Roosevelt Field's 2026 Arrivals Mostly Opened. The Fun Ones Are Still "Coming Soon."

In February, Newsday reported that eleven new businesses were set to open at Roosevelt Field in 2026, and it named ten of them by expected quarter. As of late October, four of the named ten are open, and all four sell clothing, shoes or fragrance. Five still show "Coming Soon" on Simon's own mall site, including the two entertainment concepts Simon used to sell the whole lineup.

That gap matters more than the store count does. A Garden City household planning November weekends around the mall gets a different place than the one promised in February. The shopping got bigger. The reasons to stay for an evening haven't arrived yet.

Simon Sold This Year on Experience

When Simon introduced its 2026 plans for Roosevelt Field, Walt Whitman Shops and Smith Haven Mall, regional marketing vice president Nancy Gilbert told Newsday that the mix would pair "global fashion leaders like Zara" with "innovative concepts such as BYLT's first-to-market apparel and immersive entertainment from The Escape Game." In the same article, University at Buffalo marketing professor Dinesh Gauri explained why a mall would want both: "People go to shopping centers for the experience. Otherwise, we can just shop online and get items delivered."

BYLT, the apparel half of Gilbert's pitch, showed up. The Escape Game, the entertainment half, hasn't opened yet. The rest of the year followed that pattern.

The Roster, Checked in Late October

Newsday sorted the Roosevelt Field arrivals by expected quarter. Here is each one next to where it stands now.

The openings came in spring and summer. Footwear brand VIVAIA, which makes shoes from recycled plastic bottles, opened its store on April 27, according to the company's release. Perfumania announced its Roosevelt Field grand opening on April 3. BYLT, which Newsday described as debuting in New York, held a grand opening celebration on Saturday, May 30. Vuori, the California activewear brand, is open at 630 Old Country Road, Space 1113A. A customer review dated August 17 on its store page says it had "finally opened."

The names still waiting have slipped in different ways. Jollibee, the fried chicken and sweet spaghetti chain, was reported by Patch in December 2025 as planned for early 2026. Ten months later, its Simon listing still says Coming Soon. Tecovas, the boot and leather goods maker expected in the second quarter, and Ana Luisa, the New York jewelry brand expected in the third, carry the same label.

Upper Level, Near Nordstrom and Macy's

The two entertainment concepts are meant to sit close together on Roosevelt Field's upper level, near Nordstrom and Macy's. Together they would be the first thing at the mall built for a group to book an hour, play and leave without buying anything to carry home.

The Escape Game runs 60-minute escape rooms built on puzzles, storytelling and teamwork. Its own Uniondale page says it is coming soon to Roosevelt Field and asks visitors to sign up for grand-opening updates. No opening date is posted.

Great Big Game Show is a live-action game show format. Each round is a different mini-game drawn from a rotating lineup that includes trivia, strategy and speed tests, with titles like Trivia Temple, Blaster Blitz and Build It Up. Its Garden City page reads "We'll be in Roosevelt Field!" and invites visitors to enter to win a free game. Like The Escape Game, it gives no date.

Neither company has said when it will open. A family that wants a group outing at the mall over Thanksgiving weekend should plan as if these two won't be ready, and treat it as a bonus if they are.

The Dates on the Calendar Belong to Santa

Simon's posted dates for the next two months are for the long-running holiday program. When this post goes live on October 29, these are the fixed dates:

1. November 7. The Santa Photo Experience opens on the main level near Primark and Dick's Sporting Goods. Simon recommends the main-level entrance by the Purple Parking Deck and Dick's.
2. November 22 through December 13. Pet Photos with Santa returns.
3. December 6. A Special Visit with Caring Santa, a private event exclusively for children with special needs. Reservations are required.

The details are on Simon's Santa Photo Experience page. Santa sets up nine days after this post publishes, on the opposite level from where the game rooms are planned. If the upper level stays dark through December, the main level will draw the holiday crowds, and that is the entrance to plan parking around.

Two More Signs Nearby Without Dates

The same pattern shows up just past the mall. On October 21, Long Island Business News reported that Miniso signed a 4,964-square-foot lease at the Gallery at Westbury Plaza, 900 Old Country Road. The Chinese lifestyle retailer, founded in 2013 and now at 7,800 stores worldwide, called it its second Long Island location. The announcement gave no opening date.

On Franklin Avenue, the 658–660 storefront where La Nonna Bella closed at the end of July is set to become a restaurant again. Long Island Wave reported on October 8 that state records show Franklin Hospitality 1 LLC, organized September 10, moving to operate a restaurant at the address. As of that report, the name, concept, chef, operator and opening date had not been made public.

Miniso's lease, the Franklin Avenue filing and the five Coming Soon listings at Roosevelt Field all lack the same thing, an opening date. On Simon's calendar for Roosevelt Field, the next fixed date is November 7, when Santa arrives.

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