Burlington Center Mall

Burlington Center was a regional shopping mall in Burlington Township, New Jersey, on Mount Holly Road near Interstate 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike. Developed by The Rouse Company, the mall was designed to serve Burlington County and nearby communities in South Jersey while also drawing customers from the wider Philadelphia metropolitan area. It opened on August 5, 1982, with approximately 125 stores and restaurants. Its original development reflected the period's suburban retail model: a large enclosed center, extensive surface parking, national department-store anchors, and a climate-controlled environment intended to make shopping convenient throughout the year. The mall's early anchor lineup included Sears and Strawbridge's. JCPenney joined the property in August 1996 with a roughly 103,000-square-foot store, giving the center three major department stores. The Rouse Company sold Burlington Center to Jager Management in November 1999 for a reported $10.5 million. In the early 2000s, the property remained a significant local retail and family-entertainment destination; a nearby Chuck E. Cheese opened in 2002. Strawbridge's was converted to Macy's in September 2006 after Federated Department Stores acquired the Strawbridge's chain. Burlington Center deteriorated during the mid-2000s and 2010s as online shopping expanded and consumers increasingly favored newer or more actively redeveloped retail centers. Competition from properties such as Quaker Bridge Mall, rising vacancies, and the loss of department-store traffic weakened the mall's tenant base. Macy's announced the closure of its Burlington store in January 2010, and JCPenney departed in January 2014 as part of a nationwide closure program. Sears subsequently became the only remaining anchor. A redevelopment proposal announced by Moonbeam Capital Investments in 2014 called for the demolition of the former Macy's and JCPenney spaces and their replacement with an outdoor retail district, but negotiations with Sears and other complications delayed progress. By 2017, only a small number of tenants remained. The food court was vacant, parts of the parking area were overgrown, and the property had become an example of a declining or “dead” mall. The nearby Chuck E. Cheese closed in October 2016. A severe cold-weather event in early January 2018 caused sprinkler pipes to burst, flooding portions of the property and damaging HVAC and electrical infrastructure. Because the sprinkler system was no longer functional and repairs were considered too costly, the Burlington Township fire marshal barred public access to the mall interior. Burlington Center closed on January 8, 2018, earlier than the previously anticipated March closure. Sears continued operating through an exterior entrance until September 2, 2018, when it closed as part of Sears Holdings' nationwide store-reduction program. The vacant property subsequently became the subject of competing redevelopment concepts. Clarion Partners pursued an acquisition and industrial redevelopment plan, and the property was reportedly purchased for $22 million in 2019. A separate concept introduced in November 2019, called The Crossings, envisioned a mixed-use project combining retail, restaurants, housing, and warehouse space. The former mall was demolished beginning in early 2021, with demolition continuing into 2022. Warehouse construction began on part of the former site in 2022. A bronze elephant sculpture named Petal, which had stood at the mall since its opening, was removed in February 2019 and relocated to the Burlington Riverwalk. Burlington Center is therefore best understood not as an operating retail brand today, but as a former shopping-center property whose history illustrates the transition from enclosed suburban malls to mixed-use and logistics-oriented redevelopment.

Burlington Center was conceived in the late 1970s by The Rouse Company, a major American developer of planned communities and shopping centers. The company assembled a site of more than 270 acres in rural Burlington Township along Route 541, also known as Mount Holly Road. The location offered access to Interstate 295, the New Jersey Turnpike, Burlington County communities, and the Philadelphia-area market. The development reflected a broader suburbanization trend in which enclosed malls became important retail, social, and civic destinations for growing communities. RTKL Associates served as architect, with Charles J. Collins Jr. Architects involved in storefront design. Plans emphasized a large central atrium illuminated by skylights, an enclosed environment protected from weather, straightforward circulation, and extensive surrounding parking. Burlington Center opened on August 5, 1982, with about 125 stores and restaurants. Sears and Strawbridge's were among its principal anchors, while the tenant mix included national chains and local businesses serving everyday apparel, household, food, and family-entertainment needs. The property expanded its department-store presence when JCPenney opened a 103,000-square-foot store in August 1996. In November 1999, The Rouse Company sold Burlington Center to Jager Management for a reported $10.5 million. The center continued to function as a conventional regional mall into the early 2000s. A nearby Chuck E. Cheese opened in 2002, and Strawbridge's became Macy's in September 2006 following Federated Department Stores' acquisition and rebranding of the remaining Strawbridge's stores. The mall's competitive position weakened during the mid-2000s. E-commerce reduced the need for routine mall visits, while newer and renovated shopping centers, including Quaker Bridge Mall, competed for the same regional customers. Burlington Center experienced increasing vacancies and a gradual loss of national retailers. Macy's announced in January 2010 that its store would close by March. The property was sold at auction to Moonbeam Equities in June 2012 for a reported $4.4 million. JCPenney closed in January 2014 during a nationwide store-reduction program, leaving Sears as the sole remaining anchor. Moonbeam Capital Investments announced a redevelopment plan in February 2014. The proposal called for demolishing the former Macy's and JCPenney portions and creating an outdoor retail area. Work was expected to start in 2016, but negotiations concerning Sears and other property interests delayed implementation. The nearby Chuck E. Cheese closed in October 2016. During 2017, the mall's remaining occupancy fell to a handful of stores and community organizations, including an arcade, Bath & Body Works, Foot Locker, and a food pantry. The food court was empty, and visible deterioration in the parking areas and common spaces contributed to the property's reputation as a dead mall. Two nonprofit organizations were asked to leave before the 2017 holiday season ended. In early January 2018, unusually severe cold damaged the mall's fire-sprinkler system. Multiple pipes burst, flooding portions of the interior and damaging common areas, HVAC equipment, and electrical infrastructure. On January 8, the Burlington Township fire marshal permanently closed the interior to public access because the sprinkler system was nonfunctional and repairs were considered uneconomical by the property owner. Sears remained accessible through an outside entrance, but its store closed on September 2, 2018, after Sears announced a nationwide round of closures. The vacant site then shifted from retail repositioning toward redevelopment. Clarion Partners pursued the property and an industrial-use concept, with the site reportedly acquired for $22 million in 2019. Another proposal, The Crossings, was introduced in November 2019 and combined retail, restaurants, housing, and warehouse development. The former mall was demolished beginning in early 2021, with work continuing into 2022. Warehouse construction began in 2022. The Petal bronze elephant, a recognizable fixture since the mall's opening, was moved to the Burlington Riverwalk in February 2019. Burlington Center's history spans the rise of the enclosed suburban mall, department-store-led regional retail, prolonged vacancy, infrastructure failure, and eventual conversion of a retail site to newer mixed-use and logistics uses.

