New Jersey shopping center fills 62,000 sq. ft. of space this quarter
When ShopRite decided to leave its previous site at the Blue Star Shopping Center in Watchung, N.J., for a larger 72,000 sq. ft. space there, operator Levin Management Corp. (LMC) was left with some prime space it had to fill.
Marshalls, already a tenant at Blue Star, will relocate in a 27,000-sq.-ft. space in the former ShopRite location. It will be joined there by new signee Burlington.
Other new tenants at the center will be Nails Spa & Beyond in a 5,800-sq.-ft. space and Taco Bell in a 2,900-sq.-ft location.
“These leases reflect strong demand for well-positioned retail space in this market,” said E.J. Moawad, a senior leasing representative at LMC. “With more than 62,000 sq. ft. of new commitments and additional deals in the pipeline, Blue Star continues to build meaningful momentum.”
Other key tenants at Blue Star — which has been a prime shopping destination in the Watchung area for 50 years — include Kohl’s, Dollar Tree, Five Guys, and The Children’s Place, as well as the recently opened Planet Fitness and KidStrong. Five Below is set to open soon.
“Blue Star has been a part of the Watchung community since 1954,” said LMC CEO Matthew K. Harding. “This redevelopment ensures the property remains competitive, relevant and well aligned with today’s tenant expectations and consumer behavior.”
Located along a high-traffic stretch of U.S. Route 22 with access to Interstate 78 and other major roadways, Blue Star draws approximately 2.8 million annual visits, according to Placer.ai.
Some 270,000 people reside within a five-mile radius in an area where average household incomes exceed $200,000.
LMC reports that open spaces at Blue Star range from 1,700 to 40,000 sq. ft., including an 8,200-sq. ft., second-generation restaurant pad site.
