Monmouth Mall
Encyclopedia
Monmouth Mall, an enclosed shopping center in Eatontown, New Jersey
owned by Vornado Realty Trust
, is located on the corner of the intersection of NJ 35, NJ 36, and Wyckoff Road (Route 547
). Currently, the mall has a gross leasable area
of 1500000 sq ft (139,354.6 m²), making it the fourth largest shopping mall in New Jersey (tied with Willowbrook Mall
), boasting over 150 shops. The mall is located near the Garden State Parkway
at Exit 105 and NJ 18 near the former location of the Eatontown Circle
.
Opened on March 1, 1960 as a 500000 square feet (46,451.5 m²) open-air center, the Monmouth Mall was built on what was then a farm owned by the Valentino Family of the nearby City of Long Branch, New Jersey
. Original anchors of the mall consisted of Bamberger's
and Montgomery Ward
. After pulling out of New Jersey, Montgomery Ward became Alexander's
in the 1970s. The mall was enclosed and expanded to its current size in 1975. The older section of the mall continued to be one level while the new expansion was two levels anchored by Abraham & Straus
, Hahne's and JCPenney.
In 1987, the mall was renovated. The renovation brought in new lighting, new flooring, and new glass and chrome handrails along the second level; took out the in-floor planters and replaced them with movable planters; closed off the mall entrance near the former arcade on the Wyckoff Road side of the old wing; and raised the lowered seating areas in front of the anchors.
In 1995, the mall was expanded to include a new food court (modeled after a Jersey Shore theme) including 1920's style beach photos wrapped around the columns in the older section of the mall, as well as a new 15-screen Loews Theatres to replace the closed Caldor
. The mall also saw minor cosmetic changes that consisted of replacing black with sky blue in the color schemes through painting and retiling, as well as new lighting along the pillars.
Through the years, Monmouth Mall has seen many different anchors that have come and gone, however, JCPenney was built by themselves in 1976 and remains to this day. Anchor changes consisted of Caldor replacing Alexander's in 1986, Macy's
replacing Bamberger's in 1987, Lord and Taylor replacing Hahne's in 1990, Stern's
replacing Abraham & Straus in 1995 and Boscov's
replacing Stern's in 2001. Boscov's closed in October 2008, while Burlington Coat Factory moved to the former Seaview Square Mall
the same year. In 2010, Planet Fitness opened at Monmouth Mall. In May, 2011, Eatontown Mayor, Gerald Tarantolo, announced that Boscov's will reopen. The Boscov's store is projected to reopen October 8, 2011.
Monmouth Mall went through a significant expansion in 2009, including a Barnes & Noble
, a Jared jewelry store, and two restaurants sharing a single structure: a Chipotle Mexican Grill
and Bobby's Burger Palace. The Barnes & Noble store was built adjacent to the mall structure next to the former Macy's Kids Annex near Ruby Tuesday
, while the other two structures are free-standing. In mid-2010, cosmetic renovations started at the mall including new tile, paint, lighting, and a complete overhaul of the food court. These renovations will last until summer 2011.
In 1988-1989, Ashley Tisdale
was discovered at the mall as a three-year old.
Eatontown, New Jersey
Eatontown is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 12,709.What is now Eatontown was originally incorporated as Eatontown Township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 4, 1873, from portions of Ocean Township and...
owned by 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 :...
, is located on the corner of the intersection of NJ 35, NJ 36, and Wyckoff Road (Route 547
County Route 547 (New Jersey)
County Route 547, abbreviated CR 547, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Route 70 in Lakehurst to Broad Street in Eatontown...
). Currently, the mall has 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...
of 1500000 sq ft (139,354.6 m²), making it the fourth largest shopping mall in New Jersey (tied with Willowbrook Mall
Willowbrook Mall (Wayne, New Jersey)
Willowbrook Mall is a two-level, major shopping center located in Wayne, New Jersey, United States. It is near the intersection of U.S. Route 46, Route 23 and Interstate 80. The mall opened in 1969 and was expanded or renovated in 1970, 1988, and 2006...
), boasting over 150 shops. The mall is located near the Garden State Parkway
Garden State Parkway
The Garden State Parkway is a 172.4-mile limited-access toll parkway that stretches the length of New Jersey from the New York line at Montvale, New Jersey, to Cape May at New Jersey's southernmost tip. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State." Most New Jersey residents refer...
at Exit 105 and NJ 18 near the former location of the Eatontown Circle
Eatontown Circle
The Eatontown Circle was a traffic circle in Eatontown, New Jersey, located at the intersection of Route 35, Route 36, Wall Street, and near Wyckoff Road CR 547, near the Monmouth Mall. At the time of its construction, the southwest quadrant was built on a farm owned by the Valentino Family from...
