The Mills at Jersey Gardens
A large indoor outlet shopping center in Elizabeth, New Jersey, operated within Simon Property Group's Mills portfolio.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The Mills at Jersey Gardens is a super-regional indoor outlet shopping center in Elizabeth, New Jersey. It is commonly known simply as Jersey Gardens, a name retained from the property's original identity. The center opened on October 21, 1999, and has approximately 1.29 million square feet of gross leasable area, making it the largest outlet mall in New Jersey according to the cited reference material. Its location near the New Jersey Turnpike gives it comparatively convenient access from New York City and the wider metropolitan area. The mall competes with other major outlet destinations, especially Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, while offering the enclosed format and broad tenant mix associated with a large regional shopping center. The property was developed by Glimcher Realty Trust, not by Mills Corporation, despite the later use of the word “Mills” in its name. Its development followed the remediation of a former landfill site. The project involved capping the landfill, managing methane, and containing polychlorinated biphenyls. The redevelopment was recognized with a 2001 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Phoenix Award for brownfield transformation. The site’s position within an Urban Enterprise Zone was also an important part of the original commercial proposition because qualifying purchases benefited from a reduced sales-tax rate, helping attract shoppers from the New York City area. Before opening, the center was planned as a roughly 1.3-million-square-foot outlet destination with nearly 190 tenants. Early anchor and major tenants included Burlington Coat Factory, Saks Off 5th, Marshalls, and Neiman Marcus Last Call. The interior was designed by Rockwell Group. The mall’s scale and proximity to major highways allowed it to serve both local shoppers and visitors seeking branded merchandise at outlet or off-price prices. A major renovation and repositioning began after Glimcher announced the project in 2012. The approximately $30 million program updated lighting, flooring, restrooms, and the roof, including the installation of solar infrastructure. It also added or expanded the presence of brands such as Coach Outlet, Coach Men, True Religion Outlet, Calvin Klein Accessories, Tommy Hilfiger, the Lego Store, and Century 21. The property was relaunched in 2013 as The Outlet Collection | Jersey Gardens, with the design concept described as drawing inspiration from prominent Fifth Avenue flagships. In January 2015, Simon Property Group acquired Jersey Gardens in connection with its broader acquisition of Glimcher-related assets and announced the use of the Mills name. Simon integrated the center into its Mills platform, a group of large outlet and value-oriented retail properties associated with the Mills portfolio. The rebranding did not mean that the original property had been developed by Mills Corporation; it reflected Simon’s ownership and portfolio strategy. Subsequent proposals sought to expand the center by approximately 411,000 square feet, add retail, dining, entertainment, and parking capacity, and respond to increased traffic, although the supplied material does not establish that the entire proposed expansion was completed. The center experienced several tenant changes during the 2020s. The COVID-19 pandemic caused Simon to close its U.S. properties temporarily in March 2020, with Jersey Gardens reopening on June 29 under social-distancing conditions. Lord & Taylor and Century 21 subsequently departed amid bankruptcy-related closures, while Neiman Marcus Last Call had already closed in 2019. Bed Bath & Beyond left in 2023 following liquidation, and Primark, Tory Burch Outlet, and Round1 Bowling & Arcade later added new retail and entertainment uses. Lids introduced a Build-A-Cap customization concept in 2025, and Uniqlo announced plans for an upper-level store. Saks Off 5th was reported to have closed in January 2026 following Saks Global’s bankruptcy filing. The mall remains an active outlet and m…
History
The Mills at Jersey Gardens occupies a former landfill site in Elizabeth, New Jersey. OENJ Corporation acquired the property in 1992, and extensive environmental remediation was required before commercial construction could begin. The site was capped using materials that included dredged harbor material and construction debris; methane collection systems were installed, and PCB contamination was contained. The redevelopment later received a 2001 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Phoenix Award for brownfield redevelopment. In 1996, approximately 130 acres of the remediated site were sold to Glimcher Realty Trust of Ohio. Glimcher planned a roughly 1.3-million-square-foot outlet center, taking advantage of the site’s proximity to the New Jersey Turnpike and its location in an Urban Enterprise Zone. At the time, the zone’s reduced sales-tax rate was a significant attraction for shoppers from New York City, where the applicable rate was higher. Construction began in November 1998 after site preparation. Financing combined bank loans, Glimcher equity, and tax-exempt bonds and grants connected with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Plans announced in 1999 called for nearly 190 tenants, including Burlington Coat Factory, Saks Off 5th, Marshalls, and Neiman Marcus Last Call. Rockwell Group designed the interior. The center opened on October 21, 1999, as Jersey Gardens. With approximately 1.29 