Merrick Park Has Officially Changed Its Name

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

The Village of Merrick Park is no more, but don't be alarmed! The mall has simply undergone a little name change. Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to introduce you to new, the fabulous, Shops at Merrick Park!

So why the sudden switcheroo? Well it seems the word "village" didn't properly sum up what Merrick Park is all about: high class shops and eateries. It was confusing for shoppers, and management felt they needed something a little bit more literal to describe what Merrick Park is at the end of the day: a mall.

"As we continue to enhance the property with new best-in-class retail, the name change will bring awareness to the shops and eateries that create the great experience at the property," Michael L. Cook, senior general manager of Shops at Merrick Park tells us. "Shops at Merrick Park provide an exceptional experience for all of our guests, which the new name reflects."

We know what you're thinking. But didn't Merrick Park already change its name?

Back in 2012, there was talks to change "Village of Merrick Park" to "Merrick Shops" for the same reason: to clarify that it was a mall. The plan never went into effect, and so here we are today with a brand spankin' new name change that's been a long time coming.