Bergen Mall documentary
Paramus, New Jersey
"A short documentary film about a very unusual mall in NJ, full of strangeness and colorful characters."Short film by Robin Groves, on the venerable old Bergen Mall. Well done. Very nice job, Robin!
Mall history: 1957 - present
Current aerial view
Current website: here
Note: Video is Flash format. If you don't see it, you must temporarily disable your ad-blocking programs.
posted by Keith @ 5/26/2006
20 Comments:
Brilliant! She certainly captured the essence of this mall which seems frozen in time.
Don't know the mall personally, but I agree it's a great little documentary.
kieth out of all your photos i just loved this i even watched it twice oh yeah jm i like picture
Wow, just wow. This is nothing short of amazing. One mall seems to have escaped the great white-washing that Malls seem to be going through these days. I'm almost willing to drive out to NJ (from CT) to check this place out.
The first time I visited the Bergen Mall was in the autumn of 1983, about 14 months before me and my family moved to Bergen County. It was the first mall in NJ I ever went to. Aside from Sterns, they also had Orbach's (later Steinbach) on the other side. The mall also had a Playhouse, which was a theatre venue. When I went back to the mall again in early 1985, Carole and Paula (of "The Magic Garden" fame) were performing there (as seen in a large poster outside the Playhouse).
I don't recall too many of the stores there (this was not the mall of choice for me or my family--who went to either Paramus Park or GSP, although my mom came here to go to Linens and Things-which the exterior sign was seen on the parking lot level). This mall had JJ Newberry, which was a large five-and-ten (Marshalls is now in that location). One of the things I remember about Newberrys by the time I moved to NJ and was at BM again (early 1985), the ceiling was peeling off so badly it was like being at Alexander's (across from GSP) before that store closed.
Back to 1983--there was one store I recall being located on one of the side halls called "(something) Imports", which had a treasure trove of stickers and interesting paraphenalia; sort of a cleaner version of Spencer Gifts.
BM also had a Merns Mart right across from Orbach's.
I stumbled across this web site a few short days ago and now I am constantly looking up dead malls all across the country. BM proper is not totally dead; it's in serious condition--it's the East Arcade that is dead (I have pictures).
The '70s irregular lamps hanging from the ceiling are still intact; the basement is a walking time capsule; the Village Mall is still there as is the brown/gold tiling along the walls--so are some of the old school signage on top bearing the signs "Chapel" and "Auditorium". Some parts are totally abandoned, with peelings and decay along walls and one eerie dark area with a staircase leading up to who-knows-where. The outside of where Merns Mart used to be (across from what used to be Orbach's) still retains the red/yellow large bold tiles. There is also a '70s wood design pattern in the middle of the mall, opposite where Stern's used to be (now Century 21). I took a lot of pictures inside and outside of this mall today so I'd love to share them with you.
Robin's movie was nice. Little has changed except that the red and yellow-tiled fountain is gone, along with the odd-looking seats. They also changed the promenade area leading to the basement. The last time I was inside that mall prior to today was ages ago; last time I remember being there (more than 15 years ago), the promenade area was blue/aquamarine/red/orange tiled (emphasis on the blue tiles). Now it's white and pastel-colored.
Last, but, bot least, Orbach's is now boarded up completely. When I was there today, there was a ladder in the middle and outside the mall, the entrances had chains sound the doors. The parking lot was maybe 15% full by noon. The doors have "Bergen Town Center" on the front-which is to be the new name of the new shopping center which is to replace the already existing mall. Art renditions of the exterior are posted inside the mall along the walls, and virtually no trace of this mall will remain. I took a lot of pictures today of this soon-to-be dead mall.
Thanks for all the kind words about my movie! It was actually shown in Fort Lee a few weeks ago in the auditorium at the Fort Lee Historic Park, as part of a Women In Film series thingy. I'm glad people like this movie and also might be prompted to go check out the mall, which is really cool and might be renovated soon, which would be a shame.
that was an awesome video.
i've been to the mall many many times - but NEVER have I been downstairs. I never even knew there was a downstairs until eating at the Nathan's one day and I saw the sign. I can't get over the 'village' of stores. How ODD.
it's amazing this mall was frozen in time for so long, as with retail space you would think being at such a preimum in the area. crazy!
i actually went into that Corset store before it closed, it was run by two older ladies rocking bee-hive hairdos, they were more frozen in time than the mall! they had the craziest old stuff there!
i think pastryland closed, too. ValueCity is gone as well.
I imagine with the addition of Century21, the mall will see a facelift which is kind of sad because it really is a different and odd place. thanks again for the video!
For the 80's fans: Tiffany's mall tour, "The Beautiful You", Celebrating The Good Life Shopping Mall Tour '87 began at the Bergen Mall in Paramus, New Jersey on June 23, 1987. This tour was set up by Shopping Center Network and was sponsored by Toyota, Clairol, and Adidas.
This is pure garbage and it's not a "FILM" by the way. It's another lame home video. Go to a film school like "NYU" asap and study the medium!
This is not a "Film", it's another home video online. Go to a "Film" school like NYU asap and study the medium!
I live about an hour away from this mall. I've gone there from time to time to shop at places like Century 21, and off 5th. Yet I never knew there was a chapel in the mall. Anyway, the mall is under construction as I write this. When Sterns went out, Macys came in. There was also a value City, but it didn't make it there. I'm guessing that they are planning a total revamp of the mall. I'm anxious to see how it develops. Thanks for this wonderful blog. As a person that has worked in Retail for 23 years. It's interesting to see how these malls looked in there early days.
To anonymous:
Did she say she was using this video to promote herself as the next Spike Lee or someone, you braindead idiot? It's a home video meant to stir up nostalgia and bring a few chuckles. So what's your problem? You can't tell the difference between this and the Sundance festival? You're just a bored teenager who needs to go back to your homework. Oh, I forgot. You must study at NYU because you critique others so eloquently. If you are an NYU student, you must be really COOL and IMPORTANT to be spending time and energy on this site.
Grow up and go away, moron. YouTube is waiting for your brilliant comments.
Neat Little movie.
The Bergen Mall opened soon after the GSP (I believe). I worked at Stern's as an Exec. Trainee upon graduation from college in 1969. The GSP - by the way -was at that time an outdoor mall - all stores were accessed from each other by walking outside down garden paths, like in California. The Bergen Mall at that time was a upper middle class place, with Strens as the main store. It had a good restraunt - Tavern on the Mall, which had a hige bowling alley below it in the lower level. The Mall also had JJ Kressges (sp?) 5 & 10, also gone the way of the dodo, and Wolf's NY Deli Restraunt. All gone. Sad!
Well, the Bergen Mall is completely renovated. Sure it has a Target and a Whole Foods now, but we vintage-lovers will miss the weird vibe of the place and the cool old decor. But, progress must happen! They need to bring shoppers in and make money (especially since malls are closed on Sundays in Bergen County) so I cannot blame them.
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I am trying to find pictures of the fire fighting competitions held at the mall in the 60's. Living in Maywood the at that time, we would always go there to watch fire companies from the county compete to out a flaming barrel of ignited oil out. Alan
The store was called "World Imports"
Hi, I started going the Bergen Mall from the 70s when I was young. In the basement was a head shop named “Joint Venture “, which I can’t find anything about it. Great collectible store/s, etc.
Upstairs was “Workd Imports”, which was an Indian store....clothes, whippets, jewelry.
When I graduated high school I got a job at the restaurant/deli Wolfies....stayed with them for many years. They closed, and opened up on route 4 where the ice cream restaurant was.
I used to take the bus from Oakland, NJ to go to bm when I was underage.
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