Queens Center Expanded Retail and Dining Footprint
The mall has updated its tenant mix to capture local Gen Z spending with new dining concepts and renovated storefronts.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Retail
Live Poll
Do you prefer visiting in-person shopping centers over shopping online for your purchases?
Queens Center in Elmhurst has refreshed its property with new dining additions and store remodels to drive traffic. These updates follow a strategy to attract the Gen Z demographic across the operator's portfolio.
Why it matters
Management is prioritizing investments in experiential retail and dining to maintain high occupancy levels and foot traffic. This strategy aims to sustain sales growth in a competitive urban market by aligning store offerings with local shopping preferences.
Macerich reported portfolio-wide sales of $919 per square foot in Q2 2026, with go-forward occupancy reaching 95.5%. Queens Center draws 12 million annual visitors with an average dwell time of 78 minutes.
The players
Macerich
A self-managed real estate investment trust that owns and operates regional shopping centers across the United States.
Queens Center
A high-density retail destination located in Elmhurst that serves as a primary shopping hub for the borough.
The details
The operator is integrating a mix of traditional retail and agile, kiosk-style food concepts to maximize space utilization. By renovating locations for established brands like Sephora and Adidas while adding operators like Soft Swerve, the center aims to boost transaction frequency among younger shoppers. This approach leverages the mall's high-traffic location at the intersection of Queens Boulevard and Woodhaven Boulevard.
Timeline
January 2026: Dave's Hot Chicken opened.
Q2 2026: Macerich reported portfolio sales data.
July 2026: Crispy Burger opened.
September 2026: The new dining and renovation lineup was announced.
Market Landscape
This development follows the pattern established by Macerich's portfolio-wide shift toward Gen Z-focused experiential retail. The move aims to increase visitor engagement by pivoting away from legacy retail formats.
Operators in high-traffic corridors should monitor how the integration of smaller, high-velocity dining concepts influences overall property dwell time. Assess if similar kiosk-style operations could drive transaction density within your own retail footprint.
The takeaway
Retailers are increasingly utilizing high-frequency, low-footprint food tenants to bridge the gap between shoppers and traditional storefronts. Track transaction counts, such as the 759 openings weekend events recorded by new entrants, as a primary metric for site success.
Further reading
For broader trends in local shopping center performance, see Retail.
More information
View available space and developer requirements on the Macerich property leasing information portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by QNS.
Live Poll
Do you prefer visiting in-person shopping centers over shopping online for your purchases?
