American Dream to open with fanfare but will shoppers come?

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — American Dream is opening its doors to the public as the second largest mall in the country. But changing shopping behaviors raise questions about who will show up.

The mall was conceived in New Jersey more than two decades ago, when the iPhone didn’t exist, Amazon was only selling books online and malls were a destination for all shopping needs.

That has changed dramatically, with many consumers making their purchases online and from their phones without ever having to leave their couch.

Amid that new reality, American Dream is trying to stay relevant by offering more than a dozen entertainment attractions like a 16-story indoor ski slope, rollercoaster, waterpark and eventually 450 retail, food and specialty shops.