Lidl's Coming To Brick, But Pathmark Site Remains Barren

BRICK, NJ — The announcement this week that the German grocery store chain Lidl would be coming to Brick Township means residents will have another grocery option.

But with Lidl seeking to fill the former Cost Cutters space at what's now called the Riverwalk at Brick, according to the Asbury Park Press, residents who live on the north side of town are left with the question they've been asking for a while: when will they see a new grocery store?

Since Pathmark closed at the Laurel Square Shopping Center in the fall of 2015, shoppers who live north of Princeton Avenue and Route 88 have had few choices for groceries. Aldi, at Van Zile Road, and Walmart, off Route 88 not far from Aldi, are available, but residents have repeatedly asked when they will have another option. Some make the drive to Wall Township, where there is a Whole Foods, or to the ShopRite on Route 34 in Wall. Some drive across Brick to the ShopRite in the Kohl's shopping center.

The recent announcement that Trader Joe's had received permits for the former Ethan Allen store site caused excitement as well, but disappointed those hoping it would be at Laurel Square.

The site Lidl is proposed to fill is in what was for years known as the Kennedy Mall shopping center. Now known as the Riverwalk at Brick, the shopping center is home to Buffalo Wild Wings and Outback Steakhouse, along with other stores.

Brick Township Mayor John Ducey said there have been a lot of effort to try to attract stores and grocers in particular to Laurel Square.

"Right after becoming mayor, our town was impacted by two national grocers going out of business. Since that time I have worked tirelessly to contact and attract new food stores to Brick," Ducey said Wednesday. "While trying to focus on Laurel Square I have contacted many grocers and while they did not like the old Pathmark site they loved Brick."

Last year, rumors flew that ShopRite would open a second store in Brick at the old Pathmark, but somewhere along the way that proposal fell apart.

Ducey did not elaborate on why the Pathmark has not found favor, though he said the township continues to try to convince a retailer to fill the site.

The announcement that a Lidl may be coming to Brick comes in addition to one that is going into the site of the former Best Buy in Howell. Maurice Zekaria, president of Paramount Realty Services, confirmed by email Wednesday that Paramount had sold the Best Buy location to the grocery store chain.

There's also a Lidl under construction in Lacey Township on Route 9, though it was nearly two years from the time the project was approved to when ground was broken at last.

Lidl operates more than 10,000 stores in 27 countries, touting what it says is the highest quality fresh produce, meat, bakery items and a wide array of household products at the lowest possible prices. Lidl first established its U.S. headquarters in Arlington, Virginia in June 2015 and now has more than 60 stores across nine East Coast states.

Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Brick Patch on Facebook.