North Brunswick attracting several new businesses

Susan Loyer | Courier News and Home News Tribune

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NORTH BRUNSWICK - The township is attracting plenty of new businesses.

Hobby Lobby has submitted preliminary applications of its intent to occupy the nearly 45,000 square feet of retail space in the former space occupied by Babies R Us at North Brunswick Plaza, township Director of Community Development Michael Hritz said.

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“We were certainly concerned about filling such a large space and having a long-term vacancy, so to rapidly secure a new national tenant is welcome news,” Hritz said.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based Hobby Lobby is primarily an arts-and-crafts store, but also includes hobbies, picture framing, jewelry making, fabrics, floral and wedding supplies, cards and party ware, baskets, wearable art, home accents and holiday merchandise, according to its website.

Locally, Hobby Lobby has stores in the Iselin section of Woodbridge and South Plainfield.

Hritz also said that "our development partners at the Raymour and Flanigan shopping center have announced a diverse collection of new tenants that will bring the center to near capacity.”

The Sakura Sushi & Grill Seafood Buffet recently held a grand opening and has been doing a brisk business, he said. Also coming to the site are iHop, Ace Hardware, The Halal Guys, and a new, growing and popular new bakery franchise called Nothing Bundt Cakes, Hritz said.

Ulta Beauty is nearing completion at the North Village Shopping Center and has begun to advertise employment opportunities.

A Wendy’s is expected to break ground soon and open this fall as the lead tenant of North Brunswick Marketplace on the former Coca Cola property on Route 1 South, he said.

The Holiday Inn Express at 2095 Route 1 South recently opened and has an official ribbon cutting scheduled for Aug. 17.

Construction on the Courtyard Marriott in the Main Street transit village is also nearing completion and will open this fall, Hritz said.

“North Brunswick is faring exceptionally well in attracting strong and successful national retail tenants, particularly along the Route 1 corridor, in an otherwise challenging retail environment,” Hritz said. “It speaks exceptionally well of North Brunswick, and our healthy collaboration with all of our commercial property owners bodes well for continued success.”

Staff Writer Susan Loyer: 732-565-7243; sloyer@gannettnj.com