DEAD MALL - Why is Sunrise Mall Still Open? (Update 2023)

[@furbybridgers]

UPDATE: The inside of the mall is no longer open and you can't walk around inside anymore. Macy's, Homegoods, XSport, Raymour & Flanagan, and Dave & Busters remain open from the outside. Edit 4/29/24: HomeGoods and Raymour & Flanigan have closed. EDIT 6/19/24: Dave & Busters has also closed! The only stores remaining are Macy's, Dick's, and XSport Fitness. Still no update from the owners of the mall about plans for the future.

[@cxireen2193]

Long live Dave & Buster's

[@JoyHarrison]

Thanks. Good to know exactly what's happening with this mall.

[@eddiew2325]

Great you cursed this place. Thanks a lot dude

[@Fanatic2011-mo1ys]

Raymour & Flanagan has permanently closed according to google maps

[@Mayaisbeautiful]

:(

[@gmpny3945]

When my wife and I started dating back in 1981, I took her to the Massapequa mall during the holidays. We made it an annual tradition for the next 40 years. This mall was bustling back in its heyday. It's very sad to see it this way and our annual tradition coming to an end 😢.

[@KyborTheGreat]

Really liked you holding up the old pictures in front of how the mall looks today

[@R32R38]

My reasoned guess is that the people at Urban Edge *really* regret having purchased it. Once their plans for residential redevelopment got kiboshed they had no backup plan.

[@carlrood4457]

Gerts and Korvettes. That brings back memories.

[@Britt.89k]

This is one of the best videos I’ve seen so far on dead malls. I loved the old images you found and put them up to see before and afters. And I love how you closed the video with one of the old advertisements from its glory days. 🙌🏻 Sad to think of, really.

[@furbybridgers]

Thank you so much!

[@firstlast-nb3tn]

yes, sad. ready for Jesus to come back!

[@Paperman69]

​@@firstlast-nb3tn ?

[@Britt.89k]

@@Paperman69 🤣🤣 right?

[@user-ub3nc6xy9q]

I came across someone’s video not too long ago, they had mentioned that they were able to speak to someone in corporate. They were told that they are working on new leases, rent pricing, etc. they are working towards putting new stores back. And a whole new mall renovation along with it. I so wish that was not a lie. And will see this come back to life one day.

[@milagromorales2747]

That's good to know. I miss going to this mall.

[@Pete_Finch]

I'm biased because I was a manager here for years before becoming a lawyer, but this is not a difficult fix and a ton of people want Sunrise back open again. Reasonable leases for anyone who wants one that will allow for a moderate profit at first as the mall gets back on its feet - the anchors haven't left the dead mall which is wild. That means that there is enough foot traffic to keep major anchors afloat. Lower rent prices a bit for new stores or reopening franchises and it's a domino effect. The "no foot traffic" problem that kills malls is often because mall owners will not compromise on their rental rates even one cent in order to keep stores that bring in the traffic. Hold fast to your rental rates and be disappointed as your mall dies. I wish I could negotiate for anyone that wants to come back to Sunrise because of how much love I have for that mall.

[@istudiopie]

I went to sunrise mall for myself and I was glad to see it still open. I also just recently went to the Dave and Busters there and there were tons of people inside.

[@istudiopie]

and right down the street from sunrise mall is alot of places that have been abandoned or turned into something else such as -Modells (the shoe store) -Toys R Us(now National Wholesale Liquidators) -Circuit City(now a Raymour and Flannigan) those are all i can think of.

[@aldoushuxleysghost]

We have a Macy's at our local mall that was once a Lazarus back in the 80s. There were about 4 or 5 small round tables with two chairs apiece. The menu was small, too. There was a handful of sandwiches, muffins and a few other things. I remember my grandmother having a fondness for their chicken salad sandwich. There was soda or coffee to drink. I remember that it had a small cafe type restaurant there. It was still there even after Lazarus converted and eventually closed in the early 90s. Today, there's no trace of it ever being there Just talked to my uncle after writing this little nostalgia trip. He said it was called The Petite Cafe.

[@damianstachelski775]

Those old photos are so amazing. Thank you. I wish I was old enough to have experienced the mall in those years.

[@RuggedSource]

Bringing back old school nostalgic things is becoming popular, like the possibility of Blockbusters returning. If UrbanEdge played their cards right with correct marketing, I wouldn't be surprised if the mall regains popularity.

[@sleepyhunter]

Malls could make a comeback if they offer lower prices then online.

