Woodbridge Center facts for kids
An entrance to the Center; The four W towers face the four compass directions, with the ones most prominent in the picture being west and south.
|
|
| Location | Woodbridge, New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°33′24″N 74°17′57″W / 40.556666°N 74.299213°W |
| Address | 250 Woodbridge Center Drive |
| Opening date | 1971 |
| Developer | The Rouse Company |
| Management | Brookfield Properties |
| Owner | Brookfield Properties |
| No. of stores and services | 200 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 6 (4 open, 2 vacant) |
| Total retail floor area | 1,633,000 square feet (151,700 m2) |
| No. of floors | 2 (3 in Macy's and former Sears) |
| Parking | Parking lot with 8,651 spaces |
| Public transit access |   NJ Transit bus: 48, 810, 815 |
Woodbridge Center is a big, two-story shopping mall in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey. You can find it where U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Route 9 meet. Before the mall was built, this land was home to old clay pits.
Today, Brookfield Properties owns and manages the mall. It has about 200 different stores and four main "anchor stores." These are big department stores like Boscov's, Dick's Sporting Goods, J. C. Penney, and Macy's.
Unlike many malls that have one big food court, Woodbridge Center has many eating spots spread out. Each place has its own seating area and restrooms. This was how most malls used to be before food courts became popular!
About Woodbridge Center
Woodbridge Center is a popular spot for shoppers, especially those from nearby Staten Island in New York. This is because New Jersey does not have sales tax on clothes, which can save shoppers money.
The mall is very large, covering about 1,633,000 square feet. This makes it one of the biggest malls in New Jersey, and even one of the largest in the entire United States.
Fun Things to Do
Woodbridge Center is more than just stores! It has fun attractions for families and kids. You can find a cool fountain, a carousel ride, and even a train ride. There is also a special play area just for children.
In 2019, SeaQuest Interactive Aquariums was planned to open at the mall. Also, Dave & Buster's, a popular place for games and food, opened on the upper level in 2017.
A Look Back in Time
Woodbridge Center first opened its doors in 1971. It was developed by a company called The Rouse Company. When it first opened, it had major stores like Abraham & Straus, Ohrbach's, and Stern's.
Over the years, the mall has changed and grown.
- In 1978, a new section was added, bringing in stores like Hahne's.
- In 1981, J. C. Penney moved to Woodbridge Center from another nearby mall.
- By 1987, the mall got a fresh new look with renovations. They updated the flooring, lighting, and entrances. Some of the old fountains were changed or removed.
Changes Over the Years
The mall has seen many stores come and go.
- In 2003, a large Galyan's store opened, which later became Dick's Sporting Goods in 2004.
- Some well-known department stores that have closed include Hahne's (which later became Boscov's), Ohrbach's (which became Lord & Taylor, and is now closed), Stern's (now Macy's), and Abraham & Straus (which later became Sears, and is also now closed).
In 2007, the carousel ride was moved closer to the J. C. Penney store. The train ride was also moved so both rides would be together. A play area for toddlers, called "Tiny Town," is also located near these rides.
Sadly, some stores have recently closed. Lord & Taylor closed its doors in December 2019. Then, Sears also closed in April 2020 as part of a plan to close many stores across the country.
