The Shops at Ledgewood Commons

The Shops at Ledgewood Commons is an open-air shopping center in the Ledgewood section of Roxbury Township, New Jersey, United States. The property is the successor to Ledgewood Mall, an enclosed shopping mall that opened in 1972. The present center occupies approximately 51.6 acres and has about 448,000 square feet of gross leasable area, together with 2,223 parking spaces. Its principal anchors are Walmart, Burlington, and Marshalls. The original Ledgewood Mall opened with W. T. Grant and Finast as its anchor stores. During the 1980s, the center’s major tenants included Rickel, Jamesway, and Arthur’s Catalog Showroom. The tenant mix changed repeatedly as national retailers entered, exited, or were replaced. Rickel’s former space later became a Sports Authority location, while Phar-Mor and Marshalls also operated at the mall. A Stern’s department store was announced in 1993 and opened in the following year; after Stern’s was discontinued, the store was converted to Macy’s in 2001. Jamesway closed during its liquidation in 1995. Walmart subsequently replaced the former Jamesway and Arthur’s spaces, and Circuit City was added as another major tenant before its later closure. By the early 2010s, the enclosed mall was experiencing substantial tenant relocation and vacancy pressure, with several businesses moving to nearby shopping centers and strip malls. In 2016, a partnership involving JV Partnership, Advance Realty, DeBartolo Development, and Invesco acquired the property and proposed a fundamental conversion from an enclosed mall into an open-air power center. The redevelopment involved demolition of much of the former mall, including the former Macy’s building, and the construction of new or repositioned retail space. Announced tenants included Barnes & Noble, Five Below, Ulta Beauty, DSW, Starbucks, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Five Guys. Walmart also replaced its older store with a new supercenter. The former Walmart closed in May 2019, construction began the following month, and the replacement store opened in October 2020. Burlington opened at the redeveloped center in March 2021. A proposed 24 Hour Fitness location did not proceed after the fitness company withdrew during its 2020 bankruptcy. Barnes & Noble closed its first Ledgewood location in 2020 but later announced plans to return, with a new store planned for January 2024. In 2023, Lemon Tree relocated to make room for a Popeyes restaurant. A ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 30, 2021, marked the formal opening of the new open-air center. In April 2024, Urban Edge Properties purchased the property for a reported $83.2 million. The following month, the acquirer obtained a five-year, $50 million mortgage secured by the property. The center’s current identity is therefore based on a redevelopment model that combines large-format anchors, off-price retail, restaurants, services, and smaller specialty stores rather than the enclosed regional-mall format that defined its earlier history.

The property began operating in 1972 as Ledgewood Mall, an enclosed shopping mall in Ledgewood, a section of Roxbury Township, New Jersey. Its initial anchor tenants were W. T. Grant and Finast. By 1980, the mall’s leading stores had changed to Rickel, Jamesway, and Arthur’s Catalog Showroom, reflecting the regional retail patterns of the period. The mall continued to evolve through the 1980s and 1990s. The former Rickel space was later occupied by Sports Authority, while Phar-Mor and Marshalls became additional tenants. Federated Department Stores announced in 1993 that Stern’s would open a 60,000-square-foot store at the property as part of the chain’s expansion. Stern’s operated there until its stores were closed, after which the location became a Macy’s in 2001. Jamesway shut down in December 1995 during the company’s liquidation. By 1999, Walmart had replaced the former Jamesway and Arthur’s spaces, and Circuit City joined the tenant lineup. Circuit City later closed as the retailer’s national business deteriorated. From 2009 through 2017, its former space was periodically used by Spirit Halloween during the autumn selling season; Spirit Halloween subsequently moved to the nearby Roxbury Mall. Phar-Mor’s former location eventually became an Ashley Furniture HomeStore. During the early and middle 2010s, a number of tenants left the enclosed mall for nearby retail developments, contributing to the decline of the original format. In 2016, JV Partnership, Advance Realty, DeBartolo Development, and Invesco acquired the mall and proposed replacing the enclosed structure with an open-air power center. The redevelopment plan included new construction for Barnes & Noble on the former Sports Authority site and the removal of obsolete mall buildings. The former Macy’s building was demolished on November 30, 2017. By June 2018, most of the former enclosed mall had been demolished or closed to the public, leaving only a limited seating area between Marshalls and Ashley Home Furniture during the construction period. The redevelopment attracted a new group of national retailers and restaurants. In September 2018, the owners announced leases involving Five Below, Ulta Beauty, DSW, Starbucks, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Five Guys. Walmart separately announced in December 2018 that its existing store would be replaced with a modern supercenter. The old Walmart closed on May 10, 2019, construction began in June, and the new store opened on October 7, 2020, earlier than its originally anticipated October 17 opening date. The project also experienced changes to its leasing plans. A 24 Hour Fitness gym was announced in January 2019, but the company withdrew in August 2020 while filing for bankruptcy. Barnes & Noble closed its original store at the center in August 2020 after operating there since 1994. Burlington announced a new location in September 2020 and opened it in March 2021. On July 30, 2021, the center held a grand-opening ribbon-cutting ceremony for the redeveloped open-air power-center format. In 2023, Lemon Tree moved to another nearby strip center to allow space for a Popeyes location. Barnes & Noble announced in November 2023 that it would return to the shopping center, with the new store planned for January 2024. In April 2024, Urban Edge Properties acquired the property for $83.2 million. The next month, the new owner obtained a five-year, $50 million mortgage on the property. The center now covers approximately 51.6 acres, contains about 448,000 square feet of gross leasable space, and provides 2,223 parking spaces. Its main anchors are Walmart, Burlington, and Marshalls.

