A wave of new restaurants, retail and service businesses is reshaping the Mercer County area, driven by shopping center redevelopment along Route 1 and steady openings in towns across the area.
Large centers like Mercer on One in Lawrence and MarketFair in West Windsor are filling vacancies with a mix of national and independent tenants. Overall, growth is being led by major commercial centers, while traditional downtowns evolve more gradually.
Below are some of the recent additions to the area.
(Do you know of a new retail business or restaurant opening in the area not mentioned in this article? Or are you opening one yourself? Email us at news@princetoninfo.com and news@communitynews.org.)
Lawrence
In Lawrence Township, Mercer on One continues to add tenants as the former Mercer Mall property is repositioned along the Route 1 corridor.
One of the newest additions is Nan Xiang Express, which opened in October and marked the brand’s New Jersey debut. The fast-casual restaurant serves Shanghai-style soup dumplings, noodle soups, fried rice and other Chinese dishes.
Broadway Hot and Honey Chicken is set to open Saturday, March 21, at Mercer on One. The restaurant will serve fried chicken sandwiches, wraps, tenders, wings and other comfort food items.
Its menu includes hot honey and Nashville hot-style offerings, along with loaded fries, chicken and waffles, milkshakes and desserts.
Mercer on One also has added Kura Revolving Sushi Bar to its restaurant lineup. The Japan-based chain’s Lawrence Township location is part of the center’s redevelopment push, bringing its conveyor-belt sushi concept to the Route 1 property.
Kura is known for letting diners take plates from a moving belt or order directly from the table.
Another project is taking shape at Lawrence Shopping Center on Brunswick Pike. Township application materials show Tractor Supply Co. planned for the center in a 33,180-square-foot space with more than 10,000 square feet of outdoor display area. It would be the company’s first Mercer County location.
Tractor Supply is a rural lifestyle retailer that sells lawn and garden supplies, pet and animal feed, tools, workwear, fencing, outdoor power equipment and other farm and home products.
Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrence also has added newer tenants. Home & More moved into the former Forever 21 space, filling one of the mall’s largest vacancies with a home-focused retailer centered on decor, furnishings and household items.
A arts and crafts studio has opened at Quaker Bridge Mall. The Painter’s Loft, located on the lower level near JCPenney and Foot Locker, offers do-it-yourself art experiences including canvas painting, pottery painting, candle making and other hands-on activities.
The business, which also operates a location in Pennington, provides classes and walk-in sessions for all experience levels, adding another experiential retail option to the mall’s tenant mix.
Another newer tenant at Quaker Bridge Mall is Follicle. The mall directory lists the business as offering threading, waxing, eyelashes and related beauty services.
A new specialty vendor has opened at the Trenton Farmers Market at 960 Spruce St. in Lawrence Township. Witherspoon Meat Market, located in the West Wing of the market, offers premium meats, seafood and specialty items.
The Hopewell-based business sources products from local farms and emphasizes quality and food safety, adding another specialty food option to the market’s mix of produce, prepared foods and other goods.
West Windsor
In West Windsor, Fogo de Chão plans to open its first Central Jersey location and its fourth in New Jersey at Princeton Executive Park on Route 1 North.
The upscale Brazilian steakhouse will feature continuous tableside carving of premium cuts of meat, with diners using a green-and-red card system to control service.
No specific opening date has been announced following planning board approval in 2025.
MarketFair in West Windsor is in the middle of a major leasing and renovation push.
In a March 9 announcement, shopping center officials said the property is advancing a multi-year growth strategy backed by a $5 million capital investment and more than 41,000 square feet of new retail and dining tenants.
The new tenants include five businesses this year, with more expected as the property continues its leasing push.
OFFLINE by Aerie is expected to open in winter 2026 in a 7,794-square-foot store near Banana Republic. The activewear-focused brand will offer performance apparel and athleisure designed for everyday wear.
A Kohler store also is expected to open in winter 2026. The 3,105-square-foot location near Lovesac will feature kitchen and bath products, cabinetry, tile and lighting.
LaScala’s Fire is expected to open later this year in a 9,552-square-foot space with indoor and outdoor patio seating. The modern Italian restaurant will serve wood-fired pizza, pasta and seafood.
Warby Parker, which is under construction, is expected to open in spring 2026 in a 1,909-square-foot space across from Sunglass Hut. The eyewear retailer sells prescription glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses and related vision products.
Sweetgreen is expected to open this summer in a 2,431-square-foot space across from Tommy’s Tavern + Tap. The fast-casual chain focuses on salads, grain bowls and seasonal ingredients.
Federal Donuts & Chicken is planning a location at MarketFair. The eatery offers hand-crafted doughnuts, fried chicken and coffee as part of the franchisees’ expansion in New Jersey.
The new spot, located next to Barnes & Noble, is expected to open soon, although no specific date has been announced. It would mark the chain’s entry into Mercer County following its first New Jersey shop in Marlton.
