Three-minute read
Former Lord & Taylor store demolished at Monmouth Mall
Kushner Cos. has begun demolition at the Monmouth Mall in Eatontown to make way for the Monmouth Square development there.
- Kushner Cos. is in the midst of rebuilding the old Monmouth Mall into Monmouth Square, an open-air market with 1,000 apartments.
- Several large tenants remain, including AMC, Macy’s, Boscov’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, LensCrafters and Senior Citizens Activities Network.
- Barnes & Noble recently relocated within the mall, and Whole Foods is on the way, along with other new tenants.
EATONTOWN — Kushner Cos. announced several new tenants for its property Monmouth Square, the name for the rebranded Monmouth Mall, which is currently under construction and undergoing major renovations to turn it into an open-air market with luxury apartments.
Kushner signed Prince Street Pizza, Cava, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, Offshore Coffee and Strong Pilates to leases, to go along with Whole Foods Market, which has already been locked in. The new shops will be part of the new retail footprint, with an anticipated opening next year.
The new lease signings, totaling nearly 50,000 square feet, bring Monmouth Square’s 990,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space to 75% pre-leased, Kushner Cos. said.
“At Monmouth Square, we are assembling a tenant mix that responds to the changing preferences of today’s consumers while enhancing the quality and variety of offerings for the area,” Nicole Kushner Meyer, president of Kushner Cos. said in a prepared statement. “These leading retailers and restaurants reflect our commitment to attracting the best operators, ensuring a destination that surpasses expectations and has a lasting impact on the community.”
Kushner Cos. said they are “de-malling” the historic Monmouth Mall, once one of the nation’s largest indoor malls and a community staple for over 60 years. The redevelopment will reduce its retail footprint by 40% and turn the traditional mall concept inside out, creating a town center.
The design establishes a blend of free-standing, easily accessible spaces for shopping, dining, medical offices, an expansive public green, pedestrian pathways and 1,000 luxury apartments.
Since breaking ground last spring, significant demolition and construction progress has been made at Monmouth Square. Recent milestones include the November opening of Barnes & Noble in its new location within the center, complete with an updated B&N Café. The popular book seller’s relocation allowed construction to begin on the Whole Foods Market site, which is at Barnes & Noble’s former location at the mall.
The remaining retailers, including AMC, Macy’s, Boscov’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, LensCrafters and Senior Citizens Activities Network, or SCAN, continue to operate throughout the redevelopment.
“Monmouth Square’s transformation is advancing with purpose, bringing together best-in-class retail and dining options that align with our vision for a vibrant, mixed-use community,” Michael Sommer, Kushner Cos.’ chief development officer, said in a prepared statement.
“The construction and leasing progress reflects both our team’s expertise and the strong partnerships we’ve built to execute a project of this scale and significance,” Sommer continued. “We’re excited to see Monmouth Square take shape as a destination that sets a new standard for adaptive reuse and community development.”
Faced with diminishing foot traffic due to e-commerce, Kushner Cos. headed down the road to rebrand Monmouth Mall in 2015.
About the new tenants:
- Prince Street Pizza: A New York City pizzeria known for thick-cut Sicilian slices. It is based in the Manhattan.
- Cava: A fast-casual Mediterranean concept with restaurants nationwide that serves bowls and pita wraps.
- Van Leeuwen Ice Cream: A premium ice cream brand known for its rich, French-style recipes made with high-quality ingredients. It was founded in Brooklyn in 2008.
- Offshore Coffee: A distinguished local coffee brand.
- Strong Pilates: A high-intensity, low-impact fitness studio that combines Pilates principles with cardio-focused rowing workouts. It offers a full-body training experience using custom-designed Rowformer machines.
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; [email protected].
link
