By Laura Lane
Located between Hewlett and Merrick avenues, the mall, which includes Stop & Shop, CVS and many smaller stores, has been the target of many complaints over the years from civic leaders and residents. People now hope the Fields and their partners from GCF Capital will make changes that will beautify the beleaguered mall.
"Everyone hopes to see this property successful," Steve Fields said. "We plan to upgrade the aesthetics and the physical structure. We are hands-on managers and plan to be attentive to the community and the tenants."
The Kushner family had owned the mall for many years, before the Fields took it over. The Kushners didn't sell the property that McDonalds and Reliance Bank lease.
Civic leaders said they had complained often to the Kushners regarding dangerous conditions in the parking lot over the years.
Barry Fox, president of the Merrick Park Home Owners
Association, has been one of the mall's biggest detractors. He now hopes the new owners will bring about significant changes.
"The mall has been unkempt for years," said Fox. "The plaster walls are crumbling, flower bins have remained empty, and the cement hasn't been power-washed in years. This is an upper-scale neighborhood. Conditions in the mall have not been in keeping with the area."
Days before closing on the property, Steve Fields toured the mall. Seeing the many weeds, he pulled them out himself. He said he has already made calls to set up future snow removal. Fields plans to do future renovations, but he said revamping the mall wouldn't be easy.
"The taxes on this property are high," he said. "It will be a challenge to pay the mortgage and taxes, especially when the smaller tenants can't afford their percentage for the real-estate taxes. Doing
renovations will be tricky."
Steve and Kim Fields have begun to meet with store owners. They have assured them that they are proactive landlords. The Fields are experienced landlords, having renovated other malls on Long Island,
most recently one in Levittown.
The Fields have begun approaching national stores that might set up shop in the Merrick Mall. "We will have vacancies and want to hear from the community what they'd like to see here," Steve Fields said. "I have spoken to Panera Bread and the Atlantic Bread Company. And a new restaurant, Shanghi Moon, will open in a few weeks."
The Fields are also in discussions with Shop & Stop representatives, who say they would like to upgrade the supermarket. The grocery store, which in the past has had health-code violations and was at the center of a recent controversy over a dangerous eight-inch-wide sink hole in the rear parking lot, might be expanded and beautified.
Steve Fields was aware of the sinkhole. Fields said he instructed the Kushners to fix it and other parts of the lot that he found to be unsafe before he would buy the property.
"I'll make every effort to control these situations," Fields said. "It's always good to be a good neighbor. I will be on the property at least once a week to hear any complaints."
Peter Anagnostopoulos, who owns the Merrick Mall Diner, is the only original owner left in the mall. He said the Fields seem like nice people.
"I hope they can draw customers to the mall so my restaurant can survive," Anagnostopoulos said. "After 9/11, business has dropped since the economy is bad. I hope they can do something different to draw people."