MarketFair officials also said the south end of the shopping center has undergone exterior and interior modernization centered on the main south entrance and the corridor anchored by Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, which opened in June 2025.
The work at MarketFair included exterior and interior upgrades, green wall installations, a skylight, updated furnishings and finishes, and new monument signage.
Additional improvements planned for 2026 include curb access and ADA upgrades, energy-efficient lighting and HVAC improvements, along with new soft seating and plantscaping.
Also in West Windsor, Nassau Park Pavilion has seen a recent restaurant addition.
Mezeh Mediterranean Grill opened its fast-casual location at 151 Nassau Park Blvd. on Route 1 South. The chain lets customers build custom bowls with proteins, greens, grains, toppings, sauces, sides and sweets using fresh, scratch-made ingredients and Mediterranean flavors.
APRON is preparing to open at two Mercer County golf courses: Princeton Country Club in West Windsor and Mountain View Golf Course in Ewing Township. The new daily dining and full-service event catering concepts from the Carannante family, owners of Brothers Pizza and BLEND in Hamilton, will serve on-course patrons and the broader community, with staff hiring underway for servers, bartenders and line cooks. No opening dates have been announced.
Princeton
In Princeton, SmashBros has joined the restaurant mix at 246 Nassau St. The eatery gives downtown another burger option and specializes in smash-style burgers served with fries and other casual fare.
Best Grill and Fry also has opened in Princeton at 200 Nassau St., Unit 2. The restaurant adds another halal food option to the local market.
Another new addition is Rhone, a performance apparel company, in Palmer Square. The Princeton location is the brand’s second in New Jersey.
Food Street joined Princeton’s restaurant mix at 183D Nassau St. in the former Say Cheez location behind Thomas Sweet. The halal eatery offers wraps, burgers, sandwiches and South Asian-inspired street food, drawing on the food culture of Lahore, Pakistan.
House of Ihsan has opened at 6 Spring St. in Princeton, taking over the former Pastry Room space. The boutique café offers tea, coffee and smoothies, along with house-made baked goods and halal-certified menu items such as cheese manakish, smoked salmon toast and avocado toast. The shop also sells wholesale baked goods and coffee beans.
Wonder Pho has opened in Princeton Shopping Center. The Vietnamese restaurant specializes in pho and other traditional dishes, adding another international dining option to the shopping center’s evolving restaurant lineup.
SkinSpirit, a medical aesthetics and skincare provider, has opened at 53 Hulfish St., offering treatments such as facials, injectables and skincare services as part of the district’s mix of retail and personal-service businesses.
Hudson Table has also opened at the shopping center, offering a culinary experience rather than a traditional restaurant. The venue hosts hands-on cooking classes, chef competitions, catering and chef’s table-style multi-course meals. Hudson Table also operates locations in Brooklyn, Hoboken, Philadelphia and Stamford, Connecticut.
Mosaic has opened on the third floor of the Princeton University Art Museum on Elm Drive. The restaurant offers breakfast, brunch and lunch, with menu items including soups, salads, egg dishes, sandwiches and baked goods. Alcohol service is limited to university faculty and staff, museum members and their guests.
XiBei Cuisine has opened at 43 Witherspoon St. in Princeton, taking over the longtime Sakura Express space. The restaurant specializes in Northwestern Chinese cuisine, with a menu focused on heartier, wheat-based dishes such as dumplings and noodles, along with traditional items less commonly found in American-style Chinese restaurants.
The Baked Bear is preparing to open at 41 Witherspoon St. in Princeton, taking over the former Bread Boutique space. The chain specializes in custom-made ice cream sandwiches, allowing customers to choose from a variety of cookies, ice cream flavors and toppings. Bread Boutique has relocated up the block to 16 Witherspoon St., the former home of Kilwin’s.
Hamilton
Hamilton Township has had one of the broader mixes of new business activity, with restaurant, retail and service-related openings all recorded on the township’s business news page in recent months.
DeLorenzo’s The Burg opened Feb. 24 on Sloan Avenue in Hamilton. The pizza restaurant replaced the former DeLorenzo’s Pizza location and is the second location for the business, whose original restaurant is in Levittown, Pennsylvania.
The Burg has no business connection to the previous owners of DeLorenzo’s. Owner Tyler DeLorenzo is the nephew of Rick DeLorenzo, who owned the former pizza restaurant at that location. The Burg also is separate from De Lorenzo’s Tomato Pies in Robbinsville.
Hamilton also added Dave’s Hot Chicken at 770 Route 33. The restaurant held its grand opening in November and described it as the owners’ third location. It features hand-breaded chicken tenders and sliders, along with drive-thru and online pickup service.
Another new Hamilton restaurant is El Toro Del Fuego at 628 Arena Drive. Township officials said the restaurant celebrated its grand opening Nov. 13.
The business is owned by Sam Zheng, who also owns TacoRito locations. Township officials described the concept as an all-you-can-eat Mexican restaurant with grilled meats, appetizers, sides and a full bar.
