Never would I have thought that I would be standing right in the middle of the second biggest mall in the U.S. But there I was on Mother's Day. Perhaps it's because of the sheer size of the mall or perhaps people were busy celebrating Mother's Day elsewhere, but it wasn't as busy or crowded as I would've expected. Although the food court wasn't packed, the wait for Jollibee was insane (probably a 25-35 minute wait). It was worth it though, I hope more malls in the U.S. have Jollibee. After eating, I explored the mall a bit. American Dream has a NHL-reuglate size ice skating rink (entrance is on the first floor, where you can also get the tickets). But what's wilder is the ski and snowboard resort - the first indoor snow resort in North America. I didn't go in but I could feel the chilliness from the condensation on the windows. There's also an NJ Hall of Fame, laser tag, Sesame Street Learn & Play, and Nickelodeon Universe inside. You can enter Nickelodeon Universe (no tickets needed) but you need to buy points to go on the rides. Even if you don't go on the rides, there are plenty of photo ops. I saw Spongebob and Squiward taking photos on a stage. Other cool things about American Dream: A ferris wheel called American Dream that allows you to see the NYC skyline, a Toys "R" Us train that goes around on one floor, and HMart. There is a fancier part of American Dream with high-end stores, too. I didn't come here for shopping though. Plenty of spots in the parking garage and it's $6 for each vehicle, though the first 15 minutes are free. read more

American Dream - Menu - Shopping Centers Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

1 star - More Nightmare Than Dream (But giving a 3 star since what was actually open was fun.) Took my daughter to American Dream Mall for her birthday weekend, expecting water slides and celebration shakes. What we got was a masterclass in disappointment. The water park was closed for electrical work. Fine -- things happen. So we headed to the shake shop to salvage the birthday with one of their fancy cake-topped frappés. Also closed. At this point the "dream" branding was starting to feel like false advertising. The hotel situation wasn't any better, not that the mall can be blamed for this. But fair warning to others who traveled as far as we did for this magical weekend. Pool closed for the entire weekend -- not for a quick cleaning, but pending state inspection results that could take "days to weeks." Called around to other hotels thinking we'd just move. Same story everywhere. Apparently post-Memorial Day weekend triggers mandatory state testing after high guest volume, and every pool in the area was in limbo. Nobody mentioned this when we booked. Back at the mall, the game room -- where the closed shake shop lives -- lost power entirely. And if that weren't enough, the fire alarm spent a good chunk of the afternoon flashing and blaring "there is a fire in the building, evacuate immediately" on repeat. Not once. Multiple times. So to recap: no water park, no birthday shake, no hotel pool, no game room, and a fire alarm that cried wolf so often we genuinely weren't sure whether to panic or just keep walking. Happy birthday, kid. At least the parking lot was open. read more

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Very crowded on a wet and rainy Memorial weekend. They need better ways to tell what lots still have parking - they have the all parking decks sign as full/closed and then they were still letting people into lots B/C and others... so... yeah. Especially late afternoon when the morning crowds shifted. Just terrible traffic guards as they frantically were trying to direct people and yet roads were closed. Made some weird u-turns around the stadium. Similarly in the mall, some messes where a lady was trying to carry a stroller down an escalator. A few security guards just rolled by but no word. Aren't they supposed to tell people not to do that for the liabilities/risks part?? Lot of people in the food court and the AD wifi is a must (though requires an awful lot of information - birthday, really?) given the spotty 5G coverage (strong but too many people so the system was overwhelmed... do better, Verizon). Parking also up now to $6.40 from $5. A few pop-ups like the Miniso Star Wars area and they're preparing parts of the mall for the World Cup celebrations. We'll see how bad traffic is when they get started with the World Cup - I predict a messy, expensive affair. As for a store/prep, they've continued to slowly fill in with stores. Wait times at some shops are still pretty high for Hey Tea and other food stalls, but that's not AD's fault - it's good they brought in desired vendors. read more

