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Having grown up in Jackson Township, New Jersey, I vividly remember my mother’s excitement over the Cherry Hill Shopping Center. This “mall” concept was like nothing we had ever seen before. We did not fully comprehend what a “mall” was before setting foot in Cherry Hill.
I am sure my father was less than thrilled, but we made our way to the Cherry Hill Shopping Center to check it out. I was young and do not remember the shopping center as described. My memory is more about my mother’s excitement than the actual place. She talked about it with such awe and wonder.
In 1961, the largest mall in the United States and the first indoor, climate-controlled mall east of the Mississippi River opened across the street from what had been Cherry Hill Farm. A voter referendum changed the name of the township from Delaware to Cherry Hill in 1962. The rest they say is history!
Between 2007 and 2009, the two-level, super regional mall received a $218 million renovation and was enlarged. Nordstrom opened an anchor store two years ago today. In addition to Nordstrom, the mall’s other two anchor stores are J.C. Penney and Macy’s. The mall has 1,248,347 square feet of retail space and 160 stores. Cherry Hill Mall website: http://cherryhillmall.com/
Today, Cherry Hill Township is home to 71,045 residents (2010 census). The median household income (2010 census) was $87,392 and the medium income for a family (2010 census) was $104,983. Per capita income for the township is $43,192 (2010 census). (Think Limerick Township, on steroids)
In 2006, the township was named a “Best Places To Live” in the U.S. (Money Magazine) and the Philadelphia region (Philadelphia Magazine).
The Cherry Hill Public Schools system has received national recognition and many awards for educational excellence. The district has 19 schools, 11,800 students, 1400 employees, including over one thousand teachers. In 2005 the graduation rate was nearly 100% at both high schools.
Factual data gathered from Wikipedia, Cherry Hill Mall website, philly.com and my childhood.
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