New Jersey Shopping Malls & Outlets: Complete Guide

Yes! New Jersey has no sales tax on clothing and footwear for human use, saving shoppers 6.625% on qualifying apparel purchases. This exemption applies to everyday items like shirts, pants, dresses, shoes, boots, sneakers, and seasonal wear including hats, gloves, scarves, and swimwear. Items considered necessities are tax-free, making New Jersey one of the best states for clothing shopping.

However, the exemption does not apply to fur clothing, accessories (like jewelry), protective equipment, or sports/recreational equipment. These items are still subject to the standard 6.625% New Jersey sales tax. The tax-free clothing benefit attracts shoppers from neighboring states like New York and Pennsylvania, especially to border malls.

Bergen County is the last county in the United States with blue laws that prohibit the sale of certain goods on Sundays. These laws date back to 17th-century Puritans and prohibit Sunday sales of clothing, wearing apparel, building and lumber supplies, furniture, home/business/office furnishings, and household/business appliances.

Paramus, where three of the county's five major malls are located (Garden State Plaza, Paramus Park, and Bergen Town Center), has even more restrictive laws banning all types of work on Sundays except in grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Voters have repeatedly upheld these laws, most recently defeating a 1993 referendum by a 2-to-1 margin.

While retail stores are closed, exceptions allow restaurants, food service, pharmacies, and entertainment like movie theaters to remain open on Sundays. American Dream mall's entertainment attractions (Nickelodeon Universe, DreamWorks Water Park, Big SNOW) are open seven days a week, but retail stores must close on Sundays.

American Dream in East Rutherford is the largest shopping mall in New Jersey and the second-largest mall in the United States (behind Mall of America). The complex occupies over 3 million square feet across five floors and features more than 400 stores, 100 restaurants, and world-class entertainment attractions.

American Dream includes Nickelodeon Universe (the largest indoor theme park in the Western Hemisphere with 35+ rides), DreamWorks Water Park (North America's largest indoor water park with the largest indoor wave pool and tallest indoor body slide), and Big SNOW (the first and only indoor real-snow ski park in North America).

The shopping component features The Avenue luxury district with high-end retailers like Hermès, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co., and Dolce & Gabbana, plus popular brands like Apple, Zara, H&M, Primark, Uniqlo, and Sephora. Located in the Meadowlands Sports Complex with views of the NYC skyline, American Dream is accessible via NJ Transit Bus 355 from Port Authority.

The Mall at Short Hills is New Jersey's premier luxury shopping destination and is considered America's first luxury mall. Located 19 miles west of Manhattan in Short Hills, this 1,342,000 square foot mall is the only mall in America featuring all four luxury department store anchors: Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and Macy's under one roof.

Short Hills features over 50 stores exclusive to New Jersey and houses the most exclusive luxury brands including Hermès, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Yves Saint Laurent, Jimmy Choo, Cartier, Burberry, and Salvatore Ferragamo. The mall receives 1.5 million visits monthly and offers a well-maintained, spacious, elegant atmosphere.

Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus is another excellent luxury option with its Luxury Collection featuring Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Burberry, BOSS, Longchamp, and Versace. The New York Times recognized Garden State Plaza as "perhaps the single most influential retail destination in the United States." Both malls benefit from New Jersey's tax-free clothing policy on luxury apparel purchases.

The Mills at Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth is New Jersey's largest outlet mall and was ranked America's No. 2 best outlet mall in USA Today's readers' choice awards. This massive 1,292,611 square foot indoor mall features 230 outlet stores including Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Bloomingdale's The Outlet Store, Nike Factory Store, Adidas Outlet, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Tory Burch, and Primark.

Jersey Gardens combines outlet discounts with New Jersey's tax-free clothing policy for maximum savings. Located just 30 minutes from Midtown Manhattan near Newark Airport (Exit 13A off NJ Turnpike), it's easily accessible via NJ Transit Bus #111 and #115 from Port Authority. The mall also features a 20-screen AMC IMAX theatre and Round1 entertainment center with bowling, arcade games, and karaoke.

Other excellent outlet options include Tanger Outlets Atlantic City (70+ stores including Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors, Coach), Jackson Premium Outlets (57 stores in Ocean County), Jersey Shore Premium Outlets in Tinton Falls (110 stores near Asbury Park), and Harmon Cove Outlet Center in Secaucus (72 stores featuring a Gucci outlet with huge discounts).

Many New Jersey malls are accessible via NJ Transit bus service from New York City and local areas. The Mills at Jersey Gardens offers daily bus service from Port Authority Bus Terminal via Bus #111 and #115. American Dream is accessible via NJ Transit Bus 355 direct from Port Authority (the most budget-friendly option at $4.00 one-way). Freehold Mall and Willowbrook Mall both have NJ Transit bus platforms with service available.

For the Princeton area, NJ Transit Route 605 provides service to Princeton Shopping Center and Quakerbridge Mall for only $1.60 one-way. Local one-zone bus fares are $1.80, while interstate buses to NYC cost $4.00. Many malls popular with Staten Island and NYC shoppers (like Woodbridge Center and Menlo Park Mall) are strategically located near Routes 1 and 9 for easy access.

