Why the Westfield Garden State Plaza Continues to Thrive
Westfield Garden State Plaza, located in Paramus, New Jersey, stands as one of the state’s most prominent retail destinations. Operated by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, the center occupies a strategic position where Route 4 and Route 17 converge, placing it within easy reach of Manhattan. Since opening its doors in 1957 as the first suburban mall in New Jersey, it has grown into a super-regional complex featuring roughly 300 stores and more than two million square feet of leasable area. By 2022, it ranked among the largest shopping centers in the United States, reflecting decades of expansion and modernization.
Economic and Community Role
The mall’s influence extends beyond retail. Paramus depends heavily on commercial activity for municipal revenue, and Garden State Plaza alone generates roughly a tenth of the borough’s property-tax income. Its high sales performance has repeatedly placed it among the nation’s most profitable malls, with per-square-foot revenue far exceeding national averages in multiple studies. Although New Jersey’s blue laws require most stores to close on Sundays, the center remains one of the region’s busiest shopping hubs.
Evolution and Modern Development
Over the years, Garden State Plaza has continually reinvented itself. Originally conceived as an open-air plaza, it underwent phased enclosure during the late 20th century and grew through successive construction projects, including major expansions in the 1980s and 1990s that added new levels, parking garages, and luxury anchors such as Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. Recently, the former JCPenney space was repurposed for multiple retailers and entertainment concepts, signaling a shift toward diversified experiences. The mall is also moving toward a mixed-use future, with plans for residential and dining developments on peripheral parking lots.
Trivia
- The mall once featured what is considered the shortest escalator in North America—only six steps—leading to the lower level of the former JCPenney.
- Several scenes from The Sopranos were filmed there, where it appeared as the fictional “Paramus Mall.”
- The carousel installed during the 1990s expansion was removed in 2016 to make room for live performances.
Visiting Westfield Garden State Plaza Today
Though it may not look at as the photos were taken closer to closing, Westfield Garden State Plaza is often packed! This means parking can be a challenge to find, and gives Westfield the pleasantly bustling atmosphere of the malls of yesteryear. Having been to quite a few malls over the last two years, Westfield is one of the better contemporary malls for an average shopper – there are tons of stores catering to a variety of tastes, the restaurant options are plentiful (I particularly liked Grand Lux Cafe), and there are dozens of entertainment options as well. One of the underappreciated benefits of thriving malls is having somewhere warm to have things to do and people to be around in winter months, and as long as you have the money to spend, you could easily take an entire day to explore the stores and eateries here.
While I am outspoken about my preferences for “retro” malls, I’d also have to confess that I like the design and decor at Westfield. Store entrances are varied and unique, and there are even art installations throughout the mall to give the corridors life. In its current incarnation, I still think Westfield captures a bit of what traditionally made malls special: a sense of spectacle and wonder, embodied in the creativity of store displays and pleasant surprises scattered throughout the visit. It’s over the top and overwhelming, to be sure, but it also feels full of vibrance and life. It may not have the classic mall features that are now considered dated by modern designers, but it does have a different quality that many of us miss from the heyday of malls, and that is its vitality.
Matthew Christopher NJ Paramus Dec 05, 2025 Malls Places to Visit Retail Stores
Dec 05, 2025
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