Once upon a time, in the quaint town of Wayne, New Jersey, stood a modest-sized regional shopping center known as the Wayne Hills Mall. Built in the disco-infused days of the 1970s, this mall was the place to be for all your retail therapy needs.

The Early Years (1970s-1980s):

Back in its glory days, Wayne Hills Mall was the bee’s knees. It boasted over 100,000 square feet of shopping nirvana, with anchor stores like Meyer Brothers and Consumers leading the retail charge. Shoppers flocked from miles around to get their fix of Pearle Vision glasses and TCBY fro-yo. It was the place where dreams (and wallets) were made.


Challenges and Changes (1990s-2000s):

As the ’90s rolled in like a wrecking ball, so did the challenges. First, Child World, the mecca of toy wonder, bid adieu, leaving behind a toy-shaped hole that only Toys R Us could fill. Then, Meyer Brothers decided to close its doors in 1995, leaving the mall feeling emptier than a Black Friday sale at a ghost town.

But fear not, for Wayne Hills Mall soldiered on! Stores like Foot Locker and Avenue stepped up to the plate, ensuring that the mall remained a beacon of hope for shoppers everywhere. Even with McDonald’s and Champs Sports in the mix, the mall kept its pulse on the community, hosting events and serving as the go-to spot for holiday shopping shenanigans.

Decline and Redevelopment (2000s-2020s):

However, all good things must come to an end, and Wayne Hills Mall was no exception. By the mid-2000s, cracks began to show in its once-shiny facade. Stores started to pack up faster than you could say “clearance sale,” and plans for redevelopment started swirling around like discount coupons on a windy day.

As the years rolled on, the mall resembled a retail ghost town more than a bustling shopping center. LA Fitness, Foot Locker, and Burlington Coat Factory were like lone survivors in a sea of boarded-up storefronts. It was a retail apocalypse, and Wayne Hills Mall was Ground Zero.

The Curtain Call:

In 2015, after 42 years of retail glory, Wayne Hills Mall closed its doors for good. The site sat empty and forlorn, like a forgotten relic of consumerism past. But fear not, dear reader, for this tale has a twist!

In 2019, demolition crews descended upon the desolate remains of the mall, paving the way for a new era of commercial greatness. The Wayne Hills Mall phoenix was rising from the ashes, reborn as a shiny new power center. With a ShopRite supermarket leading the charge, hope springs eternal for the future of retail in Wayne, NJ.

The End (Or Is It?):

And so, dear reader, we bid adieu to Wayne Hills Mall, a once-great titan of retail now relegated to the annals of history. But fear not, for as one chapter ends, another begins. The legacy of Wayne Hills Mall lives on in the memories of those who shopped, dined, and frolicked within its hallowed halls. And who knows? Perhaps one day, we’ll look back on this tale with a chuckle, reminiscing about the days when malls ruled the retail landscape. But for now, let us raise a toast to Wayne Hills Mall: gone but not forgotten.