Most New Jersey malls offer free parking, though spaces can be extremely limited at rail stations and park & ride locations on weekdays until about 6pm. For American Dream, parking is available but can get crowded on weekends and may require a parking fee. Bus service is the most convenient and economical option for NYC visitors, while drivers should arrive early during peak shopping times, especially Black Friday and holiday season.

Near NYC: The Mills at Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth is just 30 minutes from Midtown Manhattan and offers easy NJ Transit bus access. American Dream in East Rutherford is accessible via Bus 355 from Port Authority and offers NYC skyline views. Newport Centre in Jersey City provides tax-free apparel shopping with only 3.5% sales tax on other participating stores, making it ideal for NYC residents. Woodbridge Center and Menlo Park Mall are popular with Staten Island shoppers due to tax-free clothing and proximity via Routes 1 and 9.

Jersey Shore: Freehold Raceway Mall is the biggest shopping destination in Monmouth County with 2025 additions including Dave & Buster's, DICK'S House of Sport, and Kura Revolving Sushi Bar. Monmouth Mall in Eatontown is just 10 minutes from Long Branch Beach and less than a mile from Garden State Parkway Exit 105, perfect for beach needs and summer fashion. Ocean County Mall in Toms River is the only indoor shopping center with an exterior Lifestyle Center in the Shore area (accessible from GSP Exit 82 via Route 37 East).

Jersey Shore Premium Outlets in Tinton Falls features 110 stores right off Route 34, just minutes from Asbury Park. For South Jersey shore visitors near Atlantic City, Tanger Outlets Atlantic City offers 70+ stores across 3 city blocks with brands like Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Michael Kors, all with tax-free clothing savings.

All New Jersey malls are closed on Thanksgiving Day, but many open early on Black Friday with extended hours to attract shoppers. The earliest openings are at Gloucester Premium Outlets and The Mills at Jersey Gardens (both 6am), followed by Bridgewater Commons, Menlo Park Mall, Quaker Bridge Mall, and Ocean County Mall (all 6am). Rockaway Townsquare opens at 6am with extended hours until 9pm.

For the longest shopping day, Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus offers 7am to 11pm hours on Black Friday (16 hours), though remember it's closed on Sundays. American Dream opens at 7am and stays open until 10pm. The Mall at Short Hills, Moorestown Mall, and Woodbridge Center open at 8am or 9am with more moderate hours for a less hectic experience.

For the best Black Friday experience, arrive early (some shoppers line up before sunrise), be prepared for packed parking lots and long lines, and consider taking NJ Transit buses to avoid parking hassles. Weekday shopping during the holiday season is less crowded than weekends. Remember that Bergen County malls (Garden State Plaza, American Dream, Bergen Town Center) are closed Sundays year-round, while all other New Jersey malls remain open Sundays during the holidays.

Cherry Hill Mall is South Jersey's premier shopping destination and holds historic significance as the first enclosed shopping center in the East. This upscale, top-ten listed New Jersey mall features 1,306,000 square feet with 130 retail stores in a clean, friendly environment, attracting shoppers from affluent neighborhoods in southern New Jersey and the Philadelphia metro area.

Recent additions demonstrate the mall's commitment to staying current: Columbia Sportswear (November 2024), JD Sports, Alo Yoga, Lacoste, Kendra Scott jeweler, and Kooma Asian fusion and sushi bar. The mall features premium retailers including Nordstrom, Apple, Zara, Lululemon, Sephora, Uniqlo, Urban Outfitters, Abercrombie & Fitch, H&M, and LEGO.

Cherry Hill Mall benefits from excellent demographics, easy access to major highways and bridges (serving both Philadelphia and New Jersey), and a dense, affluent population base. Retail experts note these advantages make Cherry Hill particularly successful. The mall is owned by PREIT and offers convenient parking with extended Black Friday hours. Combined with New Jersey's tax-free clothing policy, Cherry Hill provides significant savings for Philadelphia area shoppers who would otherwise pay Pennsylvania sales tax on clothing.

New Jersey has approximately 93 shopping centers and malls throughout the state, making it the most densely mall-populated state in the United States with more malls per square mile than any other state. This high concentration exists due to several unique factors that make New Jersey an ideal location for retail development.

The state's strategic location between New York City and Philadelphia provides access to two major metropolitan markets within an hour's drive. New Jersey's dense, affluent population, especially in Bergen, Morris, Essex, and Monmouth Counties, creates strong demand for shopping destinations. The tax-free clothing policy gives New Jersey malls a competitive advantage, attracting shoppers from neighboring states where clothing is taxed.

Bergen County alone has 7 shopping malls, Morris County has 9, and Paramus accounts for over $5 billion in annual retail sales from its four major malls. Major shopping corridors developed along Routes 1, 9, 4, 17, and the Garden State Parkway. The state's mall development began early with Garden State Plaza (1957) and Cherry Hill Mall (1961, first climate-controlled indoor center east of Mississippi), establishing New Jersey as a shopping destination. This concentration creates healthy competition, driving malls to offer luxury brands, entertainment options, and continuous updates to remain competitive.