The Garden State Plaza, 62 years ago, was an open air mall with many flowering plant beds in the open spaces.  The store on the right was Arcadian Gardens, a nursey that sold many home gardening items.  The tall structure on the left was the J. C. Penney store and at the far end was Gimbels that is now occupied by Nordstrom.  Directly behind from where this photo was taken was Bamberger’s (now Macy’s).