.
History
Long Branch, New Jersey
Long Branch is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 30,719.Long Branch was formed on April 11, 1867, as the Long Branch Commission, from portions of Ocean Township...
. Original anchors of the mall consisted of Bamberger's
Bamberger's
Bamberger's was a department store chain with locations primarily in New Jersey, but also Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania. The chain was headquartered in Newark, New Jersey.-History:Founded in 1893 by Louis Bamberger as L...
and Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
. After pulling out of New Jersey, Montgomery Ward became Alexander's
Alexander's
Alexander's was a department store chain in the New York metropolitan area. Catering to low- and middle-income consumers, Alexander's offered discounted designer fashions and high-quality private label goods. At its height, the company operated 16 stores. Its advertising slogan was "You'll find...
in the 1970s. The mall was enclosed and expanded to its current size in 1975. The older section of the mall continued to be one level while the new expansion was two levels anchored by Abraham & Straus
Abraham & Straus
Abraham & Straus was a major New York City department store, based in Brooklyn. Founded in 1865, in 1929 it became part of Federated Department Stores, which eliminated the A&S brand shortly after its 1994 acquisition of R.H. Macy & Company...
, Hahne's and JCPenney.
In 1987, the mall was renovated. The renovation brought in new lighting, new flooring, and new glass and chrome handrails along the second level; took out the in-floor planters and replaced them with movable planters; closed off the mall entrance near the former arcade on the Wyckoff Road side of the old wing; and raised the lowered seating areas in front of the anchors.
In 1995, the mall was expanded to include a new food court (modeled after a Jersey Shore theme) including 1920's style beach photos wrapped around the columns in the older section of the mall, as well as a new 15-screen Loews Theatres to replace the closed Caldor
Caldor
Caldor was a chain of American discount department stores headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, operating throughout the northeastern United States. At one time, the company was a subsidiary of May Department Stores; Caldor was among the country's largest discount retailers.Despite being a popular...
. The mall also saw minor cosmetic changes that consisted of replacing black with sky blue in the color schemes through painting and retiling, as well as new lighting along the pillars.
Through the years, Monmouth Mall has seen many different anchors that have come and gone, however, JCPenney was built by themselves in 1976 and remains to this day. Anchor changes consisted of Caldor replacing Alexander's in 1986, 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...
replacing Bamberger's in 1987, Lord and Taylor replacing Hahne's in 1990, 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...
replacing Abraham & Straus in 1995 and Boscov's
Boscov's
Boscov's is an American department store founded by Solomon Boscov in 1911. The first store was in Reading, Pennsylvania, and today 40 stores are spread throughout the Mid-Atlantic states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, New York, and Delaware....
replacing Stern's in 2001. Boscov's closed in October 2008, while Burlington Coat Factory moved to the former Seaview Square Mall
Seaview Square Mall
Seaview Square Mall is a defunct indoor shopping mall located in Ocean Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, that has been repurposed as a power center. The mall, located at the intersection of Route 35 and Route 66, was originally constructed in 1977 as an indoor mall...
the same year. In 2010, Planet Fitness opened at Monmouth Mall. In May, 2011, Eatontown Mayor, Gerald Tarantolo, announced that Boscov's will reopen. The Boscov's store is projected to reopen October 8, 2011.
Monmouth Mall went through a significant expansion in 2009, including a Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...
, a Jared jewelry store, and two restaurants sharing a single structure: a Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. is a chain of restaurants in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada specializing in burritos and tacos, founded by Steve Ells in 1993 and based in Denver, Colorado...
and Bobby's Burger Palace. The Barnes & Noble store was built adjacent to the mall structure next to the former Macy's Kids Annex near Ruby Tuesday
Ruby Tuesday (restaurant)
Ruby Tuesday is an American casual dining restaurant chain named after the Rolling Stones' song of the same name.- History :The first restaurant was founded in 1972 by five University of Tennessee students, and is now headquartered in Maryville, Tennessee. The first location was adjacent to UT's...
, while the other two structures are free-standing. In mid-2010, cosmetic renovations started at the mall including new tile, paint, lighting, and a complete overhaul of the food court. These renovations will last until summer 2011.
In 1988-1989, Ashley Tisdale
Ashley Tisdale
Ashley Michelle Tisdale is an American actress and singer who rose to prominence portraying the candy-counter girl Maddie Fitzpatrick in Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and the female antagonist Sharpay Evans in the High School Musical film series...
was discovered at the mall as a three-year old.