[@4vinylsound]

The upstairs back entrance hallway use to have ducks and ponds with small bridge u can walk over.

[@ThomasGrillo]

We've lost so much in just the last few years. Thanks for sharing this.

[@fiercenet]

I went on December 21st.... Probably right around when you were there. Wanted to walk through one last time. I guess I could have waited, but got some amazing pictures.

[@furbybridgers]

It’s a good thing you went when you did! Since April they have blocked access to the inside of the mall.

[@michellenotherday1482]

Thank you for this! I graduated HS in 70 and never had a chance to go there. I used to hang out in the woods that were there with some friends. After leaving for the military I only returned 2x for short visits and like many people just assumed in the back of my mind I'd get a chance one day! Wish I could see it before it's gone! Thanks again. Go Berner High!

[@chrisbrown5334]

This mall opened when I was fourteen and living in farmingdale. I remember pharrell's ice cream was on the first level next to macy's. It was fun to hang out there.

[@frankporfidio9813]

That whole alcove on the left when you walked in (where all the Levis clothes were)WAS the restaurant . Gertz originally had a restaurant also .

[@user-xj6iy7jx6k]

did you work there?

[@frankporfidio9813]

@@user-xj6iy7jx6k Yes , few different places but even before that , we were there at least twice a day just hanging out .

[@user-xj6iy7jx6k]

did you know the general mall manager that was there for years his name was Nickey Peragine?@@frankporfidio9813

[@spoonerpurple]

I've been going to the mall since 1973.not only did Macy's have a restaurant .but Penneys..Gertz( Sears) ..and Woolworths did too

[@Dagavent65]

I worked security here for 4 years, so many memories.

[@Soyokaze404-yc1dt]

Back when there were a ton of mall rats hanging out, or when it cooled down there

[@johnford5846]

That’s so cool,one of my buddies worked at that Hot Topic..We both worked at JW/Coda and Wild Pair shoes.

[@chrissy0078]

In Amherst (Buffalo) NY @ The Boulevard Mall our Macys was originally a Sattlers that had a restaurant.

[@robavailability]

Masterfully done video. I loved the before and after pictures. I just hope we find out what Urban Edge is going to do with the mall. Keep the updates coming. I really enjoyed this one.

[@Lutiphotoshooty]

Thank you so much for providing a tour of my hometown mall. I grew up at that mall in the 90's/00's. My Mom worked in a silk flower store near the Macy's, my sister worked at the Disney store, and my brother and I used to hang out at the Time Out arcade all the time. I remember when the koi pond used to be a duck pond, with real ducks! Also, there used to be a giant, round fountain in the middle of the mall where the elevator is. I used to toss pennies into it from the upper level. Countless memories made here ... sigh.

[@alanatlrealtor]

Thanks so much for this video. I live in Atlanta, GA now but grew up in Massapequa. The Sunrise Mall was my work place and where I hung out with my friends in the 80s and early 90s. I used to work at Abraham & Straus and my mom worked at the travel agency which was called Travel Mood. So many memories of that place. I used to love the Islanders store, the movie theater and shopping at Macys. Thanks again!

[@user-xj6iy7jx6k]

Did you know the general mall manager Nick Peragine?

[@chriskrichie566]

Sunrise Mall closed just a few months shy of it's 50th birthday.

[@johnford5846]

Used to work there..Wild Pair,Bakers Shoes..I’ll never forget the great memories..

[@user-xj6iy7jx6k]

Did you know the mall manager Nick Peragine?

[@johnford5846]

Sounds familiar but I don’t think so..

[@nohassls774]

Used to take my son (now 18) to that play area in front of Sears. Worked there back in HS through my early 20’s. Winners/Complete Athlete and Jean Nicole. Good times!!!

[@mikeontheinternet]

420th like. great video. my dad moved to massapequa in the early aughts and i'd go here occassionally. i grew up going to smith haven, south shore mall, even roosevelt. i'd never heard of sunrise mall. back (only) 20 years ago it was still a lively mall. sad that it didn't make it, those photos at the end and how you showed then/now was very cool. thanks for making this video !

[@CoolCatProductions-365]

Wow, I was literally here January 15th to a film a update video for my channel and this mall had pretty much was still fully accessible. I won’t be surprised if urban edge tries to sell this mall off as they are a smaller company and redeveloping a large 2 level mall is going to cost a lot of money especially in todays world. Plus add on the fire Marshall and it is just this mall is a complete mess right now. Great video! I always appreciate your update videos on this mall!

