The Shoppes at North Brunswick on Route 1 in North Brunswick — Courtesy: Azarian Realty Co.
By Joshua Burd
A growing chain of swim schools has taken nearly 10,000 square feet at an upscale shopping center in North Brunswick, according to a leasing team with Azarian Realty Co.
The Route 1 property, The Shoppes at North Brunswick, is now 94 percent leased after the 9,746-square-foot deal with Big Blue Swim School. The location will be the operator’s third in New Jersey, where it joins a mix of specialty shops, fitness tenants and restaurants.
“We are delighted to add Big Blue Swim School to The Shoppes which will round out our impressive and diverse lineup of retailers,” said Kevin Pelio, an executive vice president with Azarian Realty Co. “Big Blue will offer the community a family-focused environment for children to have healthy physical fitness and hands-on training for this life-essential skill, that will last a lifetime.”
Pelio represented the landlord as the property’s leasing and management agent, while David Dunkelman of Soloff Realty & Development represented the tenant.
“To accommodate this larger footprint for Big Blue Swim School, we had to work with all parties to look at the merchandising mix holistically and use creative strategies, including the relocation of existing retailers and a combination of contiguous space, to provide one succinct unit to accommodate this use and their required footprint,” Pelio added.
“We are greatly appreciative of the time devoted by our ownership client, as well as David at Soloff Realty and L5 Capital who served as consultants for Big Blue, in understanding the vision and their patience in its execution. In the evolution of the shopping center from a core soft good retail setting, to now a broad spectrum of food offerings, service and fitness offerings as well as a continued roster of national clothing retailers, our vision is coming to fruition in strengthening the merchandising mix and increasing weekly customer visits.”
Big Blue Swim School has more than 20 existing locations, with six more currently under construction throughout the U.S., according to a news release. Its two other New Jersey locations are in Watchung and Paramus.
Azarian and its client recently marked a host of new lease signings and store openings at The Shoppes at North Brunswick, located at the intersection of routes 1 and 130.
