New Jersey's Nostalgic Mall Outside Newark Is Filled With Fun Shops And A '70s Vibe

The '70s were the beginning of the golden era of the American Mall, and a great example awaits at the Woodbridge Center in Woodbridge, New Jersey. With interesting shops, a lack of recent renovations, and a noticeable absence of bright, modern brands taking up storefronts, walking through this mall gives off a sense of nostalgia. The mall is about a 20-minute drive from Newark Liberty International Airport, making it perfect as a stop on a larger trip to New York or New Jersey. Its halls are sometimes quiet these days, but locals are fond of its glory days. 

Like many of America's malls, the favorable online conversation surrounding Woodbridge mainly involves homages to yesteryear. One Facebook user reminisced about the Space Port, a "space-age entrance made a shopping trip feel like a mission to another planet," which opened alongside the mall's original anchors: Abraham & Straus, Ohrbach's, and Stern's. On Substack, blogger James Sigman wrote an entire ode to Woodbridge Center, saying that the mall "held a similar near-mythic status in my brain, and even now I can feel the joy that came with the news that we were going there." 

This mall used to be the place to be, but it has not exactly kept up with the Joneses. Much of the modern discussion surrounding this mall is disparaging, questioning whether or not it is still alive. Woodbridge Center saw major expansions in the '80s and '90s, but there isn't much evidence that it has received any significant facelifts since the turn of the century, making it a perfect place for a nostalgic stroll back in time. Today's Woodbridge Center is a family-friendly arcade, shopping center, and accidental '70s, '80s, and '90s time capsule, all under one roof.

Woodbridge's most fun shop, especially pertaining to the mall's nostalgic energy, is VHS, which stands for video games, hip-hop, and sports. The store buys and sells vintage entertainment in several different mediums, stocking tons of nostalgic items in pristine condition. On Instagram, Woodbridge Center describes the store as a brick-and-mortar home for "collectors, geeks, gamers, toy hunters, comic lovers, and nostalgia addicts." Another interesting stop is Castle Furniture, a glowing, golden home for ornate, luxury furnishings, with two large Corinthian-style columns marking the store's entrance. 

Many of Woodbridge Center's other great stores are interactive. The spread isn't quite as impressive as the entertainment options at Destiny USA, New York's Largest Shopping Mall, but still, this mall hosts a large variety of indoor attractions, like a Dave & Buster's. The restaurant and adult arcade might be considered a tourist trap on a visit to Times Square, but it fits in nicely at Woodbridge. The mall also has a range of smaller, activity-focused storefronts where you can play laser tag, shoot air-soft guns, try escape rooms, and putt-putt through 18 glow-in-the-dark holes. There's also a large carousel, trampoline, and train rides.

Beyond the shops, the mall itself is an attraction that brings a bit of the 1970s into your shopping experience. As you walk from store to store, you'll be flanked by wooden railings that fit the era and a beige color scheme that reminds several online commentators of the mall featured in the 1978 film "Dawn of the Dead." If you want to learn more about the malls of yore, check out Canada's nostalgic mall in Toronto.