Freehold Raceway Mall
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedA super-regional shopping mall in Freehold Township, New Jersey, owned and managed by The Macerich Company.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Freehold Raceway Mall is a super-regional shopping center in Freehold Township, New Jersey, United States. It stands near the former Freehold Raceway, opposite the former horse-racing venue and close to U.S. Route 9, Business Route 33, and West Main Street. With approximately 1.671 million square feet of gross leasable area, it was described in 2020 as the largest shopping mall in the Jersey Shore region and the third-largest in New Jersey, behind Westfield Garden State Plaza and American Dream. The property is owned and managed by The Macerich Company, which acquired it from developer Wilmorite in 2005. Construction began in 1987 on land formerly associated with stables. The project required substantial traffic and road changes, including the replacement of Freehold Circle with a signalized, at-grade intersection and the construction of access infrastructure from Route 9. The mall opened to the public on August 1, 1990, following a preview gala and fundraiser for CentraState Medical Center. Its early anchor lineup consisted of Sears and Lord & Taylor, with JCPenney and Nordstrom joining during the following two years. The center initially struggled with vacancies and used some unconventional temporary occupants and community displays while it built a customer base. Nordstrom's arrival helped establish the property as a major regional destination, and its later success contributed to competitive pressure on nearby shopping centers, including the former Manalapan Mall and Seaview Square Mall. Macy's opened as a fifth anchor in 1998. The mall underwent a major physical expansion and interior renovation in 2007. The expansion added roughly 100,000 square feet of outdoor lifestyle-oriented space, including shops, restaurants, a promenade, community-event areas, valet parking, and replacement parking facilities. The renovation modernized flooring, lighting, railings, ceilings, seating, escalators, and the central court. Subsequent tenant changes reflected the restructuring of American department stores and specialty retail. Borders closed during its 2011 liquidation, and L.L.Bean opened in the former Borders space in 2013. Primark entered the center in 2016 after Sears reduced its footprint. During the 2020s, the mall continued to reposition itself through replacements, relocations, entertainment uses, sporting concepts, and food and lifestyle tenants. Nordstrom and Lord & Taylor announced closures during the retail contraction associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Lidl was announced for the former Bob's Stores location, while Apple relocated to a larger store in 2023. The former Lord & Taylor space was redeveloped for Dick's House of Sport, which opened in 2025 with athletic and activity-oriented features. Dave & Buster's and Freehold Athletic Club were announced for portions of the former Sears space, and Dave & Buster's opened in May 2025. A Von Maur department store has been announced for the former Nordstrom space, with an expected fall 2027 opening. The center's current or recently reported anchor and major-use lineup includes Macy's, JCPenney, L.L.Bean, Primark, Dave & Buster's, Dick's House of Sport, and Freehold Athletic Club, with Von Maur planned. The mall has also benefited from local zoning changes approved in 2021 that broadened the types of commercial, recreational, civic, educational, office, and health-related uses that may be incorporated into regional mall properties. These changes support a shift from a conventional enclosed mall toward a more diversified lifestyle and entertainment destination.
History
Freehold Raceway Mall was developed on former stable land across from Freehold Raceway. Construction began in 1987, and the project required changes to the surrounding road network, including the removal and reconstruction of Freehold Circle and the addition of mall-access infrastructure from Route 9. The mall opened on August 1, 1990, following a private preview and fundraising event benefiting CentraState Medical Center. The original anchor stores were Sears and Lord & Taylor. JCPenney opened in 1991 and Nordstrom followed in 1992. The center's early performance was uneven: vacancies were significant, and some empty areas were temporarily used for municipal services, photography displays, and local historical imagery. Its competitive position improved as major department stores and specialty tenants attracted shoppers from a broad area. A violent disturbance in 1997 did not prevent the center from continuing to grow, and Macy's opened as a fifth anchor in 1998. The mall's development contributed to a reshaping of the surrounding retail market. Its growing popularity placed pressure on nearby centers, including Manalapan Mall, which closed in 1999 and was later redeveloped, and Seaview Square Mall, which was converted into a power-center format. The property became a major shopping destination for central New Jersey and the Jersey Shore region. In 2005, The Macerich Company acquired the mall from Wilmorite and retained ownership and management. A substantial expansion began in January 2007 in the area between JCPenney and Sears. The project added approximately 100,000 square feet of outdoor lifestyle retail and restaurant space, together with a promenade, community-event area, valet parking, and new or replacement parking facilities. The same period brought the mall's first major renovation, including new stone flooring, updated lighting, revised ceiling and ironwork finishes, wood railings, additional seating, an escalator, and changes to the central fountain and court. Tenant turnover became a defining feature of the mall's later history. Borders liquidated its stores in 2011, and L.L.Bean took over the former Borders anchor in 2013. Sears later downsized, enabling Primark to open in 2016. The retail contraction of the late 2010s and early 2020s, intensified by digital competition and the COVID-19 pandemic, led to the announced closures of Nordstrom and Lord & Taylor. These vacancies created opportunities for new formats rather than simply identical department-store replacements. The mall subsequently pursued a broader mix of value retail, lifestyle, athletic, dining, and entertainment uses. Lidl was announced for the former Bob's Stores site, Apple relocated to a larger in-mall store, and new or refreshed tenants included Offline by Aerie, Elite Jewelers, Torrid, LoveSac, Lovisa, Aldo, and Pandora. A new Bob's Stores format was also reported next to Primark before the chain's later bankruptcy-related closure announcement. Local planning changes supported this repositioning. In 2021, Freehold Township approved an amendment that broadened the permitted uses for regional mall properties, potentially allowing entertainment venues, indoor amusement, performing arts, civic and senior centers, educational and office uses, breweries, and health-care facilities. Dick's House of Sport opened in 2025 in the former Lord & Taylor space, adding athletic activities to the retail offer. Dave & Buster's and Freehold Athletic Club were announced for the former Sears area, and Von Maur announced plans for the former Nordstrom location, with an expected opening in fall 2027. These changes illustrate the mall's transition from a department-store-centered shopping center toward a mixed retail, lifestyle, sports, dining, and entertainment destination.
