New stores to open in Walt Whitman Shops

Anthropologie and Free People are among the several specialty retailers that will open stores at Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station as part of the mall’s ongoing renovation, the mall’s owners announced Monday.

Women’s apparel retailers Anthropologie and Free People will be joined by children’s clothing store Hanna Andersson, and a Swarovski boutique, known for its cut crystal, jewelry and home decor, said the mall’s owner, Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group, Inc.

Walt Whitman Shops, formerly known as the Walt Whitman Mall, has begun a renovation and expansion of the center that will add about 72,000 square feet of retail space and refurbish both the interior and exterior of the mall with new designs. The renovation is expected to be completed by the fall of 2013.

Henri Bendel, the luxury retailer of accessories, cosmetics and gifts, as well as Vera Bradley, which sells handbags and accessories had previously acknowledged  plans to open shops at the mall.

Anthropologie will be located in an 8,681 square-foot space. Free People will move into a 1,777 square-foot store with Hanna Anderson taking a 2,022 square-foot shop and Swarovski opening in an 800-square foot space.

Long Island’s malls have been adding new features to enhance their status as destination shopping locations, in part to respond to the growth of online shopping.