Wayne Towne Center

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.

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]Wayne Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney closes its longtime Wayne Towne Center store and relocates to the neighboring Willowbrook Mall.

• 2022

  UFC Fit replaces 24 Hour Fitness

  [1]Wayne Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  UFC Fit takes over the former fitness facility after 24 Hour Fitness closes.

• 2016

  24 Hour Fitness opens

  [1]Wayne Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  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]Wayne Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The redeveloped property expands its off-price apparel and furniture offerings.

• 2014

  Major redevelopment resumes

  [1]Wayne Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  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]Wayne Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Vornado Realty Trust completes its purchase of Wayne Towne Center from Wells Fargo and outlines a renovation program.

• 2008

  De-malling begins

  [1]Wayne Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  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]Wayne Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The outlet leaves for Pennsylvania, illustrating the center's difficulty competing with nearby Willowbrook Mall.

• 1989

  Property renamed Wayne Towne Center

  [1]Wayne Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The shopping complex adopts the Wayne Towne Center name as part of an effort to refresh its image.

• 1974

  West Belt Mall opens

  [1]Wayne Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The property begins operation in Wayne as a strip-shopping development, with JCPenney among its original anchors.

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.

• 2014

  Renewed large-format redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  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.

  Source

• 2010

  Vornado purchases Wayne Towne CenterM&A

  Background

  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)

  Source

• 2008

  Conversion from enclosed mall to open-air centerStrategy

  Background

  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.

  Source

1. 1Wayne Towne Centeren.wikipedia.org