Von Maur Department Stores announced Dec. 16 plans to open an anchor store at Macerich’s Freehold Raceway Mall in Freehold, with an anticipated opening in Fall 2027 as part of the Davenport, Iowa-based department store chain’s national expansion, swimming against the tide of brick-and-mortar retrenchment in the retail industry.
The new location will mark the company’s first store in New Jersey, expanding its presence in the Northeast. Von Maur would be taking the space formerly occupied by Nordstrom at Freehold Raceway Mall. Nordstrom closed that store in 2020.
Von Maur, recognized as America’s Best Department Store by Newsweek for four straight years, is known for its selection of brand-name and specialty apparel, shoes, accessories, and gifts.
The three-level, approximately 164,000-square-foot Von Maur location will offer products from brands including Dagne Dover, Marine Layer, Bobbi Brown, Rhone, UNRL, Vuori, Peter Millar, TravisMathew, Hammitt, Varley, Marc Jacobs, Free People, Happy Camp3r, and Liverpool Los Angeles, among others.
“We are thrilled to bring the Von Maur experience to Central New Jersey,” said Jim von Maur, president and fourth-generation leader of Von Maur Department Stores, which was founded in 1872 in downtown Davenport, Iowa. “Freehold Raceway Mall is the area’s premier shopping destination, and we look forward to joining its vibrant retail community. As we continue to expand across the country, this new location represents an exciting milestone for our company.”
A spokesperson for Von Maur said the company chose Freehold Township, specifically Freehold Raceway Mall, because it would be a good fit. The area is family-focused and has an established retail market that Von Maur can contribute to.”
The Freehold Von Maur store will employ about 150 full-time and part-time associates.
“Von Maur is a best-in-class anchor that serves as a catalyst for our Freehold center and underscores our commitment to bring elevated brands that complement our retail mix,” said Jack Hsieh, president and CEO, Macerich. “Von Maur’s addition reinforces Macerich’s Path Forward strategy to deliver new anchor tenants that have clearly demonstrated the ability to drive traffic and sales across a property.”
The new Von Maur store will be located at the intersection of Route 9 and Business Route 33, across from the former site of the Freehold Raceway. The Von Maur store will be an anchor tenant in the space previously occupied by Nordstrom and will feature the company’s residential ambiance, plush furnishings, open-floor plan and live music from the store’s grand piano.
Leading up to the grand opening, Von Maur will roll out an extensive marketing campaign to help introduce itself to the community.
Once the Freehold store is complete, Von Maur will have 40 department store locations across the country. Building upon this successful growth, the company is also undergoing a multi-phased, $100 million renovation of its existing stores over the next five years.