- 2025
Sports and entertainment repositioning
[1]Dick's House of Sport and Dave & Buster's open as the center expands its athletic and entertainment offer.
- 2023
Apple relocates
[1]Apple moves to a larger store within the mall.
- 2021
Regional mall zoning broadened
[1]Freehold Township approves expanded potential uses for regional mall properties.
- 2016
Primark opens
[1]Primark opens after Sears downsizes its footprint.
- 2013
L.L.Bean opens
[1]L.L.Bean opens in the former Borders space.
- 2007
Expansion and renovation
[1]The mall adds approximately 100,000 square feet of outdoor lifestyle space and receives a major interior renovation.
- 2005
Macerich acquisition
[1]The Macerich Company acquires the mall from Wilmorite.
- 1998
Macy's becomes a major anchor
[1]Macy's opens on October 7 as the center's fifth anchor.
- 1992
Nordstrom opens
[1]Nordstrom opens and strengthens the mall's regional draw.
- 1991
JCPenney opens
[1]JCPenney joins the mall's anchor lineup.
Products and positioning
A large regional and super-regional shopping, dining, entertainment, and lifestyle destination serving central New Jersey and the Jersey Shore region.
Department stores · 1990
Department-store retail
The mall's department-store offer includes Macy's and JCPenney, providing apparel, accessories, home goods, beauty products, and seasonal merchandise. The planned Von Maur store is intended to restore another traditional department-store anchor after Nordstrom's departure.
Fashion retail · 2016
Apparel and value fashion
Primark supplies value-oriented clothing, footwear, accessories, and home products. The broader tenant mix also includes fashion and specialty apparel concepts such as Torrid and Offline by Aerie, serving different age, size, and lifestyle segments.
Outdoor retail · 2013
Outdoor and lifestyle goods
L.L.Bean occupies the former Borders anchor and focuses on outdoor clothing, footwear, equipment, and lifestyle merchandise. Its presence supports the mall's regional and lifestyle positioning beyond conventional department-store shopping.
Sporting goods · 2025
Athletic retail and experiences
Dick's House of Sport combines sporting-goods retail with activity-oriented amenities, including an athletic field and other experiential features. The concept occupies the former Lord & Taylor space and represents the mall's move toward sports and entertainment uses.
Entertainment and food service · 2007
Dining and entertainment
Restaurants, mall dining, and entertainment uses complement the retail offer. Dave & Buster's adds arcade games, food, and social entertainment, while the outdoor lifestyle expansion created additional restaurant and community-event space.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013L.L.Bean grand-opening festival
United States
L.L.Bean marked its opening with giveaways, contests, and a Birds of Prey exhibition.
Outcome. The event promoted the new anchor through retail and family-oriented activities.
- 1990Preview gala and CentraState Medical Center fundraiser
United States
Before the public opening, the mall hosted a private preview gala and fundraiser benefiting CentraState Medical Center, using raceway-themed decorative elements.
Outcome. The event introduced the property to the local community before its public launch.
Brand decisions
2025
Introduce new sports, entertainment, and department-store anchorsProduct launchBackground
The property continued filling former anchor spaces with uses intended to increase visit frequency and diversify the mall's offer.
Action taken
Dick's House of Sport and Dave & Buster's opened, while Von Maur announced a planned fall 2027 opening in the former Nordstrom space.
Aftermath
The planned and completed projects further reposition the center as a combined shopping, sports, dining, and entertainment destination.
2023
Replace declining anchor formats with experiential conceptsGeneration changeBackground
Lord & Taylor and Nordstrom left during a period of department-store retrenchment, creating large vacant anchor spaces.
Action taken
The mall announced Dick's House of Sport for the former Lord & Taylor space and later announced additional entertainment and athletic uses in the former Sears area.
Aftermath
The tenant strategy shifted toward sports, recreation, dining, and experiential visits.
2021
Support mixed-use mall repositioning through zoningStrategyBackground
Traditional malls faced pressure from digital commerce, changing consumer behavior, and the pandemic-era contraction of department stores.
Action taken
Freehold Township approved broader regional-mall zoning that could permit entertainment, cultural, civic, educational, office, brewery, and health-care uses.
Aftermath
The amendment created a wider regulatory framework for lifestyle, recreational, and mixed-use additions at the property.
2007
Add an outdoor lifestyle districtStrategyBackground
The mall sought to broaden its appeal beyond enclosed department-store shopping.
Action taken
Macerich expanded the property with approximately 100,000 square feet of outdoor retail and restaurant space, a promenade, event space, and valet parking.
Aftermath
The expansion diversified the center's physical format and supported lifestyle-oriented tenancy.
Sources1 sources
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