The new four-story Rego Center mall in Queens was launched in a boom market, and progressed through a recession, but it still opened up with a quintet of large anchors this year with Kohl’s, Century 21, Costco, Toys “R” Us, and TJ Maxx stores. The $410 million project, which blends an outdoor canopy-covered section with interior spaces, also added a Best of 2010 title of top retail project in the region.
The 600,000-sq-ft complex on Junction Blvd. in Rego Park is on a 6.6-acre site that once housed a department store parking lot, and features a seven-level, 1,388 –space precast concrete parking garage and a sky bridge to the nearby Rego Park Mall. Alexander’s Inc. owns both properties, and also has plans for more retail on a third lot as well as a 450-unit residential tower. The tower had originally been contemplated as a separate $200 million phase of the Rego Center project, but the developer decided to shelve those plans and proceed with the mall.