North Jersey has the densest concentration of quality malls in the US — American Dream, Garden State Plaza, Short Hills, Willowbrook, and Paramus Park all within 20 minutes of each other. But there’s a catch: Bergen County’s Sunday blue laws mean your day-of-week choice completely changes which route to take. Here’s how to plan it right.
The Bergen County Blue Laws: The Short Version
Bergen County has retail blue laws that prohibit most retail establishments from opening on Sundays. This means Garden State Plaza and Paramus Park Mall are closed every Sunday. No exceptions. It’s a historical holdover that’s survived multiple court challenges.
American Dream Mall in East Rutherford is technically just outside Bergen County, so it’s open 7 days. Willowbrook Mall in Wayne is also outside Bergen County and open Sundays. And Palisades Center across the state line in West Nyack, NY is the most popular Bergen County Sunday alternative.
Route A: Tuesday–Saturday (The Full North Jersey Run)
This is the power route. All major malls are open, and on a weekday you’ll have a genuinely great experience at each.
Start: Garden State Plaza, Paramus (opens 10am). GSP is one of the top five largest malls in the US — over 300 stores across multiple levels. Pick two or three anchor zones: the Nordstrom wing for premium, the Macy’s side for everyday, the middle concourse for mid-range brands. Allow 2–2.5 hours.
Mid-morning: If you want a quick second stop in Paramus, Paramus Park Mall is 5 minutes away on Route 17. It’s smaller (about 100 stores) and more relaxed — good for hitting specific stores you couldn’t find at GSP.
Lunch + afternoon: Head 20–25 minutes south to The Mall at Short Hills. This is the complete tonal shift: from busy regional mall to curated luxury experience. Chanel, Gucci, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, and four major department stores. Eat at the food court or one of the sit-down options inside. Budget at least 2 hours here.
Late afternoon/optional evening: Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, about 20 minutes northwest of Short Hills. More of an everyday mall — Macy’s, JCPenney, Dick’s Sporting Goods, 160+ stores total. Good for anything practical you didn’t find elsewhere. Less crowded than GSP and a nice way to end the day without intensity.
Route B: Sunday (The Bergen County Blue Laws Workaround)
GSP and Paramus Park are closed. Here’s the Sunday version:
Morning: American Dream Mall in East Rutherford. Sundays are actually a nice time here if you’re doing the entertainment side (Nickelodeon Universe, water park) — families go, it’s lively but manageable. For shopping, the brand lineup is strong: Saks Fifth Avenue, Primark, Uniqlo, H&M, Aritzia, Apple. Get there before 11am for parking.
Afternoon: Drive 30 minutes north to Palisades Center in West Nyack, NY. This is the Sunday alternative that Bergen County regulars have known about for decades. Four floors, 200+ stores, and fully open on Sundays. Additionally, it has an AMC 21-screen cinema, indoor ice rink, K1 Speed go-karts, and Lucky Strike bowling. On a Sunday it genuinely buzzes — it absorbs the overflow from closed Bergen County malls.
Note: Palisades is in New York state, so New York sales tax applies. Items under $110 are tax-free in NY; above $110, 8.875% applies. Plan your bigger clothing purchases for American Dream or keep ticket prices under $110 for the NY tax exemption to kick in.
The Malls: What Each One Does Best
Garden State Plaza: Volume and variety. Best for covering a lot of brands in one building. Weekday mornings are when it’s at its best — early in the week it’s genuinely uncrowded and easy to navigate.
Short Hills: The luxury destination. Best for high-end brands, four department stores competing for the same customer, and an overall experience that feels like actual premium retail.
Willowbrook: Practical and relaxed. Best for getting things done without the intensity of the bigger malls. Sporting goods, everyday clothing, home goods.
American Dream: Entertainment plus major brands. Best for mixing a theme park day with a shopping run, or for families who need both. The food options inside are noticeably better than the typical mall food court.
Getting Around North Jersey
A car makes all the difference here. The malls are spread across a 20-mile radius and while some are reachable by NJ Transit, a car gives you the flexibility to do multiple stops in a day. Traffic on Route 4, Route 17, and Route 3 in Bergen County can be heavy on weekend afternoons — if driving on a Saturday, aim to finish the Paramus-area malls before 3pm.
From NYC by car: Lincoln Tunnel to NJ-3 West gets you to most North Jersey malls in 20–30 minutes, traffic permitting. See which NJ malls are open on Sundays and the full NJ tax-free shopping guide.