[@furbybridgers]

Yes, it's quite a mess! Thank you, your videos are great as well!!

[@andrewlimoli5053]

Worked for Gertz from 10/75 - 3/80...worked in the Massapequa store from 1/76 - 11/77...best part of working there...I met my beloved wife...fond memories ❤

[@cloakofanonymity]

Used to go here in the late 70's through the 80's as a teen. It was THE place to hang out back then. Thanks for the memories.

[@Implicitpurpose]

I was working in this mall, at Kay Jewelers, until they closed last June. I also worked at Waldenbooks in the mall years before that, and at the movie theatre upstairs while I was in college. I grew up in that mall, countless memories. Its closure is a sign of the times in many ways, reflective of misguided corporate greed, and the subsequent end of late-20th century based pop culture / middle class suburban Americana. Where do we go from here?

[@user-ki2kh7bi7f]

I live six blocks from this mall. We in my neighborhood heard that the mall is not closing, it's simply being redeveloped with Costco looking to move in as an anchor tenant.

[@user-ub3nc6xy9q]

That’s what I heard too. They are updating rent prices and building construction.

[@carlaschultheis3662]

We used to go to Macys restaurant. It’s was at the entrance to the store. The french onion soup was really good. It was open in 1976 but after that it closed. The mall had quite a few restaurants at different times. This place on a Saturday in 1980 was packed. That’s what people did pre-internet and people had money to spend. People would spend the entire day. I can’t even imagine shopping all day anymore. But people did that. There was the movie theatre, book store, arcade, lots of food places. Pop stars would put on shows. Debbie Gibson did a mall tour. I was a kid so it kept us busy every weekend.

[@suzyed]

JCPenney also had a restaurant in the store...they had delish cheesecake!

[@michaeladamcik7475]

Our Macy's in PA had a restaurant until 1980

[@sjd5750]

I grew up in massapequa, and remember when it opened. I was 16. Hard to imagine that was 50 years ago!.. I'll be 66 in a couple of days..Showed this to my wife, who worked in the Rite-Aid, in '75. It made her sad, to see this. (BTW, she doesn't remember any Restaurant at Macy's)..We live down in fl. now, but still have family in massapequa, and knew it was closing, but it hit's you differently when seeing it this way...Before Sunrise opened we were able to catch a bus on Broadway, Massapequa, and it would take you all the way to Mid-Island Plaza (today, Broadway Mall) in Hicksville (probably only 50c, or something crazy like that.) Don't know if that's still open. I believe so...I'd really be interested in finding out what will be developed there...Sad, but I appreciate the post. Thanks.

[@leslielucci3182]

My local mall turned Teheran Sears store into medical offices that are saving a ton of money on rent compared to their old offices.

[@4vinylsound]

In the 80s I use to go to the galaxy arcade upstairs and the arcade downstairs by the food court.

[@coffeegirlbelinda]

I used to sometimes visit that mall when I vacationed on Long Island . . . it'll be sorely missed!

[@tvonmute]

I enjoyed this tour very much! Thanks ☺ Hope to see new videos soon

[@soulshower]

Use to have 2 arcades. Upstairs in the back and downstairs in the front. I saw Police Academy at the theatre there (upstairs).

[@SweetJohnnyCage]

I remember walking along those green tiles as a kid. Drove my mom nuts when I'd make it a point to walk on them and not next to her.

[@Hotdogbuns69]

Finally! Was wondering when we’d get an update. Really enjoyed these 2 videos. I was never a huge fan of this mall but I was shocked to find out it was closing when I found your previous video in Dec. Anyway, I think the last time I was there was back in the mid-2000s. Btw, any chance of you doing a similar video for another dying LI mall?

[@furbybridgers]

Thanks so much! I'm planning to make a video about The Source Mall in Westbury next!

[@Hotdogbuns69]

@@furbybridgers Awesome! I worked at the Virgin Megastore during the first year or so the mall opened. Its weird but that mall was always dead on a certain level. The odd design and hours didn’t help.

[@GuitarAnthony]

@@furbybridgers Oh lord, the Source? That will be quick. 'Moron developers thought opening a mall within spitting distance of Roosevelt Field was a good idea...the end.'

[@furbybridgers]

I am planning to go there too!!

[@toastnuances]

@@furbybridgersSun Vet is iconic-it’s got a bit of a following because of the funny Twitter account haha

[@GuitarAnthony]

Back in the 70's and 80's when Woolworth's was there at the other end of the mall from Macy's they also had a little restaurant but it was full menu.