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Don't believe the hype, this is just a mall. Three whole floors of plastic junk! Seriously, there's a million stores selling plastic toys so if that's your thing you'll be pleasantly surprised. I do like the designing of the mall, and their luxury end (I believe it's called Pearl? Or maybe just section F?) is actually quite aesthetically pleasing. The best part of it all isn't the gimmicks, like the theme parks or the ski slope, but it's actually the food. This place hosts the nicest H-Mart cafeteria I've ever seen, and there's tons of options all around the mall. Whatever you're feeling, from fast food to viral trends to a sit down meal, they've got it. If you're nearby and need a mall it's fine. Otherwise, you don't have to travel out of your way for it like I did. read more

American Dream - Koi pond - Shopping Centers Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

This is a really excellent mall, considering it's about 25 minutes from Manhattan. Has a great selection of stores , there's something for everyone . Lots of niche better brands as well. I came here on July 4th and it was packed. Good selection of sit down restaurants and the food court as well. It's also a great place for kids and families with skiing, the pool, ice skating and so much more. It's also a great place to get your steps in. I walked about 6.4 miles. My only complaint is I felt like the AC in the entire mall wasn't working great as it was the hottest day of the year. Highly recommend . read more

4/17/26 Had some time to spare before heading to the airport. Decided to come here and look around. This mall is gigantic covering many blocks. It was beautiful with plenty of shops and activities. Most of the clothing stores were chains that I am familiar with but had lower quality items. However the Address store was large and very impressive. There are a lot of food options and many activities for kids. It is a great place for families to spend the day. read more

American Dream - Shopping Centers Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

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Absolutely colossal mall filled with an entire arcade, mini golf course, multiple huge food courts, escape rooms, kiddie train, a Nickelodeon theme park, indoor ski/snowboard slopes (and lift), ice rink, and Dreamworks water park. While it's expansive, clean (including bathrooms) and modernized, it's also quite pricey, as even the parking costs money. In-keeping to its "American" theme, everything is also much bigger; the stores are also larger with more selections, and often encompass multiple floors. Pretty much every popular cartoon and anime figure you could imagine is represented, and so is every popular food and retail brand. It's definitely catered towards kids with all the entertainment, toys, and sugary sweets. The American Dream mall is truly a facsimile of the American Dream - crowded, expensive, consumerist, fun, and filled with grandeur. It's certainly a full day of indulgent entertainment for children, a cool hangout spot for college kids, and a spectacle for adults. read more

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Kept clean. I think the food should be on all one level, kind of annoying you have to go through all three levels before picking. There are a lot of things to do there though, activity wise which everyone can appreciate. read more

American Dream - The center of the mall. - Shopping Centers Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

Very busy. There's four section A-D and three floors. If you haven't been, it is worth a visit. The H mart food court is great. Have numerous selections. When we went, it was Easter decorations. It was festive. read more

American Dream - Shopping Centers Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

I've never been to the American Dream Mall and going on a Saturday afternoon is enough to satiate the curiosity for a long while. Traffic and parking are a pain but there are a lot of things to do, eat and enjoy once you're there. I think the hype is greater than what it is once you get there. They have a water park, amusement park, ice skating rink, Nickelodeon center, mini golf and more, so lots to do for the family but each of these things cost money. And they have the usual retail shops, as well as two different food courts, one Asian/hmart and one more typical. There's also full service restaurants like the Yard House. I like the hmart food court better in terms of types and quality of foods. The other food court does have Van Leeuwen Ice Cream ($8 for one scoop!) and Bang Cookies which had a super long line. Hmart here is small and more of a convenience type area though they do have some produce, freezer items and limited prepared items. I appreciated the different photo opportunities throughout the mall, whether it be cute statues, a garden area and lunar new year decorations. While the mall is large, it doesn't feel as unmanageable as even the Garden State Plaza because of the way it's spread out. We did have to refer to the kiosks to direct us in which direction a few times. Outside the bathrooms they have a water filling station. Parking is free for the first 15 minutes and $6 for the day and can get very crowded. You take a ticket and then can pay indoors at the kiosks once you leave. You can also prepay but it's not necessary. read more

