Roosevelt Field Proves Some Malls Still Win

High-end malls like Roosevelt Field are near-full and drawing luxury tenants, pushing rents and investor interest as in-person shopping rebounds.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 7:37pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

While many suburban shopping centers continue to struggle, a small group of well-located, high-end malls like Roosevelt Field in Uniondale, New York, are running near full occupancy and attracting luxury brands. This is changing the underwriting math for top-tier centers, as the strong foot traffic and premium tenants boost sales per square foot and support higher rents.

Why it matters

The success of Roosevelt Field highlights how certain malls are bucking the broader trend of the 'mall apocalypse'. Demographic shifts, with younger shoppers favoring in-person experiences, are benefiting dense suburban retail clusters and experience-focused centers that can command above-average rents.

The details

Roosevelt Field, owned by Simon Property Group, is currently 96% occupied, with tenants ranging from high-end brands like Savage X Fenty, Armani, Hermès, and Rolex. This mix of luxury retail and dining is drawing strong foot traffic and boosting sales per square foot, which Simon reports can reach around $1,250 per square foot for some tenants. This allows the mall to charge premium rents and maintain investor interest, even as many other malls struggle.

  • Roosevelt Field has maintained high occupancy and attracted luxury tenants in recent years.
  • Simon Property Group's recent earnings commentary has highlighted the strong performance of Roosevelt Field and its portfolio.

The players

Roosevelt Field

A high-end mall located in Uniondale, New York, that is currently 96% occupied and home to a mix of luxury retail and dining tenants.

Simon Property Group

The real estate investment trust that owns Roosevelt Field and promotes it as a flagship property, highlighting its strong demographics and ability to command premium rents.

CBRE

A commercial real estate services and investment firm that has conducted research highlighting the performance of dense suburban retail clusters and experience-led centers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The success of Roosevelt Field demonstrates that high-end, experience-focused malls in the right locations can still thrive, even as many other shopping centers struggle. This trend is being driven by changing consumer preferences, particularly among younger shoppers, who are more likely to visit malls in person and spend on premium brands and experiences.