EATONTOWN – Municipal officials have approved several development applications that will lead to the construction of convenience stores and other businesses in Eatontown.
During his report at the Aug. 8 meeting of the Borough Council, Borough Engineer Edward Herrman said a number of applications have started making headway in the municipality. He said the development in Eatontown is a sign the economy is doing well.
In July, the Planning Board approved an application that proposed the redevelopment of the Monmouth Mall and the construction of 700 rental apartments on the mall’s property.
Herrman said the redevelopment of the mall is one of the largest projects that has been brought before municipal officials in years.
In an interview on Aug. 15, Business Administrator George Jackson confirmed that the following projects will be built and will operate in Eatontown in the near future:
• Wawa convenience store, 308 Route 35, at the site of a former Houilhan’s restaurant;
• CVS pharmacy, 150 Route 35, at the site of a former Exxon gas station;
• Lidl, a European grocery store, Route 35 South;
• QuickChek convenience store, Route 35 South;
• RWJBarnabas health facility, 274 Route 35;
• A commercial project with three tenants (including a Wawa; other tenants to be determined), Route 35 and Wyckoff Road.
“We are getting some projects (underway) that have been stalled because of legal objections,” Jackson said, adding that construction at those sites is expected to begin in the next few months.
Speaking about Lidl, Jackson said, “The concept is reportedly similar to and competitive with (the grocery store) Aldi, which is highly successful in the United States. Both stores originated in Germany. Lidl should be very successful.”
He said there are no grocery stores in Eatontown and added, “This new business will help fill the void.”
“Clearly, QuickCheck and Wawa see the borough as a prime location for their stores,” Jackson said. “We have had discussions with both companies and they see the local consumer market, locations and traffic patterns as ideal locations for their stores.
“We currently have two QuickChek stores in town and both are highly successful. The new QuickChek location and the two future Wawa sites will surely meet the needs of our residents and those individuals working in and traveling through Eatontown from a consumers’ perspective,” he said.