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The American Dream Mall has taken the average mall and shopping experience to another level. Actually three levels of what feels like hundreds of stores and several parking lots. This is defintely family friendly mall, adventures for the children include the Dream Wheel, DreamWorks Water Park, Nickelodeon Universe, The Rink, and Sea Life Aquarium, I found my favs H&M, Zara, Sephora, and Ulta Beauty. The high end stores are also here including Gucci, Saint Lauren, Tiffany & Co., and Hermes. But.....the food court was sketchy. I understand it's a high turn around because of the crowds, but management needs to re-invent a more effective way to keep the tables clean. These tables were unapproachable. We sat down in the food court, but we had to clean off our own table. We ask for assistance but the attendant didn't return. Seriously. The common areas were packed, but the individual retail stores were not crowded. The stores I visited the lines move quickly, and everyone was helpful. I would definitely visit here again, but not around the holidays. read more

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In many families, getting a picture taken with a shopping mall Santa is a key part of Christmas. The first retail Santa is believed to have landed his sleigh at a store in Philadelphia in the 1840s as a means of drawing folks inside to shop for dry goods and confections. Located at Court C inside the American Dream mall in East Rutherford, my partner and I were able to see the Holiday Dreamland come alive with holiday cheer with their own Santa seated on a sizable couch that would fit the small family. Today, December 6th, is Saint Nicholas Day. It recognizes the third-century saint who became an inspiration for the modern-day Santa Claus. read more

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Perhaps I'm showing my age, but malls are different than they used to be. Or more likely, American Dream is more than a mall. It's a massive complex attached to the Meadowlands where there is so much room for activities, and they've got all the activities. There's a water park, a ski slope, rock climbing, a whole Nickelodeon theme park, an ice skating rink, and that's all before you get to the stuff that you normally have in malls, like retail shops and a food court. If you're looking to eat, there's a lot of what you'd expect, but the Asian food game is on point: there's an H-Mart, a Jollibee, sushi, dumplings, noodles, and more. We're late to the party, but judging by the complains in some of the other reviews, they've worked out a lot of kinks. Provided that you walk in knowing you're going to spend a billion dollars (everything in here is designed to bleed you of cash, because that's the American Dream), it's an awesome place to take your kids on a rainy/freezing/empty day. Personally, I'm a fan of the little animals you can climb on and ride around the mall. I can't believe they let you do this. read more

Great mall. Sooo much to do! We took two days to go through it. You'll literally be there all day. Activities for everyone!

We had a great time! Tons of water slides and the pirates area was so much fun!! Lazy river perfect! read more

American Dream - Pirates area tons of fun!! - Shopping Centers Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

