By Joshua Burd
Barneys New York has agreed to lease about 50,000 square feet at the American Dream complex, the latest high-end retailer to sign on to the massive shopping and entertainment complex in East Rutherford.
Developer Triple Five Group announced Wednesday that the iconic luxury brand would be coming to the long-awaited, 3 million-square-foot project when it opens later this year. The store, known as Barneys New York at American Dream, will be the company’s only flagship location in New Jersey.
The location will also feature a new edition of Barneys’ signature restaurant, Freds at Barneys New York, which is known for its Italian-inspired and modern American menu and collaborations such as a designer burger series.
“We are thrilled to open our newest Barneys New York location at American Dream, a truly one-of-a-kind experiential retail environment,” Daniella Vitale, CEO and president of Barneys New York, said in a prepared statement. “Barneys New York at American Dream will be a creative destination for modern luxury, entertainment, and food. With our designer edit, unique activations, and sophisticated dining at Freds at Barneys New York, Barneys will provide a singular experience for guests at American Dream.”
Plans for the store call for “a creative venue with a variety of entertainment features, innovative spaces and experiential activations,” according to a news release. The two-story location will include an assortment of luxury women’s, men’s, beauty, home and kid’s selections as part of The Collections, American Dream’s curated luxury shopping wing.
Meantime, the new Freds at Barneys location will be located on level two and feature extensive patio seating for an open-air dining experience.
“Barneys New York is iconic and a prime example of a brand that defines and embodies the true spirit of The Collections,” said Don Ghermezian, president at American Dream. “Barneys New York has always been at the forefront of fashion, offering their customers an unparalleled assortment of exclusive brands from around the globe.
“Together, American Dream and Barneys New York will redefine the customer experience with a forward thinking and uniquely modern approach.”
American Dream sits within the Meadowlands Sports Complex at the nexus of the New Jersey Turnpike, Route 3 and Route 120, where Triple Five has ramped up construction over the past year. The Edmonton-based, family-owned developer took over the shell of the failed former Xanadu project in 2011 and has set out to create a one-of-a-kind destination for shopping, dining and entertainment.
Barneys will join a roster that also includes Saks Fifth Avenue and some 450 retail, food and specialty shops. Other plans call for 18 acres of entertainment, including North America’s largest fully enclosed indoor DreamWorks Water Park and Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park, along with a 16-story Big Snow Indoor Ski & Snow Park and a host of other operators.
Food and beverage offerings will be anchored by a dining terrace with more than 15 full-service restaurants and two 18-hole miniature golf attractions.
Triple Five, the owner of the Mall of America in Minnesota and the West Edmonton Mall, is banking on its ability to attract visitors from the surrounding 21 million residents and nearly 63 million domestic and international tourists that arrive annually. The surrounding highway network serves more than 100 million vehicles annually.
