Paramus
Paramus is a major shopping town in New Jersey. Many people from all over the New York metropolitan area (especially people from New York City and Westchester County) come here to shop at the many stores along New Jersey state routes 4 and 17, as well as at the Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus Park Mall, Bergen Town Center, Fashion Center, and (by extension, because it's actually in Hackensack) The Shops at Riverside malls. This is because New Jersey has a lower sales tax than New York overall and because New Jersey does not tax clothing.
It is important to note that Paramus is in Bergen County, New Jersey, which still continues its traditional blue laws on Sundays. Nearly every shopping destination is closed on Sunday except for restaurants. This is to have at least one day a week when the traffic is light.
Get in
There are many ways to get in to Paramus. Many from New York City take the George Washington Bridge straight onto New Jersey state route 4. Overall, Paramus is extremely accessible due to a large network of major highways surrounding it, including U.S. Interstates 80 and 95, the Garden State Parkway, and New Jersey state routes 4, 17, and 208.
Get around
Car or bus. Everything is within about 3 square miles, maybe even a bit less, but a car is necessary.
See
Do
Buy
Paramus has the highest per-year retail sales in the United States, at more than five billion dollars. There are three major malls: the Westfield Garden State Plaza, the Paramus Park Mall, and the Bergen Town Center. Many major department stores actually have locations at more than one of these malls for shopper convenience. IKEA has a major store in Paramus as well, across from the Westfield Garden State Plaza.
Eat
The malls themselves are eating meccas. The Westfield Garden State Plaza has many dining choices, including Grand Lux Cafe (a more upscale and larger offshoot of The Cheesecake Factory), Legal Sea Foods, Napa Valley Grille, Ruby Tuesday, Joe's American Bar & Grill, Papa Razzi, California Pizza Kitchen, On The Border, and Chili's.
The Shops at Riverside, recently underwent a huge renovation that included the addition of Rosa Mexicano, PF Changs, and Maggiano's Little Italy, to go along with The Cheesecake Factory, Houston's, Thai Kitchen, McCormick and Schmick's, and Morton's Steakhouse. Ironically, on any given weekend night except Sunday, the wait at each restaurant is at least one hour long. Overall, Houston's seems to have the longest right now, as I've waited there for two hours before being seated. So, in essence, the three new restaurants haven't eased the strain on the old ones.
The Paramus Park Mall has a food court.
Drink
- Houlihans, Route 4 West. Most places in New Jersey stop serving alcohol shortly before 2. Houlihans on Route 4 West operates solely as a bar from 2am to 3am. It's a nice place to hang out and have a drink. However, watch your personal belongings. Some shady things have happened there.
Sleep
- Comfort Inn & Suites - Paramus, NJ, 211 Route 17 South, ☏ +1 201-261-8686.
- 1 Marriott Courtyard Paramus, 320 Route 17 North, ☏ +1 201-599-1414.
Connect
Go next
| Routes through Paramus |
Ends at  ← Spring Valley ←
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→ Jct W  E Template:Rtarrow Clifton → Newark
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