A rendering of the final phase of Pier Village in Long Branch — Courtesy: Agency Red
By Joshua Burd
Kushner Cos. has tapped Ripco Real Estate to oversee leasing and marketing for 40,000 square feet of retail space at Pier Village in Long Branch, as the well-known oceanfront development enters its third and final phase.
The latest piece of the mixed-use property, which sits off Ocean Blvd., is now slated for completion during the first quarter, Ripco said in a news release. The brokerage team said it will work with ownership to expand the existing retail offerings at the development, seeking new lifestyle, fitness and food and beverage operators.
Ripco’s Michael Rawlins and Alison Horbach will oversee efforts alongside Kushner’s Max Swerdloff.
“In a little over a decade, Long Branch has transformed from being primarily a summer getaway to a year-round destination, thanks in large part to Pier Village,” Swerdloff said. “As our third phase nears completion, we look back with pride at how this community has evolved into a must visit, live and play place. We’re confident that we will attract a group of retailers that will excite locals and visitors alike.”
Pier Village, which is home to nearly 500 upscale apartments and a new boutique luxury hotel, features more than 30 restaurants, shops and services. Existing tenants include Lululemon, Avenue Le Club, McLoone’s Pier House, Playa Bowls, Charleston Shoe Company and others.
“Today, consumers are looking for connectivity and engagement, specifically in the retail sector where curating a roster of brands is both a science and an art,” Rawlins said. “The opportunity, afforded to RIPCO by Kushner, to lease and market the final phase of Pier Village allows us to leverage our deep market knowledge and industry relationships to put the final piece of this puzzle together in a thoughtful and strategic manner.
“Most of the available space is oceanfront, which provides tenants and their customers with sweeping beach and ocean views throughout the year.”
Along with the available retail space, the third phase also includes a 109-key hotel that is under development, along with a 245-unit, under-construction, oceanfront condominium building. The development benefits from being an hour by car from New York City and 72 minutes by train.
