West Orange Plaza at 235 Prospect Ave. in West Orange — Courtesy: Levin Management Corp.
By Joshua Burd
Three additional tenants are coming to a West Orange retail center amid an ongoing, multiphase expansion and renovation that has sparked new demand at the grocery-anchored property.
According to Levin Management Corp., the leasing and managing agent for West Orange Plaza, the deals include a commitment by VIO Med Spa. The national medical spa brand will occupy 1,923 square feet, marking its sixth New Jersey location and bringing a range of advanced aesthetics and wellness services to the 298,000-square-foot center at 235 Prospect Ave.
LMC also announced this week that Quickway Japanese Hibachi has leased 1,511 square feet, introducing a Rockville, Maryland-based fast-casual hibachi concept with cooked-to-order meals and more than 50 locations across the Mid-Atlantic region. Meantime, Namkeen Hot Chicken Joint will occupy 1,460 square feet, offering a bold Nashville-style hot chicken concept with South Asian-inspired flavors as it continues to grow in New Jersey and Brooklyn.
Demand tied to the expanded outparcel space at West Orange Plaza now encompasses more than 33,000 square feet in new leases and pipeline activity, LMC said, noting that the multimillion-dollar redevelopment also includes new buildings and site upgrades. The firm’s in-house construction management is leading the project, which follows a nearly 212,000-square-foot lease with Target for a store that’s on track to open next year.
“Momentum at West Orange Plaza really speaks to what can happen when ownership commits to thoughtful redevelopment,” said LMC Leasing Representative Ed Vasconcellos, who represented ownership and all three new deals. “We’re curating a mix of tenants that complement one another and reflect what this market wants — more dining, wellness and everyday service options in a highly convenient location. Interest has been extremely strong, and we expect this level of activity to continue as the outparcels and building renovations move forward.”
Teddy Shamma and William Farkas, who were with Jeffery Realty at the time of the lease with VIO Med Spa, represented the tenant in the deal. Jonathan Greenberg of Katz & Associates and Curtis Nassau of RIPCO Real Estate represented Quickway Japanese Hibachi and Namkeen Hot Chicken Joint, respectively.
“West Orange Plaza is a great example of how we are helping our clients reposition properties for today’s retail environment,” said Matthew K. Harding, Levin’s CEO. “With Target coming, new outparcels underway and strong tenant demand, we’re creating a modern destination that serves both national brands and local operators. This work is very much in line with how we’re approaching our broader portfolio.”
Whole Foods is West Orange Plaza’s longtime anchor alongside a strong mix of national and regional retailers, including America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, Chipotle, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Verizon, My Gym and Dogtopia, with Club Pilates also coming soon. The property serves a three-mile population of more than 168,000 people and draws more than 2.6 million visits annually, according to real-time traffic data from Placer.ai.
LMC: Dogtopia, Club Pilates join tenant roster at new-look retail center in West Orange
