Wow. Look at this massive space. Wayne Towne Center. Can you believe it was once a bustling indoor mall?
Wayne Towne Center in Wayne New Jersey is more than just a shopping center. It’s a fascinating example of retail evolution. It began life in 1974 as West Belt Mall a modest strip mall. Over time it expanded becoming an enclosed mall in the late 1980s. The original anchors were JCPenney and S Klein’s. Think of it a small-town mall transformed into a regional shopping destination.
But the story of Wayne Towne Center isn’t a simple one of success. It faced stiff competition from the nearby Willowbrook Mall. This larger more upscale mall attracted many of Wayne Towne Center’s tenants. High-end stores like Neiman Marcus left for greener pastures in Pennsylvania. The mall struggled. In 2008 it began a process called “de-malling”. This meant transitioning from an enclosed mall to a more open-air shopping center. The interior was demolished.
The old Borders Books and Music store is now gone. It was one of three North Jersey locations that closed. The once-bustling indoor space is now a memory. Several other stores closed too. Old Navy and Loehmann’s disappeared. The anchors changed. Fortunoff closed. Even JCPenney moved to Willowbrook Mall in 2024 after 50 years.
But Wayne Towne Center wasn’t finished. Vornado Realty Trust purchased it in 2010. They planned a major redevelopment. The old Fortunoff building was demolished. Dick’s Sporting Goods opened a new two-level store. Costco moved in. Nordstrom Rack and then UFC Fit arrived. The parking lot saw the addition of restaurants. Olive Garden TGI Fridays Bahama Breeze and Chipotle all thrived.
Today Wayne Towne Center stands as a testament to adaptability. It’s not the indoor mall it once was. It’s a vibrant outdoor shopping center that changed with the times. The ghosts of its past remain in the stories of its anchors and tenants. The transformation reflects a changing retail landscape. Wayne Towne Center is a symbol of resilience in the face of intense competition. It’s a reminder that even in the face of adversity a space can reinvent itself. And for many it remains a convenient and familiar shopping destination.