A major transformation is on the horizon for Paramus Park mall as plans move forward to convert the upper level of its former Sears anchor space into a sprawling indoor adventure park. The incoming entertainment venue, operated by the adventure brand NRG, is scheduled to open its doors to the public next year, introducing an extensive lineup of dynamic physical activities, interactive games, and family-oriented amenities to the property located at 700 Paramus Park.
Real estate services company TSCG announced the milestone transaction after officially arranging and finalizing the commercial lease for the massive 59,000-square-foot facility. Under the newly completed arrangement, the indoor playground will occupy the upper tier of the vacant department store structure, positioning it directly above the 100,000-square-foot Stew Leonard's supermarket that currently anchors the lower level of the building footprint.
Designed to cater to children, teenagers, and family visitors, the conceptual layout for the Paramus location features a broad spectrum of high-energy physical challenges. Guests visiting the facility will have access to obstacle-laden ninja courses, dedicated climbing attractions, elevated rope courses, expansive trampoline zones, and zip lines, alongside specialized attractions such as indoor donut slides.
In addition to traditional obstacle and agility equipment, the entertainment complex is incorporating modern interactive technology into its venue design, featuring dedicated virtual-reality experiences. To accommodate group gatherings and celebrations, the park is also constructing extensive party facilities, with plans to host private birthday parties, large organized group outings, and community fundraising events.
Commercial real estate professionals involved in the transaction emphasized the rare physical characteristics and strategic value of the vacant department store layout. Jamie Sackeim, the broker with TSCG who represented the property's landlord throughout the negotiation process, described the expansive, open-concept floor plan as an exceptional find in today’s suburban retail real estate market.
According to Sackeim, securing a wide-open floor sitting immediately atop an established, high-traffic supermarket anchor provides an ideal environment for an experiential operator. The property also benefits from prominent frontage and direct accessibility along the Garden State Parkway, allowing the venue to capitalize on the substantial volume of families already passing through the shopping center's doors on a daily basis and further cementing the mall's status as a regional family destination.
The introduction of the high-capacity recreation venue marks a significant milestone for the shopping complex’s ownership team. The retail asset, officially operating under the name Paramus Park South, was acquired in 2025 by an investment joint-venture partnership led by the real estate development firm Heidenberg Properties Group.
Robert Heidenberg, the president and chief executive officer of Heidenberg Properties Group, expressed strong confidence in the new partnership, identifying NRG as the ideal tenant to optimize the massive second-floor space. Heidenberg stated that the adventure park operator immediately recognized the latent potential of the upper level and possessed the operational concept required to bring the space to life, while praising TSCG for leading a direct, effective negotiation that brought viable options to the table and closed the deal.
The redevelopment initiative at Paramus Park reflects a sweeping, structural evolution taking place across the regional and national shopping mall landscape. Faced with growing competition from e-commerce giants like Amazon and changes in traditional department store retail, shopping centers have had to adopt creative leasing strategies to backfill massive vacancies left behind by legacy department store closures.
Rather than relying purely on traditional apparel and dry-goods retailers, commercial property owners are increasingly turning toward experiential and entertainment-focused concepts to drive customer foot traffic. These activity-based destinations offer immersive leisure experiences that cannot be replicated online, effectively creating new incentives for consumers to visit brick-and-mortar retail hubs in person.
This broader commercial shift toward entertainment anchors is readily apparent throughout the northern New Jersey market. Nearby regional destinations have increasingly integrated large-scale attractions to draw patrons, such as American Dream in East Rutherford, which houses a major indoor theme park, an indoor skiing facility, and an aquarium among its core offerings.
Similarly, Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus has broadened its recreational profile by welcoming interactive and youth-oriented venues, including the Power Up Arena, Go Playland, and the Horae Play arcade. The addition of NRG at Paramus Park serves to reinforce Bergen County's growing cluster of family entertainment options within traditional retail centers.
For NRG, the planned Paramus adventure park represents the continued expansion of its presence in New Jersey. The enterprise made its initial debut in the Garden State last December when it launched its first New Jersey site in Springfield, testing consumer demand for its indoor activity concept.
Beyond its existing centers in New Jersey and Fargo, North Dakota, NRG is actively pursuing a wider nationwide rollout, with plans to launch additional locations across various states. As part of its future pipeline, the company has designated Toms River as an upcoming destination in New Jersey, though a specific retail address for that southern site has not yet been formally disclosed.
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