Blue Star Shopping Center at 1702 Route 22 in Watchung — Courtesy: Levin Management Corp.
By Joshua Burd
Five Below has leased 10,000 square feet at Blue Star Shopping Center in Watchung, bringing another tenant to the newly updated property on Route 22.
According to Levin Management Corp., which leases and manages the 420,000-square-foot complex, the store will be among more than 1,800 locations across 44 states for the value retailer. The announcement follows the recent opening of a flagship ShopRite supermarket at Blue Star, part of a multimillion-dollar, LMC-led redevelopment of the property at 1702 Route 22, and the debut of new Planet Fitness and KidStrong locations.
E.J. Moawad, a senior leasing representative with the firm, represented ownership. Jeffrey Howard of RIPCO Real Estate represented the tenant.
“Five Below is one of the most active and successful retailers in its category, and we’re excited to add this location to Blue Star’s tenant mix,” Moawad said. “The company’s expansion into this center reflects the strength of the market and Blue Star’s appeal to top national brands.”
In announcing the deal, LMC said the recent leasing momentum at Blue Star has further diversified the center’s vibrant, family-friendly mix while underscoring its renewed appeal and the brokerage team’s focus on attracting high-performing brands. The property’s established tenant mix includes Kohl’s, Marshalls, Dollar Tree, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa and Five Guys, among others, while Levin said additional deals with national retailers are forthcoming.
The firm is marketing spaces ranging from 1,650 to 50,000 square feet, touting a property that draws more than 2.8 million visits annually, according to Placer.ai, and serves a population of more than 255,000 within a five-mile radius.
