Kings Plaza
Coordinates: 40°36′36″N 73°55′12″W / 40.61000°N 73.92000°W
|
Kings Plaza, looking from the corner of Flatbush Avenue and Avenue U, as it appeared in 2008. Best Buy has since opened on the right of the picture. | |
| Address |
5100 Kings Plaza (2509 Flatbush Avenue) Brooklyn, NY 11234 |
|---|---|
| Opening date | September 11, 1970[1] |
| Developer | Macy's, Alexander's |
| Management | Macerich |
| Owner | Macerich |
| No. of stores and services | 120+ |
| No. of anchor tenants | 5 |
| No. of floors | 2 |
| Website | Kings Plaza Online |
Kings Plaza Shopping Center is a shopping center that opened in September 1970,[1] within the Marine Park/Mill Basin section of Brooklyn, east of Flatbush Avenue. The mall was originally owned by a joint venture between R.H. Macy's and Alexander's and is currently owned and managed by Macerich. Kings Plaza originally hosted the now-defunct Alexander's, as well as Macy's department store chains. It began to operate a branch of Sears in 1997 where the Alexander's was previously, and underwent extensive renovations in 2001. Alexander's Inc., a real estate firm controlled and managed by Vornado Realty Trust and successor to the department store, previously owned the mall, with its parent Vornado responsible for management. It was announced in May 2012 that Alexander's/Vornado planned to sell the mall with the rest of the Vornado enclosed mall portfolio,[2] and in October 2012, Macerich announced it was buying the mall in a deal that closed at the end of 2012.[3]
The mall is anchored by Sears, Macy's, Best Buy, H&M, and Old Navy.
With approximately 4,200 jobs in retail services and over 120 individual stores, Kings Plaza is the largest such shopping center within the borough of Brooklyn.
Nicki Minaj featured Kings Plaza in one of her instagram videos. It is a hub for Flatbush and Utica cabs.
It is home to the world's first Sbarro pizza outlet.
Unlike traditional malls in the United States, shoppers visiting Kings Plaza (as well as most other malls within New York City) have to pay for parking their cars on mall premises in the parking garage. The parking fee is currently $3 per vehicle. Kings Plaza previously had an outdoor lot before a Lowe's opened there.
The mall acts as a terminal for the bus routes in the area. The B2, B9, B41, B46 and B46 SBS utilize a dedicated bus terminal on the Flatbush Avenue side of the mall, the B3 and Q35 serve the mall at intermediate stops, and the B47 terminates at the Avenue U entrance to the mall.[4]
Kings Plaza has its own cogeneration plant on the roof of the mall, dubbed the Kings Plaza Total Energy Plant.[5] The plant uses four natural gas engines to produce the mall's entire electricity needs with no connection to the Con Edison grid, while the heat from the engine exhaust is used to heat and cool the building.
In June 2016, it was announced that Sears would close down at Kings Plaza and be replaced by two European retailers: Primark and Zara.[6]
2013 attack
On December 26, 2013 roughly 300 to 400 teenagers rushed into Kings Plaza, where they assaulted visitors and vandalized the mall, forcing it to close down. The incident began at about 5 p.m.[7][8] and continued until the mall shuttered at 7 p.m., for about an hour. A temporary "no teens" rule was issued, banning all underaged people without an accompanying adult.[7] The police arrived at the scene too late, so only one teen girl was arrested, but not charged.[8] No people were killed or seriously injured during the attack.[9]
It was reported that the incident was a violent flashmob organized via social networking services[7][9] and intended to become the "world's largest 'Knockout game'".[7]
2014 advances
In summer 2014, the center started a significant renovation project that includes: reconstruction of its parking garage, renovation of the exterior façade and signage, as well as a renovation of the interior common areas and décor. The property also houses retailers such as Michael Kors, Fossil, Justice and Brothers, and Chipotle.
Anchors
Current
Former
- Alexander's (Opened in 1970, closed in 1991, reopened as Sears in 1997)
References
- 1 2 Barmash, Isadore (September 4, 1970). "Brooklyn Shopping Center to Open in Week". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ↑ Nadja Brandt,Bloomberg. "Vornado To Hold Quarterly Calls, Sell Some Retail Centers." April 13, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
- ↑ Ilaina Jonas, Reuters. "Macerich to buy two malls from Vornado and Vornado affiliate." October 22, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
- ↑ Mormile, Dara (April 28, 2005). "CB 18 Approves Kings Plaza Bus Terminal Changes". Canarsie Courier. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ↑ http://www.dec.ny.gov/dardata/boss/afs/permits/261050030100010_r2.pdf
- ↑ Cuba, Julianne (June 17, 2016). "Sears ya Later!Department store departing Kings Plaza, makeover to follow". Brooklyn Daily. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Guariglia, Matthew (2013-12-28). "400 NYC Teens Start a Mall 'Knockout' Riot". Heavy. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
- 1 2 "Facebook post to put Kings Plaza Mall 'on tilt' incites flash mob, fighting at Brooklyn shopping center". New York Daily News. 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
- 1 2 "Hundreds of teens trash mall in wild flash mob". New York Post. 2013-12-28. Retrieved 2013-12-29.