[@intensevenom]

I remember woolwoth’s and I especially miss their restaurants. Pot roast, country fried steak, triple decker sandwiches, monte christo’s etc

[@dennisbraun5747]

What a shame. I spent tons of time there with my friends starting around 1977. Two arcades, movie theaters, dozens of restaurants, dozens of clothing stores, four bookstores, even a head shop. My little brother fell into the duck pond around 1985 or so. It was always hopping there back in the 80s/90s, you'd go on Saturday afternoon and spend the whole day. Even around 2010-2012 when Walmart was there, "the mall" was still pretty busy. I can't believe what a ghost town it is now.

[@jhonwask]

That is such a beautiful mall. I enjoyed shopping there often. It's sad that it's going to waste.

[@ilovelevators3699]

I went to the mall today 3/5 and yup you can't even go near JCPenney or the elevator they have that section closed off now and also near Sears it's also closed off. I never knew about a restaurant in Macy's lol. Oh and yeah near Macy's its pretty warm but when you start to go further in the mall its freezing lol.

[@rayjohn5709]

when the resteraunt ruby tuseday closed did they py goodbye ruby tuseday by the rolling stones over the loud speaker

[@jojo-fs5it]

Spent so much time here in the mid 70s! Friend got caught shop lifting in Korvettes, hanging out in the game room, going to the movies, picking up my sister who worked in Florsheim AND the security guard with the long hair who walked around with his sleeves rolled up.....

[@adam631]

Mid 70s for me too! I remember puff-n-stuff smoke shop and that dirty talking parrot. I forget the name of the store, but it had a jolly joint shop hidden inside. Oh and farells ice cream shop. Good memories for sure!!

[@OldManBadly]

My guess is either the mall is going to have to buy out the remaining 3 tenants, or they are going to have to create "egress" for their mall access doors. It also depends on the zoning, if the property is stuck on commercial and cannot be converted, there may not be any reason to redevelop it.

[@georged5420]

Thanks for the update !

[@intensevenom]

Seems like they could use it for filming? I love malls way more than i do shopping on line, my local mall is slowly dying as well, our economy is ok i just think bad management. Great video, sad but i loved the old photos of its glory days.

[@ee4355]

I was in that mall during the blackout of 77……Entire mall went dark….

[@gianpolignano2632]

Are the citizens fighting to bring back Sunrise Mall and restore its former glory?

[@furbybridgers]

I wish! Many of us would love to see that happen!

[@mark3464]

Former glory? A fake sterile box surrounded by acres of surface parking completely disconnected from the community. Tear it down

[@TeamAbrams]

I grew up in Copiague and went to this mall a lot growing up in the 90s and 2000s. Bizarre to see this mall so empty but it had been going downhill for a long time because they did nothing to stop kids and drug addicts loitering by the entrances and hassling customers. WalMart closing was the beginning of the end for the mall.

[@Resmith18SR]

Furby, Could you please tell us more about yourself and a picture?

[@richlaue]

Back in the 70's when visiting my grandma I would shop here

[@central3425]

Ghosts of good memories

[@RikkuEcRud]

It's rough seeing such a big part of my teenage years basically gone. I used to take the bus up to buy games at GameStop, anime at FYE, manga at... I think it was a Walden Books? And after we'd hang out at the Food Court or cross the street over to Toys R Us and buy those cheap collapsible lightsaber toys to duel with in the parking lot. Heck, I remember when Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire came out I brought my Gameboy Advance, my copy of Ruby and my Link Cable with me to the GameStop next to Auntie Anne's, and I restarted the demo unit they had out for Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire to trade the other two starters I didn't pick over to my own game. Took a while too since I needed females and the starter Pokémon only have a 1/8 chance to be female.

[@richlaue]

My understanding is that Urban Edge Properties bought them (29.7 mil) and plan to keep the mall open durring the Redevelopment

[@suzyed]

I worked at JCPenney when it first opened.The Mall was just great and just so unique. One day my boyfriend came to meet me on my lunch break and as we were walking through the mall he gave me an engagement ring!! Very exciting! Except then after we ate, I had to go back to work in JCP! LOL! We will be married 49 years in June!

[@furbybridgers]

This is a beautiful story!! Thank you for sharing! ❤️

[@tommyg.9069]

Great video.

[@JoyJoke]

Do you have any more information on the movie theater that used to be there? Further, do you happen to know if there are any other old footage/photos of the mall? When I try to search for old pictures, I usually don’t get much.

