JD Sports is opening a new store at The Mills at Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth, NJ in May 2026. The British sport lifestyle retailer — known globally for its broad selection of sneakers, athletic apparel, and exclusive collab drops — continues its US expansion with this Elizabeth location, further strengthening one of the best sneaker and sportswear lineups at any outlet mall near New York.
What JD Sports Brings to Jersey Gardens
JD Sports is the largest sports fashion retailer in Europe, with over 3,000 stores across 20+ countries. In the United States, the brand has expanded rapidly since its first American stores opened in 2016. The Jersey Gardens location will likely carry the brand’s signature mix: Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Puma, and Jordan Brand sneakers alongside JD’s own private label and exclusive collaborations.
For Jersey Gardens, the addition is a meaningful upgrade to the sneaker category. The outlet already carries Nike Factory Store and Adidas Outlet, giving bargain-hunters access to major athletic brands at reduced prices. JD Sports tends to carry different inventory — more current-season and limited releases, with less focus on outlet clearance — which means the three stores will complement rather than compete with each other.
Why Jersey Gardens Makes Sense for JD Sports
The Mills at Jersey Gardens has a particularly international shopper profile. Located just minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport — with a free shuttle from Terminal B every 30 minutes — the outlet attracts a large number of visitors from outside the US who specifically plan a shopping stop during their New York trip.
JD Sports is a well-known brand in the UK, Europe, Australia, and across Asia. For international visitors, seeing a familiar retailer at an American outlet adds to Jersey Gardens’ appeal. Additionally, Round1 Bowling & Entertainment opened at Jersey Gardens in March 2025, making the outlet a more complete day-visit destination even for non-shoppers. JD Sports fits naturally into that evolving experience.
The NJ Zero Sales Tax Advantage for Sneaker Buyers
Here’s one of the best-kept secrets about buying sneakers in New Jersey: there’s zero sales tax on footwear. That applies to every pair of shoes at JD Sports, Nike, Adidas, and every other footwear retailer in the state. On a $180 pair of Jordans, that’s $13.50 back in your pocket compared to a New York purchase — without touching a sale rack.
Furthermore, Jersey Gardens sits in an Urban Enterprise Zone, where some non-clothing items are taxed at a reduced rate of 3.3125% instead of the standard NJ rate of 6.625%. For sneaker and apparel shopping specifically, the full exemption applies regardless. We’ve found that this combination — outlet pricing plus zero tax — makes Jersey Gardens one of the most cost-effective sneaker destinations in the Northeast.
When to Visit
JD Sports at Jersey Gardens is set to open in May 2026. We’ll update this post when an exact date is confirmed. In the meantime, the existing sneaker and sportswear lineup at the outlet is already worth a visit. Check out our full guide to NJ outlet shopping and tax-free savings. See the NJ tax-free shopping guide.
Source: Retail Dive — JD Sports US expansion, 2026.
