STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — From buttermilk biscuit delivery to margarita mixing on an open patio, the Staten Island Mall is ushering in a new wave of food options, with outdoor spaces and pop-up-style vendors reshaping how visitors gather, dine and linger.
New concepts include a Häagen-Dazs kiosk, Dutchess Cookies and a summer beer garden from local proprietor Carmine Gualtieri of Hop Shoppe. His operation kicked off on Cinco de Mayo with a wild debut of its outdoor patio concept, drawing early crowds to a space designed for lingering.
Kajiken Ramen is expected to open imminently near the Barnes & Noble entrance, just steps from the growing beer garden scene and outdoor plaza activity. Top Pot Barbecue, after a lengthy buildout, still has not opened—a bit surprising given that construction has been underway since 2024.
Meanwhile, the former Mighty Crab space has been transformed into Sushi Shima, which opened May 5, 2026, as an all-you-can-eat concept. With alcohol now part of the experience, the restaurant brings new energy to a less-traveled stretch of the mall, where longtime tenant Applebee’s continues to anchor the corridor. Now, in that swath of the shopping complex is a pickleball storefront for fans of the sport.
That mix of uses has become increasingly visible on the mall’s outdoor plaza, where a growing lineup of pop-up-style vendors and casual dining options is drawing attention. Giannetto’s pizza and catering truck was stationed nearby for the grand opening, while strings of lights and colorful seating create a space that feels part boardwalk, part summer hangout.
Just beyond that activity sits The Crossings, a cluster of outparcel buildings built for large-format, sit-down restaurants—concepts that operate independently while feeding off the mall’s traffic. Long home to national chains and destination dining, the area reflects an earlier phase of the mall’s evolution, before the recent shift toward pop-ups and experience-driven offerings…