Cherry Hill Mall
A super-regional enclosed shopping mall in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and one of the earliest major enclosed malls in the United States.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Cherry Hill Mall is a super-regional enclosed shopping mall in Cherry Hill, Camden County, New Jersey. It occupies a prominent site at the intersection of Route 38 and Haddonfield Road and serves the wider Philadelphia–South Jersey metropolitan area. The mall is also associated with the surrounding Cherry Hill Mall census-designated place and neighborhood, although the shopping center itself is the subject of this entry. The project originated in the 1950s as a proposed open-air shopping center promoted by New Jersey developer Eugene Mori. Financial difficulties and doubts about the site's distance from Camden delayed the development. Strawbridge & Clothier, a Philadelphia department-store chain that had agreed to become the principal anchor, eventually assumed control of the project. In 1960, Strawbridge partnered with developer James Rouse and Community Research and Development, a Rouse-affiliated company. The revised plan replaced the open-air concept with a fully enclosed, climate-controlled mall designed by architect Victor Gruen, whose earlier work included Southdale Center in Minnesota. Cherry Hill Mall opened to the public on October 11, 1961. At the time, it was regarded as one of the largest enclosed shopping centers in the eastern United States and one of only a small number of enclosed malls operating nationally. Its design was intended to do more than house retailers: Rouse and Gruen envisioned the mall as a suburban civic gathering place, combining retail space with landscaped interior courts, fountains, tropical vegetation, restaurants, entertainment, and facilities for community meetings. The central Cherry Court, with its high arched ceiling and elaborate indoor landscaping, became the architectural focal point. The mall reportedly contained thousands of living plants and included a bird aviary, waterfall, stream, bridge, and gazebo. The original tenant mix combined department stores, variety stores, a supermarket, restaurants, specialty retailers, and entertainment. Strawbridge & Clothier opened a large three-story branch, while Bamberger's was added as a second full-line department store. Woolworth's, S.S. Kresge, and Food Fair were among the early large tenants. A cinema opened in 1962, and temporary or semi-permanent family attractions such as Wonderworld and Kiddieland helped position the property as a destination rather than simply a collection of shops. The property expanded and evolved as retail formats changed. Later additions included a wing opened in 1978 and a major two-level expansion completed in 2009. The present enclosed complex is arranged in an L-shaped configuration and has approximately 1.306 million square feet of gross leasable area. Its principal anchors are Macy's, Nordstrom, and JCPenney. The property also includes a food court, exterior-facing casual-dining restaurants, and freestanding or pad-site retailers such as The Container Store and Crate & Barrel. Macy's is the largest anchor, while JCPenney and Nordstrom occupy substantial two-level stores. PREIT acquired Cherry Hill Mall in 2003. In its current role, the mall functions as a major regional retail and dining destination in South Jersey, combining department stores, specialty retail, restaurants, services, and seasonal or community-oriented programming. Its historical importance rests on both its scale and its influence on the development of the enclosed suburban shopping mall as an architectural and social institution.
History
The origins of Cherry Hill Mall date to December 1953, when developer Eugene Mori proposed a roughly $15 million shopping center on an 80-acre tract in what was then Delaware Township. The site included the former George Jaus farm and was near other Mori projects, including the Garden State Racetrack and Cherry Hill Inn. The Cherry Hill name had local historical roots and was associated with an earlier farm in the area. Strawbridge & Clothier signed on in January 1955 as the proposed center's principal department-store tenant after searching for a South Jersey location for approximately two years. The initial concept called for an open-air center with about 50 smaller shops. Food Fair became another major tenant in 1956, and the developers publicly discussed an opening in 1958. Despite leasing claims and completed utility, traffic, and design planning, construction did not begin. Mori had difficulty securing financing, while lenders questioned whether the location was sufficiently close to the region's established urban markets. In August 1958, Strawbridge & Clothier signed an agreement to take over the project. A new development plan was unveiled on March 12, 1960, under a partnership between Strawbridge and James Rouse's Community Research and Development. The revised project adopted a fully enclosed format, reflecting Rouse's belief that a climate-controlled center could offer a more comfortable and socially useful alternative to roadside commercial strips. Architect Victor Gruen was commissioned to design the mall. Gruen was already known for his work on enclosed shopping environments, especially Southdale Center. Strawbridge held a groundbreaking ceremony for its department store on September 21, 1960, and work on the mall began in November. The initial phase was planned at approximately 600,000 square feet with 75 stores and a construction cost of about $30 million. Roughly 700 construction workers and tradespeople participated. Rouse and Gruen treated the project as an opportunity to demonstrate that the enclosed mall could become a suburban equivalent of a town square. The exterior was intentionally restrained, while the interior emphasized movement, landscaping, daylight, fountains, and varied public spaces. The central Cherry Court featured a tall arched ceiling, a large fountain, and extensive planting. Landscape architect Lewis J. Clarke developed a tropical interior environment that included the Birdcage Garden, a tall aviary containing tropical birds, as well as a stream, waterfall, bridge, and gazebo. The mall reportedly employed full-time gardeners to maintain its extensive collection of living plants. Two principal wings extended from Cherry Court. The Delaware Mall included a cinema, community meeting facilities, and a sidewalk cafe, while the Penn Mall included Market Court, designed with the atmosphere of an international bazaar. Cherry Hill Mall opened on October 11, 1961. New Jersey Governor Robert Meyner attended the opening ceremony, which drew approximately 3,500 people, while total first-day attendance was reported at about 25,000. The center received coverage from major national publications and was described as one of the largest enclosed malls in the eastern United States. Strawbridge's three-story store was the original dominant anchor and became the chain's most successful branch. Bamberger's was added as a competing full-line department store, consistent with Rouse's view that department-store competition strengthened a shopping center. The original retail mix also included a large Woolworth's, S.S. Kresge, and a Food Fair supermarket. The mall's experience-oriented strategy extended to entertainment. A 1,600-seat cinema opened in March 1962 and was later divided into two screens. Wonderworld, an animated walk-through attraction, appeared in 1963, as did Kiddieland, an indoor amusement venue that hosted rides and children's parties. Both attractions were eventually discontinued. Over subsequent decades, the mall changed with the department-store and specialty-retail industries. The property gained a wing in 1978 and another major two-level addition in 2009. Former anchors and tenants were replaced as chains merged, rebranded, or left the market. Today the mall is an L-shaped enclosed property with approximately 1.306 million square feet of gross leasable area. Macy's, Nordstrom, and JCPenney serve as the principal department-store anchors, while The Container Store and Crate & Barrel occupy prominent freestanding positions. Dining includes a ten-unit food court and restaurants facing the exterior of the complex. PREIT acquired the property in 2003. Cherry Hill Mall remains an important regional destination, and its historical significance derives from its early date, its ambitious architecture, and its role in popularizing the idea that an enclosed shopping mall could operate as both a commercial center and a planned communal environment.
