Mercer Mall continues extensive facelift.
By: Lea Kahn
The Raymour and Flanigan furniture store the latest addition to the Mercer Mall opened its doors Nov. 19, next door to the ShopRite grocery store on the site of the former Kmart department store.
It is one of several new stores coming to the redeveloping shopping center. Also expected in the next year are two specialty restaurants, according to mall representatives.
The 56,721-square-foot furniture store is the fifth store in New Jersey for the furniture store chain, which has its headquarters in Liverpool, N.Y., said Heather Ward, public relations manager.
The chain, which began with three stores in the town in upstate New York in 1947, is branching out into the Northeast, Ms. Ward said. In New Jersey, the chain has stores in Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Egg Harbor and Deptford.
Raymour and Flanigan decided to open a store at the Mercer Mall after conducting a study of the area, Ms. Ward said. The study revealed a need for a quality furniture store, she said.
"We found there was a need for different choices. We want people to have furniture that they can keep for 10 or 20 years," she said, adding that the chain offers an extensive selection of furniture.
Meanwhile, officials of Federal Realty Investment Trust, which owns the Mercer Mall, are excited about Raymour and Flanigan’s decision to open a store at the regional shopping mall.
"Raymour and Flanigan is recognized as a top retailer in its category in the Northeast," said Chris Weilminster, vice president for anchor leasing for Federal Realty Investment Trust.
"They will be advertising heavily in all mediums in the shopping center’s surrounding trade area, bringing significant traffic to the Mercer Mall and resulting in sales across the property," Mr. Weilminster said.
In addition to the new furniture store, the transformation of the Mercer Mall is continuing apace as new stores lease space and open their doors.
The Office Depot and expanded Treasure Island stores are open, for example, Mr. Weilminster said. A lease has been signed with Champps, which is a full-service, sports-themed restaurant that is scheduled to open in the former New York Deli space next fall.
The former Nobody Beats The Wiz store is being converted into multiple spaces, Mr. Weilminster said. The second floor will be redeveloped for a single user, and the first floor will be occupied by several tenants including Cheeburger Cheeburger, which will open in the second half of 2005.
Cheeburger Cheeburger is a 1950s and 1960s style restaurant that features hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, salads and malted milk shakes, along with the customary french fries and onion rings, according to the company’s Web site.

