By Joshua Burd
More than a dozen dining operators have combined to lease 37,000 square feet in and around northern New Jersey, in a series of deals arranged by Cushman & Wakefield.
Brokers with the firm on Thursday announced 13 recent transactions, touting the continued strength of the dining sector as 2020 gets underway. Among the highlights is the highly anticipated Krispy Kreme location in East Rutherford — its first in Bergen County — where it will occupy 3,200 square feet at 91 Route 17 South and is slated to open this month.
C&W’s David Townes and Alana Friedman represented the doughnut chain. The team was also responsible for several other transactions announced Thursday, working alongside Neil Seth of the firm’s New York office.
“The dining sector remains one of the hottest retail categories, both in our region and nationwide,” said Townes, whose team specializes in restaurant leasing. “As local and national brands seek to grow their businesses, the demand for second-generation restaurant space with existing kitchen infrastructure continues to be at its highest.”
Townes, Friedman and Seth helped to secure the first New Jersey location for &pizza on the Jersey City waterfront, according to a news release. The team represented 30 Montgomery Partners LLC, the owner of 30 Montgomery St., in leasing a 1,033-square-foot space to the popular fast casual pizza chain, while Jamie Sackeim and Vicki Ezra of The Shopping Center Group represented the tenant.
The firm detailed other recent New Jersey transactions by tenants such as:
- Bubbakoo Burritos, which took 1,700 square feet, and Dunkin Donuts, which leased 1,800 square feet, at 110 Market St. in Saddle Brook
- Pag’s, which relocated and expanded to 6,300 square feet at 227 Franklin Ave. in Nutley
- YaYa Tea Café, which leased 1,953 square feet at 250 Central Ave. in Newark
- HLS Juice Bar, which leased 2,230 square feet at 483 South Livingston Ave. in Livingston
- Sterling Spice, which committed to 3,362 square feet at 99 Ridgedale Ave. in Cedar Knolls
- Dulce de Leche Bakery, which took 5,300 square feet at 55 West Palisade Ave. in Englewood.
In New York, Townes and Friedman brokered Shaking Crab’s 2,260-square-foot lease at 100 East Route 59 in Nanuet, a 1,400-square-foot commitment with Wingstop at 400 Route 211 East in Middletown and a 3,300-square-foot lease with Rey de Pollo at 80 East Route 59 in Spring Valley, the news release said. C&W added that leasing activity has remained strong through January, with Hidden Grace Foods Corp. taking 11,282 square feet for its Golden Corral national buffet franchise at State Highway 33 and Mercerville Road in Mercerville.
Townes represented the tenant in a direct deal with ownership, ParkWinMer SC LLC, an affiliate of Hilton Realty.
“Among Personal Services and Fitness, Food is expected to continue to be a coveted retailer category in 2020,” Friedman said. “Consumers are seeking both dining convenience and variety and we anticipate ongoing expansion, specifically in the quick service restaurant (QSR)/fast casual subcategory.”