I wanted to love this place forever. Started visiting January 2023 for Big SNOW, met my partner while he worked there. After 2 years of regular visits and watching the decline firsthand, I have no intention of returning. Here's why. PARKING IS PREDATORY Started at $5. There WAS free parking for the first hour then dropped to 30 minutes then out of nowhere to 15 minutes. Parking now costs $5.39. Maybe more. I haven't been back in months. On MetLife event days, parking jumps from $5.39 to $80+ with NO warning. Affecting employees, patrons of the mall, not just Met Life guests. Employees only get free parking in teeny tiny, hidden Deck B on weekdays (excludes MetLife event days & weekends). So my partner refused to pay for parking and always had someone drop and pick him up. Don't pay the machines before leaving inside the mall. If exiting takes longer than the paid time, you're charged AGAIN. Customer service is abysmal. BIG SNOW While it is America's only indoor snow dome, I have a pass expiring and I don't care. I have no intention of returning. Most injured I've ever been on than any mountain was here. Why? Negligent beginners with no slope etiquette during peak times (Oct-Feb). Regular riders are great but one-time guests are dangerous and prioritized. Just because you can ride here doesn't mean you're mountain-ready. Their "advanced" slope is a bunny hill compared to real greens. But it is the best place to learn. I'll say that! HIDDEN FEES EVERYWHERE "AD tax" marks up everything. $12 meals elsewhere cost $16 here. Same for retail. Not transparent at all. MALL IS ACTUALLY SMALL What makes it "big" are experiences (Big Snow, Nickelodeon Universe), not stores. Large upscale section is always empty but nice to sit in. Actual store selection is limited. But also with the hidden tax I don't feel comfortable shopping jere at all. TRAFFIC IS DANGEROUS MetLife event days: traffic attendants are hostile, won't let you through. I was just trying to pick up my boyfriend from work. My partner has a metal rod in his spine and had to walk 5 blocks in between cars with these traffic attendants cursing at us and screaming to meet me & my car on the street (no sidewalks) because I couldn't reach him because of stupid MetLife and their events affecting mall patrons. Traffic employees screamed at us all the way until leaving. Absolutely horrible. Genuinely dangerous having that many people landlocked with zero proper management. Drop-off area exists (ground floor, not first) but NO signs, NO correct info given to anyone. I've directed confused guests/drivers countless times. Turnpike entrance frequently closed without warning or detour signs. Got lost multiple times that even the GPS couldn't keep up. DECLINING STANDARDS Mall was pristine in 2023. Now filthy from foot traffic. Motorized animals roam freely with entitled operators. There should be in designated area like bumper cars, not loose around patrons. Deck C has hidden speed bumps without warning jarring even at slow speeds. OVERALL Concept has potential but execution is disastrous. Predatory parking hidden fees, dangerous traffic management, prioritizes money and Met life over actual guests, declining cleanliness. They're clearly making desperate money grab attempts. Consumers deserve to know what they're walking into. If you still want to visit: avoid MetLife event days entirely, concert games whatever. Budget extra for hidden taxes, visit Big Snow off-peak only, pay for parking right before leaving, not inside the mall, have GPS backup plans. One regret: never saw the aquarium (supposedly it's really cool). Everything else I can live without. My boyfriend has left Big SNOW a few months back because that's a whole other issue of itself. And I'm so thankful I never have to pick him up from this mall or deal with American Dream traffic again. It's traumatizing at best! read more

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Let's just say this place is overwhelming! Overwhelmed is prob an understatement. Went to visit friends in Jersey and they suggested the mall, but clearly I didn't know what I was getting myself into. The amount of activities there is to do here exceeds any expectation. You could never come here and state "I'm bored." That's unheard of here. They have something for everybody from the smallest to the oldest. You need a day if not two to explore the wonders of this massive mall. The next time I visit, it's a must to attend Nickelodeon Park. I want to get slimed (pure nostalgia). Bring your walking shoes. Remember where you parked. Enjoy yourself. read more

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I'm not going to post pictures because just imagine any mall magnified by a million. Then add an amusement park and an escape room, water park, etc. It's cool because of the attractions but it is a fortune of money for each event. This is NOT a cost friendly activity center. You will pay for parking and you will pay amusement park prices for the activities. The mall itself is a nice place to walk with plenty of restaurants both fancy and food court type. It's a nice place to come and shop and hang out for a bit. But, for me, it is a bit of a trip, so I doubt I'll be returning. read more

Familia!! Wow!! Talk bout Malls of Malls!! This spot has it ALL!! N a little bit of everything for everyone! Any store, from super Bougie to not soo bougie, this spot has all sorts of restaurants, stores, and the BEST PART!!! Roller Coaster n a whole theme park for kids, an indoor water park!!! N the BEST thing yet, they have a mountain of snow!!! They had a ski ring! What a fun spot! read more

