Despite the onset of online shopping, brick-and-mortar retail continues to demonstrate its strength, with open-air shopping centers leading the way, according to Levin Management Corp.
The North Plainfield-based commercial real estate services firm completed 68 transactions – new leases, renewals, extensions and license agreements – totaling nearly 570,000 square feet through mid-2025.
Discount retailers represented the single largest share of activity, accounting for about 115,000 square feet, while experiential and fitness operators followed with nearly 60,000 square feet. Together, these categories highlight consumer appetite for both value-driven shopping and lifestyle-oriented opportunities.
“The open-air sector continues to outperform its retail real estate peers,” said Matthew K. Harding, LMC’s chief executive officer. “Retailers are prioritizing open-air centers in high-demand corridors that provide the visibility and convenience they need to succeed. That positions Levin-managed properties and their tenants to excel in today’s evolving retail landscape.”
At the newly redeveloped Blue Star Shopping Center in Watchung, national tenants Burlington, Five Below, and Taco Bell joined the mix, while long-time tenant Marshalls committed to a new store within the center. These leases represent more than 72,000 square feet of new commitments. Earlier this year, the center also marked the opening of a ShopRite supermarket, in a newly constructed store for the long-time anchor.
Other noteworthy transactions in New Jersey included Burlington signing on at the fully leased St. Georges Crossing in Woodbridge, and Boot Barn introduced another nationally recognized brand to the tenant roster at Somerset Shopping Center in Bridgewater, while Style Brow Bar brought a new personal care concept to the neighborhood.
The increasing role of shopping centers as destinations for experiences and fitness is illustrated in new, LMC-led leases with indoor pickleball facility PB Club at Twin City Shopping Center in Jersey City and Activate Games at St. Georges Crossing.
Specialty retail and dining tenants added to LMC’s results. At Flemington Marketplace in Flemington, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Norman’s Hallmark joined the tenant roster alongside Target, which recently celebrated its grand opening. These additions illustrate the diversity of operators pursuing growth in today’s market, from national chains to independent retailers.
“Following strong performance in 2024, during which our team completed more than 1 million square feet in leasing activity, our midyear 2025 results put us on course for another impressive year,” Harding said. “These deals reflect how retailers are adapting to consumer priorities – value, convenience and engaging experiences – and choosing open-air centers as the ideal platform to deliver them.”
