With the loss of Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Sears, KMart, and other retail stores- retail vacancies are up in the Ocean County Area. Why do they take so long to fill? Why don’t retailers want to locate here?
Currently in Toms River we have a vacant Toys R Us, Babies R Us, and a soon-to-be vacant KMart. The Sears store in the Ocean County Mall is in the process of being torn down for a new retail lifestyle center, but who will come? Mall owner Simon promised new stores, restaurants, and possibly a gym. Will this be enough of a draw to bring shoppers back to the mall? How about a new food court with some actual variety?
Residents constantly ask for supermarkets to come as they are a staple of shopping centers and everyone needs to eat. The county does not fit the demographics of Whole Foods nor Wegmans, which are the two most commonly requested supermarkets when asked of the public. Brick even tried to lure Wegmans to build a store in the old Foodtown lot, which they politely declined. Ollies Bargain Outlet took half of the old Pathmark in Toms River, and we already have two Shop-Rites in town. We also have two Stop & Shops in TR, which rules them out for likely occupying a vacant store.
Possible tenants for the vacant stores could include; At Home (which recently opened in Brick), Hobby Lobby, and maybe a second Walmart with a Supercenter. It’s no secret that customers are buying more goods online, and retailers are struggling to turn a profit in physical brick and mortar locations.
What stores would we like to realistically see come to the area?
Brick and mortar stores are a thing of the past, sadly.
Laura Lynn Wasilak the fact that Amazon has brick and mortar stores says they work.
There is no industry here. It’s all medical, government and tourism. Small business can’t survive the taxation.
We don’t have the demographics for some of the places that a lot of people are calling for (Wegmans, Whole Foods, Sephora, etc.). A lot of people turned their noses up when Ollie’s Bargain Outlet opened up at the old Pathmark site on Route 166 & Indian Head Road. Honestly, just about anything is better than a vacant building. I’m all for whatever they want to open up at any of these locations.
Michael De Fortuna but these wegmans…whole foods n such offer jobs…the main issue is too many people that ” I won’t work at _____” mentality. But yet they demand b.s. like 15 n hour
Bingo
Im sorry but that Ollie’s store is a junk store in my opinion.. something much more useful could of been put there.. again just how I feel.
#LetThemGrow
Some should be turned into temporary homeless shelters
Instead of filling these vacant buildings they are worried about building new ones for housing and other crap we dont need to pack more people into the area
Christina Ann many towns have put a new building freeze…for good reason
Scott A Barnes whats a new building freeze
I never understood why people can put up new building when there are so many vacant. Makes no sense
I never understood why people can put up new building when there are so many vacant. Makes no sense
Christina it means they cant build any new buildings
I have seen a lot of new buildings go up all over toms river and soon str. Its crazy
Bryan we should take after Vermont. When you want a business to open you need to use an already built and vacant building to do so. No adding to the mass amounts already in existence.
Only people you can blame is the town council. They are not making it attractive to come here. Brick incentivizes people to open there. We need to do the same thing. The 37 corridor should be considered a redevelopment zone. It’s the main entry into town.
And it looks like shit!
Dave and busters
How about loosening the fees for a liquor license. The only restaurants serving beer and wine are boring bland chains.
It would be nice to see Hobby lobby. Then we won’t have to drive through Lakewood to get to the one out there in Howell since no one wants to drive on rt 9
I only go there on a Saturday
Donna Daytona me too. It’s the only day you can drive on route 9 without white knuckling
Donna Daytona me too. It’s the only day you can drive on route 9 without white knuckling
Or you could patronize a different craft store altogether that isn’t run by jerks.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/united-states-files-civil-action-forfeit-thousands-ancient-iraqi-artifacts-imported
Or you could patronize a different craft store altogether that isn’t run by jerks.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/united-states-files-civil-action-forfeit-thousands-ancient-iraqi-artifacts-imported
Jen Wicoff I like Hobby Lobby, michaels and ac Moore
Jen Wicoff im not sure I believe that ^. I just go once in a while as a treat. Overall I love Hobby Lobby
Pat Lorraine Durante
I go the back roads until I come out by Kohl’s. I never drive 9 thru Lakewood.
