Long Island’s newest luxury shopping complex nears completion | Long Island Business News

Construction of Long Island’s newest luxury shopping destination, Belmont Park Village, is approaching the finish line.

Slated to be completed by the end of the month, the winding 340,000-square-foot open-air complex toured by LIBN last week is debuting with a rolling opening that began last month, providing a preview of the experience and what’s to come. 

Touted as an experiential retail destination, Belmont Park Village will eventually have 155 boutiques and seven restaurants, along with kiosks and outdoor cafes. The complex will create 1,500 full-time jobs, including store and dining personnel and management staff. 

Essentially a high-end outlet center, the village features international fashion and lifestyle brands offering a mix of previous seasons’ collections. The tenant roster features such tony names as Thom Browne, Rene Caovilla, Aquazzura, Missoni, Palm Angels, RAINS, Orlebar Brown and Vivienne Westwood, all of which are premiering their first off-price boutiques in America. Other brands at the village that are open or set to open within the coming months include AllSaints, Swarovski, Paige, Longchamp, Jacob Cohën, John Varvatos, Roberto Cavalli, Fusalp, Lacoste, L’Occitane, The North Face and more. 

The complex will also be introducing a suite of guest services including hands-free shopping, personal shopping, in-house concierge and a VIP private shopping space called The Apartment, which opens early next year. 

Belmont Park Village is the 12th retail village in The Bicester Collection and the first to be built in the U.S. The Bicester Collection is a global group of upscale shopping villages operated by Value Retail Management, which is owned by New York Islanders co-owner Scott Malkin. Starting in 1995 with its first village in Bicester, England, the collection has nine shopping villages in Europe, two in China and now one in Elmont. The collection also includes the Seabird Ocean Resort & Spa and Mission Pacific Beach Resort in Oceanside, Calif. 

The Bicester Collection’s newest village is part of the $1.3 billion development on 43 acres of Belmont Park property leased from New York State that began with construction of the UBS Arena on the north side of Hempstead Turnpike and the six-story parking garage on the south side that serves both the arena and the new shopping venue. The plan also included a yet-to-be-built 250-key hotel. Though construction of Belmont Park Village will be completed this month, new tenants will be opening over the next several months, including eateries Ladurée, Le Botaniste, Pret A Manger, Frost + Fry and Hundredfold, an American brasserie by Patina Restaurant Group set to open this coming spring. 

“The tenant mix is assembled to attract a discerning customer, be they from New York or those visiting,” said Jason Katz, chief commercial officer for Value Retail. “We’ve really been focusing on the community and our neighbors. We have a concierge and a team of people welcoming each guest introducing them to the village and getting their feedback.” 

So far, guests have reported some of their favorite features of the village are its five spacious bathrooms, each sporting uniquely designed anteroom lounges with comfortable seating, commissioned artwork and parenting rooms. And as the name implies, the shopping experience is like a walk through a village, with boutiques housed in individually built storefronts. 

“The design is inspired by an imaginative journey from Soho to Sag Harbor and beyond,” said Brian Garrison, Value Retail’s head of development. 

The construction of Belmont Park Village was headed by Ronkonkoma-based Aurora Contractors and assisted by several Long Island firms and subcontractors. 

“The Aurora team did an outstanding job with complicated construction, delivering quality with their partnering subcontractors, most of which are from Long Island,” said Bob Sanna, construction manager for Value Retail. 

Long Island companies that worked on Belmont Park Village include Bohler Engineering, J.C. Steel Erectors, Certified Interiors, Giaquinto Masonry, ABCO Peerless Sprinkler, Ruttura & Sons, Action Store Fronts, Above All Storefronts, Nationwide Roofing, B&G Electrical, Steven Dubner Landscaping, Almar Plumbing & Heating, Pyramid Floor Covering, and many more. 

Anthony Vero, president of Aurora Contractors, said his firm is proud of the work that went into this project.  

“Bringing the client’s vision to life with such amazing detail and craftsmanship has been truly rewarding. Despite a challenging schedule, our team was dedicated to creating the unique retail experience that our client envisioned,” he said. “With unwavering precision and masterful skill, we set out not only to meet but to exceed every expectation. This project stands as a testament to what can be achieved through teamwork and an unwavering commitment to excellence.” 

Belmont Park Village, at 2501 Hempstead Turnpike, is open Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.