Kobeyaki at 525 Washington Blvd. in Jersey City — Courtesy: Colliers International
By Joshua Burd
A fast casual Japanese chain has opened its first restaurant outside New York City, a 1,700-square-foot location at the base of a Jersey City office tower.
Known as Kobeyaki, the operator has opened the restaurant at 525 Washington Blvd. under a lease with MEPT Newport Tower LLC, brokers with Colliers International said Tuesday. The real estate services firm is now representing the chain as it seeks additional opportunities in New Jersey.
Colliers Executive Managing Director Nancy Erickson, Associate Director Kelly Bayer and Associate Jennifer Flores, who are based in the firm’s Parsippany office represented Kobeyaki. Lon Rubackin of CBRE represented the landlord.
“Kobeyaki’s expansion reflects the keen consumer interest in fresh, clean eating in a fast-casual dining atmosphere in the metro area and well beyond,” Erickson said.
The Jersey City store follows Kobeyaki’s popular locations in Chelsea, Bryant Park, the Upper East Side and Madison Square Garden, Colliers said. The concept is known for rolls, bowls, burgers and buns, all of which are served in a fast casual atmosphere.
“Restaurants, in general, have become highly active in recent years,” Erickson said. “Within that industry, the fast-casual sector is seeing significant growth as time-crunched diners look for options that offer higher-quality options than traditional fast-food but still provide efficiency and affordable price points.
“Emerging concepts that promote healthy eating and offer items that consumers might not typically prepare at home — like burgers made with gourmet locally-sourced beef, sophisticated salad and rice bowls — are well positioned to succeed in this environment.”
