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By Andrew Candio
As Greater LI was the first to report last month, Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove is getting a major facelift, both inside and out.
It’s all being planned and designed to provide a more modern shopping experience for Long Islanders.
Renovations are set to start this summer and wrap up in 2026.
But shoppers and vendors alike have somewhat mixed feelings about the changes, with one business owner, who gave his name only as Salih, a bit nervous about the work itself.
“After it’s finished, it will be good, but I hope that year of renovations doesn’t hurt sales,” said Salih, who runs a stand that sells athletic jerseys. “I don’t know; I don’t have any strong feelings yet.”
The aesthetics are also changing, with a new outdoor plaza planned — and enhanced by dense landscaping and seating. Simon Property Group Inc., which owns the mall, said the idea is to create a park-like space for relaxation and community events.
One shopper, Philip Austin, said he’s “excited for the new stores and refreshed look, especially for the holiday times.”
Inside, visitors can expect new modern flooring and fixtures, a revitalized center court and a fully transformed food court.
Jin Xin Hu, a shopper, said he hoped the renovations bring new life to the mall, particularly the food court.
“They should make it more elegant,” he said. “Right now, the space feels underutilized, and if you turned off the lights, it would look lifeless.”
The new stores will include the highly anticipated Zara, a clothing retailer that has another Suffolk County location at Walt Whitman Shops (also a Simon property) in S. Huntington. Zara is expected to open next year near the center court.
Other additions include Sur la Table, which is scheduled to open this fall, marking a Smith Haven Mall comeback for the popular brand.
For entertainment, Golf Lounge 18, an indoor golf and dining experience, is scheduled to open this month.
Andrew Candio is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
