaller-shop, village-like retail experience within the larger center.
Brand decisions
2023
Sale to Namdar Realty GroupM&ABackground
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield divested South Shore Mall together with Westfield Trumbull.
Action taken
Namdar Realty Group acquired the two properties in a combined transaction reported at $196 million.
Aftermath
The Bay Shore property ceased to be part of the Westfield-owned portfolio and is identified as South Shore Mall under Namdar ownership.
Combined sale price for South Shore Mall and Westfield Trumbull. $196 million (January 3, 2023)
2016
Conversion planning for former Sears spaceStrategyBackground
Sears announced the closure of its anchor store, leaving a large-format vacancy.
Action taken
Dick's Sporting Goods announced plans to remodel the former Sears space for sporting-goods retail.
Aftermath
The proposal represented a shift from a traditional department-store anchor toward specialty big-box retail.
2013
Macy's anchor replacementGeneration changeBackground
The original Macy's building had reached the end of its role in the mall's physical plan.
Action taken
The original store was demolished after closing, and Macy's moved into a newly built adjacent anchor store.
Aftermath
Macy's remained at the property while the mall received a newer anchor building.
1996
Northern-end redevelopmentStrategyBackground
Westfield pursued a major modernization and expansion after acquiring the property.
Action taken
The northern end was substantially rebuilt, adding approximately 40,000 square feet of retail area and space for a new Sears anchor.
Aftermath
The rebuilt Sears opened in 1997, followed by Lord & Taylor in 1998.
1986
Westfield acquisitionM&ABackground
The mall was sold to Westfield Group in December 1986 as the property entered a new ownership phase.
Action taken
Westfield acquired the shopping center for $85 million and subsequently planned a major expansion and renovation.
Aftermath
The redevelopment produced additional retail space and new department-store anchors, including Sears and Lord & Taylor.
Acquisition price. $85 million (December 1986)
Recent events
- 2023
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield sells South Shore Mall to Namdar Realty Group[1]
M&A
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield sold the mall and Westfield Trumbull in a combined transaction reported at $196 million, transferring ownership of South Shore Mall to Namdar Realty Group.
- 2020
Lord & Taylor permanently closes South Shore Mall store[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
Lord & Taylor's store closed permanently during the retailer's wider shutdown of its department-store network, following the economic disruption associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2016
Dick's Sporting Goods plans Sears-space remodel[1]
Other
Dick's Sporting Goods announced plans to remodel the former Sears anchor space for its own retail use.
- 2015
Sears announces South Shore Mall closure[1]
Other
Sears announced that its department-store anchor at the mall would close, creating a major vacancy for subsequent redevelopment or reuse.
- 2013
New Macy's store opens at South Shore Mall[1]
Product launch
Macy's moved into a newly built adjacent anchor location, which opened on August 14, 2013, after the original store was removed.
- 2012
Macy's closes its original South Shore Mall anchor[1]
Other
The original Macy's building, which had served as the mall's initial anchor since the property's early history, closed on March 4, 2012, ahead of its demolition and replacement.
Sources1 sources
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