Merrick Mall getting a face-lift

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The Merrick Mall, in the heart of Merrick’s downtown business district, is undergoing a complete revamp, with new façades, sidewalks and signage, according to the mall’s management.

For years, local residents –– in particular, Barry Fox, president of the Merrick Park Home Owners Association –– had complained about the mall’s condition, saying walls were often sprayed with graffiti and sidewalks were marred by gum.
Stop & Stop recently took over the long-abandoned Escapes strip club and expanded into it, creating an entirely new supermarket. The current revamp project will complete the mall’s revitalization.

Ben Snyder, manager for Bronstein Properties LLC, which owns the mall, said the center’s face-lift has been in the works for a while. “The façade is to match the Stop & Shop, the supercenter there,” Snyder said. “It will be similar colors. We’re doing all the sidewalks, lighting. There will be new marquees for the stores. All the [mall] interiors will be new.”

Additionally, Snyder said, workers are removing the canopy between CVS and the rest of the mall. “It’s going to be all open,” he said.

The project’s objective, Snyder said, “is to bring the place up to date.” He declined to reveal the cost for the project, which should be complete in four to six months.

Business owners’ reactions to the project were positive. “We’re obviously excited by it,” said Jenny Medina, who owns Outback Steakhouse. “We’re definitely looking forward to it.

“We’re open for business during construction,” Medina quickly added. “Whether the outside looks like a mess, we’re still up and running and still able to take care of our guests during that time.”

Fox said the makeover would improve the downtown’s appearance. To increase business significantly, though, he said, apartments must be built in the commerce zone. Parking is a never-ending problem in the area, detracting from business, he noted. If apartments were constructed in the downtown, that would create foot traffic for local businesses, as it has in Farmingdale, where condominiums recently went up.

“The stores in downtown Merrick are surrounded by an affluent and populous clientele. Their time is precious, however,” Fox said. “One- and two-bedroom apartments would recreate and revitalize the entire downtown Merrick.”