million square feet of gross leasable area, it became a major regional outlet destination and the largest outlet mall in New Jersey according to the cited reference. Its proximity to New York City gave it a geographic advantage over Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, although the two centers competed for overlapping regional and tourist demand. Glimcher announced a major renovation in 2012. The approximately $30 million program included LED lighting, new or updated flooring, refurbished restrooms, and a solar roof. Callison and BendheimGlass were involved in the design, while IBEX Construction handled construction. The project also brought in or expanded several recognizable outlet and specialty concepts, including Coach Outlet, Coach Men, True Religion Outlet, Calvin Klein Accessories, Tommy Hilfiger, the Lego Store, and Century 21. Century 21 opened a concept store in May 2013. In September of that year, the center announced that it would reopen after the renovation on October 30 under the name The Outlet Collection | Jersey Gardens. The property changed ownership in January 2015. Simon Property Group acquired Jersey Gardens, together with University Park Village, in a transaction valued at $1.09 billion. The purchase occurred in the context of Simon’s acquisition of Glimcher and the related corporate separation involving Washington Prime Group. Simon renamed the center The Mills at Jersey Gardens to place it within the Mills portfolio. The name references Simon’s outlet platform, not the property’s original development history: the mall had never been developed or operated by Mills Corporation. Simon pursued further growth plans after the acquisition. In May 2015, Mills president Gregg Goodman announced a proposed 411,000-square-foot expansion intended to add outlet brands, dining, and entertainment. In 2017, Simon announced another proposal for a similarly sized expansion, including a seven-story parking garage with an estimated 3,313 spaces, new retail and restaurant uses, outdoor seating, a seasonal Dining Pavilion, additional entrances, lighting improvements, and road modifications. The supplied material does not confirm that the complete proposal was ultimately built. Tenant turnover became more pronounced in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Neiman Marcus Last Call closed in November 2019. Simon temporarily closed all U.S. properties, including Jersey Gardens, from March 18–19, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The center reopened on June 29 with social-distancing measures. Lord & Taylor later announced that it would close the Jersey Gardens store and its remaining locations during its bankruptcy process. Century 21 closed in October 2020 after filing for bankruptcy protection in September. Bed Bath & Beyond closed permanently in February 2023 during liquidation following its Chapter 11 filing. New tenants subsequently refreshed the mix. Primark was preparing to open in July 2023, Tory Burch Outlet opened in August 2023, and Round1 Bowling & Arcade opened in March 2025 in the former Bed Bath & Beyond space. Lids introduced a Build-A-Cap digital customization format in April 2025. Uniqlo announced a planned upper-level location in May 2025. Saks Off 5th was reported to have closed in January 2026 after Saks Global filed for Chapter 11. These changes illustrate the center’s continuing transition between traditional department-store anchors, value-fashion operators, specialty outlets, and entertainment uses.
- 2025
Round1 opens and Lids adds customization
[1]Round1 Bowling & Arcade opened in March, while Lids added a Build-A-Cap digital customization concept in April.
- 2023
Primark and Tory Burch Outlet join tenant mix
[1]Primark prepared to open in July, followed by Tory Burch Outlet in August.
- 2020
Temporary pandemic closure and reopening
[1]The center closed in March during Simon’s nationwide property shutdown and reopened in June with distancing requirements.
- 2015
Simon Property Group ownership and Mills rebranding
[1]Simon acquired the property and renamed it The Mills at Jersey Gardens as part of its Mills outlet platform.
- 2013
Rebranded as The Outlet Collection | Jersey Gardens
[1]The remodeled center reopened under a new outlet-collection identity and with additional tenants.
- 2012
Major renovation announced
[1]Glimcher announced a substantial renovation and repositioning of the center.
- 2001
Brownfield redevelopment receives EPA recognition
[1]The site’s remediation and redevelopment received a U.S. EPA Phoenix Award.
- 1999
Jersey Gardens opens
[1]The mall opened on October 21 with a planned tenant base of nearly 190 stores.
- 1998
Construction begins
[1]Construction started in November after site preparation and environmental remediation.
- 1996
Glimcher acquires development acreage
[1]Approximately 130 acres of the former landfill site were sold to Glimcher Realty Trust for development as a major outlet center.
Products and positioning
A high-volume, highway-accessible outlet destination serving New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area, positioned around branded merchandise, outlet pricing, broad tenant choice, and an enclosed all-weather shopping environment.
Apparel and accessories · 1999
Outlet fashion and accessories
The mall’s principal retail offer consists of branded outlet and off-price apparel, footwear, handbags, accessories, sportswear, and related fashion merchandise. Its tenant strategy has included both dedicated outlet concepts and value-oriented department stores, allowing shoppers to compare products across multiple price tiers in one enclosed regional destination.
