Livingston Mall

infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = Livingston Mall


caption =
location = Livingston, New Jersey, USA
opening_date = 1972
developer =
manager = Simon Property Group
owner = Simon Property Group
number_of_stores = 110
number_of_anchors = 3: Lord and Taylor, Macy's, Sears
floor_area = convert|980000|sqft|m2|abbr=on
floors = 2
website = [http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=111]
parking = Lighted lot

The Livingston Mall is a two-level, super-regional shopping mall owned by the Simon Property Group located in Livingston, New Jersey, United States, serving western Essex, Morris and Union counties. The mall has a gross leasable area of convert|980000|sqft|m2|abbr=on. [ [http://www.icsc.org/apps/dmmdisp.php?dispid=NJ0300 International Council of Shopping Centers: Livingston Mall] , accessed September 21, 2006]

History

Livingston Mall was planned in the late 1960s and opened for business in stages starting with Bamberger's in 1971, followed by the mall proper itself in 1972 along with additional anchor stores, Sears, M. Epstein, and Hahne & Company in 1972. The mall benefited from the migration of population in Northern New Jersey to suburban and exurban areas, and the mall is in close proximity to downtown Newark, once Northern New Jersey's premiere shopping mecca that was in serious decline since the July 1967 race riots. Both Bamberger's, and Hanne's maintained stores in downtown Newark when the mall opened, and Sears had a store on Elizabeth Avenue in Newark's once popular South Ward. In 1986, the Bamberger's store was converted to Macy's, In 1989, Hahne & Company was converted to Lord and Taylor, and the M. Epstein store was converted first to an annex for Bamberger's, and after an expansion of that building, it was divided into leasable mall space. Sears remains the mall's sole original anchor.

Franklin Simon & Co., a once-popular New York City based women's clothing store also operated a unit here. The Livingston Mall, despite having a Lord and Taylor, has appealed to a more mid-level customer since its opening, as the upmarket, The Mall at Short Hills is about five miles (8 km) away. Lord and Taylor had operated a standalone store in nearby Millburn, that was closed in 1988, when it was decided that Lord and Taylor would relocate to the Livingston Mall in 1991.

In the early 1990s, Livingston Mall was renovated for the first time. Flooring was changed, new skylights added, lighting was modified and in center court a spiral staircase and fountain were added. The changes of the mall made the mall appear more bright and airy. The sculptures that once graced the mall entrances of Macy's and Sears were removed and relocated to the Riker Hill Art Park, convert|2|mi|km from Livingston Mall on Eisenhower Parkway.

The mall is currently in the midst of another renovation project. In this renovation, the flooring is again going to be changed; new earthtone/stone style tile on the lower level and carpeting on the upper level. New lighting will be added as will soft seating areas. The biggest changes are taking place in center court; the fountain and spiral staircase were removed in favor of a marble floor and glass elevator. Mall entrances will also be redone and signage will improve.

The mall's Gap store, dating back to 1973, is the oldest surviving GAP store in New Jersey. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E04E7DB1139F935A25752C1A961958260 " SHOPPING AROUND: BEGINNINGS; They're Everywhere. But They Didn't Used to Be."] , "The New York Times", November 16, 1997. Accessed March 26, 2008.]

Now Open

*Barnes & Noble
*Hollister Co.

Location

Livingston Mall is located at the intersection of Eisenhower Parkway and South Orange Avenue, and is accessible from Exit 4A off Interstate 280 West, Route 10, Route 24, Interstate 78 and Interstate 287. Bus service is provided by NJ Transit's 70, 73, and the PABCO Transit, Inc MCM3 route. Coach USA's 31 bus and Community Coach 77 also serve the mall.

Anchors

*Lord & Taylor (formerly Hahne's; 169,200 sq ft.)
*Macy's (formerly Bamberger's; 255,100 sq ft.)
*Sears (192,000 sq ft.)

References

External links

* [http://www.simon.com/mall/mall_info.aspx?ID=111 The Livingston Mall]
* [http://www.icsc.org/apps/dmmdisp.php?dispid=NJ0300 International Council of Shopping Centers: Livingston Mall] , accessed September 21, 2006