By Joshua Burd
A fitness chain has leased more than 25,000 square feet at a Mercer County retail center, in the largest of several newly announced deals by R.J. Brunelli & Co. LLC.
The Old Bridge-based retail real estate brokerage said it represented both parties in Jersey Strong’s commitment at Dover Park Plaza, a 56,000-square-foot property in the Yardville section of Hamilton. The facility is slated to open in the second quarter, joining co-anchor CVS at the intersection of Sunnybrae Boulevard and South Broad Street.
Robert Kwiatkowski, R.J. Brunelli’s vice president of tenant representation, represented Jersey Strong in the 25,067-square-foot lease. In the firm’s role as the property’s leasing broker, President and Principal Danielle Brunelli served as listing agent and Sales Associate Peter Miller served as project manager.
R.J. Brunelli also noted that the township recently approved the addition of a 3,000-square-foot mezzanine within Jersey Strong that will be used for yoga and other fitness classes.
Also at Dover Park Plaza, Miller represented the landlord and tenant in a 1,758-square-foot lease by Mama Dude’s restaurant. Expected to open this summer, the space will be the first brick-and-mortar location for the food truck operator, which features build-your-own bowls with farm-fresh ingredients.
R.J. Brunelli also brokered five new deals for Dollar Tree and sister retailer Family Dollar Stores, working in its role as exclusive leasing representative for the two chains in New Jersey. The commitments include:
- 9,600 square feet at Cross Keys Commons, a Brixmor-owned property at 3501 Route 42 in Turnersville, where the chain is planning a second-quarter opening;
- 11,015 square feet at 2495 Brunswick Ave., a recently acquired and renovated 367,267-square-foot center in Lawrence Township, where Dollar Tree is planning a third-quarter 2020 opening;
- 10,000 square feet at 84 Lacey Road, a new property in Whiting, which Elcan and Associates recently purchased from The Kokes Organization.
“The contract between Elcan and Kokes was signed in April of 2018, but the sale was not finalized until two years later, reflecting the time it took to receive approvals from all of the governmental entities,” said Brunelli, who represented Elcan on its acquisition of the property.
Additionally, Dollar Tree signed a 10,056-square-foot lease at 2695 Route 516 in Old Bridge, for which R.J. Brunelli also serves as the leasing agent. According to a news release, the brokerage worked with the landlord to create the Dollar Tree space by combining a vacant unit with those of a former dollar store, a pizzeria, and a Chinese restaurant that is relocating within the center.
The chain expects to open during the third quarter, joining a 93,251-square-foot center that is anchored by a recently opened Jersey Strong and Walgreens. Elsewhere at the center, Market 516 leased 20,696 square feet, with Mike Horne of CBRE representing the tenant.
At 227 East Front St. in Plainfield, R.J. Brunelli brokered an amendment for Family Dollar that extends the chain’s lease and enlarges its footprint from 6,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet. The retailer, which is expanding into an adjacent 4,000-square-foot former furniture store, will also remodel its existing space.
Assuming Family Dollar can complete construction during the current pandemic, opening of the expanded space is estimated for the second quarter, the brokerage said. Brunelli and Senior Sales Associate Pete Nicholson represented Family Dollar in the transaction.
