Fogo de Chão, Wonder headed to Green Acres in Valley Stream

Food-hall inspired chain Wonder will set up shop at Green Acres Mall, while Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão is headed to an adjacent shopping center in Valley Stream.

Those are some of the tenant changes coming as a redevelopment, estimated to cost between $130 million and $150 million, takes shape at the 70-year-old mall.

The latest "additions reflect the continued progress of Green Acres’ redevelopment and our long-term vision of elevating the overall experience for visitors,” Joe Floccari, general manager of Green Acres, said in a statement Thursday. 

The mall's revamp, announced in January 2024, is designed to take the property in a more upscale direction with new restaurants and entertainment venues, as well as the addition of a ShopRite supermarket.

The Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency on Tuesday approved a sublease for Fogo de Chão to open an eatery in the mall and a sublease for Wonder to open in an adjacent shopping center, Green Acres Commons. 

The IDA holds title to the mall and shopping center because the properties operate under payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements, or PILOTs, the agency initially approved in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

The mall’s owner, The Macerich Co., a real estate investment trust based in Santa Monica, California, is, therefore, considered to be leasing the property and must get the IDA’s approval for all tenants’ subleases at Green Acres until the tax-break deal ends.

Fogo de Chão will occupy a 7,551-square-foot space in Green Acres Commons and employ about 85 people, according to sublease-related documents on the IDA’s website. Founded in Brazil in 1979, the Dallas-based chain operates about 100 restaurants in the United States, including two on Long Island — in Carle Place and Huntington Station.

Wonder will open in a 2,884-square-foot space in the mall and employ 35 to 39 full-time workers, according to the IDA documents. 

A Manhattan-based chain, Wonder offers popular menu items from various restaurants under one roof, and most of the items it sells are for delivery.

The fast-growing chain has about 100 locations, including 11 on Long Island. By the end of this year, Wonder plans to have 200 locations, including one opening in New Hyde Park in June, according to its website.

It is unclear when Fogo de Chão and Wonder will open. Neither responded to requests for comment Thursday.

Macerich said it could not immediately say when the eateries will open. 

Green Acres Mall was built in 1956 and bought by Macerich in 2013. Its largest tenants are Macy’s, Primark, Uniqlo, H&M and Old Navy.

In 2016, Macerich built the adjacent shopping center, whose tenants include BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Ulta, 24 Hour Fitness, Dick’s Sporting Goods, HomeGoods and Aldi.

In May, demolition work began at the mall, then 2.1 million square feet, and was completed in October as part of a project that will include 370,000 square feet of new development on the northeast side of the property.

In addition to building a new freestanding, full-service ShopRite and creating an open-air shopping streetscape with the former Kohl’s space, the project included the demolition of the vacant Sears and Sears Auto stores.

“Through thoughtful enhancements and a dynamic mix of retail and dining, we are strengthening Green Acres’ role as a premier shopping destination while deepening the center’s connection to the Valley Stream community," Floccari said in the statement Thursday. 

New tenants coming to the mall include The Cheesecake Factory, Shake Shack, Paris Baguette, Tony’s Tacos, Panda Express, Dave’s Hot Chicken and Sephora. All of them will have sidewalk entrances and face Sunrise Highway.

Most of the new tenants are expected to open by Black Friday, but ShopRite should open by fall 2027, Macerich said.

By Tory N. Parrish

tory.parrish@newsday.comToryParrish1

Tory N. Parrish covers retail and small business for Newsday. She has worked at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Observer-Dispatch in Utica, N.Y.