These NJ Malls, Shopping Venues Among the Best In New Survey

If you're looking for a few new places to spend a little green and catch some family fun, the Garden State has some good options to make a day of it, according to USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2025.

Voting is still underway in some categories, but here’s what we know so far about the performance of New Jersey retail centers in the voting.

Best Malls

No. 7: American Dream (East Rutherford, NJ)

Right outside the Big Apple, American Dream is like a theme park indoors. Actually, there is a theme park.

And a water park.

And a snow resort.

Yea, it is pretty amazing to think about.

The multi-use mega site has more than 400 stores, 100 dining locations and plenty of events year-round. One of the most recent additions to the mall is a sports card and memorabilia store. NFL legend Tom Brady was on-site as a part-owner of the new "Card Vault by Tom Brady" chain of shops, along with some other high-profile people to ring in the grand opening.

MORE FROM PATCH: Jonas Brothers Pack American Dream With Free Concert

Best Outlet Malls

No. 2: The Mills at Jersey Gardens (Elizabeth, NJ)

As the largest indoor outlet mall in the state, The Mills has more than 200 stores with tax-free shopping on clothing and shoes.

The complex is very kid-friendly, with a movie theatre and options to explore like the Lego Store hosting activities daily. Scavenger hunts, building projects and giveaways await the younger adventurers.

USA Today assembles a panel of experts to make nominations across various categories, then readers make the final selections in online voting.

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