Relief is finally on the horizon for residents hungering after a new supermarket since Super Fresh skipped town in 2013.
Onyx Equities , the owners of Plainsboro Plaza, announced a lease with New York-based Key Food Co-op. The company will operate as The Food Emporium in the former Super Fresh space, albeit in a smaller footprint, which is scheduled to open next summer.
According to an Onyx press release, the new “high-end grocery” will occupy a 43,000 square foot space and offer “prepared foods, fresh produce, and high-quality butcher, seafood, and bakery departments.”
The grocery will be located between Indus American Bank and a newly subdivided 17,500 square foot space that is currently vacant.
The announcement is welcome news to Plainsboro residents longing for a more convenient food shopping option.
There is a long-standing Asian grocery in town, while supermarkets several miles away off U.S. 1 entail one-hour round-trips during peak hours.
So dire was the circumstance that a facebook group, “Plainsboro Needs a Supermarket,” was created and it soon developed an eager following. Village Center resident Bert Mulder founded the group, and he broke the welcome news in late July.
Onyx Equities purchased Plainsboro Plaza in 2013 and recently completed a four million dollar renovation.
Vice president of retail leasing Matthew Flath said there are no additional capital improvements planned. The incoming Food Emporium will require an extensive build-out that is expected to take 8-12 months.
As for the 17,500 square foot space adjacent to the grocery store, Onyx is seeking a complementary hardware, pet supply or home good tenant.
Plainsboro Plaza totals more than 205,000 square feet of retail space. With an anchor tenant now in hand, Onyx has 12 remaining available spaces totaling more than 66,000 square feet. The largest currently vacant store is a 25,000 square feet space between Bagel Place and the dentist office.
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In other news, the Plainsboro township committee approved an energy aggregation program at its Aug. 10 meeting. Under the program, the town would secure electricity from a third-party supplier for all residential households.
The town will solicit bids and award a contract in October or November, provided the supplier provides double digit percentage savings for residents. If a contract is rewarded, it will then take another 90-120 days to switch suppliers.