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We have been to this mall many times since it opened! I call it my happy place! I just love the atmosphere. I love the decor in the upscale section (The Avenue) and the energy throughout. It feels as though every area of the mall has its own personality - and there is so much to do! We have been to the Mall of America in Minnesota, owned by the same company, and we like American Dream better! It's impossible to cover everything in a single review. Here are some of my must-do activities: Nickelodeon universe - if you like roller coasters, ride the tallest indoor coaster in the U.S. You can pay per ride if you don't want to ride everything, or save money and ride all day with pay one price. A must for little kids and coaster fanatics, alike. Activate - a fun, hands on family activity with games of skill, speed, balance and coordination. Hasbro arcade - it's pricey but worth a stop. We weren't thrilled with the food there. Yard house - yes, it's a chain. But high quality, reasonably priced food and an extensive craft beer selection. Worth it!! House of Que - one of my favorite spots for lunch! Not fancy, just tasty. One of 2 locations in the state. Around the Clock - great food! Generous portions! Service is spotty so expect that. LEGO experience - great fun for little kids and LEGO fanatics. Sea Life Aquarium - one of several across the U.S. ... it's small but worth a stop! Angry bird mini golf - a family favorite!! Black light mini golf - super cool space theme, feels slightly less challenging than angry bird. There are so many other activities we haven't even tried yet and we've been visiting for 5 years since it opened! In addition to the usual selection of stores, American Dream has a Toys R Us, ItSugar, Uniqlo, Altar'd State, and many other stores you won't find everywhere, including a lot of small anime, Asian-inspired, and pop culture stores with snacks, Hello Kitty merch, and more. We visited during this Christmas to walk around. It does get extremely crowded but it's spacious enough that it's usually manageable even at peak times. I give the mall 4 stars just because it's hard for a mall this size to be perfect. Attractions are pricey. And it's virtually impossible to see, do (and eat) everything even over multiple visits. This mall is truly a universe unto itself! read more

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Better late than never with this review. When I went to American Dream Mall it was overhyped and overcrowded (during end of the year holiday season). It's an enormous open space with plenty to do and see. I love the options for kids! I have yet to make it on the food court side of things. But I did see the ice skating rink, retail spaces, Nickelodeon amusement, etc. Be prepared to do a lot of walking! And of course, parking is not free. read more

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The second largest mall in USA ! We have always planned to visit this place and see the magnitude of this mall... fantastic products and lots and lots of shops .. Parking in the small is a big headache and also time-consuming, especially on weekends and peak hours... the mall is slightly away from South Jersey and Central Jersey within an hour drive.. It's still worth a visit once in six months... You name it , you have it .. kids play area , nice branded shops , cafeteria, water park , food courts .. many places were crowded when we went ! It's a long walk from one side to another . Kids liked it . Expensive shops and activities though. Very slow service in many of the outlets.. the food was actually good . Good experience overall .. 4 stars .. read more

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We visited American Dream Mall during spring break with the kids, and it was an amazing experience from start to finish! There is so much to do it's way more than just a mall. Between the shopping, entertainment, and attractions, the kids stayed excited the entire time. Highlights for us included Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park and DreamWorks Water Park both were a huge hit and worth every minute. The mall itself is clean, spacious, and very family-friendly. Even though it was busy because of spring break, it didn't feel overwhelming, and there were plenty of places to sit, eat, and relax. Food options were great too something for everyone, including picky eaters. Parking was easy, and everything was well organized, which made navigating with kids so much smoother. Overall, this was the perfect spring break outing. If you're looking for a place that keeps kids entertained while giving adults plenty to enjoy too, American Dream is definitely worth the trip! read more

American Dream - Shopping Centers Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