• 2022

  Industrial construction begins

  [1]Burlington Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Construction of a warehouse begins on the former mall site.

• 2021

  Demolition begins

  [1]Burlington Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Demolition of the former mall begins, continuing into 2022.

• 2019

  Petal is relocated

  [1]Burlington Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The mall's bronze elephant sculpture is moved to the Burlington Riverwalk.

• 2018

  Mall permanently closes

  [1]Burlington Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Sprinkler-system damage and resulting building conditions lead to closure of the mall interior on January 8; Sears closes later that year.

• 2014

  JCPenney departs and redevelopment is proposed

  [1]Burlington Centeren.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney closes, and Moonbeam announces a plan to replace former anchor areas with outdoor retail.

• 2012

  Moonbeam Equities acquires the property

  [1]Burlington Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The mall is sold at auction to Moonbeam Equities.

• 2010

  Macy's closes

  [1]Burlington Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Macy's announces the closure of its Burlington Center location.

• 2006

  Strawbridge's becomes Macy's

  [1]Burlington Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Strawbridge's anchor is converted to Macy's after the chain's acquisition by Federated Department Stores.

• 2002

  Nearby family entertainment venue opens

  [1]Burlington Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A Chuck E. Cheese location opens near the shopping center.

• 1999

  The Rouse Company sells the mall

  [1]Burlington Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Jager Management acquires Burlington Center from The Rouse Company.

• 1996

  JCPenney joins the anchor lineup

  [1]Burlington Centeren.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney opens a roughly 103,000-square-foot department store at the mall.

• 1982

  Burlington Center opens

  [1]Burlington Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Rouse Company opens the enclosed regional mall on August 5 with approximately 125 stores and restaurants.

A mid-market, family-oriented regional shopping mall serving Burlington County and nearby South Jersey communities.

• Shopping mall · 1982

  Enclosed regional shopping center

  Burlington Center's core offering was a climate-controlled regional mall with department-store anchors, specialty retailers, restaurants, a food court, and extensive surface parking. Its design targeted suburban families and everyday shopping trips in Burlington County and nearby South Jersey communities.

• Department stores · 1982

  Department-store anchors

  The property hosted major department stores including Sears, Strawbridge's, Macy's, and JCPenney at different stages. These anchors supplied apparel, home merchandise, appliances, and other broad retail categories while serving as the primary traffic generators for smaller tenants.

• Food service · 1982

  Food court and restaurants

  Food and beverage was part of the mall's original tenant mix, including a centralized food court and restaurants. The food court was vacant during the mall's final period of operation as tenant losses and declining traffic accelerated.

• Entertainment · 2002

  Family entertainment

  Family-oriented entertainment formed part of the surrounding retail ecosystem. A nearby Chuck E. Cheese opened in 2002 and closed in 2016, removing a notable attraction during the property's decline.

• 2007

  Gang-related disturbance

  The mall closed early on January 13 after a disturbance reportedly involving approximately 20 people connected with local gangs. The incident was a notable public-safety controversy in the property's history.

  Source

Read more

• 2019

  Shift the property toward redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  After the retail center became vacant, owners and prospective developers evaluated industrial and mixed-use alternatives.

  Action taken

  Clarion Partners pursued an industrial redevelopment, while The Crossings proposal combined retail, restaurants, housing, and warehouse space.

  Aftermath

  The mall was demolished beginning in 2021, and warehouse construction began on the former site in 2022.

  Source

• 2018

  Close the enclosed mall after sprinkler failureOther

  Background

  Extreme cold caused multiple sprinkler pipes to burst, producing flooding and damaging building systems.

  Action taken

  The township fire marshal barred interior public access on January 8 after the sprinkler system was found to be nonfunctional. Sears continued through an exterior entrance.

  Aftermath

  The mall never reopened, and Sears closed in September 2018, leaving the property without tenants.

  Source

• 2014

  Propose outdoor retail redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  Vacancies and the loss of department-store traffic led Moonbeam Capital Investments to consider a major repositioning of the enclosed mall.

  Action taken

  Moonbeam proposed demolishing the former Macy's and JCPenney areas and replacing them with an outdoor shopping district.

  Aftermath

  The project was delayed, including by lease renegotiations involving Sears, and the proposed redevelopment did not proceed before the mall closed.

  Source

• 2006

  Convert Strawbridge's to Macy'sStrategy

  Background

  Federated Department Stores acquired the Strawbridge's chain and converted remaining locations to the Macy's banner.

  Action taken

  The Burlington Township Strawbridge's store was rebranded as Macy's in September 2006.

  Aftermath

  Macy's later announced that the location would close in 2010.

  Source

1. 1Burlington Centeren.wikipedia.org