Food and beverage
Dining Pavilion and food services
Dining is part of the center’s broader effort to complement outlet shopping with longer-stay amenities. The 2017 expansion proposal included a seasonal Dining Pavilion on the second level, additional restaurants, and outdoor seating. The available material does not establish the final scope or completion status of every proposed dining element.
Entertainment · 2025
Round1 Bowling & Arcade
Round1 Bowling & Arcade opened in the former Bed Bath & Beyond space in March 2025. Its arrival added bowling and arcade entertainment to the mall’s retail-centered offer and helped repurpose a large vacant store.
Customization service · 2025
Build-A-Cap at Lids
The Lids location introduced Build-A-Cap kiosks in April 2025. The concept uses digital tools to let customers customize caps, representing a more interactive retail experience within the mall’s sports and headwear category.
Marketing campaigns
- 2015Integration into Simon’s Mills platform
United States
Following Simon Property Group’s acquisition, the center was renamed The Mills at Jersey Gardens and incorporated into Simon’s Mills portfolio of large outlet properties.
Outcome. The property retained the Jersey Gardens identity while gaining the Mills portfolio brand.
- 2013The Outlet Collection repositioning
United States
Glimcher renovated the center and relaunched it as The Outlet Collection | Jersey Gardens, using refreshed common areas, new amenities, and additional outlet tenants to reinforce the property’s fashion-outlet positioning.
Outcome. The property reopened under the Outlet Collection name in October 2013.
Brand decisions
2017
Propose expansion and structured parkingStrategyBackground
Simon cited increased traffic and the need for additional retail, dining, entertainment, and parking capacity.
Action taken
Simon announced a proposed 411,000-square-foot expansion, including a seven-story parking garage, new stores, restaurants, outdoor seating, and a seasonal dining pavilion.
Aftermath
The supplied reference describes the proposal but does not confirm that the entire planned project was completed.
2015
Acquire and rename Jersey GardensM&ABackground
Simon Property Group expanded and consolidated its outlet portfolio following its acquisition of Glimcher-related assets.
Action taken
Simon acquired Jersey Gardens and integrated it into the Mills platform, changing the name to The Mills at Jersey Gardens.
Aftermath
The center continued operating as a major Simon-owned outlet mall while retaining the Jersey Gardens name in common usage.
Transaction value for Jersey Gardens and University Park Village. $1.09 billion (January 15, 2015 acquisition)
2012
Approve major renovation and repositioningStrategyBackground
Glimcher sought to modernize the center and strengthen its appeal as a large branded outlet destination.
Action taken
The owner announced an approximately $30 million renovation involving common-area upgrades, solar roof infrastructure, and additional outlet and specialty tenants.
Aftermath
The center reopened in 2013 under The Outlet Collection | Jersey Gardens identity.
Renovation cost. $30 million (Announced in 2012)
Recent events
- 2026
Saks Off 5th closes after Saks Global bankruptcy filing[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
Saks Off 5th was reported to have permanently closed its Jersey Gardens location on January 30 following Saks Global’s Chapter 11 filing.
- 2025
Round1 Bowling & Arcade opens in former Bed Bath & Beyond space[1]
Product launch
Round1 opened on March 1 in the former Bed Bath & Beyond location, expanding the mall’s entertainment offering.
- 2025
Lids introduces Build-A-Cap customization concept[1]
Product generation · Product launch
The Lids store introduced digital customization kiosks as part of a planned modernization of nearly 20 Lids locations.
- 2025
Uniqlo announces planned Jersey Gardens store[1]
Product launch
Uniqlo announced plans to open a store on the mall’s upper level.
- 2023
Primark prepares a Jersey Gardens opening[1]
Product launch
Primark was preparing to open a store at the mall in July, adding a major international value-fashion tenant.
- 2023
Tory Burch Outlet opens at Jersey Gardens[1]
Product launch
Tory Burch Outlet debuted near the mall’s center court on the first floor.
- 2020
Simon closes U.S. properties during COVID-19 response[1]
Regulation · Other
Jersey Gardens temporarily closed with Simon’s other U.S. properties in March and reopened on June 29 under social-distancing measures.
- 2020
Lord & Taylor and Century 21 depart during retail bankruptcies[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
Lord & Taylor announced the closure of its Jersey Gardens location amid its Chapter 11 process, while Century 21 closed after filing for bankruptcy protection.
- 2019
Neiman Marcus Last Call closes[1]
Other
The Neiman Marcus Last Call store at the mall permanently closed on November 16, affecting 25 employees.
- 2017
Expansion and parking-garage plans proposed[1]
Other
Simon announced plans for a substantial addition featuring new retail, dining, entertainment, a seasonal dining pavilion, and a seven-story parking structure designed to address increased traffic.
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