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Belmont Park Village is celebrating its one-year anniversary, and the Elmont, New York luxury outlet is marking the occasion with a host of new openings and happenings.
The latest addition to The Bicester Collection, a global portfolio of retail, entertainment and hotel destinations, Belmont Park Village is the company’s twelfth outlet shopping center worldwide and the first to open in North America (just a hop, skip and jump from New York City by car or LIRR). Thousands of guests have since passed through the dramatic entryway gates, which lead into an open-air space that merges the charm of an European hamlet with the luxury shopping, dining and amenities of a five-star hotel. The thrill of the deal persists, only with quaint walkways, lush landscaping and Town Square-inspired architecture to guide you to your frugal find, rather than mad dashes through a mall.
Belmont Park Village officially celebrates its first anniversary on October 16, with special activations and festivities running throughout the month, culminating in “Village-wide trick or treating” on Halloween night. The outlet also welcomes a new Coach boutique in October, with Canali, Gianvito Rossi and Belgian brand Neuhaus Chocolates set to open in November. They join previously open boutiques from Vivienne Westwood, Thom Browne, Orlebar Brown, Missoni and outerwear brand RAINS, who all opened their first North American outlet locations at the Village.
The new brasserie Hundredfold, meantime, opened over the summer, bringing James Beard Award-winning Chef Timothy Hollingsworth to Long Island. Inspired by his time at The French Laundry — Thomas Keller’s innovative Michelin-starred restaurant in Napa Valley — Hollingsworth’s new concept merges “French culinary technique with American comfort food.” Think: a “French Bread Pizza,” elevated steak au poivre, and a martini flight accompanied by trio of bite-sized accoutrements.
Shopping continues to be the biggest draw though, and while the property doesn’t use the term “outlet mall” in its marketing, all of the stores at Belmont Park Village offer finds at up to 65% off, with “previous seasons’ collections” and “rare, sought after, and archival pieces handpicked to inspire the most discerning of fashion-lovers,” per a company description. The Missoni store offers the largest collection of discounted Missoni Home products in the U.S., while the Vivienne Westwood, Cavalli and Valentino outlets stock red carpet looks and one-of-a-kind pieces straight from previous runway collections (and yes, they’re offered at a discount too). Other stores set to open in coming months include Kiton, Brunello Cucinelli and popular French classics brand, A.P.C. When fully occupied, officials say the shopping center will boast more than 150 off-price boutiques.
The property is also leaning on its proximity to UBS Arena — home to the New York Islanders hockey team, and a number of high-profile concerts each year — to create a daytime and nighttime hub on Long Island for entertainment (The Village also sits near the redevelopment of Belmont Park, the renowned site of the Belmont Stakes horse race).
“Belmont Park has been reimagined for a new era, as a world-class landmark where fashion, sport, music, and entertainment converge,” says Jason Katz, Chief Commercial Officer at The Bicester Collection. “The newest addition to this transformation, Belmont Park Village, is redefining what shopping in person means for Metro New York—defined by five-star hospitality and memorable experiences for guests, whether they come from around the corner or across the world.”
Up next for Belmont Park Village: an expansion of its free concierge services (like the popular hands-free shopping offering, with bags delivered to your car) and the extension of The Apartment, an exclusive, suite-style space offering personal consultations, private shopping and a respite for VIP guests (Jessica Simpson spent the afternoon there before presenting at the recent MTV Video Music Awards across the street at UBS Arena). Described in PR materials as an “oasis” and “by-invitation-only atelier,” The Apartment is also expected to be made available for private dinners, trunk shows and special events.
And Belmont Park transforms for the holidays beginning November 28, with festive light shows, carollers and of course, a chance to visit Santa.
In a press release, Belmont Park Village says its anniversary heralds a “new era for experiential retail in the heart of Metropolitan New York. With a focus on world-class fashion, five-star hospitality, and memorable experiences in an oasis-like open-air destination, the Village is bringing joy back to the retail landscape in metro New York.”
Belmont Park Village is located at 2601 Hempstead Turnpike, in Elmont, New York.
