American Dream mall reopened after bomb threat on Black Friday

American Dream was evacuated for part of Friday morning due to a reported bomb threat on one of the busiest shopping days of the year before shoppers were allowed back in, according to Gov. Phil Murphy.

According to New Jersey State Police, someone reported a bomb inside of the East Rutherford mall at about 7:13 a.m., prompting the evacuation. The New Jersey State Police Bomb Unit and K-9 unit performed sweeps for explosive devices, but none was found.

The evacuation ended by about 9:30 a.m. as there was determined to be no imminent threat, Murphy stated. The investigation continues and Murphy stated that, "We will remain vigilant to ensure everyone stays safe this holiday season."

American Dream released a statement saying: "American Dream was evacuated this morning following what was later deemed a non-credible threat. This was done out of an abundance of caution, as the safety of our employees and guests is and will always be our priority. ... We look forward to a joyous and safe holiday season."

Earlier in the morning, Murphy posted, "The @NJSP is investigating a bomb threat at the American Dream mall. If you’re on site, all customers, tenants and employees should follow guidance from law enforcement and walk to the nearest exit and safely evacuate the building out of an abundance of caution."

This was just the latest issue for the seemingly snake-bitten mall, which has seen numerous incidents since its opening in October 2019, only months before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lawsuits against American Dream

In February, two lenders who helped finance construction of the mall sued the owners for $389 million over an alleged breach of their contract.

Decorative helicopter crash at American Dream

Also in February, a decorative helicopter fell into a pool at the DreamWorks Water Park leaving four people with non-life-threatening injuries and causing the park to be evacuated.

Snowboarder dies after a fall at Big Snow

In December 2022, a Long Island man died after falling and hitting his head at American Dream's Big Snow, an indoor ski and snowboard park. An autopsy showed he had a heart issue and died of natural causes.

Shooting at the mall left a man seriously injured

In April 2022, the mall was locked down and a man was hospitalized after being shot inside the mall's parking garage after a betting game.

Fire shut down Big Snow

In October 2021, Big Snow was forced to shut down for weeks following a fire. The fire was contained to a small area and there were no injuries.

While these incidents have all occurred in recent years, since the mall's full opening, American Dream has faced ongoing issues and roadblocks since its inception in 1991 including various name and concept changes and numerous stalls in planning and construction.

Check back for more on this developing story.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: American Dream mall reopened after bomb threat, governor says