Lightbridge Academy at 1414-1418 Willow Ave. in Hoboken — Courtesy: CBRE
By Joshua Burd
An early childhood education center is preparing to open its second location in Hoboken, having signed a 13,000-square-foot sublease in the city’s northern end.
According to CBRE, which brokered the transaction, Lightbridge Academy will operate at 1414-1418 Willow Ave., occupying space formerly housing a furniture store. The facility will be the company’s 40th operational center in New Jersey.
“With more than three thousand children in Hoboken under the age of four years old, the demand for childcare is growing and Lightbridge Academy required additional space for its second location in the neighborhood,” CBRE’s Nicole Nannola said. “The daycare center is a well-known and respected New Jersey childcare provider meeting the needs of the community. These services will continue to be highly sought-after as the population grows and families nest longer in urban markets before migrating to the suburbs.”
Nannola represented the operator alongside Joseph AmecAngelo, also of CBRE. They noted that the space, which previously housed Battaglia’s Home, includes an outdoor private play area that is hard to find in most urban markets, which helped attract Lightbridge.
The site also has parking that allows for easy drop-off and pick-up on the heavily trafficked corridor.
“Lightbridge Academy has been tapping CBRE analytics, technology and vast network to expand across New Jersey and the United States,” AmecAngelo said. “We are strategically selecting the markets and physical locations that best match the company’s customer profile. We were charged with sourcing sites in Bergan County and have completed deals in Hoboken and Bayonne. We are also currently negotiating in Jersey City and other surrounding markets to close out our strong market position in these major market nodes.”
Lightbridge Academy is ready to occupy the new facility and begin instruction as soon as May.
“Working with Joe and his team made this project in Hoboken possible,” said David Falzarano, senior vice president of development for Lightbridge Franchise Co. “His tireless efforts to work with our franchisee so closely really made the difference in getting this one done. Lightbridge has made a concise effort to expand into urban markets over the past few years. In working with CBRE we are now starting to see the fruits of that labor, with a handful more centers expected to open throughout the remainder of 2021.”
