X-Golf opens at revamped Westbury Mall targeting entertainment, food and home furnishings tenants

Samanea New York’s first permanent entertainment tenant has opened, as buyers of Westbury Mall set out to turn the previously largely vacant property into a “lifestyle destination”.

X-Golf, an indoor golf simulator, restaurant and bar, opened at the mall on March 10, and local political and business officials hosted a grand opening at the mall on Tuesday.

“I saw one of these a few years ago and wanted to do one. During COVID, when I saw the love and enthusiasm for golf and the number of people playing golf here, I realized it was time. This The region needs one,” said Christopher Sciocchetti, 37, co-owner of the X-Golf franchise.

The 6,300-square-foot X-Golf has six employees and eight bays, each of which simulates 46 golf courses from around the world, the Merrick resident said.

X-Golf’s arrival at Samanea New York (formerly Source Mall) coincides with the landlord’s refurbishment and focus on bringing in restaurant, entertainment and home furnishings tenants, which are less vulnerable to online competitors than clothing and shoe stores.

“We eschewed traditional pure retail malls. So we incorporated an entertainment component, as well as our restaurant street on Old Country Road, and some unique, one-of-a-kind tenants.  …For us said, finding the best use for the property is very important,” said Dominic Coluccio, director of real estate in Samanea, New York.

The mall is currently 76 percent occupied and 50 percent occupied, spokeswoman Audrey Cohen said.

Lesso Mall Development Long Island Inc., a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Lesso Group Holdings Ltd., bought the property, which had been largely vacant for years, in 2017 for $92 million and rebranded it.

The mall, at 1500 Old Country Rd., underwent a $30 million renovation, due to be completed in March 2021, which included creating a more accessible layout and more entrances; reconfiguring pedestrian traffic flow; and closing the second floor food court.

In addition, the new Restaurant Row will consist of fast food and casual restaurants, which will have their own interior and exterior mall entrances on the ground floor.

A handful of tenants remained throughout the remodel.

One is Dave & Buster’s, the largest tenant at 46,660 square feet and the mall’s oldest entertainment tenant, which opened in 2006 after taking over a location that had been occupied by Jillian’s since 2001. Dave & Buster’s bought that Westbury location and eight others from bankrupt rival Jillian’s Holdings Inc. in 2004.

As of May 2021, the mall will have just six tenants, including The Cheesecake Factory, Fortunoff Backyard Store, Leon Banilivi Rugs, Bloomingdale’s Furniture Outlet and Kawai Piano Outlet.

The mall now has 14 operating tenants, including Asian grocer 99 Ranch Market, which opened in April 2022 in a 45,602-square-foot space vacated by Circuit City in 2009.

Other tenants include Leonardo Furniture, Arteco Cabinetry, German Kitchen Center, Szechuan Cuisine and Korean hot pot and barbecue restaurant K-Pot.

Some businesses that have signed leases have delayed openings.

X-Golf was originally scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2022. MoCA Asian Bistro was originally scheduled to open in early 2022. Empire Adventure Park, a family entertainment center, was originally scheduled to open in the final quarter of 2022.

Cohen said part of the delay was due to the mall’s need for approval for parking changes from the town of North Hempstead.

“The property is required to be [town’s] The zoning board appealed to the incoming tenants, including Empire and X-Golf, and the zoning differences were submitted to the BZA on December 7,” she said.

She said X-Golf and Empire Adventure Park were able to proceed with building permits after the board approved the differences.

Empire Adventure Park and Ryco’s Escape Room are expected to open in the fourth quarter of this year, Cohen said.

MoCA Asian Bistro should open in the fourth quarter of this year or early next year, she said.

Members-only craft center Let’s Craft is about to open, while indoor climbing gym franchisee The Gravity Vault; Nanxiang Xiaolongbao, a Shanghai restaurant; and Icchiddo Ramen are expected to open in 2024, Cohen said.

Matthew Mullen, a 54-year-old Rockville Center resident who will co-own Empire with his wife Jennifer, said the mall’s revamp and diverse tenant mix will make it a strong force for new traffic. adventure playground.

“Absolutely. I love the location. Obviously, Westbury is extraordinary commercially. The co-tenancy we have, including X-Golf, Let’s Craft, Dave & Buster’s and other facilities there, has been great for us and It will be a fantastic location for other people coming into the mall,” he said.