Attention shoppers: the Greater New York City area is now home to one of the largest malls in the nation – the American Dream mall. After many years of waiting and constant delays, the first parts of the massive shopping and entertainment complex are already open.

The American Dream: 55% Entertainment and 45% Retail

16 years, 3 developers and $5 billion after the project was first announced, we’ve almost made it! Triple Five Group, who also own the famous Mall of America in Minnesota, has created yet another mega-mall project in the United States: The American Dream. In fact, calling the American Dream a mall is an understatement. The American Dream complex is much more than just a mall. Besides hundreds of shops, you will also find an unbelievable number of entertainment facilities here. As a matter of fact, the complex is almost split evenly amongst shopping and entertainment.

Tickets are finally available!

Entertainment at American Dream

More than half of the giant complex is dedicated to entertainment. So even if you don’t care for shopping, there’s plenty for you to do here. This list of entertainment facilities included in the American Dream Mall will give you a slight idea of the experiences you can expect.

• Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park

Good news for thrill-seekers: The Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park will be the largest indoor theme park in the Western Hemisphere! It will feature over 35 rides and attractions. Meet your favorite characters, like Spongebob or Dora the Explorer.

• The Rink at the American Dream

The Ice Rink at the American Dream Mall will be an NHL-regulation size hockey rink used for skating, tournaments, and fun events.

While the Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park will become the largest indoor theme park in North America, DreamWorks Water Park will become its largest indoor water park. Slide down over 40 slides and attractions, one of which will be the world’s tallest indoor body slide! If that’s too crazy for you, you can enjoy one of the many Cabana lounges instead.

American Dream record-breaking experiences don’t stop at the water park. Open 365 a year, Big SNOW will be America’s only indoor real-snow park. Have fun on your own or take advantage of lessons and coaching that are offered here.

Besides these four major attractions, you will also find a luxury movie theater, a SEA LIFE Aquarium, a 300 feet tall observation wheel and LEGOLAND Discovery Center inside the American Dream.

Shops at American Dream

The American Dream Mall will host over 500 stores, from popular stores to high-end brands. No matter what you are looking for, you are most likely to find it here. Naturally, there will be a proportional number of dining options for you to refuel during your exhausting shopping spree. Here is a list of just a few stores you will be able to shop at in the American Dream Mall.

• H&M
• Dolce & Gabbana
• Zara
• Uniqlo
• Primark
• Sephora
• Saks Fifth Avenue
• Tiffany & Co.

Do not come here to shop on a Sunday!

The American Dream Mall is located in Bergen County, one of the few remaining counties with the so-called blue law. The blue law limit shopping on Sundays, meaning that retail stores will remain closed that day of the week. Everything else inside the entertainment complex will be open as usual.

Getting to the American Dream in East Rutherford

There certainly isn’t enough space in New York City for a mall this size. That’s why you can find it about 5 miles outside the city, on the other side of the Hudson in New Jersey. The mall is located in East Rutherford not far from Metlife Stadium. If you’ve been to Metlife Stadium or the closeby Garden State Plaza Mall you will know that the area isn’t too difficult to get to from Manhattan. Due to the vast amount of expected visitors, however, the American Dream Mall will organize additional shuttle transportation for its visitors.

American Dream has an NJ Transit bus hub and station on-site, making it easy for you to get there by bus or by train. There is also a shuttle operating from the NY Waterway ferry in Weehawken to get you to the mall. A combo ticket for the ferry and shuttle from Manhattan to American Dream costs $16. You can purchase your tickets in advance.

It includes:

• free connecting shuttles in Manhattan to St. Ferry Terminal
• ferry from Midtown Manhattan to Port Imperial in Weehawken (8 minutes)
• shuttle service from Port Imperial to American Dream (20 minutes)

NY Waterway to American Dream

The American Dream Mall is located off Route 3, the New Jersey Turnpike, and Route 120. With 150,000 expected visitors on busy days, the mall is predicted to add major traffic jams to the area that already experiences heavy traffic during rush hours and on days with sports events in Metlife Stadium. With these concerns in mind, getting there by car may be the least favored option to get there if the expected visitor number will be realized.

If you do decide to take a car, know that parking is currently free!

We strongly recommend that you use public transport!

FAQ

When will the American Dream Meadowlands open?
The first part of the American Dream Mall celebrated its grand opening on October 25th, 2019 – just in time for the holiday season. It was a partial opening, as many stores will still be in the process of moving in. If you’d like to see the progress of the mall, you can check out this live camera.

How much did it cost to build the American Dream Meadowlands?
The construction of this massive entertainment and retail complex has been anything else but cheap. It cost more than $5 billion dollars to build it.

Is the American Dream Meadowlands the largest mall in the United States?
Not quite, but close! The American Dream Mall measures 3 million square feet and will be the second-largest mall in the US.