Once an industrial hub now a vibrant shopping destination. The Shops at Atlas Park stands before us. This open-air mall is more than just a place to shop. It is a testament to reinvention.
The Shops at Atlas Park officially opened in April 2006. Before the shops this land belonged to Atlas Terminals. Atlas Terminals was a 25-acre industrial park. Both were named after bodybuilder Charles Atlas. He resided in nearby Middle Village.
Let’s take a quick look back at the history of this location. The area was farmland in 1902. The American Grass Products Company bought the land. They built a factory there. Henry Hemmerdinger purchased a warehouse in 1922. His family evolved it into Atlas Terminals.
In the 1950s Atlas Terminals was thriving. General Electric Kraft and Westinghouse all had operations here. Freight trains on the Long Island Rail Road served the park.
However times changed. The industrial park struggled. It was redeveloped in the 2000s. Four buildings were renovated. Sixteen were torn down. A 2.3-acre park replaced them.
When The Shops at Atlas Park opened it had major tenants. Regal Cinemas TJ Maxx and ULTA were among them. There was also a California Pizza Kitchen and a New York Sports Club.
In 2009 Atlas Park faced foreclosure. Caylon Bank and Société Générale took control. Macerich Company bought the complex in 2011 for $54 million.
Getting here is easy. The Q29 Q47 and Q54 buses all stop here. In the past rerouting these buses caused controversy. The MTA chairman was also the president of ATCO Properties.
The Shops at Atlas Park has transformed over time. It changed from farmland to industry to retail. It now offers a space for shopping dining and entertainment. It continues to evolve to meet the needs of the community.