Cold storage operator, RealCold, broke ground on a 380,000-suare-foot, fully-convertible, temperature-controlled facility in East Hanover. The facility, which will sit less than 30 minutes from the Port of Newark, is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2026.
RealCold, is partnering with Russo Development and Onyx Equities to build what it says will be a high-throughput, fully convertible facility offering temperatures from minus 20 to more than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Plans also call for more than 40 dock doors, a 70-foot refrigerated dock, 50-foot clearance and ample secured trailer parking when the facility opens in early 2026, capitalizing on a location that’s a 30-minute drive from Port Newark-Elizabeth.
Keith Goldsmith, chief executive of RealCold, lauded the groundbreaking as a win for the region and for existing and future customers.
“We are thrilled to kickoff this project in East Hanover which is in no small part due to our various partners whose collaboration led us to this premier site in northern New Jersey. Our collective research, input from customers, and demand from the market, has reinforced that this is the most strategic location to bring significant cold storage on-line. We believe it will be a game-changer for importers/exporters, grocers, food manufacturers, and online retailers with operations in the region,” Goldsmith said.
Ed Russo, president of Russo Development, said the groundbreaking marks a transformation for the land.
“A complex redevelopment such as this one – where a portion of an active property is transitioned – requires an enormous amount of collaboration. In this case, we and our partners at Onyx and RFM were fortunate to work with a great team at Novartis and the Township of East Hanover, blending a set of interests that became a common mission,” Russo said.
Echoing the sentiment, John Saraceno, founder of Onyx Equities said, “This is a perfect example of repurposing a former office use – in this case with an esteemed legacy – to the standards and market receptiveness of new industrial uses and the result is a promising new life through Realcold, and we are proud to be a part of it.”tax ratable base.”
Once complete, the Class A facility will have five fully convertible rooms offering temperatures from -20°F to +55°F. The building will have over 40 dock doors, a 70ft refrigerated dock, 50’ clearance, and ample secured trailer parking. Additionally, it will be a LEED Silver certified facility.
Supporting RealCold’s e-commerce fulfillment solutions, the facility will have dedicated areas for direct-to-consumer (DTC) activities and value-added services. This addition to the RealCold network will allow the Company to reach tens of millions of consumers more quickly, contributing to an overall nationwide reach of 97% of U.S consumers in 2 days or less for its robust DTC platform.
In addition to RealCold’s 380,000 sq. ft. of cold storage space, the project will also deliver 220,000 sq. ft. of Class A, 40’ clear dry industrial space that is available for lease.
CBRE’s Kevin Dudley and Chad Hillyer are handling the marketing.
