Americana Manhasset

Americana Manhasset is a high-end premium open-air shopping center located in Manhasset, New York. It is the largest and most well known shopping center in the area commonly referred to as the "Miracle Mile."

International fashion designer labels and luxury goods companies like Christian Dior, Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Fendi, Gucci, Jil Sander, Louis Vuitton, MaxMara, St. John, Tiffany & Co. and Coach - among many others - maintain a total of more than 45 retail stores and restaurants on a 220,000 square foot site surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Opened in 1956 as a simple community-style shopping mall, the center, which has always been and is still maintained by the Castagna Realty family, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006. It was only in the 1980s, however, that the mall, acknowledging the affluence of the region, the world-renowned Long Island Gold Coast, gradually evolved into a luxurious boutique-style shopping area. When by the late 1990s international designers including but not limited to Prada, Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Escada, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Burberry, and Ralph Lauren had opened their sophisticated free-standing designer stores, the mall was able to bear comparison with Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, which is about 20 miles away, and with California's Rodeo Drive.

In 2006, the center saw the openings of Etro (fashion label), Intermix (specialty store), Catherine Malandrino (womenswear), Vilebrequin (swimwear), and Mulberry (accessories) stores. Theory and Frette opened in Fall 2007. Juicy Couture opened in Summer 2008, and Ermenegildo Zegna will open in Spring 2009.

External links

* [http://www.americanamanhasset.com/ Americana Manhasset (official web site)]

The center is also branching out into high end boutiques that are more exlcusive and perhaps not in every major city or shopping center. Morgenthal Frederics (high end eye wear with mostly location in NYC and 1 in Boston), Lulu Couture - A beautiful alternative for purchasing exclusive and fashion forward clothing (high end clothing store from Miami), Spring Flowers (children's clothing with location on Upper East Side, NYC), an expanding and multiplying London Jewelers (high end LI jeweler), among others.