Westfield Garden State Plaza

infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = Westfield Garden State Plaza


caption = The Mall, seen on Labor Day 2007.
location = Paramus, New Jersey, USA
opening_date = May 25, 1957
developer = R.H. Macy & Co.
manager = Westfield Group
owner = Westfield Group
number_of_stores = 346 [http://www.westfield.com/gardenstateplaza/ourstores/index.html Garden State Plaza: Our Stores] , accessed December 18, 2006]
number_of_anchors = 5 [http://westfield.com/corporate/property-portfolio/united-states/gardenstateplaza.html Westfield Garden State Plaza] , Westfield Group. Accessed June 6, 2008]
floor_area = 2,132,112 ft² (198,073m²)
floors = 2(Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Macy*s, and JCPenney are 3 Floors)
website = [http://westfield.com/gardenstateplaza/ Westfield.com/GardenStatePlaza]
parking = 9,994 parking spaces.

Westfield Garden State Plaza is a large upscale shopping mall in Paramus, New Jersey, United States, owned and managed by the Westfield Group. Broadly, it is located at the intersection of Route 4 and Route 17 near the Garden State Parkway in Bergen County, New Jersey. With 2,132,112 ft² (198,073m²) of lettable space [ [http://www.icsc.org/apps/dmmdisp.php?dispid=NJ0400 Westfield Garden State Plaza] , International Council of Shopping Centers. Accessed June 6, 2008 shows 2,000,000 ft²] , it is the largest mall in New Jersey and just behind the Roosevelt Field Mall at 2,189,941 square feet (203,000 m²) gross, the second-largest mall in the New York City metropolitan area. Its department store anchors are J.C. Penney, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, and it is across Route 4 from an IKEA, Sports Authority, Bed, Bath and Beyond, and a Christmas Tree Shops.

Westfield Garden State Plaza ranks among the largest shopping malls in the United States, having been ranked 18th largest in the United States by the American Studies department at Eastern Connecticut State University Shopping Mall Studies [ [http://www.easternct.edu/depts/amerst/MallsLarge.htm Largest Shopping Malls in the United States (2004)] , accessed February 9, 2006] . The Westfield Garden State Plaza is the largest mall in the Westfield Groups' global portfolio in terms of lettable area.cite web | title=westfield/corporate | work=Westfield Annual Report 2005 | url=http://westfield.com/corporate/pdf/reports/2005AnnualReports/Group_AR_210306.pdf | accessdate=05 January | accessyear=2007] This is significant given that Westfield is the largest retail property group globally.cite web | title=westfield.com/corporate | work=Westfield group | url=http://westfield.com/corporate/about/ | accessdate=19 November | accessyear=2006]

The mall had sales of $578 per square foot in 2005, about 50% above the national average, according to the Directory of Major Malls. Garden State Plaza is one of the most profitable malls in the country.Verdon, Joan. [http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyOSZmZ2JlbDdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5NzA2NTAxNyZ5cmlyeTdmNzE3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTI= These aren't your mother's shopping malls] , "The Record (Bergen County)", February 11, 2007.]

History

Garden State Plaza was built in 1957 by the Muscarelle Construction Company for owner/developer R.H. Macy & Co. as an open-air shopping "plaza". [Karsian, Dillon. [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-55764988.html "Garden State Plaza Reshaped Landscape."] , "Shopping Center World", May 1, 1999. Accessed October 20, 2007. "Having undergone periodic renovations and expansions since its spring 1957 debut as an open-air center, the property today stands in the superregional class."] Its groundbreaking design differed from today's "Big Box" shopping areas in that, rather than having its tenants strung around the periphery of one large parking lot, the stores, except for those more suited for out-parcels (e.g. automotive repair and retail), were clustered on a shopping island, encircled by a mote of parking lots, much like today. Connecting the stores were open-air sidewalks, complete with benches, plantered trees and other vegetation. This model approximated a "downtown" pedestrian mall, at the same time serving as a precursor of the latter-day enclosed and air-conditioned shopping malls. Eventually it would siphon most of the retail business from nearby downtown Paterson, whose Meyer Brothers and Quackenbush department stores (later Stern's-Quackenbush) would fall upon hard times and melt into history.

