After 16 years in development limbo, shopping and lifestyle hub American Dream shall finally open its doors on October 25, 2019. With approximately 40 million guests expected to visit the mall every year, this sprawling retail complex is poised to become one of New Jersey’s premium shopping and entertainment destinations. Here’s what we know about American Dream.
American Dream is a topnotch retail destination
American Dream is designed to be a premier shopping mecca. Its 3 million square feet of retail space will have something for you, no matter what your tastes are. There you’ll find brands appealing to the young and fashion-forward crowd. If your tastes veer towards iconic luxury brands, you’ll find them there as well. Aside from fashion labels, the mall will also be home to tech retailers, service providers, and various amenities.
There will be 450 retail shops in American Dream overall, six of which are anchor stores. Brands announced to set up shop at the mall include Zara, Sephora, Uniqlo, Tiffany & Co., Hermes, H&M, Gap, Lululemon, and Victoria’s Secret. New Jersey-based Korean-American supermarket chain H Mart will also occupy 35,000 square feet in American Dream.
American Dream is heaven for foodies
Even if you don’t have shopping in mind, you can drop by American Dream for the food. The mall is projected to become a foodie haven, with four unique dining areas catering to different kinds of cravings:
- In the Dining Terrace, you can have your meal alfresco while enjoying views of the Manhattan skyline. Around 20 full-service restaurants are due to open there.
- The Coca-Cola Eats dining hall will feature local and global cuisines paired with—you’ve guessed it—Coca-Cola beverages. The hall will have a seating capacity for 800 diners.
- The Munchies Food Hall is set to be a trendy dining hotspot, with 18 restaurants serving local and regional food. It will also have a cooking studio and revolving kitchens where you can watch up-and-coming chefs serve up their best food.
- American Dream will also have a kosher food market, said to be the first of its kind in any major shopping mall in the US.
American Dream has numerous entertainment options
Beyond retail, American Dream is positioning itself as a destination for people whose idea of fun isn’t shopping. The mall will open a wide variety of entertainment options for different ages and different tastes:
- If you have kids, you can bring them to play at the Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park. There you can get on more than 20 themed rides, including three rollercoasters. Nickelodeon’s beloved cartoon characters will also be there to say hi. The park will additionally feature performances on the Nickelodeon Slime Stage.
- If you love movies, you can catch the latest flicks at CMX. It’s a dine-in cinema, so you can enjoy a meal while watching your movie.
- If you love the ocean, you can have a glimpse of ocean life at Sea Life Aquarium.
- If you want to swim but can’t drive to Jersey Shore, you can get wet at the DreamWorks Water Park, reported to be the world’s second-largest indoor water park. You can check out the 35 water slides, including a 142-foot body slide with a 50-foot free fall. The water park will have cabanas with views of Manhattan.
- If you’re an ice and snow fan, you can get your fill at Big SNOW and the Ice Rink. Big SNOW is the first indoor snow park in the US; there you can go skiing or snowboarding. The Ice Rink, on the other hand, is an NFL-standard facility for skating and ice hockey.
Other kid-friendly entertainment spots opening in American Dream are KidZania and LEGOLAND Discovery Center. The mall will also feature a Mirror Maze, Climbzone indoor rock climbing, and a 300-foot-tall Observation Ferris Wheel. Spaces for live events will additionally be available at American Dream, including a 3,000-seat concert space.
American Dream is only five miles from Manhattan
When it opens, American Dream will be easily accessible from various locations in New Jersey and New York. The mall is only five miles away from Manhattan, pretty much a 30-minute drive (if there is no traffic). It’s also only five miles away from the New York Waterway Ferry; American Dream will run a shuttle from there. Additionally, New Jersey Transit is scheduled to open a train and bus station at American Dream. Thus, you can go to the mall using public transport if you wish to. Taxi and ride-share hubs will also be made available at the mall.
