South Jersey Mall History: Cumberland Mall
By: Peter Planamente
Tags: South Jersey, Vineland, Cumberland Mall, Mall, New Jersey

this story was last updated in June 2021.

Exterior of former Burlington store in 2018 (photo by Peter Planamente)

Fast Facts

Opened in 1973

Located in Vineland, New Jersey (Cumberland County)

Developer: Rubin Organization

Owner: Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust

Number of Floors: 1

Website

Anchors

Bradlees

1973 — circa 2001

Gaudio’s

1973 — ?

Wilmington Dry Goods

1973–1989

JCPenney (former Gaudio’s)

? — 2015

Value City (former Wilmington Dry Goods)

1989 — 2008

Boscov’s

1997 — present

Marshall’s (former Bradlees)

circa 2001/2002 — present

Burlington (former Value City)

2009–2021

Dick’s Sporting Goods (former JCPenney)

2016 — present

Power Warehouse (former Burlington)

2021-present

Sitting off Route 47 in Vineland, NJ is a quiet little mall that has been through a lot.

Cumberland Mall opened in October of 1973 and was developed by The Rubin Organization. The three original anchors were Bradlees, Guadios and Wilmington Dry Foods. A Pathmark (supermarket) was located outside next to Wilmington Dry Foods.

The mall was a popular local spot for people living in and around Cumberland County and the most southern portion of South Jersey. Cumberland never had to deal with much competition since the closest malls were over 25 miles away.

The 1980s

Through the 1980s, a few changes happened. Wilmington Dry Foods went out of business and became Value City, Guadio’s closed and became JCPenney and the Pathmark outside became Toys R Us.

The 1990s

The owners also planned to add an additional 100,000 square feet to the mall, but the funding fell through. Even with the addition of the replacement anchors and new stores, the mall began declining in the 1990s and occupancy fell.

Boscov’s mall entrance (photo by Peter Planamente)

In 1997, the mall owners put in a new revitalization plan. Boscov’s opened as the fourth anchor, the roof and flooring were replaced, along with new lightning and indoor trees and plants.

The 2000s

The mall expanded with more parking and additional retail space. Home Depot, Regal Cinema, Best Buy and BJ’s were added in the surrounding area of the mall.

After the new millennium began, Cumberland Mall saw additional closures. Bradless filed for bankruptcy and closed. The building was divided into three separate stores, Marshalls (connected to the mall), Michael’s, and Bed, Bath & Beyond (closed in 2018).

In 2008, Value City went out of business and was replaced by Burlington Coat Factory in 2009.

The 2010s

In 2015, JCPenney closed and was replaced by Dick’s Sporting Goods.

In 2018, Toys R Us liquidated and closed. A portion of the building is now used by Petco.

The 2020s

As of 2020, the mall continues to operate with about 89% occupancy.

PREIT, current owner of the mall, pays over $2 million annually in taxes and makes only $389 in sales per square foot. It is one of the weakest malls in the PREIT portfolio, ranking 16 out of 18.

In late 2020, Littman Jewelers decided to close their store after 22 years of business in the mall.

Marshall’s wing of the Cumberland Mall — 2018 (photo by Peter Planamente)

In early 2021, Burlington [Coat Factory], who has been operating at the mall since 2009, went out of business. This spot was formerly occupied by Value City. Next door, the former Toys R Us also remains vacant.

In May 2021, HomeGoods announced it would be opening a new store in the former Bed, Bath & Beyond on the outside of the mall between Starbucks and Michael’s.

Also announced in May, a fulfillment center will take over the former Burlington space.

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