MANALAPAN — The battle for consumer electronics and appliance dollars will be heating up in Manalapan.
The Manalapan Planning Board at its meeting on Jan. 13 directed its attorney to prepare a positive resolution granting approval to an application filed by Steiner Equities of Roseland.
Steiner Equities plans to subdivide the freestanding building formerly occupied by Value City at the Epicentre shopping center, Route 9 at Symmes Drive, Manalapan.
Doug Steiner, the principal of the firm, announced that electronics and appliance retailer P.C. Richard and Son would occupy one of the two anchor stores that are planned for the former Value City space.
The freestanding building, which for years housed a Steinbach department store when the site was known as the Manalapan Mall, will be subdivided into two anchor stores and one smaller retail store, according to Steiner, who said he would like to proceed with the project as soon as possible.
The Epicentre abuts a shopping center at Route 9 and Craig Road that includes a Best Buy electronics and appliance store. The P.C. Richard and Son store at the Epicentre will be less than a quarter-mile from Best Buy.
Project planner Tom Thomas noted that the freestanding building is 90,000 square feet and would be converted to accommodate two anchor stores (one store with an entrance on the Route 9 side and one store with an entrance on the side facing Wegmans supermarket;) and one smaller retail store (with an entrance on the Route 9 side).
In his summation of the application, attorney Kenneth Pape, who represented the applicant, said, “There will be no new construction or new pavement at this site. You have a very professional, supportive land owner who wants to enhance and revitalize an existing building in the community. We ask for your approval.”
The board made a motion for a positive resolution granting Steiner approval to subdivide the freestanding building, in addition to granting sign relief. The vote was unanimous and the resolution will be voted on at a future meeting of the board.
For the complete story, see the Jan. 19 issue of the News Transcript.