Plan Would Bring Housing, Beer Garden To Former NJ Mall: Reports

VOORHEES, NJ - Plans to redevelop the former site of the Echelon Mall reportedly include a mix of homes and commercial use, including the possibility for beer gardens, breweries and indoor sports complex.

The plan, put together by Brandywine Financial Services Corp. and Voorhees Township officials, also calls for the complex to retain all existing commercial uses and tenants, the Courier Post reports. Boscov’s is not included in the plan. Specific proposals will go before the Voorhees Planning Board in April.

Brandywine purchased the former Echelon Mall, located near the intersection of Somerdale and Burnt Mill roads in Voorhees, for an undisclosed price in December, according to nj.com. Officials said the former owners had neglected the property, and it could have become a nuisance had it been allowed to continue to deteriorate.

The Echelon Mall was built in 1970, and was the second biggest mall in the area, behind the Cherry Hill Mall. The amusement park Exhilarama was built in 1992. A movie theater was later built in the same place. However, once both those places closed, the mall began to decline.

The mall was rebranded as the Voorhees Town Center in 2007. It includes a space for township services, and municipal and county government meetings are held in that building. There is also an adjacent area for restaurants, housing and other businesses, none of which would be impacted by the deal, according to published reports.

Photo credit: Anthony Bellano