What Will Replace The East Brunswick Kmart?

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — To the dismay of many, the East Brunswick Kmart closed in March. But although the property has a new owner, it still remains unknown what is coming there.

New owner TFE Properties closed on the 150,000-square-foot Kmart building, at 645 Rt. 18. They announced the building will be divided into smaller retail stores, and are currently actively seeking tenants.

“One of our specialties is adding value to existing properties through renovations and market repositioning,” said Carey Tajfel, co-president of TFE Properties, told MyCentralJersey.com. “We see a great opportunity in this East Brunswick property, and we think it will be an interesting challenge to break up a former single-use large box unit into the optimal mix of retail and other uses.”

“Exciting things are happening on Route 18 in East Brunswick, including the repositioning of some of the older shopping centers and a commitment by the new administration to bolstering retail and multi-family development on the corridor,” he said, noting that East Brunswick is a strategic town for commuters.

TFE Properties already owns the Chase Bank on Cranbury Road in East Brunswick, Cranbury Commons office building on Cranbury Road and the Dunkin' Donuts, AAA and Army recruitment station retail complex on Rt. 18, MyCentralJersey reported.

The East Brunswick Kmart was one of four Kmarts in New Jersey that closed in 2017, as the ailing retailer shut down 150 Kmart and Sears nationwide this year. (Kmart is owned by Sears.)

The other three Kmarts in New Jersey that closed are:

• 1468 Clementon Road, Clementon
• 800 Black Horse Pike, Pleasantville
• Rte 9 & Rte 47, Rio Grande

TFE Properties is actively seeking tenants for that location: Prospective tenants and interested brokers should contact Darrin Hiban from Tristate Commercial Inc. at 908-501-5305 or njretailbroker@aol.com.

Google Earth image of the Rt. 18 Kmart in East Brunswick Township.