• 2024

  Urban Edge Properties becomes owner

  [1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  Urban Edge Properties acquires the center for a reported $83.2 million.

• 2021

  Open-air center officially opens

  [1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  The July 30 ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the formal opening of The Shops at Ledgewood Commons.

• 2020

  Replacement Walmart opens

  [1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  The new Walmart supercenter opens on October 7 after the original store closes and is rebuilt.

• 2018

  New retail leases announced

  [1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  Several specialty retailers and restaurants are announced for the redeveloped center.

• 2017

  Former Macy’s building demolished

  [1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  Demolition begins on November 30 as part of the mall-to-power-center redevelopment.

• 2016

  Redevelopment ownership group acquires the mall

  [1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  A partnership involving JV Partnership, Advance Realty, DeBartolo Development, and Invesco acquires the property and plans an open-air conversion.

• 2001

  Macy’s replaces Stern’s

  [1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  The Stern’s location becomes a Macy’s after the Stern’s chain is discontinued.

• 1999

  Walmart replaces former anchor spaces

  [1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  Walmart occupies the former Jamesway and Arthur’s locations, consolidating large-format retail space at the mall.

• 1994

  Stern’s opens

  [1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  The planned Stern’s department store opens at the mall.

• 1993

  Stern’s store announced

  [1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  Federated Department Stores announces a 60,000-square-foot Stern’s store for the site.

• 1980

  1980s anchor lineup established

  [1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  Rickel, Jamesway, and Arthur’s Catalog Showroom are identified as the principal anchors.

• 1972

  Ledgewood Mall opens

  [1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  The enclosed mall opens with W. T. Grant and Finast as its anchor tenants.

A suburban open-air power center serving Ledgewood, Roxbury Township, and surrounding communities through a combination of large-format retail anchors, off-price stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, and services.

• General merchandise supercenter · 1999

  Walmart

  Walmart is one of the center’s principal anchors. Its original store was replaced through a redevelopment project announced in 2018. The older location closed in May 2019, construction began in June, and a new modern supercenter opened on October 7, 2020.

• Off-price department store · 2021

  Burlington

  Burlington is a major anchor in the redeveloped open-air center. The retailer announced its Ledgewood location in September 2020 and opened the store in March 2021.

• Off-price apparel and home retailer

  Marshalls

  Marshalls is one of the current anchor tenants and was also part of the earlier Ledgewood Mall tenant mix. The store represents the center’s continuing role as a destination for discounted apparel, footwear, accessories, and home merchandise.

• Books and media retailer · 1994

  Barnes & Noble

  Barnes & Noble operated at Ledgewood from 1994 until closing its first location in August 2020. The retailer later announced plans to return to the shopping center, with a new store planned for January 2024.

• Home furnishings

  Ashley Furniture HomeStore

  Ashley Furniture HomeStore occupied the former Phar-Mor space during the property’s earlier retail era. It was among the limited areas remaining open during the early phase of redevelopment.

• Seasonal retailer · 2009

  Spirit Halloween

  Spirit Halloween used the former Circuit City space seasonally from 2009 through 2017, typically operating from September into October. The seasonal retailer later relocated to the nearby Roxbury Mall.

