NEW JERSEY STATE - New Jersey is a state defined by its malls, its boardwalks, and its legendary (sometimes notorious) roadside attractions. However, the 2020s have brought a massive "real estate reset" to the Garden State. From the end of an era for local burritos to the shuttering of the state's largest print newspaper, here are 10 popular things that no longer exist in New Jersey.
NEW JERSEY STATE - New Jersey is a state defined by its malls, its boardwalks, and its legendary (sometimes notorious) roadside attractions. However, the 2020s have brought a massive "real estate reset" to the Garden State. From the end of an era for local burritos to the shuttering of the state's largest print newspaper, here are 10 popular things that no longer exist in New Jersey.1. The Star-Ledger (Print Edition)
In a major blow to New Jersey’s media landscape, the state’s largest newspaper, The Star-Ledger, ceased printing its physical paper in February 2025. For generations of New Jerseyans, the morning routine included the thud of the Ledger on the porch. While it remains a digital powerhouse, the physical "Jersey Sunday" paper—once one of the thickest in the country—is officially a thing of the past.
2. Amazon Fresh (The "Just Walk Out" Experiment)
The "future of grocery" arrived and left New Jersey in the blink of an eye. In early 2026, Amazon announced the closure of its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores in Lodi, Eatontown, Paramus, and Woodland Park. These cashier-less stores were designed to let you walk out without standing in a checkout line, but the high-tech concept failed to gain enough traction to survive.
3. Brunswick Square Mall
A Central Jersey staple for over 50 years, the Brunswick Square Mall in East Brunswick officially closed its doors in January 2026. While some exterior-facing stores remain, the interior "mall culture" that defined teenage life in Middlesex County for decades has vanished. It joins a growing list of NJ malls being reimagined as mixed-use residential and office spaces.
4. Tito’s Burritos & Wings
A beloved local chain that started in May 2005, Tito’s Burritos & Wings confirmed it will shutter all of its locations—including the original South Orange spot, Summit, and Ridgewood—on March 1, 2026. For 21 years, "It’s All Good" was the brand’s mantra, serving as a hub for community fundraisers and post-game meals for Seton Hall students.
5. Rite Aid (The Entire State)
After decades as the neighborhood pharmacy for millions of Jerseyans, Rite Aid completed its total exit from the state in early 2026. Following a series of bankruptcy filings, the final 60 locations—from Jersey City to Delran—liquidated their inventory and turned off the lights this spring, marking the end of the Philadelphia-based brand's presence in New Jersey.
6. Value City Furniture
Headquartered just across the border in Ohio but a dominant force in New Jersey’s suburban shopping centers, Value City Furniture began its total brand liquidation in January 2026. All New Jersey locations are expected to be closed by the end of the year, ending a decades-long run for the budget-friendly furniture giant.
7. Action Park (The "Revived" Version)
While the original 1980s "Traction Park" closed in 1996, a revived version briefly operated in Vernon until May 2016. Today, the site operates exclusively as Mountain Creek Waterpark. While the park is safer and much more corporate, the "anything goes" spirit of Action Park—where you were the center of the action (and the accidents)—is officially relegated to documentaries and 80s nostalgia.
8. Charlie Brown’s Fresh Grill (Statewide)
Once a ubiquitous Friday night destination for prime rib and the "best salad bar in Jersey," the Charlie Brown’s empire has all but vanished. While a single location in Scotch Plains has famously tried to hold on, the massive network of wood-paneled steakhouses that once dotted every major NJ highway is effectively gone, victims of a shifting "casual dining" market.
9. Printed Legal Notices
As of March 2026, New Jersey residents will no longer find legal notices for municipal meetings, foreclosures, or public hearings in their local printed newspapers. A new law requires public entities to publish these notices exclusively on official government websites, marking a significant shift in how "public information" is accessed in the digital age.
10. The Latin Casino (Cherry Hill)
Though it’s been gone longer than some on this list, it remains a "phantom limb" of South Jersey culture. It wasn't a casino at all, but a 1,500-seat dinner theater that hosted legends like Frank Sinatra, Richard Pryor, and The Supremes. Demolished to make way for the retail centers that now line Route 70, it represents a high-glamour era of New Jersey nightlife that has never been replaced.
