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Ridge Hill wants to give Westchester County residents an unparalleled experience by combining shopping, dining and entertainment into one long, elegant and upscale outing.
The new 81-acre retail center boasts a 1.3 million square foot complex, arguably the largest outdoor shopping center in the New York area, and is unlike any mall, said Andrew Silberfein, the executive vice president of retail and finance of Forest City Ratner Companies. The companys goal was to distinguish themselves in the business market by catering to as many needs as possible.
"What we're trying to create here is a city within a city," Silberfein said of the $685 million complex. "People who live here have an incredible opportunity here."
Designed to duplicate the hub of a city, Ridge Hill, in Yonkers, boasts over a dozen restaurants, a Cinema de Lux, the largest Bally's gym in Westchester County, a playground, a fountain, and a venue to hold public or seasonal events. Its variety of high and low end stores include Sephora, Old Navy, H&M, Dick's Sporting Goods, Lord & Taylor, Guitar Center, Gap, Yankee Candle, Sur La Table, and Republic of Couture.
The streets are lined with trollies, taking customers to either end of the complex. Stores are highlighted on the main streets of the plaza none are located on side streets, out of view. In addition, several stores are making their world debut at Ridge Hill in late 2011 or early 2012.
Ridge Hill likens itself slightly to the Westchester Mall in White Plains or Woodbury Commons in Orange County. However, Ridge Hills doesnt consider itself competition with either shopping center.
Some residents were thrilled to see the Ridge Hill project come to fruition. In addition to creating nearly 10,000 new construction and retail jobs, Yonkers resident Lori Saterlee, said she was excited to see the new Whole Foods Market, which she visited twice in one day.
"The Whole Foods is greatly superior to the one in White Plains," Saterlee said. "Not only is the store bigger and better stocked with more specialty departments, but it is also so close to home.
Still, some county residents are not buying into the hype at least not right away. Cassandra Arciola, an Elmsford resident who works in Tarrytown, said she might not venture to Ridge Hill until more stores open.
"I doubt I'll be over there often," she said. "There are enough movie theaters near me, and the other stores aren't ones I would visit often. I'll definitely check it out when the craziness of the newness dies down.
Ridge Hill is located at 1 Ridge Hill Rd in Yonkers.
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