Discount and trendy grocery stores are getting ready to open new locations at the Jersey Shore in 2024 while another market prepares to unveil its first spot in Monmouth County.
Meanwhile, we're left to wonder: what about Amazon Fresh?
At the start of every year, What's Going There takes a look at what's ahead. On this year's list, we've got grocers galore, restaurants, convenience stores and even a chic luxury fitness and sports club. So, here we go!
Aldi, Neptune
Finishing touches are being put on a new Aldi set to open on the Route 35 circle in Neptune.
Aldi said it expects to open its new store, located on Route 35 in Neptune at the Asbury Circle, in February.
The new 20,442-square-foot discount supermarket replaces an older Aldi further south on Route 35.
It's part of Marketplace at Neptune, a new retail center being built on the site of what was a former Coca-Cola bottler's warehouse. It will be joined by a 5,670-square-foot QuickChek convenience store. Another retail building under construction has Smoothie King as a signed tenant.
Known for its small stores, Aldi divides its retail space into five aisles. More than 90% of the groceries sold are under Aldi's exclusive brands, which the grocer has said will help customers save up to 50% on their grocery bill.
Sprouts Farmers Market, Aberdeen
Sprouts Farmers Market is coming to Aberdeen Plaza on Route 35 in Aberdeen.
Sprouts Farmers Market said it will open its first location at the Jersey Shore sometime in the second quarter of this year. The 22,708-square-foot store is at Aberdeen Plaza on Route 35, a space that at one time was part of an A&P supermarket, which closed in 2015.
Sprouts offers a "farmers market experience" with an open layout of produce in the store's center. It also has fresh, natural and organic products, including grocery, meat and seafood, deli, bakery, dairy, frozen foods and prepared foods. It also sells body care and vitamins.
Work continues at the new Lidl Monday, September 18, 2023, inside the Freehold Raceway Mall.
Lidl is renovating the interior of the former Bob's Stores at Freehold Raceway Mall, a change that will give the regional mall its first grocery store. Expected to open in 2024, Lidl could not be reached for comment on an estimated opening date.
A dominant grocer in Europe, Lidl has made a push into the eastern United States, including New Jersey. It is known as a strong competitor against its supermarket rivals, including its biggest competitor, Aldi. But it has made some missteps. Last July, Lidl closed its store on Route 9 in Howell, citing its lackluster performance.
Its small stores sell produce, groceries and an array of other products from small appliances to clothing, toys and specialty food products that rotate weekly. The company emphasizes the small size of its discount stores, which are limited to about six aisles with about 3,500 items, most of which are Lidl's own private label brands.
Trader Joe's, Middletown
Middletown Plaza on Route 35 is getting a former Walgreens store ready for Trader Joe's, expected to open in 2024.
Trader Joe's has three stores in Monmouth and Ocean counties, with locations in Shrewsbury, Freehold Township and Brick.
Known for its produce, frozen food and meals, Trader Joe's is a hit with foodies, offering more than 3,000 items under its own private label. It introduces about a dozen new items every month.
Workers are preparing the site for construction of a new Wawa store on Route 35 in Hazlet. Dec. 13, 2023.
Long-awaited, Wawa said it projects to open a new convenience store on Route 35 at the Hazlet Town Center shopping center this summer. Construction is expected to begin this month.
This vacant restaurant, former home to Nino's Coal Fired Pizza, would be razed and a Outback Steakhouse constructed in its place under a proposal before the Ocean Township Planning Board.
The new construction takes the place of a long-vacant restaurant, which was most recently Nino's Coal-Fired Pizza. It has been knocked down.
It will be Outback's new "Joey Prototype" design, according to architectural plans.
The building's design features smaller restaurants than a traditional 6,000-square-foot Outback. It has a revamped interior, including a surf-inspired mural and a chandelier reminiscent of the Southern Cross constellation, new technology and more space devoted to take-out and delivery, according to Bloomin' Brands, the parent company of Outback.
Turning Point is preparing to open a new restaurant on Route 35 in Ocean Township. As seen on Nov. 23, 2023.
Turning Point, a popular breakfast, lunch and brunch restaurant in the midst of an expansion, is expected to open a restaurant on Route 35 at Deal Road in February.
The building also will serve as Turning Point's headquarters, with its corporate offices on the second floor. Other businesses and restaurants still to come to Ocean Commons include Strollo's Lighthouse, Qdoba Mexican Eats and LA Bikini.
Amazon Fresh, Eatontown and Holmdel
Shopping cart shelters have been installed in the parking lot outside of the unopened Amazon Fresh grocery store on Route 35 in Eatontown.
Life Time, a luxury fitness, health and sports club, is under construction on Half Mile Road in Middletown. Jan. 3, 2024.
Life Time, the $40 million luxury 120,423-square-foot fitness, heath and sports club under construction on Half Mile Road, is projected to open in late February or early March, according to Ashley Sikora, Life Time's regional vice president.
"We are putting the final touches on the facility itself," Sikora said.
Life Time Work, a high-end co-working space located across Newman Springs Road at RiverCentre, is expected to open on Jan. 24. It will include Life Time's preview center.
The three-story Life Time center features a cafe and spa on the first floor as well as indoor and outdoor pools, coffee bar and lounge, pickleball courts, yoga, pilates and fitness studios, free weights and fitness equipment and a kids academy with areas for tumbling, gym and movement.
It also will the first Life Time club in New Jersey to have a liquor license with a dedicated cafe leader who has experience in operating high-end restaurants.
David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business, retail, real estate and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for 25 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There column and can be reached at dwillis@gannettnj.com. Please sign up for his weekly newsletter and join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates.