The original anchor was Bamberger's (owned by R.H. Macy since 1929). Gimbel's and J.C. Penney were added in 1958. ["Garden State Shopping Center Due to Open May 1 in Paramus; It Will Be Largest in Jersey --Bergen Mall Being Built Less Than a Mile Away", "The New York Times, March 20, 1957. p. 49.] Total construction costs were $26 million in 1957 for the mall and its original group of 90 stores.Verdon, Joan. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/northernnj/25954304.html "Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", July 27, 2008. Accessed July 30, 2008.]

Garden State Plaza drew much business from nearby New York towns and cities, whose shoppers wandered across state lines to take advantage of New Jersey's lower sales taxes and its policy that exempted clothing purchases from sales tax. By 1961, it was the world's largest mall.

The mall was subsequently enclosed between 1981 and 1984 in response to competitive pressure from newer fully enclosed malls such as the Willowbrook Mall in nearby Wayne [http://retailtrafficmag.com/mag/retail_garden_state_plaza/ Garden State Plaza Reshaped Landscape] , "Retail Traffic", May 1, 1999] .The mall's 2-story Old Navy was formally a Safeway and a bowling alley, which closed in the 1980's, and was replaced by old navy in 1990.

Nordstrom opened its first New Jersey location on September 7, 1990, building a $37 million, 272,000 sq ft., three-level store on the former Gimbel's site.

In 1996, Garden State Plaza marked the completion of a $200 million expansion and major remodeling project that added over convert|700000|sqft|m2|abbr=on. of retail space and two 4 level parking structures with a bank of 2 elevators situated in a small lobby on the 3rd and 4th floors. On the 1st and 2nd floors, the elevators and parking structures connect directly to the mall. JCPenney grew by convert|62000|sqft|m2|abbr=on. to 150,000 sq ft., and two new anchors were added, a convert|150000|sqft|m2|abbr=on. Neiman Marcus on 3 levels and a convert|135000|sqft|m2|abbr=on. Lord & Taylor on 2 levels, both targeted at the upscale fashion-conscious shopper.

Westfield acquired it in 2002 during the breakup of Urban Shopping Centers, Inc.

IKEA & IKEA Drive Complex

Across Route 4 is an IKEA and the IKEA Drive Complex. This complex is on the former site of Alexander's. The IKEA store, opened 2003, is located on levels P2 and P3 of the 3-story parking garage. On level P1 (Ground Level), there is Garage Parking and parking under the store, though you must walk to the parking deck to access an elevator to the store. Adjacent to the IKEA Parking Garage is a Bed Bath & Beyond and Christmas Tree Shops, also located on levels P2 and P3, but this area of the complex opened in late 2004. There is a small garage under the stores (Level P1, Ground Level), with unlike under IKEA, has 2 elevators that access 1R (Parking), and levels 2 and 3 for the stores. A large Sports Authority store was added to the complex in early 2006, though this store has a surface lot. The store is on the site (along with the Bed Bath & Beyond/Christmas Tree Shops Bldg.) of land formerly occupied by a pond and grass.

Blue laws

Due to highly restrictive blue laws in effect in Bergen County and more restrictive limitations in place in Paramus, Garden State Plaza is completely closed on Sundays, except for some of the restaurants and the new theater, all of which have special Sunday entrances. Garden State Plaza's parking lot is accessible, on Sundays, only from the Route 4 and Route 17 access points. Gates are down so that the access roads from the secondary streets are blocked. The Paramus Borough Code forbids the performance of any "worldly employment" on Sunday, with very limited exceptions. [http://www.e-codes.generalcode.com/searchresults.asp?cmd=getdocTofC&index=1376_A&filename=1376-391.htm Paramus Borough Code: Chapter 391: SUNDAY ACTIVITIES] , accessed December 18, 2006] These laws were enacted shortly after Garden State Plaza opened out of fear that the mall would cause high levels of congestion in the borough. ["SUNDAY SELLING PLAGUING JERSEY; Local Businesses Pushing Fight Against Activities of Stores on Highways - Other Group Active Local Option Opposed", The New York Times", June 2, 1957. p. 165] While there have been several attempts to repeal these laws over the years, they have all failed.

