New Jersey

Business was brisk in 2016 for retail real estate brokers in Central and Northern New Jersey. As online shopping continued to impact which retailers fill brick and mortar spaces, several trends emerged at malls and along New Jersey’s highways. The shrinking list of retail categories in which customers prefer or need to visit a store in person includes quick-serve and sit-down restaurants. Chick-fil-A opened new stores in Woodbridge and Jersey City; Chipotle in Holmdel; and Habit Burger in Eatontown, West Windsor, River Edge and Parsippany. Also on the list are gas stations, coffee shops, and convenience stores, including Street Corner, WaWa, Tim Horton’s, Quick Check, and 7-Eleven, which have all recently opened new locations, are under construction or are planning to open new stores throughout the state. Creative and art businesses also draw customers to brick and mortar locations. One River School of Art & Design, currently open in Englewood, is opening a second location in Allendale, and plans a roll-out nationally including a strong look at the Bell Works project in Holmdel. This art school for kids and adults and other creative concepts, such as the paint and sip retailers, remain very strong. School of Rock is another creative …