Manalapan Mall
Encyclopedia
The Manalapan Mall opened in 1971 on the corner of U.S. 9 southbound and Symmes Road in Manalapan Township
, New Jersey
. The mall served the Marlboro Township
and Freehold
area.
The mall's first phase (and only phase) was anchored by Steinbach
, and had 25 stores attached to its left side. The second phase was to include a Macy's
, a Sears
, and would have grown to a total of 100 stores. But the plans were shelved because of financial problems. By the 1980s, plans were submitted for a super-regional mall, the Freehold Raceway Mall
, about 5 miles (8 km) south on Route 9. In 1996, the Steinbach chain was bought out, and the Manalapan Mall store was not included in the purchase. The former Steinbach store was converted to a Value City
location. In late October, 2008, Value City declared bankruptcy and announced they would close all stores by early 2009. As of January 14, 2009, the Value City store appears to have closed. The store became a P. C. Richard & Son
, which opened on November 11, 2011.
A proposal in the early 1990s to expand the deteriorating mall faced opposition from neighbors fearing increased traffic. By the late 1990s, while Freehold Raceway Mall was prospering, Manalapan Mall was becoming a dead mall
. In 1998, the mall, except for the Value City, was torn down to make way for a big-box Epi-Center with a total of 400000 square feet (37,161.2 m²) of retail space, some four times the area of the original site.
The P.C. Richard & Son store site is a stand-alone store while the south and west corners of the old mall were turned into Wegmans, The Wiz (which was closed in 2003 and replaced by HomeGoods
), Dick's Sporting Goods
(which later moved to a space at the Freehold Raceway Mall and was replaced by Marshall's) and a Target
. Other smaller businesses in the Manalapan EpiCentre
are Applebee's
, Verizon
, Eyechic Optical Boutique, Gary's Jewelers, Gamestop, Cucina Alessi Italian Ristorante, and The Turning Point.
In 2005, plans were released to build an alternative mall facility that would include 800000 square feet (74,322.4 m²) of space, including retailers, a multiples theater and hotel.
Manalapan Township, New Jersey
Manalapan Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 38,872. The name "Manalapan" comes from the Lenape word for "land of good bread or good land to settle upon."...
, 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...
. The mall served the Marlboro Township
Marlboro Township, New Jersey
-Weather:Marlboro is located close to the Atlantic Ocean. Due to the location Marlboro Township has on the Eastern Seaboard, the following weather features are noted:*On average, the warmest month is July where the average high is and the average low is ....
and Freehold
Freehold Township, New Jersey
Freehold Township is a Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 36,184. Freehold Township was first formed on October 31, 1693, and was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21,...
area.
The mall's first phase (and only phase) was anchored by 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 had 25 stores attached to its left side. The second phase was to include a 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...
, a Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
, and would have grown to a total of 100 stores. But the plans were shelved because of financial problems. By the 1980s, plans were submitted for a super-regional mall, the Freehold Raceway Mall
Freehold Raceway Mall
Freehold Raceway Mall is a super-regional, high-end mall in Freehold, New Jersey, United States. The mall's anchor stores are JCPenney, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Nordstrom and Sears. The mall is managed by The Macerich Company and has of gross leasable area, making it the second largest shopping...
, about 5 miles (8 km) south on Route 9. In 1996, the Steinbach chain was bought out, and the Manalapan Mall store was not included in the purchase. The former Steinbach store was converted to 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...
location. In late October, 2008, Value City declared bankruptcy and announced they would close all stores by early 2009. As of January 14, 2009, the Value City store appears to have closed. The store became a P. C. Richard & Son
P. C. Richard & Son
P.C. Richard & Son, also known as simply P.C. Richard, is the largest chain of private, family-owned electronics and appliances stores in the United States. Its stores are located in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, with the majority of the stores located on Long Island and in...
, which opened on November 11, 2011.
A proposal in the early 1990s to expand the deteriorating mall faced opposition from neighbors fearing increased traffic. By the late 1990s, while Freehold Raceway Mall was prospering, Manalapan Mall was becoming a dead mall
Dead mall
A dead mall or greyfield is a shopping mall with a high vacancy rate or a low consumer traffic level, or that is dated or deteriorating in some manner. Many malls in the United States are considered "dead" when they have no surviving anchor store or successor that could serve as an entry into or...
. In 1998, the mall, except for the Value City, was torn down to make way for a big-box Epi-Center with a total of 400000 square feet (37,161.2 m²) of retail space, some four times the area of the original site.
The P.C. Richard & Son store site is a stand-alone store while the south and west corners of the old mall were turned into Wegmans, The Wiz (which was closed in 2003 and replaced by HomeGoods
HomeGoods
HomeGoods is a chain of home furnishing stores operated by TJX Companies and has 270 stores across the US as of February 2007.HomeGoods operates the home furnishings sections of T.J. Maxx 'n More and Marshalls Mega Store stores....
), Dick's Sporting Goods
Dick's Sporting Goods
Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. , or Dick's, is a Fortune 500 American corporation in the sporting goods and retail industries.The company's headquarters are on the grounds of Pittsburgh International Airport in Findlay Township near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dick's has 451 stores in 42 states as of...
(which later moved to a space at the Freehold Raceway Mall and was replaced by Marshall's) and a 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...
. Other smaller businesses in the Manalapan EpiCentre
Manalapan EpiCentre
The Manalapan EpiCentre opened in 2002 on the corner of U.S. 9 South and Symmes Road in Manalapan Township, New Jersey. The mall serves the Marlboro Township and Freehold area.-History:The Value City store site The Manalapan EpiCentre opened in 2002 on the corner of U.S. 9 South and Symmes Road in...
are Applebee's
Applebee's
Applebee’s International, Inc., is an American company which develops, franchises, and operates the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar restaurant chain. As of September 2011, there were 2,010 restaurants operating system-wide in the United States, one U.S. territory and 14 other countries...
, Verizon
Verizon Communications
Verizon Communications Inc. is a global broadband and telecommunications company and a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average...
, Eyechic Optical Boutique, Gary's Jewelers, Gamestop, Cucina Alessi Italian Ristorante, and The Turning Point.
In 2005, plans were released to build an alternative mall facility that would include 800000 square feet (74,322.4 m²) of space, including retailers, a multiples theater and hotel.