Expansion

The borough of Paramus asked the New Jersey Supreme Court to review a decision that allowed the Garden State Plaza to construct a 16-screen movie theater. The borough had submitted a petition against the Garden State Plaza and the Borough's Planning Board to the New Jersey Supreme Court, asking it to review the plans to construct a convert|163000|sqft|m2|sing=on "entertainment lifestyle precinct" at the mall that will include the theater and 10 specialty retail stores, along with a convert|158000|sqft|m2|sing=on parking lot below the new wing. New stores, complimented by the new 16-screen AMC Theatre, include a relocated Borders, Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robbins, Origins, Ruby Thai, and Sunsights by Solstice. The mall celebrated its 50th Anniversary with the new expansion and stores opened on May 25, 2007. [Gartland, Michael. [http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk0OCZmZ2JlbDdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5NzEzNjQ2MyZ5cmlyeTdmNzE3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTI= " Epic theater to play its final reel"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", May 19, 2007. Accessed May 19, 2007.] Several other stores opened after May 25, including Grand Lux Cafe, Great Steak & Potato, Jamba Juice, Vans, and a new Quiksilver.

Recently Open

*American Apparel
*Juicy Couture
*Kate Spade
*Kira Plastinina
*M Missoni
*Metropark
*Michael Kors
*Urban Outfitters
*Who.A.U

Coming Soon

*lululemon athletica
*True Religion
*Tanishq
*Kiehl's
*Garage

[cite web |url=http://westfield.com/gardenstateplaza/index.html |title=Westfield New Stores are Coming|accessdate=2008-01-19]

Public transportation

Garden State Plaza is also a major bus transfer point for New Jersey Transit, as the 162 and 163 to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, the 171 and 175 to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, the 770 to Paterson and Hackensack, the 709 to Bloomfield, the 758 to Passaic and Paramus Park Mall, and Bergen County Academy Express-contracted local routes 751, 753, 755, and 756 stop there. [ [http://westfield.com/gardenstateplaza/gettinghere/index.html Garden State Plaza: Getting Here] , Westfield Garden State Plaza. Accessed August 15, 2006.]

Note The 751, and 755 do not pull directly into the Garden State Plaza but into IKEA instead; as for the 753 it travels no where near Garden State Plaza but to the Bergen Mall (Now known as Bergen Town Center) with connecting bus routes 751, 755 (to IKEA) and 171 and 756 to Garden State Plaza.

Anchors

Mall anchors, in descending order by square footage, are as follows:Fact|date=February 2007
*Macy's (Opened 1957 as Bamberger's; converted to Macy's 1986; one of the largest locations in the chain) (435,000 sq ft. on 3 levels)
*Nordstrom (Opened 1960 as Gimbels; converted to Hahne's 1987, closed & demolished 1988, reopened as Nordstrom 5/1990) (246,000 sq ft. on 3 levels)
*JCPenney (Opened 1958; expanded 1996) (176,700 sq ft. on 3 levels)
*Neiman Marcus (135,000 sq ft. on 3 levels) - Opened 1996
*Lord & Taylor (130,000 sq ft. on 2 levels) - Opened 1996
*Borders (35,000sq. ft.) - Opened May 25, 2007
*AMC Theatres (150,000sq. ft.) - Opened May 25, 2007

Former Anchors

*Borders (Opened 1977, closed 2007, relocated to new wing, store reopened as XXI Forever Spring 2008) (40,000sq ft. on 2 levels)
*Bamberger's (Opened 1957, closed/converted to Macy's)
*Gimbel's (Opened 1960, closed 1986, converted to Hahne's 1987)
*Hahne's (Opened 1987, closed & demolished 1988, rebuilt/reopened as Nordstrom 5/1990)

References

External links

* [http://westfield.com/gardenstateplaza/ Westfield Garden State Plaza]
* [http://www.icsc.org/apps/dmmdisp.php?dispid=NJ0400 Westfield Garden State Plaza] , International Council of Shopping Centers
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=paramus,+nj&ie=UTF8&ll=40.919301,-74.072185&spn=0.008221,0.027122&t=k&om=1/ Aerial View]
* [http://retailtrafficmag.com/mag/retail_garden_state_plaza/ Garden State Plaza Reshaped Landscape] , "Retail Traffic Magazine", May 1, 1999