BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Two shuttered spaces at Bridgewater Commons Mall may be showing signs of movement, said Bridgewater Township Councilman Timothy Ring.
At the Bridgewater Township Council meeting on Sept. 17, Ring said he attended a regional center partnership meeting on Sept. 16 and brought back two items involving the mall.
One involved the space previously occupied by Redstone Grill, which abruptly closed in January.
The other centered on the former Lord & Taylor location, which Ring said has been out of the mall's control for years.
"It is my understanding that it's very, very early in the process, but someone is apparently slowly starting the process for a liquor license transfer to potentially take over the space previously occupied by Redstone Grill," said Ring at the Council meeting.
He added, "Hopefully, that process moves forward without any issues."
Ring did not identify the party involved in the possible liquor license transfer.
He also said the former Lord & Taylor store has been in a long period of limbo since the department store closed in 2020.
"It's been almost six years now since the Lord Taylor has closed, said Ring.
He told the council that during that time, "without getting into all the legal mumble jumbo, the mall has not had access to that space; it has been held by Lord and Taylor, different successors through bankruptcy courts and finance companies and stuff."
Lord & Taylor had closed in 2020 after its parent Le Tote Inc. filed for bankruptcy on Aug. 2, 2020 and later announced it will be closing its remaining 38 stores.
According to Ring's account at the meeting, that situation may now be changing.
"It appears there's finally some light at the end of the tunnel and the mall will actually be able to go to market that they're getting control of that space back," said Ring.
Ring characterized both developments as positive for the township's regional shopping center.
"So, good news there," said Ring.
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