Wayne Towne Center
Wayne Towne Center is a redeveloped open-air shopping center in Wayne, New Jersey, serving the New York metropolitan area.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Wayne Towne Center is a regional shopping center in Wayne, New Jersey, positioned along Willowbrook Boulevard beside the much larger Willowbrook Mall. The property began in 1974 as West Belt Mall, a strip-shopping development that expanded over several decades. It was renamed Wayne Towne Center in 1989 as part of an effort to improve the property's image and establish a more distinctive identity in a competitive retail corridor. The center developed into an enclosed shopping mall during the period when JCPenney operated an anchor store there. By 2008, the property had approximately 653,000 square feet of gross leasable area. Its enclosed format, however, faced persistent competitive pressure from Willowbrook Mall and changing consumer preferences. The center's difficulties became particularly visible in 1993, when the Neiman Marcus Last Call outlet left for a Pennsylvania location. Borders Books and Music later occupied that space but closed its Wayne store in January 2008 as part of a broader chain reduction. The section containing Borders was demolished later that year. Beginning in 2008, Wayne Towne Center underwent a de-malling program that converted the enclosed complex into a more conventional open-air shopping center. The interior mall was progressively dismantled, and the remaining tenants and anchors were reorganized around exterior entrances and freestanding buildings. Old Navy and Loehmann's departed, while TGI Friday's moved from the interior mall to a standalone building in the parking area. Additional restaurants and retail uses, including Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, DSW, and Chipotle, helped create a more dispersed commercial environment. JCPenney and Fortunoff sealed their former mall entrances, while the interior circulation area was eventually removed. Fortunoff's 2009 bankruptcy and liquidation eliminated one of the center's principal anchors and contributed to a period in which redevelopment activity stalled. The property changed hands in a transaction completed in December 2010, when Vornado Realty Trust acquired the shopping center from Wells Fargo for $12.1 million, together with annual land lease payments reported at $2.5 million. Vornado indicated that it intended to renovate the site, drawing on its earlier redevelopment experience at The Outlets at Bergen Town Center. Construction resumed more substantially in 2014. The former Fortunoff building was demolished following asbestos abatement, and the center gained a new Costco location in October 2014 and a two-level Dick's Sporting Goods store in November 2014. Later additions broadened the tenant mix beyond traditional department-store retail. La-Z-Boy opened in 2015, Nordstrom Rack opened a two-story store in October 2015, and a two-story 24 Hour Fitness facility opened in January 2016. After 24 Hour Fitness entered bankruptcy-related closure and shut its Wayne location in 2020, UFC Fit replaced it in 2022. JCPenney remained one of the property's original anchors for five decades, but announced in February 2024 that it would close the Wayne Towne Center store in March 2024 and relocate to Willowbrook Mall. The center's current anchor profile is therefore focused on Costco, Dick's Sporting Goods, Nordstrom Rack, and UFC Fit. Wayne Towne Center illustrates the transition of an aging enclosed mall into a hybrid open-air center that relies on large-format retailers, restaurants, fitness operators, and more accessible exterior-facing stores.
