Bergen Town Center
Encyclopedia
The Outlets at Bergen Town Center, known as Bergen Mall until 2006 and Bergen Town Center until 2010, is located in Paramus
and Maywood
, New Jersey
, United States
, and opened in 1957 as an outdoor shopping center. It is the second-oldest mall in New Jersey. The mall offers a Gross leasable area
(GLA) of 917129 sq ft (85,204.1 m²). The mall is located at the junction of Route 4 and Forest Avenue, and includes a separate shopping strip, south of Route 4 connected to the rest of the property via a pedestrian bridge. The mall has over the years included community spaces, including a chapel, theater for live dramas, post office, auditorium, ice rink, bowling alley and a children's amusement ride area, and is the current location of the Bergen County Museum. The Bergen Mall was designed by John Graham of New York City
. The mall is subject to Bergen County's
Blue law
s, which requires the mall to be closed on Sundays.
to have 100 stores and 8,600 parking spaces in a 1.5 million ft2 mall that would include a 300000 sq ft (27,870.9 m²) Stern's
store and two other 150000 sq ft (13,935.5 m²) department stores as part of the initial design. Allied's chairman B. Earl Puckett announced The Bergen Mall as the largest of ten proposed centers, stating that there were 25 cities that could support such centers and that no more than 50 malls of this type would be built nationwide. The mall opened on November 14, 1957 with great fanfare, as Dave Garroway
, host of The Today Show served as master of ceremonies.
A 135000 sq ft (12,541.9 m²) Ohrbach's
location was added, opening on August 17, 1967.
The mall was enclosed in 1973. The newly-enclosed mall opened on September 15, 1973, part of a wave away from outdoor malls, a trend that the nearby Garden State Plaza joined in the following decade. Despite some changes through the years, the mall still looked largely the same until its 2007 renovations. The Ohrbach's location was converted to a Steinbach
and was later repurposed as a Value City
after Steinbach went out of business. Stern's was converted to Macy's
in 2001 following owner Federated Department Stores' decision to fold the brand into Macy's, but the company elected to close the store in March 2005 to focus its business on its two other locations in Paramus (one at the aforementioned Garden State Plaza and the other at Paramus Park
). In the early 90's the mall was repositioned as a value-oriented center that included a Marshall's, Gap
Outlet, Value City and a Saks 5th Avenue Off 5th outlet.
A strip mall
that was part of the mall property existed across Forest Ave and was connected with an auto and a pedestrian bridge. The most recent occupants were Chuck E. Cheese's
(opened in the 80s, closed 2010), Spa 2 (closed 2005), and Shop Rite which left in 1998 when they moved to their current location on Route 4. The former Shop Rite was finally demolished in 2011 with the rest of the building now being renovated. It is confirmed that REI sport store will be located in the building of former Spa 2.
The Bergen Mall was the target of a lawsuit by nuclear-freeze advocates who challenged the mall's restrictions on distribution of literature to shoppers. On October 12, 1984, Bergen County Superior Court judge Paul R. Huot ruled that the organization should be allowed to distribute literature anywhere and anytime in a shopping mall, noting that "the Bergen Mall has assumed the features and characteristics of the traditional town center for the citizens who reside in Paramus and surrounding Bergen County towns."
Bergen Mall was also the place where Teen pop
sensation Tiffany (singer)
started her "The Beautiful You: Celebrating The Good Life Shopping Mall Tour '87".
In 2003, the mall was sold by Simon Property Group
to Vornado Realty Trust
, which began plans to convert the mall's format, with high profile stores, and changes in the looks of the mall.
In one of the first changes planned for the mall, Century 21
opened on August 10, 2006, taking 67500 sq ft (6,271 m²) the space formerly occupied by Macy's (which had previously been Stern's). Century 21 occupies the middle two floors of the four story building, and Filene's Basement occupies the ground floor.
On November 30, 2006, the Paramus Planning Board approved a series of changes that would bring the mall up to 1500000 sq ft (139,354.6 m²) at a cost of $171 million. The mall was renamed to Bergen Town Center, and was planned to include 872000 sq ft (81,011.5 m²) of renovated mall retail space and a 167000 sq ft (15,514.8 m²) freestanding big-box store across Forest Avenue in Maywood, Lowe's
which opened in January 2011. A total of 4,339 parking spaces, including a five-story parking garage, will be provided.
