2 McDonald’s Close On GS Parkway; Here’s What Will Replace Them

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A pair of fast food restaurants on the Garden State Parkway in North Jersey have closed, including one in Bloomfield. But there are plans to reopen the buildings in 2023 with several new places to eat, officials say.

Last week, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) announced that the McDonald’s restaurants at the Vauxhall and Brookdale South service areas have closed. Vending and grab-and-go food options will be offered at both locations temporarily.

This spring, the main buildings are scheduled to be demolished. There will be no food available at either location while new facilities are being built, turnpike authorities said.

According to the NJTA:

“Iris Buyer LLC last year bought out HMS Host’s toll road business and assumed the contract to operate restaurants in most Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike service areas. The Brookdale South and Vauxhall restaurants were not included; those two service areas were operated by McDonald’s under a separate contract. With the McDonald’s contract due to expire at the end of 2021, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority negotiated with Iris Buyer to include Vauxhall and Brookdale South in their operating agreement. The NJTA Board of Commissioners approved the amended agreement at its meeting in October.”

When construction is complete in 2023, the Vauxhall restaurants will include Shake Shack, Popeyes, Dunkin' and a convenience store.

The Brookdale South restaurants will include Chick-fil-A, Burger King, Starbucks and a convenience store.

Turnpike officials said the NJTA and Iris Buyer will share the cost of building the new facilities at Vauxhall and Brookdale South.

According to the amended agreement:

• Iris will demolish the existing amenity buildings at Vauxhall and Brookdale South facilities and rebuild new buildings
• The Curb-in Capex is estimated to be $14.5 million for demolition of the existing amenity buildings and construction of the new amenity buildings at the Vauxhall and Brookdale South facilities
• The Authority will contribute $7 Million to Curb-in Capex costs and Iris shall be responsible for the remainder of the actual total of the Curb-in Capex for the demolition of the existing amenity buildings and the construction of new amenity buildings at the Vauxhall and Brookdale South facilities
• Iris shall bring premium brands to the new Vauxhall and Brookdale South facilities including Chick-fil-A and Shake Shack
• Iris shall provide the Authority annually with 13% of the food and beverage and convenience store sales revenue which amount shall increase by 0.25% every five years
• The amendment shall have a term coterminous with the Assigned Operating Agreement

The Brookdale South rest stop, located in Bloomfield, was recently renamed as the Connie Chung Service Area. Read More: Gandolfini To Toni Morrison: Garden State Parkway Stops Renamed

On Monday, two Bloomfield town officials issued statements against the plan to bring a Chick-fil-A to the Brookdale South location. Bloomfield Councilman Rich Rockwell, who is openly gay, accused the chain of using its vast financial success to "influence and support policies that are discriminatory to the LGBTQ community."

"Chick-fil-A imposes its religion on employees, customers and operators and as a publicly funded entity, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority should not allow this type of business on the Parkway," he argued.

• See related article: Bloomfield Councilman Says Chick-fil-A Not Wanted On Parkway

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