History
Wayne Towne Center originated in 1974 as West Belt Mall, a strip-shopping development in Wayne, New Jersey. The property expanded progressively as additional retail space and anchors were added. Its identity changed in 1989, when it adopted the Wayne Towne Center name as part of an effort to present a more modern and upgraded image. The center later developed an enclosed mall component associated with JCPenney, which opened as an anchor in March 1974 and remained for roughly five decades. By 2008, the complex had grown to approximately 653,000 square feet of gross leasable area. Its location next to Willowbrook Mall gave it strong access to regional shoppers but also placed it in direct competition with a larger and more established enclosed shopping destination. Competitive difficulties appeared over time. Neiman Marcus Last Call departed in 1993 for a Pennsylvania location. Borders Books and Music subsequently occupied part of the property but closed its Wayne store in January 2008. The section containing Borders was demolished during the fall of that year. The broader property then entered a de-malling process, in which the enclosed shopping format was gradually dismantled and replaced by exterior-facing stores, restaurants, and freestanding buildings. The 2008 conversion involved closing interior tenants and two anchors, Old Navy and Loehmann's. TGI Friday's moved out of the mall into a standalone building in the parking lot. Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, DSW Shoe Warehouse, and Chipotle were added or repositioned around the site, while JCPenney and Fortunoff closed their interior mall entrances. Fortunoff later went out of business in 2009, leaving the center without one of its key anchors. Redevelopment work slowed further when Dick's Sporting Goods temporarily decided not to proceed with a planned location. Ownership changed in December 2010, when Vornado Realty Trust acquired Wayne Towne Center from Wells Fargo. The reported purchase price was $12.1 million, accompanied by annual land lease payments of $2.5 million. Vornado indicated that it planned to revamp the property, with its redevelopment of The Outlets at Bergen Town Center serving as a relevant precedent. Construction accelerated again in March 2014. The former 215,000-square-foot Fortunoff building was demolished after asbestos abatement. Costco opened in October 2014, and Dick's Sporting Goods ultimately returned with a two-level store adjacent to JCPenney in November of that year. Additional tenants broadened the center's use mix: La-Z-Boy arrived in mid-2015, Nordstrom Rack opened a two-story store in October 2015, and 24 Hour Fitness opened a two-story facility in January 2016. The fitness component later changed when 24 Hour Fitness closed its location in 2020 amid the company's bankruptcy. UFC Fit replaced it in 2022. JCPenney remained an original anchor until its announced closure and relocation in 2024. The center's current identity is consequently based on an open-air, multi-tenant retail format anchored by Costco, Dick's Sporting Goods, Nordstrom Rack, and UFC Fit, together with restaurants and specialty retailers.
- 2024
JCPenney leaves for Willowbrook Mall
[1]JCPenney closes its longtime Wayne Towne Center store and relocates to the neighboring Willowbrook Mall.
- 2022
UFC Fit replaces 24 Hour Fitness
[1]UFC Fit takes over the former fitness facility after 24 Hour Fitness closes.
- 2016
24 Hour Fitness opens
[1]A two-story fitness facility opens as part of the center's broader mix of retail and service tenants.
- 2015
Nordstrom Rack and La-Z-Boy join the center
[1]The redeveloped property expands its off-price apparel and furniture offerings.
- 2014
Major redevelopment resumes
[1]Construction accelerates, the former Fortunoff building is demolished, Costco opens, and Dick's Sporting Goods returns with a large new store.
- 2010
Vornado acquires the property
[1]Vornado Realty Trust completes its purchase of Wayne Towne Center from Wells Fargo and outlines a renovation program.
- 2008
De-malling begins
[1]The enclosed mall is progressively converted into an open-air shopping center, with interior space demolished or repurposed.
- 1993
Neiman Marcus Last Call departs
[1]The outlet leaves for Pennsylvania, illustrating the center's difficulty competing with nearby Willowbrook Mall.
- 1989
Property renamed Wayne Towne Center
[1]The shopping complex adopts the Wayne Towne Center name as part of an effort to refresh its image.
- 1974
West Belt Mall opens
[1]The property begins operation in Wayne as a strip-shopping development, with JCPenney among its original anchors.
Products and positioning
A neighborhood and regional open-air shopping center focused on large-format value retail, sporting goods, off-price apparel, fitness, restaurants, and convenient exterior-access shopping.
Warehouse club · 2014
Costco
Costco is one of the center's principal current anchors, providing membership-based warehouse retail with bulk groceries, household goods, electronics, seasonal merchandise, and related services. Its large-format use supports the property's shift away from enclosed department-store retail toward destination-oriented shopping.
Sporting goods · 2014
Dick's Sporting Goods
Dick's Sporting Goods operates a two-level store adjacent to the former JCPenney location. The retailer offers sporting equipment, athletic apparel, footwear, team-sport merchandise, and outdoor products, giving Wayne Towne Center a major destination tenant with a broad regional draw.