[@furbybridgers]

Ohhh boy. The reason why it took so long for me to make this video after my first one is because I was searching EVERYWHERE for photos!! Libraries, newspaper archives, web archives, etc. They are SO hard to find. I do have a few that weren’t included in this video which I could send via email if you’re interested. I found most of them in the Newsday archives and the Massapequa Post archives. I haven’t been able to find old video footage, but if you search on KZbin and sort by date uploaded, there are videos dating back to ~2008. With regard to the movie theater, I know that it opened in 1975 and closed in 2000, but I never saw a movie there myself. It was located near where Zumies was in the mall, upstairs across from JCPenney and to the right. Did you have any specific questions about it?

[@EricCKeys]

Great video. Have you been recently?

[@furbybridgers]

I haven’t been back since May - the last few times I went, all mall entrances were closed and there was no way to access the inside of the mall. I don’t expect that to change anytime soon (although I may stop by again soon just to check!)

[@stephenmobray2710]

Raymour & Flanigan is now gone.

[@rayjohn5709]

did you ever get your nails done at ..flame nails

[@mixer621]

That was interesting thank you

[@NYA1994.]

There was a windstorm before Christmas because Buffalo was getting hit with a bomb cyclone blizzard on Christmas Eve and we we’re in the outer bands of the storm

[@bethpeters3477]

Random ? during the first part of the video, I heard a beeping sound like a smoke detector. What was the noise?

[@furbybridgers]

Those are the alarms in the stores. They are constantly beeping. I asked a security guard about it and he said many of the store owners forgot to shut the alarms off before they left.

[@billy1673]

This mall is just a smaller example of Long Island as a whole. Both dead beyond saving. I was born and raised in Syosset but moved off the island 24 years ago and never looked back.

[@sdonohue1099]

You must be broke than lol

[@aleciafuschetto5379]

i hope in your next video we’ll find out what urban edge is actually gonna do. WE NEED ANSWERS URBAN EDGE!!

[@R32R38]

When Urban Edge bought the property to build multifamily housing they did not realize that wastewater issues would make that a no-go. Whether they should have realized that, I don't know.

[@purplebox9620]

i am sad to say this but the mall is completely shut off. only the stores that are open are the ones that are accesable from the outside. i was in macys and i went to the 2nd floor just to see a view of the mall and i started tearing up from the sight of this abandoned mall and all of the memories i had in it. a lady walked by me while i was watching the mall from the macys exit and she would go on to tell me abt great memories she had when the mall first opened and how her mother took her on the day it opened. i remember going into all the stores trying to get a look into the mall as best as i could and every time i would look i would just tear up. i would see stores that i missed like spencers and the beauty of those hot top doors, i always wanted to just take them home ( they were so cool) but yes it is extremely upsetting to see this mall in this state, i hope they decide to do something interesting with it. hope this mall has a happier ending

[@tonyslark7368]

I thought this was the sunrise mall in Corpus christi lol

[@user-ub3nc6xy9q]

Why can’t these malls partner up with Amazon’s. Whoever order from Amazon can pick up their order at the mall same day or have it also deliver. This way they can keep the store and also have customers get a chance to walk around and look at other stores.

[@BLVCKSEA]

What a waste of potential property and space.

[@brademerick9181]

Sunrise mall was the new mall when I lived in Corpus Christi back in the mid '80s now its empty and run down .

[@rayjohn5709]

.the source mall in westbury is even more dead then this one

[@rayjohn5709]

did homegoods close

[@furbybridgers]

Yes! Very recently

[@rayjohn5709]

@@furbybridgers areany more of those 4 stores that are left close and will macys close

[@furbybridgers]

@rayjohn5709 Raymour & Flanigan is closed too. As far as I know, only Macy’s, Dave and Buster’s, and XSport remain open. I haven’t heard any news about Macy’s closing.

[@user-is7rj5fr1q]

@@furbybridgers Dave & Busters has now recently closed at Macy’s, Dick’s, and XSport are the only stores left and also, it’s been a while since you’ve posted last and I’m wondering when you’ll post again.

[@furbybridgers]

@@user-is7rj5fr1q I've been extremely busy lately but I'm hoping to post again soon!

[@carydavidhoffson6014]

It is crazy their is nothing their at all that it does not make sense at all

[@4vinylsound]

Amazon the internet and covid killed the American malls.

[@4vinylsound]

So sad.