Ashtyn Asay 
Some shoppers at Willowbrook Mall, located at 1400 Willowbrook in Wayne, will spend money before even stepping foot inside the shopping center thanks to a new paid parking option. While the majority of parking at the mall remains free, some parking closest to mall entrances was recently designated as “Preferred Paid Parking”. Read on for more about parking changes at the Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, NJ.
Parking at the Mall
Out of 7,700 parking spots at Willowbrook Mall, 119 of them, about 1.6%, have become “Preferred Paid Parking.” According to the payment page, paid parking will cost guests $2.45 for the first hour and $2 for each additional hour, with a daily maximum of $10. The paid parking area is managed by 12 Oaks Parking Services, a parking management service based in Roswell, Georgia, and will be enforced 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
According to the mall’s website, 10% of Willowbrook’s net proceeds from paid parking, excluding taxes and payment processing fees, will be donated to Child Focus Inc., a nonprofit organization with offices in Wayne and Elizabeth. According to the nonprofit’s website, Child Focus operates three programs under one organization, including The Court Appointed Special Advocates program of Passaic and Union Counties, which recruits, screens, trains, and supervises volunteer advocates for children in the child welfare system, the New Jersey Safe Babies Court Team program, which provides support to infants and toddlers and their families in the court system, and The Open Door Store program, which provides new clothing and personal care items for children in the welfare system.
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According to CBS News New York, the new parking program has prompted a range of opinions from shoppers. Some say the fee is a worthwhile tradeoff for the convenience, especially when dining or making a quick trip to the mall. One shopper told CBS she and a friend happily paid $4.45 for two hours because they wanted to park close to their destination. Others, however, feel shoppers shouldn’t have to pay for premium parking after already planning to spend money inside the mall. Several customers interviewed by CBS described the policy as unnecessary, with some suggesting the paid parking would make more sense during the busy holiday shopping season or at a discounted rate for local residents.
Representatives from Willowbrook Mall did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
About Willowbrook Mall
Willowbrook Mall opened to the public on September 24th, 1969. At the time, it was reported to be the world’s largest enclosed shopping center, with offerings such as Commonwealth Shoe & Leather Co., Custom Shirt Maker, Spencer Gifts, Sosin Jewelry, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Belle Fashion Shoppes, and even a pet store with a penguin on display.
Today, with over 170 stores, Willowbrook Mall is one of North Jersey’s most popular shopping destinations. The mall offers a mix of fashion, beauty, electronics, sporting goods, and dining options, including Sephora, Apple, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Fogo de Chão, and P.F. Chang’s.
The mall is open Monday through Thursday from 11AM to 8PM, Friday and Saturday from 11AM to 9PM, and Sunday from 11AM to 7PM.
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