Kings Plaza Welcomes Coach as Mall Transformation Accelerates

Coach has opened its doors at Kings Plaza, marking the luxury brand’s first and only location in Brooklyn. The new store is part of a broader wave of leasing activity at the Mill Basin mall, where owner Macerich is steadily reshaping the tenant mix to attract younger, experience-driven shoppers.

The arrival of Coach adds a premium touch to a line-up that has evolved considerably over the past five years. Since 2021, Kings Plaza has welcomed 35 new stores, a figure that underscores Macerich’s commitment to repositioning the property. Recent openings include Pacsun, Foot Locker, JD Sports, Crocs, Urban Planet, Akira and Digiso. More are on the way: Gap, Pop Mart and Ross are set to open soon, along with a relocated and expanded Journeys store featuring the footwear retailer’s 4.0 concept.

Former department store anchors find new life

One of the most significant changes at Kings Plaza involves its former anchor spaces. Areas once occupied by department stores such as Sears now house a three-level Target, Primark, Ashley Furniture, Burlington and Zara. This blend of value and fast fashion with home goods reflects a wider trend among US mall landlords, who have replaced single department store anchors with a diverse mix of large-format tenants.

Macerich has invested more than 250 million US dollars in Kings Plaza since acquiring it in 2012. Beyond leasing, the owner has funded upgrades including new lighting, flooring and furnishings throughout the centre, as well as improvements to the attached parking deck. A new parking validation programme with Target offers customers 90 minutes of free parking when they spend 25 US dollars or more at the retailer.

“Kings Plaza’s longevity is a strength, and we’ve never viewed that history as a reason to stand still,” said Jamie Bourbeau, senior vice president of leasing at Macerich, in a press release. “We’ve been deliberate about bringing in new brands, concepts and experiences that respond to what today’s shoppers want while preserving the sense of familiarity that has made Kings Plaza part of the Brooklyn community for generations.”

“The result is a stronger, more dynamic centre positioned to remain relevant for decades to come.”

Targeting a younger, more curious shopper

Macerich’s investments are designed to appeal to a younger demographic. According to Placer.ai data, 57 percent of shoppers aged 18 to 34 said they visited a mall frequently in 2025 and were more likely than older groups to go without a specific purchase in mind. Kings Plaza aims to capture that browse-led, impulse-driven spending.

The mall draws nearly 11 million shoppers a year, with an average visit lasting 73 minutes – a figure Macerich says is rising. The recent openings reflect that audience: sneaker and streetwear retailers, youth apparel, and Pop Mart’s collectible toys all thrive on repeat visits and discovery.

Dining and redevelopment take shape

Further changes are underway at Kings Plaza. The former Best Buy space is being converted into an exterior-facing Restaurant Row, bringing quick-service and casual dining to one of the mall’s main entrances. New food options set to open include Applebee’s and Chipotle in the fourth quarter of 2026, while Dunkin’ is scheduled for a remodel in 2027.

The redevelopment comes as Macerich reports strong trading across its portfolio. In the second quarter of 2026, the REIT recorded company-record sales of 919 US dollars per square foot portfolio-wide, and 954 US dollars across its go-forward portfolio, where occupancy rose to 95.5 percent. Macerich did not disclose sales or occupancy figures for Kings Plaza itself.

Kings Plaza is one of three Macerich malls in New York, alongside Queens Center and Green Acres. Opened in 1970, the centre still counts some long-standing tenants, including Cookie House, which has operated there since 1978. That mix of heritage and renewal is precisely what Macerich hopes will keep Kings Plaza relevant for decades to come.