The Gallery at Westbury Plaza Opens
September 24, 2012
By Stephanie West
On Thursday, September 20, 2012, a ribbon cutting ceremony at The Gallery at Westbury Plaza, a 330,000-square-foot commercial destination for shopping, and dining took place. The project will create over 600 permanent jobs in management, retail, business, financial operations, restaurant services and other career areas, while providing economic stimulus and generating property tax and sales tax revenue.
Also present at the event were Nassau County Legislator Rich Nicollelo as were labor leaders John Durso of the Long Island Federation of Labor, and James Castellane of Nassau and Suffolk Building & Construction Trades Council (BCTC).
“A decade after Avis Rent-A-Car relocated from these grounds, Hempstead Town and Equity One, Inc. are proud to announce the grand opening of The Gallery at Westbury Plaza, a development sure to put the pedal to the metal for our township’s economic engine,” stated Supervisor Kate Murray .
“I am confident that residents will be very satisfied shopping and dining at the nationally recognized businesses that can be found at this beautiful new centre.” Added Murray, “I would like to thank Equity One, Inc. for investing over $100 million to build this beautiful mixed commercial center, helping to stimulate our local economy, create jobs and generate tax revenue, while providing many desirable shopping options for our residents in time for the upcoming holiday season.”
Shopping destinations at the Gallery at Westbury Plaza include Nordstrom Rack, Bloomingdale’s (The Outlet Store), Saks Off 5th, The Container Store, Trader Joe’s, Starbucks, S.A. Elite by Sports Authority, Old Navy, Ulta Beauty, Red Mango Yogurt and Smoothies, Shake Shack and Verizon Wireless. Total economic activity resulting from construction of the site is estimated at around $160 million, with an average of 500 workers employed annually during the construction phase.
From the demolition of the last wall of Avis Rent-A-Car to the laying of the final brick at The Gallery at Westbury Plaza, Hempstead Town has been instrumental in facilitating and overseeing the project. Supervisor Murray and the Town Board reviewed and approved Equity One’s site plan to ensure that it complied with all town codes and building requirements, as well as studying its impact on the surrounding environment.
“I am so excited to celebrate the grand opening of The Gallery at Westbury Plaza, and I’m confident that residents will find it to be an excellent shopping and dining destination,” concluded Murray. “Welcoming great new shops and retailers to the area just seems to be business as usual in Hempstead Town!”