Linda Bruno Kelly I never do, a few saturdays ago I took the plunge
You don’t believe a story from the Department of Justice? Here’s a link to the New York Times, then. If you google “Hobby Lobby criminal charges,” you’ll see the story from a plethora of news outlets (including Fox!). It was all over the place when it happened.
Regardless of whether you believe it or not, HL has essentially admitted guilt and offered to turn the pilfered materials over. It’s a shame they’re not facing anything further than monetary penalties.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/05/nyregion/hobby-lobby-artifacts-smuggle-iraq.html
You don’t believe a story from the Department of Justice? Here’s a link to the New York Times, then. If you google “Hobby Lobby criminal charges,” you’ll see the story from a plethora of news outlets (including Fox!). It was all over the place when it happened.
Regardless of whether you believe it or not, HL has essentially admitted guilt and offered to turn the pilfered materials over. It’s a shame they’re not facing anything further than monetary penalties.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/05/nyregion/hobby-lobby-artifacts-smuggle-iraq.html
Jen Wicoff I do t watch tv, Or the newspaper so I don’t know anything about this
Well, now you do! ?
Jewish condos.. #newlakewood
There should be a dicks where toys r us used to be
Justin Isaacs said no one ever
Justin Isaacs said no one ever
Smitty Smith said one person ever aka me..have better ideas?
Smitty Smith said one person ever aka me..have better ideas?
Justin I think Smitty is making jokes lol
Jennifer Cohen-Stump haha I know just poking fun back
I would like maybe a garden…
The kmart plaza in manahawkin is a dead zone. So many empty stores and the plaza itself look outdated
Medical marijuana dispensaries
Make that into Weed R Us and we have room for a dispensary and grow facility!
Ocean County Scanner News wahooo i wish
We need to bring in industry along with corporate offices. Need to designate an office park to attract corporations to move offices to southern new jersey. This could help local economy and those who commute to the city for office work. Along with that would be nice to see a sport complex like good sports built in southern ocean county too.
No offense, but South Jersey would have to do a lot to make itself attractive to white collar businesses. They like to locate where younger people want to live and where they can attract a variety of talent. I don’t think it’s a stereotype to say that South Jersey is mostly for older people and retirees and not a lot of younger people are attracted to living here. Roads are congested and public transportation options are extremely limited. It was built for a different era and can’t really compete with other places for business.
Maybe instead of the County spending millions of dollars on a drug infested motel when all they did was more to the next one, the County can buy one of the buildings and put an indoor skatepark and fund it. Just like winding river ice skating building is funded by the township.
Maybe instead of the County spending millions of dollars on a drug infested motel when all they did was more to the next one, the County can buy one of the buildings and put an indoor skatepark and fund it. Just like winding river ice skating building is funded by the township.
Don’t forget about the former Foodtown market on Fischer Blvd! That place has been vacant for like 10-13 years now. We need Hobby Lobby, Dave and Busters, Cheesecake Factory, etc.
Don’t forget about the former Foodtown market on Fischer Blvd! That place has been vacant for like 10-13 years now. We need Hobby Lobby, Dave and Busters, Cheesecake Factory, etc.
Desiree Domer and the foodtown in Toms River on Rt 37 near kohl’s vacant for several years now
Desiree Domer and the foodtown in Toms River on Rt 37 near kohl’s vacant for several years now
Desiree Domer
Whole Foods and Lidl
Yes! I love whole foods!!
Linda Bruno Kelly good luck Kosher Halla coming ?
Linda Bruno Kelly the old foodtown next tokohls would be ideal for whole foods because its so close to the parkway but they say ocean county doesnt have the demographic for it
Mary Jane they’re polite way of saying “money” ?
Jennifer Cohen-Stump yep
Renee Mascitelli I’ll take a Trader Joe’s
stop buying everything online and stores will come back…
Smitty Smith thank you
buying online is much more convenient so that will never come to an end
stop buying everything online and stores will come back…
Smitty Smith thank you
buying online is much more convenient so that will never come to an end
Sara McClave and convenience is what lazy people like the most
No, smart busy people like convenience.
not only convenient but cheaper..stores need to be able compete in our society today….
