American Dream Mall sets opening date for shops

New Jersey's American Dream Mall, one of the most highly anticipated and talked about retail projects in America, has announced that their first round of retail shops will begin opening in March. Aritzia, Zara, Sephora, H&M, Uniqlo, Primark, Ulta Beatuy and Old Navy are all slated to open on March 19. The news was reported by CNBC.

Triple Five Group, the brand's property developers, said that additional retail shops will open throughout 2020. The mall's new luxury wing, called The Collections, is scheduled to open in September and will be anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue. Barneys New York was also supposed to be an anchor for The Collections wing, but since the company went bankrupt American Dream Mall is currently seeking a replacement tenant for the space.

American Dream is expected to be 45 percent retail stores and 55 percent food and entertainment. As consumers want more experiential shopping and the American mall landscape has changed so much, American Dream appears to have found a proper balance to attract customers who want more from retail than just buying new clothes.

American Dream might have a smart concept on their hands, but ensuring this is a success will come with its set of challenges. Malls in the U.S. are struggling, and the ones who survive are spending millions to keep themselves relevant. Coronavirus is also slowing down tourism traffic, and fashion stocks are plummeting. Brands are reluctant to open and invest in new stores right now with the stock market in turmoil. American Dream was a long time coming, and it will now have a long and bumpy road to overcome in this retail climate.

photo: via American Dream Facebook