R.J. Brunelli closes and leases multiple retail sites

Old Bridge-based R.J. Brunelli & Co. LLC said Monday that it recently completed a pair of  property sales and several leases for retail sites throughout northern and central New Jersey.

Representing property owner WOW Plaza III LLC, the retail real estate brokerage sold a 25,000-square-foot freestanding building in East Brunswick housing a Jersey Strong health club to KHC Development Inc. of New York. The site, which is located at 762 Route 18, near the Brunswick Square Mall, sold for $4.93 million, according to Mario Brunelli, vice president, investment sales, and principal of the brokerage. The buyer was represented by Ellen Quentzel of Jordan Baris Inc. Realtors of West Orange.

“Jersey Strong has been operating at that location for over 10 years and signed a long-term lease with the building’s new owner to remain there,” said Brunelli, who also represented Jersey Strong on the new lease. The firm is exclusive leasing representative for Jersey Strong throughout the state.

Brunelli also represented East Orange Retail Holdings LLC on its sale of a 12,682-square-foot Dollar Tree building at 325 Central Ave. in East Orange. Real estate investor Arie Wilensky acquired the central business district building for $2.9 million. Dollar Tree will continue to operate at the site, where it has been a tenant for six years.

On the leasing front, sales associate Peter Miller represented both the landlord and tenant on a deal that will see Performance Strength Academy expand its footprint at Dover Park Plaza in the Yardville section of Hamilton Township to 13,852 square feet. Under a previous transaction brokered by Miller, the fitness and personal training facility opened earlier this year at the Mercer County property in a 10,490-square-foot inline space.

In this newest transaction, Performance Strength leased an adjoining 3,362-square-foot space previously occupied by a dance studio to add competition/Olympic equipment for specialized training, as well as other equipment. The new area is expected to open in the second quarter of 2022 at the 57,700-square-center anchored by CVS. R.J. Brunelli is exclusive broker for Dover Plaza, which is located at 3 Sunnybrae Blvd., at the intersection of Broad Street.

Elsewhere, President and Principal Danielle Brunelli completed two leases for sites in northern New Jersey. In the first transaction, she represented the landlord on a 1,973-square-foot lease for Rita’s Ice at ITC Crossing South Shopping Center in Flanders. The store is expected to open in the first quarter of 2022 in an inline space previously occupied by Amy Murphy Salon, which relocated to a 5,000-square-foot shop in the 514,903-square-foot center. The Morris County property is anchored by Lowe’s, TJ Maxx, Michael’s and Bed, Bath & Beyond, and shadow-anchored by Walmart. R.J. Brunelli is exclusive leasing agent for the center, which is located near the intersection of Route 46 and Interstate 80.

In Somerset County, Brunelli completed her latest lease for European Wax Center franchisees, signing the chain for a 1,419-square-foot space at Riverwalk Village, a 50,000-square-foot lifestyle center located at 665 Martinsville Road in Basking Ridge. The shop is expected to open in the first quarter of 2022, joining a mix that includes Starbucks and various local retailers and restaurants. Brian Silbert of Silbert Realty represented the landlord on the transaction.

Back in East Brunswick, senior sales associate John Lenaz signed Simos Insourcing Solutions to a 1,460-square-foot space at 85 Main St., near Route 18. The nationwide staffing company, whose clients include Williams Sonoma, joins a mix at the 13,500-square-foot strip center that includes 7-Eleven and a number of local tenants. Lenaz represented both the tenant and landlord on the lease, with R.J. Brunelli serving as exclusive leasing agent for the site.