New additions in 2009 include Target
(Opened March 7, 2009), a Wetzel's Pretzels
, Subway
, Baskin Robbins, Dunkin Donuts, Verizon Wireless, an AT&T
store, and a Whole Foods
(which opened on August 19, 2009 and signed a lease for 77000 sq ft (7,153.5 m²).), Filene's Basement (Opened October 28, 2007), Lowe's
, Nike
Factory Store (Opened March 7, 2009), Bobby Flay
's Bobby's Burger Palace (Opened March 31, 2009), and Nordstrom
Rack (Opened March 12, 2009). A Grand Opening Celebration was held on August 25, 2009 to mark the completion of the renovation/expansion.
Filene's Basement
filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday May 4, 2009. An affiliate of Men's Wearhouse has won the bidding process, with plans to keep approximately 20 of the chain's stores open. The 5-year old Bergen Town Center store is one of the 6 stores that closed as part of the transaction..
in effect in Bergen County and more restrictive limitations in place in Paramus, The Outlets at Bergen Town Center is completely closed on Sundays, except for Bobby's Burger Palace
, Qdoba, Ulta Spa, Blink Fitness, Massage Envy, and Whole Foods Market
.
Paramus, New Jersey
Paramus is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 26,342. A suburb of New York City, Paramus is located between 15–20 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan and approximately west of Upper Manhattan.Paramus is one of...
and Maywood
Maywood, New Jersey
Maywood is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 9,555.Maywood was incorporated as a borough on June 29, 1894, from portions of Midland Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day, at the height of the...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and opened in 1957 as an outdoor shopping center. It is the second-oldest mall in New Jersey. The mall offers a Gross leasable area
Gross leasable area
Gross leasable area in the retail development industry is a term applied to shopping malls, lifestyle centers, outlet malls and other retail centers to indicate the amount of floor space available to be rented...
(GLA) of 917129 sq ft (85,204.1 m²). The mall is located at the junction of Route 4 and Forest Avenue, and includes a separate shopping strip, south of Route 4 connected to the rest of the property via a pedestrian bridge. The mall has over the years included community spaces, including a chapel, theater for live dramas, post office, auditorium, ice rink, bowling alley and a children's amusement ride area, and is the current location of the Bergen County Museum. The Bergen Mall was designed by John Graham of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The mall is subject to Bergen County's
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
Blue law
Blue law
A blue law is a type of law, typically found in the United States and, formerly, in Canada, designed to enforce religious standards, particularly the observance of Sunday as a day of worship or rest, and a restriction on Sunday shopping...
s, which requires the mall to be closed on Sundays.
History
The mall was first planned in 1955 by Allied StoresAllied Stores
Allied Stores was a department store chain in the United States. It was founded in the 1930s as part of a general consolidation in the retail sector by B. E. Puckett. See also Associated Dry Goods. It was the successor to Hahn's Department Stores, a holding company founded in 1928...
to have 100 stores and 8,600 parking spaces in a 1.5 million ft2 mall that would include a 300000 sq ft (27,870.9 m²) Stern's
Stern's
Stern's was a regional department store chain serving the U.S. states of New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The chain was in business for more than 130 years, prior to its 2001 integration into Macy's and Bloomingdale's...
store and two other 150000 sq ft (13,935.5 m²) department stores as part of the initial design. Allied's chairman B. Earl Puckett announced The Bergen Mall as the largest of ten proposed centers, stating that there were 25 cities that could support such centers and that no more than 50 malls of this type would be built nationwide. The mall opened on November 14, 1957 with great fanfare, as Dave Garroway
Dave Garroway
David Cunningham "Dave" Garroway was the founding host of NBC's Today from 1952 to 1961. His easygoing, relaxed, and relaxing style belied a battle with depression that may have contributed to the end of his days as a leading television personality—and, eventually, his life...
, host of The Today Show served as master of ceremonies.
A 135000 sq ft (12,541.9 m²) Ohrbach's
Ohrbach's
Ohrbach's was a moderate-priced department store with a merchandising focus primarily on apparel and accessories. From its modest start in 1923 until the chain's demise in 1987, Ohrbach's expanded dramatically after World War II, and opened numerous branch locations in the metro areas of New York,...
location was added, opening on August 17, 1967.
