New York City is renowned for its world-class shopping, but less so for its malls. The city is dense, spaces are small, and it doesn’t seem like the sort of place you’d find a giant, sprawling shopping complex—but they do exist. Some are tucked deep in the concrete jungle of Manhattan, while others take up expansive parts of outer boroughs. No matter which you prefer, if you’re looking to get some major shopping done, this guide is for you.
Westfield World Trade Center
Shopping Mall
The newest (and probably most expensive) shopping mall you’ll find in NYC—the Westfield World Trade Center shopping mall—is located inside the Oculus at the new World Trade Center Transportation Hub, also known as the most costly transportation center in the world. Opened in August of 2016, its architecture and interior design has already astounded visitors, and surely its 112 new shops will too.
One of the few shopping malls on the island of Manhattan, The Shops At Columbus Circle is a huge shopping center with all the luxury brands you could hope for. It’s also home to a massive Whole Foods, conveniently connected to three subway lines, and adjacent to Central Park. With all of this there’s no reason not to visit, and if you get hungry you can head to Per Se—one of NYC’s most luxurious restaurants.
A gigantic mall in one of NYC’s easily-accessible boroughs, Queens Place Mall is where to go when you’re looking to hit all the mega stores in one trip. It’s home to Target, Best Buy, Designer Shoe Warehouse, and Macy’s, making this 440,000-square-foot (40, 877-square-meter) complex truly a one-stop shop.
Located in Jersey City, the Newport Centre is an enormous three-story complex that offers department stores, smaller shops, and a food court. Due to the reduced taxes in New Jersey, the prices here are much lower than across the river, making the PATH train trip more than worth it. And once you get tired of shopping, head to their AMC movie theater to catch a film.
This small mall near Herald Square is directly connected to the subway station, so access couldn’t be easier. It’s also home to the PATH station, so trips to and from New Jersey are easy. It’s a half block from the Empire State Building, meaning visitors come for the shopping and stick around for sight seeing. Currently, the Manhattan Mall’s major store is JC Penney—the first outpost in NYC.
Not surprisingly, other boroughs besides Manhattan are much more accommodating to large malls, and the Staten Island Mall off the southern tip of the city is no exception. Along with all the stores you could ever want, this mall also has a wonderful greenmarket where you can shop for produce.
The Shops at Atlas Park is a mall in Queens with an unexpected outdoor garden and patio space. The building itself is also much more appealing than most malls, with its neo-classical architecture making the whole experience of shopping here more pleasant. Come here to wander the gardens, do some shopping, and escape the hustle of the city.
