Nestled along the Hackensack River and just off Route 4 in Hackensack, New Jersey, The Shops at Riverside is a premier two-story enclosed shopping mall that serves as a luxury retail and entertainment destination in Bergen County. Originally launched as Riverside Square Mall in 1977, this sophisticated shopping center now spans over 658,000 square feet of leasable retail space and is known for its upscale design and curated mix of stores and restaurants.

A History of Growth and Evolution

The mall’s roots trace back to 1959, when a standalone Bloomingdale’s was first established on the site. This iconic department store became the anchor for what would eventually evolve into a full shopping complex nearly two decades later. When the enclosed mall officially opened in March 1977, it featured Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue as its cornerstone retailers, with a total of 620,000 square feet of retail space.

Designed with a Southern California-inspired aesthetic—terra cotta tiles, skylights, and red brick—the original mall saw modest success until competition and shifting consumer habits necessitated a transformation. By the mid-1990s, the nearby Westfield Garden State Plaza had begun drawing traffic away. In response, The Shops at Riverside underwent a comprehensive interior renovation in 1995, swapping out dated design elements for sleek marble floors, glass railings, and plush seating areas, giving the mall a modern, high-end feel.

Expansions and Renovations

A major redevelopment between 2005 and 2008 further expanded the mall by nearly 250,000 square feet, adding 30 new retail spaces and several restaurants. Part of this expansion involved repurposing space previously used by Bloomingdale’s Home Store, which was consolidated into a newly redesigned section of the department store. A new corridor was also introduced, connecting the mall’s north and south wings for improved flow and accessibility.

The departure of Saks Fifth Avenue in late 2014 opened up over 100,000 square feet, which paved the way for a new entertainment focus. By September 2017, an AMC Dine-In Theater featuring nine screening rooms had opened on the second floor. Renovations continued with updates to the central court, installation of new escalators and flooring, and an eye-catching glass sculpture near the theater.

A third phase of upgrades, completed by the end of 2019, introduced a refreshed main entrance with valet service, a luxury lounge, and personal shopping amenities. Bloomingdale’s also received a makeover as part of this final phase.

Navigating Blue Laws

Located in Bergen County, The Shops at Riverside operates under New Jersey’s stringent blue laws, which restrict most retail sales on Sundays. However, because it’s situated outside Paramus—where even stricter regulations apply—the mall is permitted to keep certain stores open, including restaurants and the movie theater. Notably, the mall participated in a failed 1993 referendum effort to overturn these laws. A temporary suspension of the restrictions did occur in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, but normal operations resumed the following week.