The mall was enclosed in 1973. The newly-enclosed mall opened on September 15, 1973, part of a wave away from outdoor malls, a trend that the nearby Garden State Plaza joined in the following decade. Despite some changes through the years, the mall still looked largely the same until its 2007 renovations. The Ohrbach's location was converted to a Steinbach
Steinbach (store)
Steinbach was a department store chain based in Asbury Park, New Jersey.- History :Steinbach was founded in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and maintained branch stores along the New Jersey shore, and in the central part of New Jersey. The company was at one time affiliated with the Kresge-Newark...
and was later repurposed as a Value City
Value City
Value City was an American discount department store chain with 113 locations. It was founded in 1917 by Ephraim Schottenstein, a travelling salesman in central Ohio. The store was an off-price retailer that sold clothing, jewelry, and home goods below the manufacturer suggested retail price...
after Steinbach went out of business. Stern's was converted to Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
in 2001 following owner Federated Department Stores' decision to fold the brand into Macy's, but the company elected to close the store in March 2005 to focus its business on its two other locations in Paramus (one at the aforementioned Garden State Plaza and the other at Paramus Park
Paramus Park
Paramus Park is a shopping center located on From Road in Paramus, New Jersey, United States, sandwiched between Route 17 and the Garden State Parkway, a little more than two miles north of Route 4. The mall is owned by General Growth Properties and offers a Gross leasable area of...
). In the early 90's the mall was repositioned as a value-oriented center that included a Marshall's, Gap
Gap (clothing retailer)
The Gap, Inc. is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in San Francisco, California, and founded in 1969 by Donald G. Fisher and Doris F. Fisher. The company has five primary brands: the namesake Gap banner, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta. As of September 2008,...
Outlet, Value City and a Saks 5th Avenue Off 5th outlet.
A strip mall
Strip mall
A strip mall is an open-area shopping center where the stores are arranged in a row, with a sidewalk in front. Strip malls are typically developed as a unit and have large parking lots in front...
that was part of the mall property existed across Forest Ave and was connected with an auto and a pedestrian bridge. The most recent occupants were Chuck E. Cheese's
Chuck E. Cheese's
Chuck E. Cheese's is a chain of family entertainment centers. Chuck E...
(opened in the 80s, closed 2010), Spa 2 (closed 2005), and Shop Rite which left in 1998 when they moved to their current location on Route 4. The former Shop Rite was finally demolished in 2011 with the rest of the building now being renovated. It is confirmed that REI sport store will be located in the building of former Spa 2.
The Bergen Mall was the target of a lawsuit by nuclear-freeze advocates who challenged the mall's restrictions on distribution of literature to shoppers. On October 12, 1984, Bergen County Superior Court judge Paul R. Huot ruled that the organization should be allowed to distribute literature anywhere and anytime in a shopping mall, noting that "the Bergen Mall has assumed the features and characteristics of the traditional town center for the citizens who reside in Paramus and surrounding Bergen County towns."
Bergen Mall was also the place where Teen pop
Teen pop
Teen pop is a subgenre of pop music that is created, marketed and oriented towards teenagers. Teen pop copies genres and styles such as pop, dance, R&B, hip hop, country and rock....
sensation Tiffany (singer)
Tiffany (singer)
Tiffany Renee Darwish , known popularly as Tiffany, is an American singer and former teen icon. She is most notable for her 1987 cover version of "I Think We're Alone Now", originally recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells in 1967. Released as the second single from her eponymous album, Tiffany,...
started her "The Beautiful You: Celebrating The Good Life Shopping Mall Tour '87".
In 2003, the mall was sold by Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group, Inc. is an American commercial real estate company, ranked #1 in the United States as the largest real estate investment trust. Simon is a fully integrated real estate company which operates from five retail real estate platforms: regional malls, Premium Outlet Centers, The...
to Vornado Realty Trust
Vornado Realty Trust
Vornado Realty Trust is a New York based real estate investment trust. It is the inheritor of real estate formerly controlled by companies including Two Guys and Alexander's.- History :...
, which began plans to convert the mall's format, with high profile stores, and changes in the looks of the mall.
