Hylan Plaza Mall on the East Shore is getting a major facelift starting next year, but the news has community members worried about mom and pop shops being forced out. NY1's Natalie Duddridge filed the following report.
Napoli Pizzeria won’t be closing down their restaurant at Hylan Plaza, after news that the mall would be rebuilt starting as early as 2017. Now the rumor mill is spinning about the future of other stores in the area.
“This is all getting knocked down, that they're just rebuilding,” said Napoli Pizzeria employee Brittany Costaldo.
The developers, Kimco Realty tell NY1 the shopping center hasn't seen high profits in decades, so they're investing nearly $150 million building a two-story shopping center. It will include a grocery store, movie theater, health club and other shops.
Kimco hasn't named any of the other stores that could be coming, but residents have their wish list.
“I’d like a Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, a nice supermarket,” said one shopper.
A store manager told NY1 that they received a letter from the developer saying the south east portion of the mall would be demolished and that they'd either have to relocate, or close their doors.
“Our lease is up in 2016 so after this year we're done here, I don't know who else is staying, I spoke to a few managers in the area, they're not sure if they're staying or not,” said Santos Mercado, Manager at Game Stop.
But Kimco has confirmed that there are plans for construction of a “Main Street” where customers can walk and shop. They hope it will attract people from around the Island..
“Hopefully high fashion stores, it's going to be very good,” said a customer.
But these mall regulars also have concerns about some of their favorite stores shutting down.
“They’re putting everybody out, all the small guys are going to suffer,” said another customer.
Construction is expected to begin in early 2017. Store owners say it should take 18 to 24 months.