Toms River: Today it was announced that a new restaurant is coming to the Ocean County Mall. The Turning Point, a franchise with locations around NJ, plans to open at the mall by July 2020. Mall management didn’t say where in the mall it will be located, but it will likely be one of the new restaurants planned for the Lifestyle Center.

Construction for the Lifestyle Center is well underway, with the first phase planned to open in Spring 2020. So far L.A. Fitness, ULTA Beauty, and Homesense have been announced to occupy the lifestyle center. Mall owner Simon also promised more restaurants, but this will be tricky with no more liquor licenses available. Also, no word on improving the abysmal food court which barely has 3 units.

The lifestyle center will occupy the old Sears store, and the massive parking lot that surrounded it. We can only hope the rest of the interior of the mall gets freshened up. The old girl is in need of a sprucing up since her last 2003 remodel.