Monmouth Mall

Originally named "Monmouth Shopping Center", the Monmouth Mall opened on March 1, 1960, as a 600,000-square-foot (56,000 m2), 14-building, 50-store open-air center. The 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 (at that time a subsidiary of Macy's) and Montgomery Ward. After pulling out of New Jersey, Montgomery Ward became Alexander's in 1975. The mall was enclosed and expanded to its current size in 1975. The older section of the mall continued to have one level while the new expansion included two levels that were anchored by Abraham & Straus, Hahne's and JCPenney as of 1975.
In 1987, the mall was renovated. The renovation brought in new lighting, new flooring, and new glass and chrome handrails along the second level. The renovation also removed the in-floor planters and replaced them with movable planters. The renovation also closed off the 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.
Ashley Tisdale was discovered at the mall in 1989 as a three-year-old.
In 1994–1996, the mall was expanded to include an elevator and a food court (modeled after a Jersey Shore theme) including 1920s style beach photos wrapped around the columns in the older section of the mall, as well as Nobody Beats the Wiz, a new 15-screen Loews Theatres (now AMC). Old Navy 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. In 1987, the Bamberger's brand was eliminated and the store was renamed for its parent corporation, Macy's. Anchor changes consisted of Caldorreplacing Alexander's in 1986, Macy's replacing the former store Bamberger's in 1987, Lord & Taylor replacing the former store Hahne's in 1990, Stern's replacing Abraham & Straus in 1995 and Boscov's replacing Stern's in 2001. In 2010, Planet Fitness opened at Monmouth Mall. However, after many years at the mall, Planet Fitness announced plans to close its Monmouth Mall location and relocate to a new store in Shrewsbury in 2022.
Monmouth Mall went through a significant expansion in 2009. In mid-2010, cosmetic renovations started at the mall including new tile, paint, lighting, and a complete overhaul of the food court. The renovations lasted until summer 2011.
In 2012, Vornado Realty Trust announced plans to sell its portfolio of enclosed shopping malls. In August 2015, Vornado's fifty percent stake and management in the Monmouth Mall was sold to co-owner Kushner Companies for $38 million.
On September 7, 2018, it was announced that Lord & Taylor would be closing as part of a plan to close 10 stores nationwide. The store closed in January 2019. On June 22, 2020, Crate & Barrel opened a temporary close out store on the 1st floor in the former Lord & Taylor space. It has since closed.
In 2021, Brookfield sold the mall to Kushner Companies.
In June 2022, JCPenney announced that as part of modernizing their traditional brick-and-mortar base that they'll no longer continue to position an outpost in this retail environment.
In 2022, the mall announced that the parking garage would be demolished due to structural instability.
In June 2022, it was announced that JCPenney would be closing at the mall on October 23, 2022, which has been at the mall for 47 years opening in 1975 in the mall expansion wing. This left Boscov's and Macy's as the only anchors left.
In 2022, Norman's Hallmark Cards Inc. store officially closed inside the Monmouth Mall, and instead opened up a new location at "Consumer Centre" in the nearby town of West Long Branch. Spencer's Gifts closed at the mall, but a new store location was unveiled in Tinton Falls at the nearby "Jersey Shore Premium Outlets."
In December 2023, it was announced that Forever 21 would be closing at the Monmouth Mall in January 2024.
Category:Malls in the United States
Category:Shopping Malls
Category:Malls in New Jersey
Category:Former Bamberger's-anchored Malls
Category:Macy's-anchored Malls
Category:AMC-anchored Malls
Category:Former Loews-anchored Malls
Category:Former Wards-anchored Malls
Category:Former Lord & Taylor-anchored Malls
Category:Boscov's-anchored Malls
Category:Barnes & Noble-anchored Properties
Category:Brookfield Properties Retail Group Malls
Category:Malls that opened in 1960
Category:Former JCPenney-anchored Malls