Jersey Gardens

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Jersey Gardens is a two-level indoor outlet mall. The mall opened on October 21, 1999, and is the largest outlet mall in New Jersey, and much closer to New York City than its largest outlet mall competitor, Woodbury Commons.^[1] Over 100,000 customers came to the mall on opening day.^[2]

The mall is located in Elizabeth, New Jersey and is only 15 minutes from Midtown Manhattan. The outlet mall has a Gross leasable area of 1,292,611 ft²^[3], placing it in the top ten among the largest shopping malls in New Jersey. The mall contains 175 stores and restaurants. Bus service is available as well as the route 111 bus that is a shuttle that runs between Jersey Gardens and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City.

A direct exit to the facility was constructed, allowing drivers direct access to the mall from the New Jersey Turnpike without driving through local Elizabeth streets. The developed will cover the $130 million cost of bonds for the overpass and ramps through property tax payments.^[1]

The mall is anchored by Bed Bath & Beyond, Burlington Coat Factory, Cohoes, Daffy’s, DSW Shoe Warehouse, Filene's Basement, Neiman Marcus Last Call, and Off 5th. In addition, it features a Loews theater, Jeepers! (an indoor amusement park and arcade) and a food court.

Next to the mall is a large IKEA store.

Plans for the 1.3 million square foot mall were announced in 1998 by Glimcher Realty Trust, emphasizing the sites proximity to the New Jersey Turnpike and its location in an Urban Enterprise Zone, making purchases eligible for a reduced 3% sales tax rate (3½% as of 2006), a potent lure for New York City residents paying a sales tax rate over 8%.^[4]

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b "Outlet Mall Near Newark Airport Prepares to Open; A Turnpike overpass, a 22-screen cinema and over 190 retailers.", The New York Times, August 29, 1999. p. RE9
^ "Jungle, N.J., vs. Main Street, N.Y.; In Battle for Shoppers, Malls Emphasize Sense of Place From Jungle, N.J., to Main Street, N.Y., Malls Stress a Sense of Place", The New York Times, November 18, 1999, p. B1
^ International Council of Shopping Centers: Jersey Gardens, accessed November 6, 2006
^ "Mall Planned for New Jersey, With a Lure for New Yorkers", The New York Times, June 16, 1998, pg. B12