Whether you prefer to leisurely peruse the gleaming racks of high-end boutiques or methodically work through a string of outlets to uncover the deal of a lifetime, New Jersey offers the sheer volume and variety of stores, malls, markets and shopping villages to satisfy your every craving. Just make sure you have enough cargo space in your vehicle to handle the haul!
Save a Bundle at the Outlets
You can get designer duds and stylish shoes at a fraction of the price—and tax-free, too—in New Jersey’s seven sprawling outlet centers, located conveniently throughout the state. But these money-saving havens offer more than just fashion. You can browse bath and beauty items, get great gifts, buy books galore, enhance your life with electronics, hunt for housewares and home furnishings…and even dine in style.
With more than 200 stores under one roof, The Mills at Jersey Gardens is the largest of New Jersey’s outlet centers and located just 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan in Elizabeth. Rounding out northern New Jersey’s discount shopping opportunities are The Outlets at Bergen Town Center, conveniently located on Route 4 in Paramus.
Want to stretch your shopping budget in central or southern New Jersey? You have your choice of another four wallet-friendly outlet centers. The most sizeable among them is Jersey Shore Premium Outlets in Tinton Falls, boasting an impressive collection of 120 stores. Although not as large as some of the others, Liberty Village Premium Outlets in Flemington is nestled in an invigorating outdoor setting with one of Hunterdon County’s most picturesque towns as the backdrop.
Located near Six Flags Great Adventure theme park in Jackson, the Jackson Premium Outlets offer shoppers some true thrills with savings of up to 65% every day. Newly added in Blackwood, the Gloucester Premium Outlets touts 90 stores featuring brand name apparel, home decor, accessories, leather goods and more. Finally, Tanger Outlets, The Walk showcases designer and brand-name goods in manufacturer-owned stores situated throughout the always-vibrant streets in the heart of Atlantic City.
Explore the Malls
New Jersey holds the distinction for having the greatest density of malls in the nation, boasting seven major venues within a 25-square-mile radius1. In the Shore Region, Freehold Raceway Mall delivers the most stores and eateries with 215 individual shops. Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing brings you another 140 stores to satisfy your shopping desires.
The Mall at Short Hills in New Jersey’s Gateway Region provides shoppers with more than 175 designer boutiques—including Jimmy Choo, Prada and Tori Burch—all in a sophisticated and glamorous environment. Bridgewater Commons—along with the adjacent Village at Bridgewater Commons—also delivers an upscale experience with an array of more than 160 coveted retail and dining options.
In the area bordering the Delaware River, Cherry Hill Mall is a standout as one of the first enclosed malls to be built on the East Coast. Its 1.35-million-square-feet of retail space are an irresistible draw for shopping fanatics from all over New Jersey and throughout the greater Philadelphia region.
Absorb Local Charm
If a mall isn’t your style and you long for that old-fashioned “Main Street” vibe, New Jersey’s distinctive shopping villages and retail districts are sure to please. Here’s just a tiny taste of the state’s small-town shopping charm…
Open year-round, Historic Smithville and Village Green offers one-of-a-kind shops and attractions that celebrate the area’s rich past. Red Bank, with its trendy retailers and funky coffee houses, is widely considered the Garden State’s own Greenwich Village. Shoppers looking to splurge can head to Princeton. The University town’s Palmer Square offers a stunning collection of brand-name shops and one-of-a-kind boutiques in a refined outdoor setting across from Princeton’s storied ivy-strewn campus.
Experience Specialty Shopping
There’s something so peaceful about casually strolling the hushed aisles in an antique store. Each item that catches your eye has a unique story to tell. And envisioning how that one special piece will enhance your own home décor can send shivers down your spine. Discover your next treasure in one of New Jersey’s abundant and quaint antique shops. Cities and towns to target include Haddonfield, Point Pleasant Beach and Lambertville—The Antique Capital of New Jersey.
Another source for personal treasures—found at a great price—is the state’s abundance of flea markets. Plan for an early morning start and breakfast on-site so you don’t miss out on the day’s best deals. Every Saturday, 500 vendors peddle their wares at the New Meadowlands Flea Market where you can find hard-to-find essentials, crafts, collectibles and more. Columbus Farmers Market, open Thursdays through Sundays year-round, features far more than farm-fresh products. Discover everything from clothes to cosmetics, toys to tools, shoes to sheds—and everything in between.
Finally, if you’re embracing the popular farm-to-table concept, you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables, locally sourced meats, dairy products and poultry and home-baked goodies at New Jersey’s bountiful farmer’s markets. Craving turkey for dinner? You can pick an oven-ready bird at Lee Turkey Farm in East Windsor. Or find nearly everything on your grocery list at Ringwood Farmers' Market, including seasonal produce, pies, jams, honey, eggs, pizza, grass-fed beef and poultry. Donaldson Farms in Hackettstown offers fruits, vegetables, homemade desserts, gluten-free goodies and pick-your-own pumpkins and strawberries. You can even give cheese made from sheep’s milk a try at Valley Shepherd Creamery.
Now that you know the Garden State has everything a die-hard shopper could want—and more—make sure you stay in the know. You can download a free NJ travel guide and sign up for e-news from New Jersey Travel and Tourism to gain an insider’s edge.