It’s not always laziness. Lots of us introverts don’t like being around a lot of people at stores. Shoprite makes me want to smoke cigarettes again every time i go there. I would do Shoprite from Home but i don’t like anyone picking out my produce or meat for me lol
Steven Smith my work hours while caring for my toddler daughter does not leave me w much time to get to stores. i am by no means lazy! and why would i waste my time money and gas shopping in a store when i can get it cheaper on amazon?
Leave em empty
Leave em empty
Buy buy baby would be good. And hobby lobby.
I don’t get how they say we don’t have the demographics for Whole Foods or cheesecake factories (which I personally don’t like but it’s better than the boring chain restaurants we have around here) A lot of people who live in Ocean County drive to Freehold and Monmouth to go those stores. There’s empty banks that could even be made into drive thru Starbucks rather than going into the mall or driving to rt 70. I don’t think the stores would do bad here.
most of the people in this area don’t go to those stores. We don’t need wegmans or Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods
Desiree, how can people go to stores we don’t have?
Melanie Jesuele they will never put a wegmans down here ,different class of people ,they only go in higher class areas .
Melanie Jesuele they will never put a wegmans down here ,different class of people ,they only go in higher class areas .
Honestly it doesn’t even have to be that .. I’m more just saying that people say that we can’t have nice places here but then on the other hand a lot of people travel to go to these stores.
Honestly it doesn’t even have to be that .. I’m more just saying that people say that we can’t have nice places here but then on the other hand a lot of people travel to go to these stores.
Believe me I’m all about saving money and finding the right price for things but it would be nice to have a variety
Believe me I’m all about saving money and finding the right price for things but it would be nice to have a variety
Melanie Jesuele companies look at towns median income levels. Berkeley is very low due to the high amount or retirement communities in the towns
Melanie Jesuele Whole Foods looks for a certain household income. We don’t meet that average income to justify opening a store.
Berkeley’s average income level is only like 58k per household. That ranks very low among other towns in the state
That answers my question and makes sense. It is just sad to see so many stores to and not a lot of variety in the area.
Desiree Domer actually yes we do I’m tired of having to drive to get.decent stuff anymore. I’m sure plenty.of others agree
Melanie Jesuele I agree , we do need Whole Foods & other good stores , there are a bunch of higher class ppl along the water , speak for yourself when u down grade ppl Scott
Gregg Wildermuth Lol bc ppl like myself live in 55 and over doesn’t mean we r low income , wtf ever gave u that idea ? Bc my taxes aren’t 10 grand a yr doesn’t mean I’m broke , plus the ppl living on the water like my brother sure the hell isnt low income , And I’m sure NOT
Monique Boutillette-Gilbert they average out the town median income , wegmans and Whole Foods require close to 100k to put a store in, although like other areas we have wealthy people we just don’t cut it overall.
Dyanne Thorik-Shornock again bc ppl living in 55 and over doesn’t mean they don’t have it , they are called smart ppl ! They downsize as I did , and 100 grand a year ain’t shit anymore
Melanie Jesuele, they’re putting a Starbucks on the plot in front of Burlington on Brick Blvd.
Sal Fiore Jr. nice!! That’s good to know. I was hoping they would do it to the Bank of America on hooper by red lobster because I work in the building behind it but I’ll take that, it’s close enough lol
Melanie Jesuele our family owns a business in brick up the street from there, the potential Starbucks. So i work there. And that BOA is closed? Lol. I didn’t even know
Sal Fiore Jr. lol yea they boarded it up and took the signs down.
Melanie Jesuele I’m fucking oblivious. Lol. I live close to there. Probably drove past it 3-4 times a week. How long has it been closed?
I’m oblivious too I work there everyday and just realized it recently lol. They looked empty for the last few weeks and my coworker told me they closed 2 weeks ago but I just noticed the boards on Monday lol
Melanie Jesuele interesting lol
Haha I went to the TD in Brick off hooper a few months ago and walked up and realized it was for lease. My son laughed at me!! ??♂️??♂️ creature of habit I guess. I told him Dad is just getting old. Haha it’s not just you people. LOL!!!
