First look inside: Big, new store opening soon at Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing, NJ

A big new store appears to be opening soon inside the struggling Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing.

And news of this new outlet comes as a post is being widely shared in social media Tuesday that highlights the dozens of vacant stores inside the once-thriving shopping center.

A Long History That's Slowly Fading

If you're unfamiliar with Hamilton Mall, let's paint a quick picture.

Construction on the $100 million project began in 1985 and it opened to huge fanfare just two years later, anchored by big stores like Macy's, JCPenney, and Sears — the latter of the two moving from the much older Shore Mall in neighboring Egg Harbor Township.

The mall, featuring over 140 stores, thrived through Y2K, however, things began to turn sour in the mid-2010s when Sears announced it would be closing in 2018 and then JCPenney closed for good about a year later.

• READ MORE: 14 Ways to Revitalize Hamilton Mall

Since then, Macy's has struggled as the mall's lone anchor as empty storefronts now outnumber occupied places in the outdated shopping center.

New Store Opening Soon in Hamilton Mall

However, it's not all doom and gloom for Hamilton Mall.

After JCPenney left, Shoppers World moved into the first floor of that massive store, but they, too, departed shortly after opening.

• READ MORE: The Most Random, Bizarre Things Found in Hamilton Mall's Parking Lot

Now, a new furniture store appears to be moving into the old JCPenney / Shoppers World space (again, at least the lower half).

New Furniture Store at Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing, NJ

Within the past couple of weeks, signs announcing the arrival of Home Living Furniture have gone up in the mall-side windows.

The regional chain has existing stores across the Mid-Atlantic area, including two in New Jersey in Howell and Eatontown, and they're currently looking to hire staffers.

First Look Inside

We were able to take a peak inside and a small handful of displays have already been set up, while a lot more work still needs to be done.

And it is interesting to note that this new furniture store will be located just several hundred feet from Bob's Discount Furniture, which is located in a strip of stores at the back of the mall's property.

An exact opening date has not yet been announced.

Meanwhile, we recently took a walk around Hamilton Mall — here's what portions of it look like...