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Stanley Schuckman may not be known for his personal love of shopping, but his expertise in retail location and shopping center development on Long Island is unmatched. For nearly 50 years, he has used his deep understanding of road patterns, shopping habits and demographic data to determine successful retail location. His insights have profoundly shaped Long Island’s retail landscape and made him an authority on shopping center science.
Schuckman began his real estate career in 1970 under the mentorship of Wilbur Breslin, founder of Breslin Real Estate. Breslin played a pivotal role in Schuckman’s early development, and Schuckman considers Breslin a major influence. During this time, Schuckman worked with notable developers such as David Mass, who built Walt Whitman, Smith Haven, and Sunrise Malls, and visionary Frank Castagna, who designed the Americana Shopping Center in Manhasset and Wheatley Plaza in East Hills. These early collaborations laid the foundation for Schuckman’s influential career.
In 1979, Stanley Shacman founded Shacman Realty. The company quickly played a key role in defining Long Island’s retail scene. Shacman partnered with or represented prominent developers, securing leases with major retailers such as Toys R Us, ShopRite, Pathmark, Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Bed, Bath & Beyond, leading to the development of six shopping center projects around Roosevelt Field Mall and five around Smith Haven Mall. Shacman’s creative thinking led to ShopRite’s successful lease at Plainview Shopping Center, beginning the process of transforming a previously overlooked site into a vibrant retail hub. This also allowed Shacman to drive the redevelopment of two other shopping centers at the same intersection. Yes, Shacman saw retail potential where others did not.
One of Schuckman’s notable accomplishments was helping Frank Castagna plan and lease the famed Wheatley Plaza in East Hills. Though initially skeptical, he relocated Pathmark across the street to become the anchor tenant, demonstrating his market analysis skills and ability to see opportunity where others saw obstacles. His strategic negotiations led to the successful redevelopment of the Bethpage subdivision, attracting Waldbaum’s and ultimately Lowe’s Home Improvements. These projects highlighted his talent for identifying unique opportunities and capitalizing on them.
Schuckman’s work with Alan Fortunoff on the Source Mall project in Westbury further highlighted his problem-solving abilities: Fortunoff had struggled for years to resolve lease issues with Auerbach’s department store that were preventing the development of the Source Mall, but Schuckman ultimately resolved the issue in just 60 days, expediting the development of the mall and demonstrating his exceptional negotiating skills.
Since 2013, Schuckman Realty has been led by Stanley’s son, Kenneth Schuckman, who continues the company’s traditions. Under Kenneth’s leadership, Schuckman Realty Inc. has remained at the forefront of the Long Island real estate market, specializing in shopping centers and maintaining relationships with national tenants and supermarkets. The company’s continued success is a testament to the strong foundation built by Stanley Schuckman.
Stanley Schuckman believes the fundamental principles of shopping centers have remained unchanged since the 1960s. While shopping centers adapt to meet the needs of different communities, the fundamental criteria that make a shopping center successful remain the same. His ability to combine market research with practical acumen has been key to his success in the real estate industry for individual properties as well as store location planning for entire markets, such as those on Long Island and throughout New York City.
Stanley Shakman’s contributions to Long Island’s retail industry are unparalleled. His innovative approach and deep understanding of market trends have left a lasting impact, and his contributions to the conception and development of over 30 shopping centers and retail strategies across Long Island and the New York City metropolitan area continue to inspire new generations of real estate professionals. In conclusion, Stanley Shakman’s nearly 50-year career has significantly shaped Long Island’s shopping industry. Yes, by combining a sound theory of market research applicable to retailers and shopping center locations with his day-to-day experience working with properties and owners, Shakman has proven that the secret to success is “patience and persistence.”
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