It is a major component of the enormous Newport, Jersey City, a mixed-use community on the Hudson River waterfront across from Lower Manhattan.

[3] The 1,200,000-square-foot (110,000 m2) was intended to draw residents from the new Newport waterfront development and the surrounding area, as well as shoppers from Bergen County, where blue laws keep shopping malls closed on Sundays.

[4] The mall's official opening was on November 11, 1987, attended by New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean and Senator Frank Lautenberg.

[5] On that date, the mall contained 75 tenants, featuring the two aforementioned anchor stores, Sam Goody, Benetton, Eddie Bauer, and Hallmark.

On March 16, 2020, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop ordered the Newport Centre to be closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.