QuickChek Gas Station, Hotel Still Being Considered For Meadowlands Parkway In Secaucus

SECAUCUS, NJ — A proposal to open a QuickChek and gas station on Meadowlands Parkway, plus a hotel, has not gone away.

In fact, the proposal was heard just last week by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA). The NJSEA heard arguments for and against it at a public hearing last Thursday, June 11, held at NJSEA headquarters in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst.

If it gets approved, the QuickChek/gas station/hotel would be built at 35 Meadowlands Parkway. This is the large empty lot at the base of the Rt. 3 off-ramp, behind the "Secaucus" mural.

For years, this land has sat empty. It is owned by Alexander Opper of the Opper Group and he wants to build the QuickChek/gas station on the lot, plus a four-story, 122-room Extended Stay motel. If this gets built, Opper would build a center lane from the Rt. 3 off ramp to go straight into the gas station.

The NJSEA has control over that land and Opper needs the NJSEA to grant him at least eight variances. That's the reason for all the hearings.

Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli previously said the town very much supports the QuickChek/gas station/hotel opening there.

But the town of Secaucus cannot do anything until the NJSEA makes their decision about whether or not they will grant the variances. The NJSEA has all the power to approve or deny this, because the property abuts the Hackensack River.

And Hartz Mountain, which owns nearly all the rest of the land along Meadowlands Parkway, continues to fight Opper's proposal.

At last Thursday's meeting, a lawyer for Hartz spent hours interrogating representatives from Opper. The Hartz lawyer mostly brought up concerns about flooding and the environmentally sensitive wetlands along the river. The gas station would store fuel tanks underground there. The Hartz lawyer asked Opper's representatives what they would do if the lot flooded.

Most of the site is above the flood zone, responded a planner hired by Opper. The Opper Group was required by the state of New Jersey to fill the land, cap it and elevate the lot, which they spent the past five+ years doing.

The state also required Opper to put a 50-foot buffer around the property, which they also did. The planner hired by Opper responded to Hartz's lawyer that there will be "very minimal" disturbance to the wetlands there. They also have a permit from the state to operate in a flood plain.

A representative from QuickChek was also there. He told the NJSEA how much his company wants to open a store in Secaucus, but he said a QuickChek will only open there if they are allowed to open a gas station with it. QuickChek no longer opens new free-standing stores; all their new stores have gas stations attached. The QuikChek representative said his company likes this spot because of its location, the high volume of traffic and its proximity to Rt. 3 on/off ramps.

Another planner hired by Opper told the NJSEA there is a great need for a gas station in that area, as there are no gas stations along Meadowlands Parkway, and it's right before the entrance to Rt. 3.

A woman who lives in Harmon Cove also got up and raised concerns. She said a QuickChek gas station opening there would greatly increase traffic on Meadowlands Parkway, which already gets very backed up at rush hour, particularly evening rush hour.

The NJSEA did not make a decision yet. This matter will be discussed again at a later meeting, scheduled for July 7.

First report: Will NJSEA Approve Gas Station, QuickChek, Extended Stay Motel Proposed For Meadowlands Parkway? (January 2026)