Courtesy: Pokéworks
By Joshua Burd
A fast casual chain offering what are known as poké bowls and burritos — a Hawaiian-inspired concept focused on fresh fish — is making its debut in New Jersey with a new location at the Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus.
In a deal brokered by CBRE, a Pokéworks franchisee has leased space inside the food court at the 2.1 million-square-foot mall. The operator is slated to open in December and will be among nearly two dozen locations in North America for the chain, which also had more than 100 others under development earlier this year.
CBRE’s Nicole Nannola represented Pokéworks, noting that it will bring another healthy option to the busy Garden State Plaza.
“There aren’t many other healthy alternatives, so I know Westfield is excited … because that’s where America is going,” said Nannola, an associate in CBRE’s Saddle Brook office.
The deal at the iconic mall has added significance for Nannola, a native of nearby of River Edge. But she noted that the franchisee is also targeting locations such as Clifton and Ridgewood as it weighs additional expansion in New Jersey.
Nannola described the concept as “a different spin on fish” and cited its appeal among customers and landlords. That is also evidenced by the overall growing pipeline of poké operators that are exploring opportunities in the Garden State.
“This concept is in demand and, clearly since there are so many different poké concepts interested in New Jersey, people like it and they’re generating revenue,” Nannola said. “There are so many in the market looking for space.”
The lease is among more than a half-dozen quick-service restaurant deals that Nannola has completed in New Jersey in recent months. She has also inked leases with Sweetberry Bowls and Chef V, a juice and cleanse concept.
Similar to Pokéworks, she said a majority of the deals involve concepts that offer the fresh, healthy options that are the source of growing demand.
