Placemaking in the Age of E-Commerce

Belmont Park Village opened its doors to a new age of high-end retail while invoking memories of the past. Built in 1905, Belmont Park attracted visitors such as Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers, Harriet Quimby, and a young Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy and remains a top entertainment venue to this day with UBS Arena and the racetrack.

The design team, KSS (Architect of Record) and JRDV (Design Architect), reimagined an alternate story and history for the property in which there was a hotel and village center. We transformed an under-utilized overflow parking lot that served the historic Belmont Park Racetrack and helped bring Value Retail’s first American-based experiential high-end retail destination to life. Shoppers can peruse the world’s leading fashion and lifestyle brands, renowned restaurants, and five-star guest services.

Reflecting the architectural vernacular of 20^th century Long Island, the open-air streets, and the timeless ambiance of New York, the team developed an immersive shopping experience based on the site’s history and reimagined story. Guided by this story, KSS and JRDV divided the site into destination zones with unique themes inspired by the context, materials, and forms of 20^th century Long Island.

According to CapitalOne Shopping, consumers’ spent $1.7 trillion on retail items in the first quarter of 2024, 15.6% of which came from e-commerce. This intentionally curated layout creates a novel atmosphere for visitors, allowing them to fully engage in their surroundings and the shopping experience. The new Belmont Park Village is supported by transportation infrastructure that makes it easy for the international consumer, as well as the local consumer, to access the shops.

By creating a sense of place, anchored in history and with eyes to the future, the design team turned intent into a beautifully imagined and highly sustainable retail experience that encourages visitors to enjoy an unforgettable day-out experience.