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Parking was a headache. Food court was pretty standard but loads of options. Great luxury row of store brands. It was honestly overwhelming as a first time walk through. It was a lot to take in but there is so much entertainment in here you can't lose. Definitely want to plan a trip back just to go to the Big Snow & Waterpark read more

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The Rico Rico Festival was packed with happy, festive, and hungry patrons. There were many vendors/food trucks encompassing everything from cuisines to apparel. The festival even had a large stage, with performers and DJ's, entertaining the crowds. As much as I was happy to have won the tickets to attend, I don't need to return to this festival. read more

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Took a charter bus down to see the American Dream. No, not the desist professional wrestler, but the Mall/Entertainment complex. And it is something to behold. Just an amazing complex that is relatively easy to navigate. There were a lot of people there, but the place is so spread out it's not hard to navigate. There's something for everyone here, and even just walking around and taking in the sites and sounds is a fun time. Definitely something you should check out. My complaint would be unsupervised kids riding around the motorized animals racing around and crashing into people, but it is what it is. read more

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This mall is on another level. My husband and I have now visited a handful of times, and each time we discover something new. Part of the reason for that is because this is a behemoth structure, with tons of name brands, stores for every kind of shopper, and attractions for all ages. The other reason I'm always finding new things is because different parts of the mall are still being built. I spotted several announcements for both well-known and unfamiliar brands that would be moving in during upcoming seasons, and other signs for expansions. As a food-lover, I've been frequently overwhelmed at how many options are presented throughout different parts of the mall. There's a food court dedicated to Asian food next to the Hmart on the first floor, another food court one escalator ride up from there, and yet another cavernous food hall on the floor above that. That's not even mentioning the various restaurants and bars sprinkled throughout different corners of the mall. The attractions are aplenty, and you can spot them even on your drive into the parking garages. You can see the looming Ferris Wheel from the highway, then the ramp for the indoor ski/snowboarding slope as you approach the parking complexes. Most well-known to visitors are the waterpark and Nickelodeon amusement park, but on our most recent visit, we also discovered a new mini-golf area, an arcade, and the indoor ice skating rink. Need a Band-Aid while having too much fun? There's even a Walgreens downstairs! So why the three stars? Firstly, the crowds. On weekends, I'm fighting with throngs of Jerseyans for parking, seats in the food court, and bumping into lots of people as I navigate the different parts. It can be a little overstimulating. Signage can be pretty poor or non-existent, both in the mall and in the parking lots, which is surprising since it seems like a basic planning strategy for such a labyrinthine structure. I've also generally found attractions to be pretty expensive for what they are. That said, this mall could be considered a tourist attraction for its sheer size and diverse offering of things to do. read more

American Dream - Shopping Centers Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

My first visit to American Dream. Had plans to go a few times but they never quite worked out. Obviously we didn't get to cover the whole place because I really feel like you need two days to see everything without feeling rushed about. We came by to kill time during the day of the Oasis concert and it was just that. Our dog had a blast walking about and listening to Oasis being played through speakers throughout the mall. Lots of shops. Typical shops, specialty shops, don't forget the water park and amusement park. It was an enjoyable visit. read more

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If you doubled King of Prussia (Philly mall) with 2 Hershey Parks you might get about half of American Dream Mall. The place is HUGE and you will need more than a day to cover it all if you want to do the waterpark, amusement park, etc. My review is soley based on the mall aspect. Parking is fairly easy as long as you know what hall to look for. We were there for a Gundam pop up and knew we needed Hall A. Luckily we saw some fellow collectors and they confirmed we parked in the right lot and gave us directions to the event. The event itself took up almost an entire hallway, crowds everywhere. Luckily I had tickets for a 1pm time slot to shop so we walked arouth the other exhibits waiting. Cue 1pm we shop and take our haul back to the car. With $5 Plus tax flat rate parking why not explore! We also went to the hololive popup and just general shopping. It was nice to see shoppes I dont have at home like Toys R Us, Bandai, H Mart, Ebisu, etc but it was overwhelming just how large this place is. Food court was a treck to the third floor but just look for the Coca Cola food area there's a good selection While I had fun if the gundamn and hololive pop up shops weren't happening, I'd go again for another event but i go read more