Off-price fashion retail · 2015
Nordstrom Rack
Nordstrom Rack contributes off-price apparel, footwear, accessories, and home merchandise to the center. Its two-story format, opened in 2015, complements the property's value-oriented positioning and helps replace some of the department-store functions once associated with the enclosed mall.
Fitness · 2022
UFC Fit
UFC Fit occupies the former 24 Hour Fitness space and provides a fitness and training use within the shopping center. Its presence extends the property's role beyond conventional retail by adding a recurring service and wellness destination.
Brand decisions
2014
Renewed large-format redevelopmentStrategyBackground
Following the ownership change, the center needed a new tenant and building configuration after Fortunoff's closure and the failure of the former enclosed format.
Action taken
The former Fortunoff building was demolished after asbestos abatement, while Costco and Dick's Sporting Goods were developed as major replacement anchors.
Aftermath
The property gained a more resilient open-air tenant mix and subsequently added Nordstrom Rack, La-Z-Boy, and fitness uses.
2010
Vornado purchases Wayne Towne CenterM&ABackground
The center required substantial repositioning after anchor losses, stalled construction, and the failure of Fortunoff.
Action taken
Vornado Realty Trust acquired the property from Wells Fargo and announced plans to renovate it.
Aftermath
Redevelopment activity later accelerated, producing new Costco, Dick's Sporting Goods, Nordstrom Rack, furniture, restaurant, and fitness uses.
Purchase price. $12.1 million (Transaction completed December 2010)
2008
Conversion from enclosed mall to open-air centerStrategyBackground
The property faced competition from the adjacent Willowbrook Mall, tenant departures, and declining demand for portions of its enclosed retail format.
Action taken
The interior mall was progressively closed and demolished, while tenants were reorganized into exterior-facing stores, restaurants, and freestanding buildings.
Aftermath
The center evolved into a hybrid and later predominantly open-air retail property, enabling new large-format and service tenants to enter.
Recent events
- 2024
JCPenney announces relocation from Wayne Towne Center[1]
Leadership change · Other
JCPenney announced that it would close its Wayne Towne Center store in March 2024 after approximately 50 years and move to Willowbrook Mall.
- 2022
UFC Fit replaces 24 Hour Fitness[1]
Product launch
UFC Fit took over the former 24 Hour Fitness space, restoring a large fitness use at the center.
- 2020
24 Hour Fitness location closes after company bankruptcy[1]
Bankruptcy
The 24 Hour Fitness facility closed in 2020 amid the company's bankruptcy proceedings and broader operational difficulties.
- 2016
24 Hour Fitness opens at Wayne Towne Center[1]
Product launch
A two-story 24 Hour Fitness facility opened in January 2016, adding a major fitness tenant to the redeveloped property.
- 2015
Nordstrom Rack opens a two-story location[1]
Product launch
Nordstrom Rack expanded the center's off-price apparel and department-store offering with a two-story store that opened in October 2015.
- 2014
Costco opens at the redeveloped center[1]
Product launch
Costco opened a new Wayne Towne Center location in October 2014 during the property's renewed redevelopment phase.
- 2014
Dick's Sporting Goods opens a two-level store[1]
Product launch
Dick's Sporting Goods reversed an earlier plan to leave and opened a two-story location adjacent to JCPenney in November 2014.
- 2010
Vornado Realty Trust acquires Wayne Towne Center[1]
M&A
Vornado Realty Trust purchased the property from Wells Fargo in a transaction completed in December 2010 and announced plans to renovate it.
- 2009
Fortunoff ceases operations and leaves the center without a second anchor[1]
Bankruptcy
Fortunoff went out of business, removing a major anchor and contributing to a pause in redevelopment activity.
- 2008
Borders closes its Wayne location[1]
Other
Borders Books and Music closed the Wayne store in January 2008, and the part of the mall containing the retailer was demolished later that year.
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