Tommy’s Tavern + Tap at 71 Route 23 in Wayne — Courtesy: Bennett Realty & Development
By Joshua Burd
Nearly a dozen restaurants, medical practices and other retail users are expanding in the region amid a flurry of newly announced leases by Bennett Realty & Development.
The real estate services firm, which is based in Holmdel, brokered a series of transactions in the first half of 2025 that it detailed last week. They include leases by Tommy’s Tavern + Tap at 71 Route 23 in Wayne, at a building previously occupied by TGI Friday’s, and at a former Red Lobster property on Route 10 at The Shops at Ledgewood Commons in Roxbury Township.
BR&D’s Tyler Bennett represented Tommy’s in both deals and in a third transaction, a sublease at 256 Mall Blvd. in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. He also represented S&A Stores in an 8,300-square-foot lease at 5806-5812 Bergenline Ave. in West New York.
At 2277 Route 9 in Old Bridge, also known as Jaiden Commons, the firm’s Joel Dicker represented ownership in a 10,000-square-foot deal with Atlantic Health System and in additional transactions with Buy Rite Liquors and Pizza Hut. He did the same in the Somerset section of Franklin, at 900 Easton Ave., where The Curry & Grill Factory committed to 4,358 square feet alongside new leases by Diva Nails and Smile Designs.
At Town Brook Commons in Middletown, BR&D’s Bill Lenaz arranged a 3,032-square-foot deal with Kids United. Meantime, the firm’s Rick Ramentol represented McDonald’s in leasing a pad site at The Shops at Woodbury at 6 Locey Lane in Harriman, New York.
In another out-of-state deal, BR&D’s Steve Garthwaite completed a lease by Sizzling Bites at a former Sheetz location at 129 Pugh St. in State College, Pennsylvania.
“We are incredibly proud of the momentum we’ve built so far this year,” said Bennett, founder and CEO of BR&D. “These transactions reflect not only the strength of our relationships, but the market’s confidence in our ability to deliver results for both tenants and landlords.”
