State Routes 35 and 36
Monmouth County (Borough of Eatontown), New Jersey
The Garden State's fourth shopping mall was built on 64 acres, located 28 miles south of Manhattan's Times Square. MONMOUTH CENTER was developed by a joint venture of the Bamproperties Corporation (a division of R. H. Macy & Company), Fiest & Fiest and the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company,
MONMOUTH CENTER was designed by the Kahn & Jacobs and Abbot & Merkt firms. Ground was broken on May 12, 1958. The open-air complex was to encompass approximately 693,000 leasable square feet and consist of a main retail floor and service basement; this level accessed by two tunnels.
A mall-wide grand opening was held on March 1, 1960, when twelve stores opened their doors. These were Franklin Simon, A.S. Beck Shoes, Bamberger's Tire Center, Chandler's Shoes, Lerner Shops, Loft's Candy, Miles Shoes, Milmar Shops, Reeds Stores, a (24,300 square foot) S.S. Kresge and (26,000 square foot) Food Fair supermarket. The mall was anchored by a 3-level (230,000 square foot), Newark-based Bamberger's.
The mall dedication was officiated by CBS TV's Mike Wallace. In attendance were F. Bliss Prince (Mayor of the Borough of Eatontown) and David L. Yunich (President of Bamberger's). The festivities concluded with the release of thousands of orange, blue and white balloons.
On May 17, 1960, a 2-level (116,000 square foot) Montgomery Ward opened its doors. The fully-realized shopping center housed over fifty stores and services. These included Sladkus Shoes, Bond Clothes, Parklane Hosiery, The Flaming Pit Restaurant and Luca's Pizza.
The first of many anchor changes transpired on November 2, 1972, when a shuttered Montgomery Ward re-opened as a New York City-based Alexander's. A 25 million dollar mall expansion got underway in June 1973. The site was enlarged to 103 acres. The main concourse, fronting on Bamberger's, was enclosed and a large, 2-level addition built toward the southwest. This was to add 851,400 leasable square feet to the existing structure.
Three new anchors were built. A 2-level (159,200 square foot), Newark-based Hahne's ["haynz"] opened its doors on March 4, 1974. J.C. Penney's 3-level (202,600 square foot) unit was dedicated September 8, 1976. Lastly, a 3-level (264,600 square foot), New York City-based Abraham & Straus was completed in 1978. New inline tenants were signed as part of the renovation. These included Kay-Bee Toys, Sam Goody Music, C.B. Perkins Tobacconist, Deb Shops, Spectrum India, Shear Honesty Haircut Designers Unisex Salon and La Crepe Restaurant.
The first of many anchor changes transpired on November 2, 1972, when a shuttered Montgomery Ward re-opened as a New York City-based Alexander's. A 25 million dollar mall expansion got underway in June 1973. The site was enlarged to 103 acres. The main concourse, fronting on Bamberger's, was enclosed and a large, 2-level addition built toward the southwest. This was to add 851,400 leasable square feet to the existing structure.
Three new anchors were built. A 2-level (159,200 square foot), Newark-based Hahne's ["haynz"] opened its doors on March 4, 1974. J.C. Penney's 3-level (202,600 square foot) unit was dedicated September 8, 1976. Lastly, a 3-level (264,600 square foot), New York City-based Abraham & Straus was completed in 1978. New inline tenants were signed as part of the renovation. These included Kay-Bee Toys, Sam Goody Music, C.B. Perkins Tobacconist, Deb Shops, Spectrum India, Shear Honesty Haircut Designers Unisex Salon and La Crepe Restaurant.
The revitalized shopping center was rededicated, with 133 stores, on August 18, 1975. A new name was bequeathed; MONMOUTH MALL. The interior of the sprawling complex included fountains, foliage, recessed seating areas and "especially commissioned contemporary sculptures." One such work was "Tree of Life" by Bogden Grom.
Soon after the completion of the mall expansion, the complex was sold. Chicago's Equity Properties & Development Company acquired the complex in 1977. At the same time, MONMOUTH MALL encountered its first regional-class rival, SEAVIEW SQUARE MALL {3.5 miles south, in Monmouth County}. Next came FREEHOLD RACEWAY MALL {12.9 miles southwest, also in Monmouth County}, which was dedicated in 1990.
Back at MONMOUTH MALL, a game of merchandising music chairs was in motion. Alexander's had become a Norwalk, Connecticut-based Caldor in the fall of 1982. Macy's rebranded Bamberger's on October 5, 1986. Hahne's was shuttered in May 1989 and re-opened, as a New York City-based Lord & Taylor, on July 24, 1990. Abraham & Straus was converted to a Paramus-based Stern's on April 30, 1995.