- 2009
Major expansion completed
[1]A two-level expansion opened, contributing to the mall's current configuration and tenant capacity.
- 2003
PREIT acquisition
[1]PREIT acquired Cherry Hill Mall.
- 1978
Wing expansion
[1]The property received a later wing addition as its regional retail role developed.
- 1962
Cinema opens
[1]A 1,600-seat single-screen cinema opened in the Delaware wing and was later converted into a twin-screen venue.
- 1961
Public opening
[1]Cherry Hill Mall opened on October 11 and attracted approximately 25,000 visitors on its first day.
- 1960
Rouse and Gruen redesign the center as an enclosed mall
[1]Strawbridge partnered with James Rouse's development organization and hired Victor Gruen for a fully enclosed, landscaped design.
- 1960
Construction begins
[1]Construction of the first phase began in November, with plans for approximately 600,000 square feet and 75 stores.
- 1958
Strawbridge assumes control of the stalled project
[1]After financing problems delayed Mori's plan, Strawbridge & Clothier agreed to take over the development project.
- 1955
Strawbridge & Clothier joins the project
[1]Strawbridge & Clothier agreed to become the principal anchor tenant after searching for a South Jersey location.
- 1953
Initial shopping-center proposal
[1]Developer Eugene Mori proposed a major shopping center on an approximately 80-acre site in the Cherry Hill area.
Products and positioning
A large, destination-oriented regional shopping center that combines department stores, specialty retail, dining, services, and community-oriented public space for the South Jersey and greater Philadelphia market.
Retail services · 1961
Department-store and specialty retail tenancy
The mall's core offering is a broad tenant mix spanning department stores, apparel, accessories, home furnishings, beauty, consumer goods, and specialty retail. Current principal anchors include Macy's, Nordstrom, and JCPenney, supplemented by major specialty and home-oriented retailers such as The Container Store and Crate & Barrel.
Food and beverage · 1961
Dining and food services
Cherry Hill Mall provides food and beverage options through a food court, casual restaurants, and exterior-facing dining venues. Dining has been part of the property's positioning since its opening, when the Strawbridge store included a restaurant terrace and the center featured a sidewalk cafe and other early eateries.
Leisure and community services · 1961
Entertainment and community facilities
The property historically incorporated entertainment and civic uses alongside shopping. A cinema opened in 1962, while early attractions included Wonderworld and Kiddieland. Its original plan also included meeting facilities for churches and nonprofit organizations, reflecting the developers' aim to make the mall a community gathering place.
Brand decisions
1961
Addition of a competing full-line department storeStrategyBackground
Strawbridge & Clothier initially preferred not to place a direct department-store competitor in the property.
Action taken
The development added Bamberger's as a second full-line department-store anchor during construction.
Aftermath
The decision supported a broader anchor mix and reflected James Rouse's belief that department-store competition could strengthen a shopping center.
1960
Conversion from an open-air center to an enclosed mallStrategyBackground
The original shopping-center proposal had been delayed by financing difficulties and doubts about the location's market potential.
Action taken
Strawbridge & Clothier partnered with James Rouse's development organization and adopted a fully enclosed, climate-controlled design by Victor Gruen.
Aftermath
The resulting project opened in 1961 as one of the earliest large enclosed malls in the United States and became an influential example of the format.
Recent events
- 2009
Major two-level mall expansion opens[1]
Other
A later expansion added a two-level wing and helped establish the mall's modern configuration alongside its original single-level portion and earlier 1978 addition.
- 2003
PREIT acquires Cherry Hill Mall[1]
M&A
PREIT acquired the shopping mall, adding the established South Jersey property to its portfolio of retail real estate.
- 1961
Cherry Hill Mall opens to the public[1]
Other
The new enclosed shopping center opened on October 11, attracting approximately 25,000 visitors on its first day and receiving national attention for its scale, design, and landscaped interior.
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