Developing the ‘strong-performing’ Peninsula Shopping Center

The Peninsula Shopping Center at the intersection of Peninsula Boulevard and Mill Road in Hewlett is in flux as business owners are deciding to either to renew their leases or move to other locations in Hewlett and Woodmere.
The center switched ownership last October when Basser-Kaufman, a Woodmere-based development firm in existence for over 50 years, bought the property from HST Realty for $27 million. It has been considered a “crown jewel” of the Five Towns since it was built in 1959.
The 70,000-square-foot property has a “strong-performing Foodtown supermarket” as its anchor store, and “unparalleled accessibility and strong demographics,” according to industry experts.
Robert Goldfeder, the real estate agent who handled the sale of the property, wasn’t able to go into specific details about the center, but said that he would have more details after Nov. 1. “We have a lot going on here right now, at Basser-Kaufman,” he said. “In a few weeks, we are working on the façade of the building. I can say that we have a couple of tenants with leases that are coming up, and they will make a decision as to whether they stay or go.”
One tenant who will remain in the center is Plaza Liquors. The store has been located in the center for 12 years, according to co-owner Alec Valp. His store, which he owns with his brother, has gotten a lot of business at their location, he said.

“The main thing that helps, we’re in a shopping center,” Valp said. “Being in this plaza has been good for us. Sometimes in a situation like ours, there is a higher rent, but a lot of people and exposure among other stores draws people here. It helps our business with that.”
Woodro Kosher Delicatessen and Restaurant, which used to be located in the plaza, changed its location 18 months ago, moving to a space on Broadway in Hewlett.
Brian Brown, Woodro’s chef, said the move was necessary for the deli to be better able to expand, as a restaurant, as they also provide Kosher catering services.
“The move here was good,” he said. “We were able to upgrade everything, including our website. At the shopping center, we found that people were there to shop and buy, but not necessarily stop in to eat. Now we’ve found that our customers can just come straight here, where we are able to focus more on them. Our customers are here specifically to dine and use our services.”