The shopping center had been given an interior face lift in 1987. A more comprehensive overhaul was done between 1994 and 1996. First, a vacant Caldor store was demolished, leaving its basement intact. Two store blocks in the vicinity were knocked down and a new enclosed section built. This incorporated the Caldor basement and two remaining store blocks.
The 11-bay Boardwalk Cafes Food Court was created, along with the Sony Theatres Monmouth Mall megaplex. The cinema opened for business on December 21, 1994. New Braddock's, Old Navy and Zany Brainy locations were also dedicated. The recycled basement (the "Concourse Level" of the original mall) became a (44,200 square foot) Nobody Beats the Wiz electronics store.
Three store blocks had also been bulldozed on the northwest corner of the mall. These were replaced by a new entrance and inline stores such as Jos. A. Bank and Mozzarella's Pizza. When completed in 1996, the remodeled MONMOUTH MALL encompassed 1.5 million leasable square feet and contained over 150 stores and services.
In October 2002, the complex was sold again. The new proprietor was a joint venture of New Jersey's Vornado Realty Trust and New York City's Kushner Companies and Ashkenazy Acquisition Company.
The rebranding of anchor stores continued into the 21st century. Stern's closed and re-opened, as a Reading, Pennsylvania-based Boscov's, in October 2001. The Wiz (nee' Nobody Beats the Wiz) pulled their proverbial plug in the fall of 2002. The Wiz space became a Burlington Coat Factory on November 19, 2004. This store moved out of MONMOUTH MALL in February 2008. Boscov's shuttered their store in October.
A small-scale mall expansion got underway in April 2008. 63,000 square feet of selling space was added in the northeast parking area. Freestanding structures housed new Bobby's Burger Palace, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Jared The Galleria of Jewelry stores. These opened between December 2008 and May 2009.
Soon after the completion of the mall expansion, the complex was sold. Chicago's Equity Properties & Development Company acquired the complex in 1977. At the same time, MONMOUTH MALL encountered its first regional-class rival, SEAVIEW SQUARE MALL {3.5 miles south, in Monmouth County}. Next came FREEHOLD RACEWAY MALL {12.9 miles southwest, also in Monmouth County}, which was dedicated in 1990.
Back at MONMOUTH MALL, a game of merchandising music chairs was in motion. Alexander's had become a Norwalk, Connecticut-based Caldor in the fall of 1982. Macy's rebranded Bamberger's on October 5, 1986. Hahne's was shuttered in May 1989 and re-opened, as a New York City-based Lord & Taylor, on July 24, 1990. Abraham & Straus was converted to a Paramus-based Stern's on April 30, 1995.
The shopping center had been given an interior face lift in 1987. A more comprehensive overhaul was done between 1994 and 1996. First, a vacant Caldor store was demolished, leaving its basement intact. Two store blocks in the vicinity were knocked down and a new enclosed section built. This incorporated the Caldor basement and two remaining store blocks.
The 11-bay Boardwalk Cafes Food Court was created, along with the Sony Theatres Monmouth Mall megaplex. The cinema opened for business on December 21, 1994. New Braddock's, Old Navy and Zany Brainy locations were also dedicated. The recycled basement (the "Concourse Level" of the original mall) became a (44,200 square foot) Nobody Beats the Wiz electronics store.
Three store blocks had also been bulldozed on the northwest corner of the mall. These were replaced by a new entrance and inline stores such as Jos. A. Bank and Mozzarella's Pizza. When completed in 1996, the remodeled MONMOUTH MALL encompassed 1.5 million leasable square feet and contained over 150 stores and services.
In October 2002, the complex was sold again. The new proprietor was a joint venture of New Jersey's Vornado Realty Trust and New York City's Kushner Companies and Ashkenazy Acquisition Company.
The rebranding of anchor stores continued into the 21st century. Stern's closed and re-opened, as a Reading, Pennsylvania-based Boscov's, in October 2001. The Wiz (nee' Nobody Beats the Wiz) pulled their proverbial plug in the fall of 2002. The Wiz space became a Burlington Coat Factory on November 19, 2004. This store moved out of MONMOUTH MALL in February 2008. Boscov's shuttered their store in October.
A small-scale mall expansion got underway in April 2008. 63,000 square feet of selling space was added in the northeast parking area. Freestanding structures housed new Bobby's Burger Palace, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Jared The Galleria of Jewelry stores. These opened between December 2008 and May 2009.
In addition, a (30,400 square foot) Barnes & Noble was built at the mall's northwest entrance, taking space previously occupied by Mozzarella's Pizza. The new book store held its grand opening on November 4, 2009. Another newly-built structure housed Joe's Crab Shack, which welcomed its first diners in December 2011.
