Burlington Center Mall facts for kids
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Exterior view of Burlington Center mall, March 2018
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| Location | Burlington Township, New Jersey |
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| Coordinates | 40°02′28″N 74°49′30″W / 40.041°N 74.825°W |
| Address | 2501 Mt Holly Rd |
| Opening date | August 1982 |
| Closing date | January 8, 2018 (Sears closed September 2, 2018) |
| Developer | The Rouse Company |
| Management | Clarion Partners |
| Owner | Clarion Partners |
| No. of stores and services | 100 (at peak) |
| No. of anchor tenants | 3 (at peak) |
| Total retail floor area | 800,000 sq ft (74,000 m2) |
| No. of floors | 2 |
| Parking | Parking lot |
Burlington Center was a shopping mall located in Burlington Township, New Jersey. It was built by The Rouse Company. The mall had large main stores, called "anchor stores," which included Macy's, JCPenney, and Sears.
The mall officially closed its doors on January 8, 2018. Sears, which was the last big store remaining, closed later on September 2, 2018.
Contents
A Look Back: The Mall's Story
The Burlington Center mall first opened in 1982. It was developed by a company called The Rouse Company. The opening of the mall helped new buildings and shops grow in the area around Burlington Township.
In August 1996, a JCPenney store opened. It was added to the existing Strawbridge's and Sears stores. In November 1999, Jager Management bought the mall. Later, in September 2006, the Strawbridge's store changed into a Macy's. At its busiest time, the mall had three large anchor stores and about 100 smaller shops and restaurants.
Why the Mall Closed
In recent years, the Burlington Center mall started to have many empty stores. Fewer national chain stores stayed in the mall. In January 2010, Macy's announced that its Burlington Center store would close. It shut down by March 2010.
In June 2012, the mall was sold at an auction to Moonbeam Equities. In 2014, JCPenney also left the mall. This was part of a plan to close many JCPenney stores across the country. After JCPenney left, Sears was the only main anchor store left at the mall.
Plans for a New Look
In 2014, the mall announced plans to rebuild. The idea was to tear down the old Macy's and JCPenney buildings. In their place, an outdoor shopping area would be built. Construction was supposed to start by summer 2016. However, work was delayed because of new agreements needed with Sears. Sears owned part of the property.
Throughout 2017, the mall continued to become emptier. By summer 2017, only a few stores were left. These included a food pantry, an arcade, Bath & Body Works, and Foot Locker. The food court, where people used to eat, was completely empty. Parts of the parking lot were even covered in weeds.
The Final Days
The mall closed on January 8, 2018. This happened because a water pipe burst, causing a lot of damage. It was originally planned to close in March 2018. The Sears store, which was owned separately, stayed open for a while longer.
On May 31, 2018, it was announced that Sears would close in September 2018. This was part of a plan to close many Sears stores nationwide. After Sears closed, the mall had no tenants left.
In January 2019, Clarion Partners LLC planned to buy the mall from Moonbeam Capital Investments LLC. They wanted to tear it down to build an industrial area. Clarion Partners bought the mall for $22 million. On February 1, 2019, a large bronze elephant statue named Petal was moved out of the closed mall. This statue had been in the mall since 1982. It was moved to the Burlington Riverwalk.
In November 2019, a new idea for the mall's redevelopment was shared. This plan included new shops, restaurants, hundreds of homes, and several large warehouses.
Main Stores That Were There
The large main stores, or anchors, at the mall included:
- Sears – This store was 145,039 sq ft (13,474.6 m2). It opened on August 2, 1982, and closed on September 2, 2018.
- Macy's – This store was 175,686 sq ft (16,321.8 m2). It was originally a Strawbridge & Clothier store and closed in 2010.
- JCPenney – This store was 102,704 sq ft (9,541.5 m2). It opened in 1996 and closed in 2014.
Where the Mall Was Located
The mall was located on Mount Holly Road (County Route 541). It was between Interstate 295 (exits 47A/B) and the New Jersey Turnpike (exit 5).
