Driving down Route 4 in New Jersey is usually a nightmare of brake lights and aggressive lane changes. You’ve probably done it a thousand times, cursing the traffic while trying to figure out which exit actually leads to the store you need. Nestled right in the heart of this retail chaos is Paramus Place shopping center, a spot that often gets overshadowed by the massive presence of the Garden State Plaza or the IKEA across the way. But honestly? If you’re a local or just someone who hates the idea of walking three miles inside a mega-mall just to buy a pair of socks, this strip mall is basically a lifesaver.
It isn't flashy. It doesn’t have a choreographed fountain or a luxury cinema. What it does have is a layout that makes sense and stores people actually use on a Tuesday night.
The Reality of Shopping at Paramus Place Shopping Center
Most people think of Paramus and immediately envision the sprawling parking lots of Westfield Garden State Plaza. That’s fine for a Saturday afternoon when you want to people-watch, but Paramus Place shopping center serves a completely different purpose. It’s a power center. In the world of commercial real estate, that’s just a fancy way of saying "a bunch of big stores in a row with plenty of parking."
You’ve got the heavy hitters here. Kohl’s is the anchor that seems to keep the whole ecosystem moving. It’s massive. Whether you’re returning an Amazon package—which, let’s be real, is why half of us go there anyway—or hunting for a specific kitchen gadget, it’s the dominant force. Then there’s Burlington. It’s one of those places where you either find nothing or you find a designer jacket for forty bucks and feel like you’ve won the lottery.
The mix is intentional. Urban Edge Properties, the real estate investment trust that manages the site, keeps the tenant list focused on "value-oriented" retail. They aren't trying to compete with Neiman Marcus. They’re competing for your grocery list and your back-to-school budget.
Why the Location is Both a Blessing and a Curse
Accessing the center can be... tricky. If you aren't familiar with the way Route 4 and Route 17 interact, you might find yourself doing three U-turns just to get into the parking lot. It’s located at 165 Route 4 West.
Because it’s right on that westward stretch, you have to be in the correct lane well before you see the sign. If you miss it, you’re headed toward River Edge or Hackensack before you can blink. But once you’re in? The parking is surprisingly manageable compared to the mall across the street. It’s a flat lot. You park, you walk twenty feet, you’re in the store.
The Stores You’ll Actually Visit
Let’s talk about the lineup. Beyond Kohl’s and Burlington, there’s a PetSmart. If you have a dog, this is likely your home base. They do grooming and training there, and it’s usually buzzing with people trying to keep their Golden Retrievers from knocking over the fish tanks.
There’s also an A.C. Moore—well, there was. Since A.C. Moore shuttered, that space has seen shifts, reflecting the broader trend of how retail is changing in Bergen County. You see more service-oriented spots popping up.
Ashley Store (formerly Ashley HomeStore) takes up a significant chunk of the square footage. It’s funny how furniture shopping has shifted. People used to go to specialized galleries, but now, having a massive showroom right next to a place where you can buy cat food is just convenient. It works.
- Kohl’s: The central hub for clothing and Amazon returns.
- Burlington: High-volume discount shopping that requires some patience.
- PetSmart: Full-service pet supplies and grooming.
- Ashley Store: Large-scale furniture browsing.
Eating Around the Perimeter
You aren't going to Paramus Place shopping center for a five-course meal. You’re going because you’re hungry after shopping for three hours. The food options are exactly what you’d expect from a high-traffic Jersey strip: fast and reliable.
There’s a Panera Bread. It’s the universal "I need a salad and some Wi-Fi" spot. You’ll see students, remote workers, and tired parents there at almost any hour. It’s consistent. Sometimes consistency is better than a Michelin star when you just want a bread bowl.
The "Blue Law" Factor Nobody Mentions
If you aren't from Bergen County, the Blue Laws will catch you off guard. It’s one of the last places in the country where almost everything non-essential is closed on Sundays.
Paramus Place shopping center becomes a ghost town on Sunday. You can get food. You might be able to get some very specific services. But the retail stores? Locked up tight. This creates a weird Saturday rush. Everyone in a thirty-mile radius realizes they need something on Saturday at 4:00 PM, and the traffic becomes a physical manifestation of stress.
Expert tip: If you can go on a Tuesday morning, do it. The experience is night and day. You can actually hear yourself think while browsing the aisles at Burlington.
Understanding the Economics of the Area
Why is this specific patch of land so valuable? It’s the density. Paramus is widely considered one of the top retail ZIP codes in the entire United States. The household income in the surrounding areas—places like Ridgewood, Oradell, and Glen Rock—is high.
Retailers want to be here because the "spend" is there. According to market data from the Bergen County Economic Development Corporation, the retail sales per capita in Paramus are astronomical. Paramus Place doesn't need to be the prettiest center; it just needs to be in the path of the commuters.
Urban Edge Properties knows this. They’ve invested in keeping the facades clean and the lighting bright. When a tenant leaves, the space doesn't stay empty for long. In a world where people say "retail is dead," Paramus is the outlier that proves it’s just evolving.
Navigating the Traffic Patterns
Don't just trust your GPS blindly when approaching the center. If you are coming from the East (heading West on Route 4), the turn-in is abrupt.
If you’re coming from Route 17 North or South, you have to navigate the cloverleaf turns. It’s a rite of passage for New Jersey drivers. Honestly, the best way to handle it is to stay in the right lane as soon as you pass the Forest Avenue exit.
The exit for Paramus Place is right there. If you find yourself on the bridge over the highway, you’ve gone too far.
Comparisons to Nearby Centers
How does it stack up?
The Garden State Plaza is for the "experience."
The Paramus Park Mall is for the "nostalgia" and the Stew Leonard’s (which is amazing, by the way).
Paramus Place shopping center is for the "mission."
You go there when you have a list. You go there when you need a specific item from Kohl's or a new dog leash. It’s functional. There is a certain beauty in a shopping center that doesn't try to be a lifestyle destination. It’s just a place to buy things.
Practical Steps for Your Next Visit
If you’re planning a trip, here is how you do it without losing your mind:
Check the hours, then check them again. Because of the Blue Laws, Sunday is a wash for shopping. Most stores open at 10:00 AM.
Use the back exits. Many people try to pull straight back out onto Route 4. That’s a mistake. There are ways to navigate through the back of the parking lots to hit side streets like Spring Valley Road. It takes longer but saves your blood pressure.
Combine your errands. Since PetSmart, Kohl’s, and Burlington are all right there, park in the middle. The lot is big enough that you don't want to keep moving your car, but small enough to walk between the anchors.
The Amazon Return Hack. If you’re going to Kohl’s for an Amazon return, do it as soon as they open. The line gets incredibly long by midday, especially on Saturdays. Plus, they usually give you a coupon for the store when you return an item, so you might end up spending money anyway.
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Paramus Place shopping center isn't going anywhere. While online shopping has killed smaller malls, these high-density power centers are thriving. They offer the one thing the internet can’t: the ability to walk in, touch a product, and take it home ten minutes later. In the hyper-fast world of North Jersey, that’s the ultimate luxury.
Stop thinking of it as just another strip mall on Route 4. It’s a strategic asset for anyone living in Bergen County. It’s the place that has what you need when you don't have the energy to deal with the "big" mall.
Next time you're driving West and you see that sign, don't just pass it by. If you need a new rug, a toy for the dog, or just a decent sandwich, pull in. Just remember to use your blinker—this is New Jersey, after all.