The vacant Burlington Coat Factory space was retenanted by Kid City and Planet Fitness. Boscov's re-opened their MONMOUTH MALL store in October 2011. The dedication of these stores was accompanied by an interior face lift; this done between mid-2010 and late 2011.
In August 2015, Kushner Companies established 100-percent ownership of MONMOUTH MALL. In February 2016, they announced plans for a 500 million dollar renovation. The existing enclosed mall was to be worked into a retail, dining and residential complex, with stretches of public green space.
MONMOUTH TOWN CENTER would house four anchors; the existing Macy's, Lord & Taylor and Boscov's, with J.C. Penney being replaced by a newly-built store. The existing AMC Monmouth Mall 15 megaplex would be retained, with two new junior anchors constructed. This plan was met with so much community opposition that Kushner Companies abandoned it in April 2016.
Kushner Companies formed a joint venture with Brookfield Properties in May 2017. A second MONMOUTH MALL redevelopment plan was drawn up, which was approved by the local governing body in July 2018. A mixed-use complex, known as THE HEIGHTS AT MONMOUTH, would be created, consisting of retail, restaurant, entertainment and medical office components. Over 600 high-end residential units would also be built.
A "vibrant, thriving mixed-use center" would cover approximately 1.5 million leasable square feet and incorporate the fully-enclosed North Wing of MONMOUTH MALL. 87,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space would be added. The 2-level inline store section of the mall's South Wing would be reconfigured, with the J.C. Penney, Lord & Taylor and south parking structures being retained.
The MONMOUTH MALL Lord & Taylor went dark in January 2019. In March 2021, construction commenced on the first new THE HEIGHTS AT MONMOUTH building. The RWJBarnabas Health Family Care & Wellness complex will incorporate 82,000 square feet. The 4-level structure should be complete by mid-2022. In May 2021, Kushner Properties bought Brookfield Properties' interest in MONMOUTH MALL and established full ownership of the property.
The vacant Burlington Coat Factory space was retenanted by Kid City and Planet Fitness. Boscov's re-opened their MONMOUTH MALL store in October 2011. The dedication of these stores was accompanied by an interior face lift; this done between mid-2010 and late 2011.
In August 2015, Kushner Companies established 100-percent ownership of MONMOUTH MALL. In February 2016, they announced plans for a 500 million dollar renovation. The existing enclosed mall was to be worked into a retail, dining and residential complex, with stretches of public green space.
MONMOUTH TOWN CENTER would house four anchors; the existing Macy's, Lord & Taylor and Boscov's, with J.C. Penney being replaced by a newly-built store. The existing AMC Monmouth Mall 15 megaplex would be retained, with two new junior anchors constructed. This plan was met with so much community opposition that Kushner Companies abandoned it in April 2016.
Kushner Companies formed a joint venture with Brookfield Properties in May 2017. A second MONMOUTH MALL redevelopment plan was drawn up, which was approved by the local governing body in July 2018. A mixed-use complex, known as THE HEIGHTS AT MONMOUTH, would be created, consisting of retail, restaurant, entertainment and medical office components. Over 600 high-end residential units would also be built.
A "vibrant, thriving mixed-use center" would cover approximately 1.5 million leasable square feet and incorporate the fully-enclosed North Wing of MONMOUTH MALL. 87,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space would be added. The 2-level inline store section of the mall's South Wing would be reconfigured, with the J.C. Penney, Lord & Taylor and south parking structures being retained.
The MONMOUTH MALL Lord & Taylor went dark in January 2019. In March 2021, construction commenced on the first new THE HEIGHTS AT MONMOUTH building. The RWJBarnabas Health Family Care & Wellness complex will incorporate 82,000 square feet. The 4-level structure should be complete by mid-2022. In May 2021, Kushner Properties bought Brookfield Properties' interest in MONMOUTH MALL and established full ownership of the property.
Sources:
The Daily Register (Shrewsbury, New Jersey)
The Asbury Park Press (Neptune, New Jersey)
The Daily Register (Shrewsbury, New Jersey)
The Asbury Park Press (Neptune, New Jersey)
R. H. Macy & Company, Incorporated Annual Report 1960
preservenet.cornell.edu/publications/Longstreth Branch Store.doc
http://www.monmouthmallonline.com
http://www.kushnercompanies / Kushner Companies
http://www.preservenet.com
http://patch.com/new-jersey
http://www.labelscar.com
http://www.vno.com / Vornado Realty Trusthttp://www.labelscar.com
http://www.monmouthmallonline.com
http://www.kushnercompanies / Kushner Companies
https://observer.com
https://www.globest.com
https://www.brookfieldpropertiesretail.com / Brookfield Properties
http://eatontownnj.com