I wouln’t go shopping in Ocean County Mall if they payed me!
people are smart there leaving this area
people are smart there leaving this area
I believe you meant “they’re”
When Ocean County demographics remotely mimic Monmouth County then you will see a Wegman’s, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, etc.
When Ocean County demographics remotely mimic Monmouth County then you will see a Wegman’s, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, etc.
Chris Tean Kinsaul my guess is that if OC keeps putting in places like Hardee’s and White Castle we are proving that we are not worthy of a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods or Wegmans. Damn shame.
Andrew Prokop I guess they feel they have to cater to the masses. Not impressed w Whole Foods or the other two either but a lot are.
That gets my goat. Just because the majority of the county doesn’t seem to match the Monmouth county demographic doesn’t mean there aren’t people who want and shop at these places.
Jennifer Cohen-Stump from what I hear the majority rules when they build these stores. I guess they feel for the select bunch that want to shop they can take a drive to Monmouth County. Stupid I know.
Bring Primark to ocean county!!!!
Bring Primark to ocean county!!!!
Krystle Sikora I wish
Cody James Samuolis I love this store! Although I will be spending A LOT more money if they did build one here
yeah I want a primark and hobby lobby
yeah I would love to have Primark and Hobby Lobbby
What is Primark?
I wish I love Primark!! Renee Mascitelli it is a clothes store for men woman and kids and they have great prices and nice clothes and accessories. The upstairs of Sears in freehold mall is a primark
My guess is the cost of rent and taxes
This is sad
We need an Apple store
Tom Ernst omg yes!
The knockoff Apple Store didn’t even last a year in the Ocean County Mall. Apple surely won’t open a store here as they just closed their Atlantic City store in the Playground Mall.
The knockoff Apple Store didn’t even last a year in the Ocean County Mall. Apple surely won’t open a store here as they just closed their Atlantic City store in the Playground Mall.
We really need one locally
I agree! When you need something fixed or looked at your only option is to trek all the way to freehold mall. That’s a hassle before you even get there.
Ocean County Scanner News not necessarily.
We dont need more restaurants, bars and with the largest senior residents in the state they certainly dont need another gym or an indoor recreation place
Ocean County Scanner News the knock off store had to close because they were not authorized to service Apple products
Tom Ernst
Interesting
Tom I heard they weren’t the best at taking care of products.
Ask Lakehood
Brick seems to be thriving with business.
Brick actually encourages businesses to locate there. Toms River just adds red tape to make it impossible.
The Toys R Us is becoming a Burlington Coat Factory.
Brett Justin Huber is that true?
Sal Fiore Jr. Yes.
Brett Justin Huber
Where did you hear that information?
Ocean County Scanner News I’d also like to know that
I am involved with the project so I know first hand. Trust me its true
Odd, since there’s one less than 5 miles north of the area.
IMO wouldn’t make sense with one on the same road except in Brick. Just sayin. ??♂️
Hit me up in a few months once its open
Maybe they’re closing Brick and moving to TR?
Give the homeless a make shift community.
Murphy will tax the hell out of them,,
Because Internet shopping is much more convenient free shipping and they always have your size if the store doesn’t, Did IMentionOnline
Because Internet shopping is much more convenient free shipping and they always have your size if the store doesn’t, Did IMentionOnline
Turn them into hotels with pools and gym. The tourists will eat and shop. Offer a shuttle to the two closest beaches.
Turn them into hotels with pools and gym. The tourists will eat and shop. Offer a shuttle to the two closest beaches.
Over development!!
Too many shopping plazas..how many pizzerias, nail salons etc can you have??
Restaurants??
Fridays, Bahama Breeze, Applebee’s..all the same! How much can you do to a hamburger!!
We have everything here..What else do we need??
I heard a Hebrew school was going into Foodtown on Fischer Blvd TR
Its sad to see these stores disappearing. I guess its what its. The new era of online shopping has come. They need to adapt to the new trend or they will fall behind