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My local mall! Amazing services just not from some ulta workers. Best restaurant there is probably Yard house read more

American Dream - Restaurants and stores - Shopping Centers Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

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Giant mall with a wing with luxury items and other sections for regular mall stores. It's a great place to get your steps in and escape the outdoor weather conditions. As of May 2026 Covered Parking is $6. read more

This mall has everything. It's actually insane. You can spend two solid days on this mall, maybe more. Tons of shops, there is a luxury side of the mall. Multiple food courts. Tons of activities! Ice skating, laser tag, amusement park, water park and more. Definitely prepare in advance with swimwear, causal wear and money to spend. I loved it. Driving there is the easiest. Only downside is I went with public transportation and it was kind of a nightmare. Being so close to the metro area it should be easier to get there. Staff at MetLife told me to walk the highway and Google recommended the same. Need a solution to this one for more foot traffic. read more

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Now that American Dream is filling up with stores and looks more like a mall than a sarcophagus, I still wonder what's the point when most of the stores are mall staples that in other zip codes don't require paid parking and the hassle of transportation gridlock. Sure, you can ski and sunbathe but there's little to justify a visit unless you live in Bergen or adjacent counties. American Dream is improving but I couldn't imagine holiday shopping here when New Jersey is for all intents and purposes, just one big strip mall interrupted by refineries. Three basic stars. read more

Now that I've been to the American Dream mall a good handful of times I feel like I can adequately review it. I've seen this mall when it was being built as Xanadu and all the in between times. I never imagined that it would actually open one day. While it has some fun options that obviously other malls do not have, it is just not all it's cracked up to be. First off, yes this mall is GINORMOUS! I don't think I've even seen everything it has to offer. From really high end stores, to just your every day stores, it has everything. It even has a huge Toys R Us! But as someone stated in their review, most of the stores at the American Dream, are stores you can find up the road at the Garden State Plaza. And you don't need to pay for parking there! And it's a more manageable mall - still pretty huge though. I get lost there as well. haha. If you are going to the American Dream to shop, I'd skip it because it's such a hassle to park and then navigate. BUT, if you are going for any of the other amenities it offers then sure, go for it! The American Dream has an indoor ski slope, an amusement park, a waterpark, an indoor skating rink (which converts from ice to roller at different times), a huge ferris wheel, many "museum" type venues (like Tilt, Bubble Planet, immersive type spaces), an aquarium, a small LEGO Land, Ninja Kidz Action Park, and so much more. Parking is $5.00 (I remember when it was going to be $30!), which isn't awful if you spend a good amount of time there. I know they also have events there, like music events and different performances. There are some standalone restaurants like the Yard House and Mr. Beast to name a few and also a food court that is kinda meh. Yes, the American Mall is definitely an experience that everyone should try. But it is certainly not a, "let's go to the mall to walk around and browse" type of mall. read more

I love all of the stores here and the post construction interior. It is gorgeous with the new decorations. The bathrooms are clean. If you drive, it gets really hard to find parking on the weekends so do plan your days ahead!! read more

