Saturday, October 3, 2026
Green Acres Mall has launched Green Acres Connect, a complimentary shuttle service that will help shoppers travel around its sprawling Valley Stream campus as the property continues to undergo redevelopment.
The pilot program, which debuted on July 11, operates on Saturdays, from 1 to 6 p.m. throughout the summer. Branded with the slogan “Hop, Shop, Dine,” the free shuttle enables visitors to keep their vehicles parked or arrive by public transportation, and then travel between shopping, dining and grocery destinations throughout Green Acres and Green Acres Commons.
The shuttle makes five stops: in front of Applebee’s entrance at Green Acres; Green Acres Commons in front of Dick’s Sporting Goods; Walmart; BJ’s Wholesale Club; and the Panera Bread and Chipotle entrance at the rear of the mall.
The new service is one of the latest investments tied to Green Acres’ redevelopment strategy, which aims to create a more connected and convenient experience across the property.
Combined, Green Acres and Green Acres Commons are home to more than 160 retailers and restaurants. As redevelopment continues, the property is expected to welcome additional tenants, including Panda Express, Paris Baguette, Tony’s Tacos, ShopRite, Fogo de Chão, Sephora, Shake Shack, Dave’s Hot Chicken, and The Cheesecake Factory.
Kayla Lee, senior marketing manager for Green Acres, said the shuttle was created because of the property’s vast size and the number of shoppers who use public transportation to reach the center. Spanning more than 2 million square feet, the campus often requires visitors to travel between multiple shopping areas during a single trip.
“It’s just a safer, more convenient and accessible way for our shoppers to get around,” Lee said. “I also believe that for our guests who do drive, it’s also beneficial because they can also park once wherever they want in the property and then explore multiple destinations without having to move and park multiple times. It’s just about creating a more seamless and enjoyable guest experience.”
According to Lee, Green Acres Connect was introduced as part of the property’s redevelopment strategy rather than in response to specific customer requests. The shuttle is operating as a three-month pilot while management evaluates its long-term potential.
Joe Floccari, general manager of Green Acres, said the concept grew out of efforts to improve the overall shopping experience by making it easier for visitors to explore everything the property has to offer. Management recognized that many shoppers arrive via public transportation and wanted to create a more convenient way for them to travel between the mall, Green Acres Commons and nearby retail areas.
“It’s more of a traffic pattern and shopping patterns that we’re trying to help create to make it easier to get around,” Floccari said. “I think it would also help people that might not want to take the walk, so they’ll come over in the shuttle bus and see stuff that they had not seen before, and it might expand their shopping horizons, and the retail and the restaurants they go to.”
The pilot includes several features intended to help shoppers use the service. A live shuttle tracker on the Green Acres website allows riders to monitor the shuttle’s location in real time. Green Acres Connect crew members also staff informational tables twice each month to answer questions and assist visitors. QR codes posted throughout the property direct shoppers to shuttle information and the tracker, while additional directional signage is being added, particularly near the Walmart and BJ’s parking areas.
The shuttle currently can accommodate between 25 and 30 passengers, but it’s not Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant because it’s a privately operated pilot program. Lee said management will consider greater accessibility if the shuttle becomes a permanent offering. She added that Green Acres plans to explore more sustainable transportation options in the future.
Mall officials will evaluate the pilot using ridership data collected through the shuttle’s tracking software, including which stops receive the most use, along with customer feedback gathered through the Green Acres Connect crew and social media.
Lee said Green Acres will consider expanding service by adding more days if the pilot proves successful. She said operating the shuttle Friday through Sunday is the most likely scenario, though no decision has been made. Officials are also evaluating the possibility of adding more stops as the redevelopment takes shape and new retailers and restaurants arrive.
The redevelopment is reshaping the property beyond the addition of new tenants. The project has opened sightlines from Sunrise Highway by removing former structures that once blocked visibility of the mall, creating space for a new lineup of restaurants and retail that is intended to encourage visitors to spend more time on the property.
