What Stores Do You Want in East Brunswick?

Liti Haramaty April 18, 2012 at 03:16 pm

not yet but i heard it's very good. there is also a great korean grill and an indian restaurant next to 'good will' and even the seafood buffet at that shopping center is not bad. so there are a few good places to eat in EB!

Chris April 18, 2012 at 03:28 pm

There are just entirely too many shopping centers along rt 18.

Chris April 18, 2012 at 03:32 pm

Btw is there any interest in the vacant home depot? That's been empty for almost 5 years.

John Romano April 18, 2012 at 03:39 pm

.....none that I've seen. However...there's a sign that states that a 'pad site' is available in that parking lot. How that's possible is beyond me? They'd have to axe at least 2 dozen parking spaces to accomplish that...and that site (between the former Villagers / Home Depot & Pathmark) was close to its compliance numbers for required parking when Villagers store conversion (from the previous Rickel's store) took place.

Chris April 18, 2012 at 03:41 pm

I know originally this article was asking what should fill the 3 stores by the brunswick square mall, so here is my suggestion: lawyer, accountant, and real estate. I know those are terrible but the space is way too small for a competitive retail store.

John Romano April 18, 2012 at 03:41 pm

...that building would be just about perfect size for a food store....but I'm sure that the landlord and Pathmark have some kind of lease agreement that wouldn't allow another food store to be adjacent to them

Chris April 18, 2012 at 03:45 pm

I agree and that would make sense.

John Romano April 18, 2012 at 03:46 pm

....I'm amazed that the building in front of the mall didn't get scooped up for a medical / dental office(s) establishment. It's got "location"...but...perhaps the rent is too steep?

Denise April 18, 2012 at 04:01 pm

With the way the economy is; most families have every one working all kinds of crazy hours. Any time I've gone into Wegmans on Rt.9, I've thought if EB or Old Bridge had a Wegmans I would be there weekly for my shopping and probably a few times a week for TAKE OUT PREPARED FOODS. We desperatly need a Wegmans in EB/Old Bridge. That would solve the pastry, bread, meat, Fish, produce, organic foods and a variety of other needs we have. Denise

Madeline April 18, 2012 at 06:33 pm

Just for clarification, liquor licenses are regulated by the STATE, not by the Township.

Madeline April 18, 2012 at 06:34 pm

Just for clarification, the STATE controls liquor licenses, not the Township.

Adrina April 18, 2012 at 07:04 pm

I saw that Panera Bread is opening in the Jcpenney , next to Payless this spring.

John Saccenti (Editor) April 18, 2012 at 07:49 pm

Denise,
Someone just emailed me almost the exact same thing! "what we really need is a wegmans,,,,we have space available in east brunswick....(the only thing off the top of my head is a nut store or health store,,there is no place for people to park there,,so your not gonna get a large group to stop by really need to work on that) than maybe you will get someone... get a wegman's behind dicks.....or some other area that's the ticket"

Christopher April 18, 2012 at 08:00 pm

We live in EB and do all our grocery shopping at the Wegman's in Manalapan.

Christopher April 18, 2012 at 08:07 pm

How bout we knock down the dumpy Chili's and open a Jose Tejas?

Sherry Hudak April 19, 2012 at 02:32 am

Well, if not there, we definitely need a Trader Joe's somewhere else on Rt. 18!!! :)

Sherry Hudak April 19, 2012 at 02:33 am

Trader Joe's!!

Chris April 19, 2012 at 05:24 am

I heard a gym will be going in the old linens and things building but don't know if that is a definite.

Chris April 19, 2012 at 04:20 pm

I wonder what they are going to put where pollo tropical was. And what the hell is the deal with the HSBC? I didn't bank with them but they built that bank from scratch and in one year they closed it. What a waste.

Sam Modz April 19, 2012 at 09:10 pm

An Investors Saving bank!!! My closest branches are Matawan or Edison. LOVE the idea of Wegmann's or Trader Joe's

Chris April 19, 2012 at 09:33 pm

This Wal-Mart on tices is disappointing news.

Joan Gillespie April 20, 2012 at 03:28 am

Someone stated that Wegman's wouldn't be in East Brunswick because we are not upscale enough for them. Although I think that could be the reason, what is the rationale for them being in Woodbridge?? Is it because it attracts the NY crowd who often come to NJ to shop?

John Romano April 20, 2012 at 03:59 am

...not sure it's that we're "not upscale enough"...it's likely that there's just "not enough of us" (that are 'upscale) It's simply a numbers game. The surrounding towns (South River, Spotswood, Milltown, New Brunswick) do not have the "upscale" median income levels of EB......and a Wegman's cannot only draw its patrons from one singular town. Also...if you look at EB..and the numbers of commuters we send off in the direction of work each day....and then look at Woodbridge....with its double-the-size-population...and the commuter 'hub' they have near that store...(plus the mall shopping center) the numbers probably looked better. They probably could do well with a larger volume of shoppers...even if their median income was about $30K less than EB's. And as I understand it...Wegmans has a large "prepared foods" selection...perfect for the commuter heading home. There may be other factors too....

Jessica Giordano April 21, 2012 at 07:07 pm

We need a five guys or Bobby's burger palace!! Also agree that we need a good italian deli/ bakery! Is anything ever going to into the old linens and things building?

Chris April 21, 2012 at 07:42 pm

I heard that a gym was going into the old linens and things building but it's been held up because of some sort of zoning. Just what I heard.

Chris April 21, 2012 at 08:21 pm

Maybe it was just me but I had this crazy thought that now having the gorgeous transportation center all finished and the new condos being built in the rear of the golden triangle, East Brunswick may have been home to lots of new young professionals. Especially that the units were mostly going to be 1 and 2 bedrooms. As soon as I heard Wal-Mart, now all I see are slums and low rent housing. I honestly hope I'm wrong.

John Romano April 21, 2012 at 09:28 pm

.....no...you're not wrong....welcome to New Brunswick East. Actually...related to the housing that's proposed....if the residential market stays as soft as it is now...those units will likely be rented rather than sold. In that case...the highest rents possible will be sought by the owner...because they were counting on sales. In a high density rental situation...with high rents....you're likely to see (or not see in the case of zoning enforcement officials)...multiple families sharing single family houses....and a larger population density per acre than was intended per the zoning. In that case you have 2 or more families...with sets of children from multiple families...all seeking enrollment in EB school system. More kids than originally planned for equals a need for school expansions....which equals a need for higher taxes. Welcome to the situation that (recently...past 6 to 10 years) was experienced in Somerset and Bridgewater.

Jeff April 25, 2012 at 03:08 am

The old linens and things building will have LA Fitness in it. They will close the Bally's (LA Fitness took over many of Bally's gyms) on Edgeboro Rd when they open the new LA Fitness. This is what the staff at the LA Fitness gym I attend in North Brunswick told me.

Chris April 25, 2012 at 11:48 am

I think an LA Fitness is a good fit for the lot. This shopping plaza is one of the few that is fully rented.

Chris April 27, 2012 at 07:04 am

Coming Soon. Brunswick Square Pharmacy. I saw the sign yesterday.