From 1,400 new homes at Garden State Plaza to the completion of Vermella Paramus, Bergen County’s retail landscape is officially shifting
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, For decades, Paramus, NJ, has been the undisputed “shopping mecca” of the Tri-State area. But as online retail reshapes the world, the borough isn’t just surviving—it’s evolving. Three of the most iconic malls in North Jersey are currently undergoing a radical transformation, swapping vacant storefronts for luxury apartments and vibrant mixed-use spaces.
Here is the latest update on the “Big Three” mall redevelopments and what it means for Bergen County residents in 2026.
1. Vermella Paramus: Luxury Living at Paramus Park (Opening Summer 2026)
The wait is almost over for the first major residential project at a Paramus mall. Vermella Paramus, located right next to the Paramus Park Mall and the new Valley Hospital, is nearing the finish line.
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The Details: Two mixed-use buildings featuring 360 apartments (1, 2, and 3-bedroom options).
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The Timeline: One building is slated for completion in April 2026, with the second following in June 2026.
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Bonus: The site will include 8,000 square feet of its own retail space, making it a true “plug-and-play” community for professionals working at the nearby hospital.
2. Bergen Chapters: The Future of Bergen Town Center (2027)
The project formerly known as the Bergen Town Center redevelopment now has a name: Bergen Chapters. Russo Development and KRE Group are transforming the east side of the property (formerly home to Red Robin and REI).
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The Vision: Two five-story buildings housing 426 units.
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Affordability: The project includes a mix of market-rate and affordable housing, helping the borough meet state mandates.
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The Timeline: Construction is expected to wrap up in late 2027.
3. Westfield Garden State Plaza: The Crown Jewel
The most ambitious project of the three is just getting started. The redevelopment of Westfield Garden State Plaza is a multi-year master plan that could eventually bring up to 1,400 new homes to the site.
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Status: An official groundbreaking is expected in the coming weeks.
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Impact: This project aims to turn the state’s most famous mall into a 24/7 “town square” with green space, transit access, and high-end residential living.
Why Paramus? The “Forward-Thinking” Hub
While mall redevelopments have stalled in other parts of New Jersey, Paramus is thriving. According to Russo Development CEO Ed Russo, the borough’s 2016 zoning changes were the catalyst.
By allowing mixed-use development along the Route 4 and Route 17 corridors, Paramus solved two problems at once:
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Surviving the Retail Apocalypse: Adding residents creates a built-in customer base for mall tenants.
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Affordable Housing: Utilizing mall parking lots for housing helps the borough fulfill state obligations without encroaching on quiet residential neighborhoods.
“Paramus was very forward-thinking in the zoning they did years ago. It’s really been a vibrant retail community for many years, and this adds to that vibrance.” — Ed Russo, CEO of Russo Development
At a Glance: The Paramus Mall Makeover
| Project Name | Location | Units | Expected Completion |
| Vermella Paramus | Paramus Park Mall | 360 | Summer 2026 |
| Bergen Chapters | Bergen Town Center | 426 | Late 2027 |
| Garden State Plaza | GSP | ~1,400 | Multi-year Phase |
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Tags: #ParamusNJ #BergenCounty #NJRealEstate #GardenStatePlaza #ParamusPark #UrbanPlanning #NewJerseyLiving
No it’s not the death of the mall. It does however, represent another nail in the coffin of home ownership for young families of the middle class.
Look around Paramus, and virtually every town you travel through, and what do you see being built?
First, you see massive rental apartment buildings… many that look like small cities, owned and operated by equally massive real estate holding corporations, where rents are easily exceeding $4000.00 per month, trapping young families who may be lucky enough to afford them, into a cycle of renting, virtually impossible to escape for all but huge earners.
Then, in residential neighborhoods, you see modest homes; Those that were once known as “starter homes” being gobbled up by developers for nearly a million dollars, razed, and replaced by 6 bedroom-6 bath, $2 and $3 million dollar behemoths.
And third, what you can’t see, are the single and small multi-family dwellings being purchased by other real estate holding companies that turn around and rent these properties out, driving prices for those remaining capes, ranches, split levels and the like out of reach for many young buyers.
The big shiny Vermellas and giant McMansions look impressive enough, but only when you dig below their foundations, can you see the bigger picture of what I believe has become the slow drip of a government-engineered death by a thousand cuts of home ownership for all but the wealthy.
New Jersey politicians sold out to big money/big donor developers all ironically under the guise of “affordable housing”
Remember those “affordable” units only remain in the affordable inventory for about 15 years +/- then back into market rate inventory they go 💰
Curiously since Mt Laurel and COAH mandates the state of NJ has kept ZERO records 📝about the total number of units built, how many affordable or the number of affordable units that moved into market rate inventory
The biggest scam in the history of NJ
New Jersey politicians sold out to big money/big donor developers all ironically under the guise of “affordable housing”
Remember those “affordable” units only remain in the affordable inventory for about 15 years then back into market rate inventory
Curiously the state has kept zero records about the total number of units built, how many in and out of affordable
The biggest scam in the history of NJ
Whenever I hear the word “vibrant,” I want to reach for my ………………
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Traffic is awful already. . . . going to be 20 times worse . . .
Additionally, who is going to pay for the additional schools, teachers, policemen/women, fire department members?
You are ONLY a taxpayer. Your job is to PAY and SHUT UP.
You should see Rock Road in Glen Rock during rush hour. On top of that you have two train crossings within a quarter mile…………………………
Yep a massive back-up of 10 cars
Try Lincoln Avenue all the way to the Bergen county line tracks
The only thing missing from local highways was thousands more cars. What a relief!
Raising your kids in a mall parking lot. Wow!