 The focal plaza of the Americana Manhasset, a center forluxury retail. | |
 | |
| Location | Strathmore,Manhasset, New York |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°47′45″N73°40′17″W / 40.795696°N 73.67149°W /40.795696; -73.67149 |
| Address | 2060Northern Boulevard Manhasset, NY 11030 |
| Opening date | 1956 |
| Developer | Gerace & Castagna, Inc. (now Castagna Realty) |
| Management | Castagna Realty |
| Owner | Castagna Realty[1] |
| Architect | Peter Marino |
| No. of stores and services | 66 |
| No. of floors | 1 |
| Parking | Lighted lot; free |
| Public transit access |  Nassau Inter-County Express:n20H,n21,n23 |
| Website | www |
Americana Manhasset (also known asAmericana Mall,Americana Center, or simply asThe Americana) is an upscale, open-air shopping mall located in theStrathmore area ofManhasset, inNassau County, onLong Island, inNew York, United States. At roughly 220,000 square feet (20,000 m2) in area and approximately 1,500 feet (460 m) in length, it is located along – and anchors – a stretch ofNorthern Boulevard commonly referred to as the "Miracle Mile" of Manhasset.[2][3][4]
As one of the most luxurious shopping malls on Long Island, the mall features dozens of upscale brands – includingBottega Veneta,Cartier,Celine,Chanel,Dior,Fendi,Gucci,Hermès,Louis Vuitton,MaxMara,Prada,Tiffany & Co., andVersace.[5][6]
The land on which the Americana Manhasset now sits was purchased in the 1950s by Gerace & Castagna, Incorporated – now Castagna Realty – which was founded in 1922 by Ferdinand Castagna as a firm specializing in masonry contracting.[4][7][8] The shopping center opened on the site in 1956, known at the time asThe Fifth Avenue of Long Island.[7][8][9] At the time of its opening, the Fifth Avenue of Long Island included a movie theater, a drugstore, a supermarket, and other businesses – many of which were small.[5][8][9][10] The Fifth Avenue of Long Island would be renamed "The Americana" by Castagna shortly thereafter.[5] It was constructed during a period of massive population explosion on Long Island, and when many of the large, Gold Coast-era estates in the area were giving way to upscale, suburban housing developments.[5]
The shopping center was also built adjacent to New York City-baseddepartment storeB. Altman and Company's Manhasset branch, which opened in 1947 as one of the company's first branch store locations.[7][11]
In 1971, B. Altman became one of the Americana Manhasset's major anchor tenants, and The Americana soon started its transformation into a lifestyle- and fashion-oriented shopping mall.[4][5][8] Two years later, in 1973, England-based Jaeger opened a store at the mall; this was the first time that a luxury-brand retailer opened a retail store at the Americana Manhasset, and many more luxury- and name-brand retailers subsequently opened up locations at the mall in the years following.[5][8]
In the 1980s, the Americana Manhasset underwent an extensive transformation and overhaul.[12] Castagna hired architectPeter Marino to serve as the mall's master architect; Marino, who has served in this capacity ever since, was subsequently tasked with the redesign of the shopping mall in the 1980s.[13][14][15][16]
Through the overhaul project, The Americana's exteriors were altered to make the structures more luxurious, with storefront designs similar to those found alongMadison Avenue orRodeo Drive.[5] This included the extensive utilization of limestone for the building façades. The walkways at the mall were redesigned to be surrounded by gardens; the walkways and the landscaping surrounding them were designed byOheme, van Sweden, and Associates in 1986.[2][17][18][19]
In 1989, the B. Altman department store closed, following the bankruptcy of the company.[7][20][21][22] Following its closure, the former store was sold, and it was rebuilt in the 1990s as a new, separately-owned shopping center located adjacent – and attached – to the Americana Manhasset.[23][24][25]
In addition to B. Altman, other major stores which were located at the Americana Manhasset in the past includeJ.J. Newberry,Escada,Yves St. Laurent,Charles Jourdan,Barneys, andWaldbaum's, amongst others.[12][26][27][28]
In the early 2000s, the Waldbaum's at the eastern end of the Americana Manhasset closed, upon the end of its lease.[5][15] The roughly 29,000-square-foot (2,700 m2) space formerly occupied by the supermarket was subsequently subdivided into nine smaller retail spaces.[4][7][15] This new retail space was completed and officially opened in 2003, and it contains numerous stores – includingDior,Louis Vuitton, andGucci.[4][7][15]
In 2019, the Americana Manhasset was connected to theGreat Neck Water Pollution Control District'ssanitary sewer system, eliminating the mall's reliance onseptic systems on-site.[29][30][31] The project, which was fully funded by Castagna Realty, saw the eastward extension of an existing district sewer force main underneath Northern Boulevard by approximately 0.8 miles (1.3 km).[31] At the eastern end of the extended main on Northern Boulevard in front of the Americana Manhasset, a new, smaller sanitary sewer line was constructed, leading from the main under Northern Boulevard; the line travels south and east from the main, underneath the mall's parking lot, extending south and east towards the eastern end of its parking lot, where it terminates.[31]
In 2023, the firstRalph's Coffee on Long Island opened at the Americana Manhasset, located inside theRalph Lauren at the mall.[32]
The Americana Manhasset includes approximately 60 stores.[5][33] Some of the retailers at the mall includeAudemars Piguet,Bluemercury,Bottega Veneta,Brooks Brothers,Brunello Cucinelli,Burberry,Cartier,Celine,Chanel,Christian Louboutin,David Yurman,Dior,Ermenegildo Zegna,Fendi,Gucci,Hermès,Hugo Boss,Jimmy Choo,Kiton,Kith,Louis Vuitton,MaxMara,Saint Laurent,Salvatore Ferragamo,Todd Snyder,Tesla,Versace,Van Cleef & Arpels,Valentino, andVilebrequin, amongst others.[5][6][34]
A large number of the retail tenants at the mall are luxury brands, and the mall offers complimentary personal shoppers and a concierge.[5][6][34]
Furthermore, as of 2023, the mall also contains multiple restaurants, and some stores – such as Hirshleifers and Ralph Lauren – also feature in-store dining options of their own.[6][32][34][35]
The Americana Manhasset is served by the following bus routes – all of which are operated byNassau Inter-County Express (NICE):[36][37]
All three bus routes serve the mall with stops along Northern Boulevard.[36][37]
The shopping mall is referenced in the bookManhasset Stories, by Suzanne McLain Rosenwasser.[38]