• 2020

  Dispute over pandemic construction exemption

  Construction at The Shops at Ledgewood Commons received an exception under Governor Phil Murphy’s Essential Construction order during the COVID-19 pandemic. Construction workers protested the decision, while the Roxbury mayor argued that the project qualified as essential because the development included Walmart and restaurants.

  Source

Read more

• 2021Grand-opening ribbon cutting

  United States

  The center marked the completion of its transformation from an enclosed mall into an open-air power center with a public ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 30, 2021.

  Outcome. The event formally presented the redeveloped center to the local market.

  Source

• 2024

  Sell the shopping center to Urban Edge PropertiesM&A

  Background

  The redeveloped property was transferred to a new real-estate owner after the open-air center had been operating for several years.

  Action taken

  Urban Edge Properties purchased the center in April 2024.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition established Urban Edge Properties as the property owner; a five-year mortgage was reported the following month.

  Property acquisition price. $83.2 million (April 2024)

  Source

• 2020

  Withdraw proposed 24 Hour Fitness projectOther

  Background

  A 24 Hour Fitness location had been announced for the redeveloped center in January 2019.

  Action taken

  24 Hour Fitness abandoned the proposed gym in August 2020 while the company was filing for bankruptcy.

  Aftermath

  The planned fitness component did not open at the property.

  Source

• 2018

  Announce the first wave of new tenantsProduct launch

  Background

  The redevelopment required a new tenant mix suited to an open-air power-center format.

  Action taken

  The owners announced leases involving Five Below, Ulta Beauty, DSW, Starbucks, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Five Guys.

  Aftermath

  The announced leases expanded the center beyond its former department-store and enclosed-mall identity.

  Source

• 2018

  Replace the existing Walmart with a new supercenterGeneration change

  Background

  The existing Walmart store was part of the older mall-era configuration and was targeted for replacement during the broader redevelopment.

  Action taken

  Walmart announced plans to demolish the old store and build a modern supercenter. The old location closed in May 2019, construction started in June, and the replacement opened in October 2020.

  Aftermath

  The new Walmart became a principal anchor of the completed open-air center.

  Source

• 2016

  Convert the enclosed mall into an open-air power centerStrategy

  Background

  The enclosed Ledgewood Mall had lost tenants to nearby retail developments and faced the broader challenges affecting traditional enclosed malls.

  Action taken

  The new ownership partnership planned extensive demolition and reconstruction, replacing the enclosed format with open-air retail buildings and repositioning the property around large-format anchors, specialty stores, restaurants, and services.

  Aftermath

  The redevelopment produced The Shops at Ledgewood Commons, formally marked by a 2021 ribbon-cutting ceremony.

  Source

• 2024

  Urban Edge Properties acquires The Shops at Ledgewood Commons[1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Urban Edge Properties purchased the shopping center in April 2024 for a reported $83.2 million.

• 2023

  Barnes & Noble announces return to Ledgewood Commons[1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  Barnes & Noble announced plans to return to the shopping center after closing its original location in 2020.

• 2021

  Burlington opens at the redeveloped shopping center[1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Burlington opened a new store at the center in March 2021.

• 2021

  Official opening marked by ribbon-cutting ceremony[1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Other

  A July 30 ribbon-cutting ceremony formally marked the opening of the redeveloped open-air power center.

• 2020

  24 Hour Fitness withdraws from proposed location during bankruptcy[1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy · Other

  A planned 24 Hour Fitness gym did not open after the company withdrew from the project while undergoing bankruptcy proceedings.

• 2018

  New tenants announced for the redeveloped center[1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Other

  The ownership group announced leases for Five Below, Ulta Beauty, DSW, Starbucks, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Five Guys.

• 2018

  Walmart announces replacement supercenter[1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  Walmart announced that its existing store would be demolished and replaced with a newer supercenter facility.

• 2017

  Former Macy’s building demolished to begin redevelopment[1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Demolition of the former Macy’s structure began the physical transformation of the enclosed mall site.

• 2016

  Ownership group announces conversion of Ledgewood Mall into an open-air power center[1]The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  A new ownership partnership acquired the former enclosed mall and announced plans to redevelop it as an open-air shopping center.

1. 1The Shops at Ledgewood Commonsen.wikipedia.org