In one of the first changes planned for the mall, Century 21
Century 21 (department store)
Century 21 is a chain of department stores in the northeastern United States. There are stores located in Long Island/Westbury , Brooklyn , Morristown , and Paramus , but the largest location is in Lower Manhattan, across the street from the World Trade Center site...
opened on August 10, 2006, taking 67500 sq ft (6,271 m²) the space formerly occupied by Macy's (which had previously been Stern's). Century 21 occupies the middle two floors of the four story building, and Filene's Basement occupies the ground floor.
On November 30, 2006, the Paramus Planning Board approved a series of changes that would bring the mall up to 1500000 sq ft (139,354.6 m²) at a cost of $171 million. The mall was renamed to Bergen Town Center, and was planned to include 872000 sq ft (81,011.5 m²) of renovated mall retail space and a 167000 sq ft (15,514.8 m²) freestanding big-box store across Forest Avenue in Maywood, Lowe's
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
which opened in January 2011. A total of 4,339 parking spaces, including a five-story parking garage, will be provided.
New additions in 2009 include Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
(Opened March 7, 2009), a Wetzel's Pretzels
Wetzel's Pretzels
Wetzel's Pretzels is a Pasadena, California-based chain of fast-food restaurants. The first Wetzel's Pretzels location opened in 1994 at the South Bay Galleria, in Redondo Beach, California...
, Subway
Subway (restaurant)
Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...
, Baskin Robbins, Dunkin Donuts, Verizon Wireless, an AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
store, and a Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market is a foods supermarket chain based in Austin, Texas which emphasizes "natural and organic products." The company has been ranked among the most socially responsible businesses and placed third on the U.S...
(which opened on August 19, 2009 and signed a lease for 77000 sq ft (7,153.5 m²).), Filene's Basement (Opened October 28, 2007), Lowe's
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
, Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
Factory Store (Opened March 7, 2009), Bobby Flay
Bobby Flay
Robert William "Bobby" Flay is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur and reality television personality. He is the owner and executive chef of 12 restaurants: Mesa Grill in Las Vegas, New York City, and the Bahamas ; Bar Americain in New York City and Uncasville, Connecticut; Bobby Flay Steak...
's Bobby's Burger Palace (Opened March 31, 2009), and Nordstrom
Nordstrom
Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
Rack (Opened March 12, 2009). A Grand Opening Celebration was held on August 25, 2009 to mark the completion of the renovation/expansion.
Filene's Basement
Filene's Basement
Filene's Basement, also called The Basement, is a Massachusetts-based chain of department stores which was owned by Retail Ventures, Inc. until April 2009 when it was sold to Syms....
filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday May 4, 2009. An affiliate of Men's Wearhouse has won the bidding process, with plans to keep approximately 20 of the chain's stores open. The 5-year old Bergen Town Center store is one of the 6 stores that closed as part of the transaction..
Blue Laws
Due to highly restrictive blue lawsBlue Laws
The Blue Laws of the Colony of Connecticut, as distinct from the generic term "blue law" that refers to any laws regulating activities on Sunday, were the initial statutes set up by the Gov. Theophilus Eaton with the assistance of the Rev. John Cotton in 1655 for the Colony of New Haven, now part...
in effect in Bergen County and more restrictive limitations in place in Paramus, The Outlets at Bergen Town Center is completely closed on Sundays, except for Bobby's Burger Palace
Bobby Flay
Robert William "Bobby" Flay is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur and reality television personality. He is the owner and executive chef of 12 restaurants: Mesa Grill in Las Vegas, New York City, and the Bahamas ; Bar Americain in New York City and Uncasville, Connecticut; Bobby Flay Steak...
, Qdoba, Ulta Spa, Blink Fitness, Massage Envy, and Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market is a foods supermarket chain based in Austin, Texas which emphasizes "natural and organic products." The company has been ranked among the most socially responsible businesses and placed third on the U.S...
.
External links
- The Outlets at Bergen Town Center Official web site
- Bergen Town Center, International Council of Shopping CentersInternational Council of Shopping CentersFounded in 1957, the International Council of Shopping Centers is the global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its 60,000 members in the U.S., Canada and more than 80 other countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, lenders,...
- The Mall on MySpace
- Labelscar, the Retail History Site History of Bergen Mall