For generations of Livingston families, it was where they shopped for school clothes, met friends after class and spent weekends wandering under the skylights. Now, after more than 50 years as a community landmark, Livingston Mall is officially closed — and the biggest redevelopment question in town is what replaces it.
The 59-acre Eisenhower Parkway property has shut down, ending the run of a shopping center that opened in 1972 and once drew shoppers from across Essex County. The closure comes after years of decline, with major retailers including Sears, Lord & Taylor and Macy’s disappearing and empty storefronts becoming a familiar sight.
Now, Livingston officials are preparing for the mall’s next chapter.
The Township Council will discuss the property during a conference meeting Monday, July 13, at 6 p.m. The council is expected to enter closed session to discuss the mall before returning to open session.
The future could look very different from the mall residents remember. The township has already approved redevelopment plans for the former Sears portion of the site, including 376 housing units with apartments and up to 81 townhouses. The project would help Livingston meet state-mandated affordable housing obligations.
The remaining 43 acres are still in the planning stages. The township designated the property an “Area in Need of Redevelopment” in 2024, allowing officials to explore new uses for the site.
For longtime residents, the closure marks the end of an era.
The mall’s decline accelerated in recent years as stores left and maintenance issues mounted. A 2025 incident involving a vehicle falling into a parking lot sinkhole became one of the most visible signs of the property’s deterioration.
Economist James W. Hughes of Rutgers University said the mall had fallen into the “bottom tier” of New Jersey shopping centers with little chance of returning as a regional retail destination.
The July 13 council meeting will be the next public step in determining what Livingston’s former retail hub becomes next.
