This Eerie And Fantastic Footage Takes You Inside New Jersey's Abandoned Wayne Hills Mall
Kristen
Author
There are so many abandoned places in New Jersey that people love to explore. Though New Jersey’s Wayne Hills Mall has been vacant for over a decade, it’s still alive and well in many of our memories. Now it is relegated to be a part of New Jersey history. The mall was built in 1973-74 and closed down in the mid-2000s. Just over 100,000 square feet, it was never a mega-mall but more of a local gem. Nearby Willowbrook, also in Wayne, spans a whopping 1.5 million square feet. Even that pales in comparison to the much anticipated American Dream Mall in the Meadowlands, which will feature over 3 million square feet of stores, restaurants, and attractions.
Just recently demolished, the mall began to dwindle in popularity during the mid-90s, along with nearby stores including K-Mart and Toys R’ Us. All that remains is the former anchor, Burlington Coat Factory. Shops IN the mall itself included Meyer Brothers (the anchor, until 1995), SaveMart Electronics, Pearle Vision Center, Karins Kurtains, Footlocker, Avenue, Payless Shoes, Joyce Leslie, Waldenbooks, The Town Mouse card store, Colorama Photo, and Sam Goody. Restaurants and dining options included Pauly’s Pizza, Quizno’s Subs, TCBY, McDonald’s, and Blimpie (until 2003). Another beloved destination was the mall’s arcade, Fun Palace.
Foot traffic at Wayne Hills Mall dropped dramatically following the closure of the adjacent Pathmark Supermarket in 2001. It had a special charm to it around the holidays and local residents were hopeful that the mall would remain but unfortunately, it could not be maintained and became another example of abandoned New Jersey buildings. Individual stores struggled (many would soon close across the country) and the mall itself no longer drew crowds. Below, find photos and a video of this abandoned mall in New Jersey before demolition.
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The current plan for the Wayne Hills Mall site is a new 79,000-square-foot Shop Rite that sells alcohol and several smaller retail spaces. Are you excited about this plan? Is there something else you would prefer? Let us know in the comments and be sure to share your Wayne Hills Mall memories. Don’t forget to check out this short video!
If you want to see more abandoned spaces, you can also take our road trip to various abandoned places in New Jersey, just make sure to check out our road trip packing list before you head out!
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More to Explore
The Creepiest Places in New Jersey
What are the most abandoned places in New Jersey?
The most abandoned places in New Jersey include:
- Atlantic City Race Course. This track opened in 1946 and was abandoned in 2015. It served as a venue for the Atlantic City Pop Festival in 1969 but is now already falling apart.
- McNeal Mansion. This mansion was built in 1890 and was the largest private residence in America. Now it is a decaying ruin on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Trenton Psychiatric Hospital. The mental hospital was known for experimenting on patients who often died from these procedures.
- Fort Hancock. Once an army base, the barracks and other buildings are in ruins and are a popular place for urban explorers.
Discover more about the most abandoned places in New Jersey.
What are the creepiest places in New Jersey?
The creepiest places in New Jersey include:
- The Seabrook-Wilson House. Also known as The Spy House, this place was built in 1650 and is said to be quite haunted.
- Princeton Cemetery. Rumors of ghosts abound here and there are regular tours for ghost hunters in this cemetery.
- Jenny Jump State Forest. It is rumored that a woman jumped to her death here and that her ghost wanders the forest.
- Widow McCrea House Bed and Breakfast. Guests report hearing strange noises here and believe it to be haunted.
Learn more about the creepiest places in New Jersey.
What are the most haunted places in New Jersey?
The most haunted places in New Jersey include:
- Flanders Hotel in Ocean City. There’s a room called Emily’s Ocean Room where people report hearing laughter out of nowhere and seeing ghosts.
- Naval Air Station Lakehurst. This was the site of the Hindenburg disaster and many people claim that those who died aboard still haunt this location.
- Ringwood Manor. This is a beautiful 51-room estate that is currently a museum where people claim to hear footsteps, feel cold spots, and see ghosts.
- Red Mill in Clinton. This picturesque place is a museum and people report seeing someone on the third floor, which the mill says is unoccupied.
Find out more about the most haunted places in New Jersey.