This mall is so big! I cannot finish the whole mall at all in one day! Maybe give me a few days and I would be able to finish the entire mall. Mall is a huge stretch and takes forever to get to the parking to the Nickelodeon Universe Park, which is at the end of the mall. Mall got a lot of good shops that I always go to like Uniqlo, H&M, and Victoria's Secret. Cannot believe they got Toys R Us in this mall because I could barely get to one since they closed their flagship at Times Square and there's no Toys R Us in NYC anymore so thankfully American Dream has one! The food court in my opinion is not that big enough especially when it comes to cheap and affordable bites. It does not have a great variety too. They mainly have a lot of dine in restaurants where you have to remain in the restaurant. Towards the parking lot side of the mall is the fancier section of the mall called, "The Avenue" filled with nice wallpaper depicting of luxury. The artwork includes columns, doves, colorful vibrant patterns, pearls, plants, pianos, and many more that reminds you of being in a garden with fountains. Very beautiful artwork. There is also fancy velvet furniture throughout the whole Avenue with fancy lighting and statues that light up. The Avenue is a nice section to hang out and just unwind in one of the sofas or chairs. Very clean and quiet with somewhat chilly central air all around you to give you this relaxing feeling. There is literally not that many people and noise as the other sections of the mall. This mall got 3 floors that I still did not finish. I might finish the rest of the mall in my next trip here. There are many good shops all in one place unlike the shops and malls in NYC where I'm from that are all scattered around. Sucks that you got to drive here or take a bus here from the port authority to get to this mall. But it's worth the trip to have everything in one place. read more

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The second largest mall in America lives up to its name of being more than just a mall, with an indoor skating rink, ski slope with lifts, water park, summer-fair-sized theme park, full sized (think Dave and Busters) arcade with laser tag, acquarium, two 18-hole mini golf courses, two main food courts and a lot more sit-down restaurants and bars than your average mall. For families with young children, you could basically take a long weekend vacation here. As a mall, it's square footage is expansive, though I felt less impressive in range of product than I expected, but to be honest, I didn't walk into all the stores. Nearby the main entertainment options it looked like there were still a lot of retail spaces that could be built out and were currently unoccupied, guessing because potential tenants felt customers would be visually preoccupied with checking out the fun activities? The luxury "Avenue" section was surprisingly smaller (less stores) than I imagined. The number of food options was pleasantly higher and more diverse than I had initially assumed. You can find something to satisfy everyone's palate. From traditional mall food like Cinnabon and your bourbon chicken Chinese takeout, to the full Korean food court, Peruvian, Taiwanese, Italian, German Mediterranean donner, Szechuan, Latin, and American surf and turf, not to mention a number of other dessert and drink spots. Located in East Rutherford, it's neighbors with Met Life Stadium. Other than that there's not a lot directly around--the mall is really the main attraction. Most people choose to drive and they have football fields upon football fields (really much larger than American football fields...shall we say soccer fields) worth of parking. I can see how one could get lost navigating the structures and lots. There is public transportation available from NYC, in the form of public buses that depart from Port Authority, which stop in front of the mall or within a 15 minute walk. The direct bus #355 departs every hour on the hour from 8am on the weekends and indirect buses #160, 161 anywhere between every 40-60+ minutes between buses, with less frequency of weekdays. It's about 25-30 minutes away depending on the traffic. American Dream is also large enough of an attraction that some tour services offer buses and day trip tickets. read more

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Visiting American Dream on a whim was a relaxing and fun experience. I didn't have any grandkids with me so my +1and I attended this YES all-star affair. I won't bore you with small details but just believe me when I say, this mall has everything, hence the name! I had a fantastic time window shopping next time I come I'll be better prepared to shop and walk more. I did see a couple of sweet treats I really wanted but I didn't feel like walking back to the location. The, nick, nick, nick, Nickelodeon was very interesting. read more

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There is a parking free is your drive in. This mall is big easy to get a lost. Its great to come and explore on the stores. read more

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Loved this mall! So much here! You can snow ski, visit a NJ Hall of Fame museum, ice skate, and so much more. Lots of family and kid activities. Not to mention great seating photo ops, etc. it's a beautiful place. Numerous places to eat and drink. Not to mention ruin great shopping! So many designer stores along with many others ranging from H Mary, kids clothing, UGGS, and many other affordable options. As for designers they have Saks, Hermes, D&G, Cartier, Gucci, Rolex, Ferrari, and on and on. The kids loved it and we loved it. There was truly something for everyone. read more

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