- Monmouth Mall
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Monmouth Mall 
The 1987-2010 LogoLocation Eatontown, New Jersey, USA Opening date March 1, 1960 Owner Vornado Realty Trust No. of stores and services 150 No. of anchor tenants 4 Total retail floor area 1,500,000 square feet (140,000 m2) Parking Lighted lot and parking deck adjacent to the former Boscov's No. of floors 1 in the older wing and 2 in the 1975 expansion wing Website monmouthmallonline.com Monmouth Mall, an enclosed shopping center in Eatontown, New Jersey owned by Vornado Realty Trust, is located on the corner of the intersection of NJ 35, NJ 36, and Wyckoff Road (Route 547). Currently, the mall has a gross leasable area of 1,500,000 sq ft (140,000 m2),[1] making it the fourth largest shopping mall in New Jersey (tied with Willowbrook Mall), boasting over 150 shops. The mall is located near the Garden State Parkway at Exit 105 and NJ 18 near the former location of the Eatontown Circle.
History
Entrance to the mall from Route 36 eastbound.
Opened on March 1, 1960 as a 500,000-square-foot (46,000 m2) open-air center, the Monmouth Mall was built on what was then a farm owned by the Valentino Family of the nearby City of Long Branch, New Jersey. Original anchors of the mall consisted of Bamberger's and Montgomery Ward. After pulling out of New Jersey, Montgomery Ward became Alexander's in the 1970s. The mall was enclosed and expanded to its current size in 1975. The older section of the mall continued to be one level while the new expansion was two levels anchored by Abraham & Straus, Hahne's and JCPenney.
In 1987, the mall was renovated. The renovation brought in new lighting, new flooring, and new glass and chrome handrails along the second level; took out the in-floor planters and replaced them with movable planters; closed off the mall entrance near the former arcade on the Wyckoff Road side of the old wing; and raised the lowered seating areas in front of the anchors.
In 1995, the mall was expanded to include a new food court (modeled after a Jersey Shore theme) including 1920's style beach photos wrapped around the columns in the older section of the mall, as well as a new 15-screen Loews Theatres to replace the closed Caldor. The mall also saw minor cosmetic changes that consisted of replacing black with sky blue in the color schemes through painting and retiling, as well as new lighting along the pillars.
Through the years, Monmouth Mall has seen many different anchors that have come and gone, however, JCPenney was built by themselves in 1976 and remains to this day. Anchor changes consisted of Caldor replacing Alexander's in 1986, Macy's replacing Bamberger's in 1987, Lord and Taylor replacing Hahne's in 1990, Stern's replacing Abraham & Straus in 1995 and Boscov's replacing Stern's in 2001. Boscov's closed in October 2008, while Burlington Coat Factory moved to the former Seaview Square Mall the same year. In 2010, Planet Fitness opened at Monmouth Mall. In May, 2011, Eatontown Mayor, Gerald Tarantolo, announced that Boscov's will reopen.[2] The Boscov's store is projected to reopen October 8, 2011.
Monmouth Mall went through a significant expansion in 2009, including a Barnes & Noble, a Jared jewelry store, and two restaurants sharing a single structure: a Chipotle Mexican Grill and Bobby's Burger Palace. The Barnes & Noble store was built adjacent to the mall structure next to the former Macy's Kids Annex near Ruby Tuesday, while the other two structures are free-standing.[3] In mid-2010, cosmetic renovations started at the mall including new tile, paint, lighting, and a complete overhaul of the food court. These renovations will last until summer 2011.[4]
In 1988-1989, Ashley Tisdale was discovered at the mall as a three-year old.[5]
References
- ^ International Council of Shopping Centers: Monmouth Mall, accessed September 21, 2006
- ^ "Boscov's at Monmouth Mall to reopen, Eatontown mayor says"
- ^ Monmouth Mall seeks approval for expansion
- ^ Renovations under way at Monmouth Mall
- ^ Martin, Patti. "Ashley Tisdale goes to the head of her class", Home News Tribune, September 8, 2007. Accessed September 17, 2007. "And it may never have happened if not for a chance encounter at the Monmouth Mall in Eatontown. At the time, Tisdale was a bright and bubbly blond 3-year-old in a stroller shopping with her mom, Lisa. Bill Perlman, owner of New Talent Management in Berkeley, was holding a talent search at the mall.... Initially reluctant, the family did end up bringing Ashley in for an interview. Soon after, the toddler landed her first job — a commercial for JCPenney."
External links
Categories:- Buildings and structures in Monmouth County, New Jersey
- Shopping malls in New Jersey
- Shopping malls established in 1960
- Visitor attractions in Monmouth County, New Jersey
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