Rollito’s Ice Cream Rolls has opened its first brick-and-mortar location at 876 Whitehorse Mercerville Road in Hamilton Township. The business, founded by Ginger and Eduardo Salazar, previously operated as a mobile ice cream cart serving events and community gatherings.
The shop specializes in made-to-order rolled ice cream prepared in front of customers, offering a range of flavors from fruit-based options to chocolate and classic varieties. The new storefront brings the concept to a permanent location following its growth through local demand.
Il Dono has opened at 812 Route 33 in the former Tessara restaurant space. The Italian-American restaurant is owned by Justin Vitella and named for the Italian word meaning “the gift” in honor of his late grandmother.
The restaurant offers house-made pastas, seafood, burgers, steaks, chicken, chops and more alongside a full bar with handcrafted cocktails, wines, and seasonal specialties.
Bagel Bazaar also opened a new Hamilton location in the Mercerville Shopping Center on Route 33.
Officials said the shop celebrated its ribbon-cutting Nov. 10 in the former Fred & Pete’s space. Hamilton’s announcement said Bagel Bazaar has operated for more than 30 years and also has a production and distribution facility in town.
On the retail side, DTLR opened at Independence Plaza at 2465 S. Broad St. The store marked the retailer’s first Mercer County location. The company, formerly known as Downtown Locker Room, sells footwear, apparel and accessories from brands such as Nike, Adidas and Jordan.
Hamilton also welcomed Matakas Jiu Jitsu to Clover Square shopping center on Quakerbridge Road. Township officials said the school celebrated its grand opening Nov. 14 and that the Hamilton site is the academy’s second location and first in the township. The business offers youth and adult programs.
A new medical spa has opened at 2275 Whitehorse Mercerville Road, Suite 9, in Hamilton Township. Estetica Medical Aesthetics, founded by Dr. Sofia Dasti, offers non-surgical aesthetic and wellness treatments, including skin rejuvenation and anti-aging services.
Dasti, a board-certified physician with more than 20 years of experience, previously practiced at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton. The business adds to the township’s growing mix of health, wellness and personal-care services.
Other recent Hamilton expansions include Prop Hair Studio, which moved into an expanded location at 2119 Route 33, and Cloak and Dagger, which unveiled a larger Route 33 entertainment hub with escape rooms, a gel blaster attraction and a rage room.
Yoja Hair Lounge and Yoja Brows have opened side by side at 1450 and 1452 S. Olden Ave. in Hamilton Township. Both businesses are owned and operated by Yojaidy Beita and recently marked their openings with ribbon-cutting ceremonies attended by township officials.
Yoja Brows offers permanent makeup services, including eyebrows, lips and eyeliner, while Yoja Hair Lounge provides hair services, nail care and makeup, adding two new beauty-focused businesses to the township’s commercial mix.
A new barbershop has opened in the Dover Park Shopping Center in Hamilton Township. 21 Club Barber Shop, owned by father-and-son team Semaj and Saurel Dastinot, offers haircuts and grooming services in a community-focused setting.
The shop is staffed by a team of barbers and stylists and is open for walk-ins and appointments, adding another personal-service business to the township’s growing commercial mix.
While not a new business, Hamilton Township’s Olde Nottingham Tavern at 9 Mercer St. celebrated the opening of a new indoor-outdoor patio in December, marking the latest upgrade under owners Sam and Lucy Moscarello.
The township said the couple, who took over the longtime tavern in 2023, have already added a new kitchen, a front dining room for private events and an outdoor area. The new patio includes exposed wood, high ceilings, a new bar, mounted televisions, heaters and a dedicated pizza oven, adding another feature to the longtime Hamilton landmark.
Patel Brothers market opened last year in the Court at Hamilton shopping center on Quakerbridge Road. The Indian grocery chain, which already operates a location in East Windsor, brought a second Mercer County store to the former Risoldi’s Great Valu space after years of vacancy.
The store offers fresh produce, South Asian groceries, spices, snacks, frozen items and household essentials, with local officials participating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Sprouts Farmers Market plans to open a new location in the Mercerville Shopping Center on Route 33 in Hamilton after receiving zoning board approval in 2025.
The natural and organic grocery chain will focus on fresh produce, healthy foods and wellness items as it expands its presence in Central Jersey. No specific opening date has been announced.
An additional Sprouts location is also slated for the former Kohl’s space in East Windsor Village, with a targeted late-2026 opening.
Qdoba Mexican Eats has opened a new location at 1070 White Horse Ave. in Hamilton Township. The fast-casual restaurant offers customizable Tex-Mex options, including burritos, bowls, tacos and catering services.
The Hamilton location is operated by franchise group TIG Corporation, which has opened several Qdoba locations across New Jersey as part of the brand’s continued expansion in the Northeast..
Ewing
Ewing Eats: Sandwich & Grill is set to open at Serenity Plaza in Ewing on Parkway Avenue. The restaurant is taking over the former SNG Burgers space. The menu is expected to include hot and cold sandwiches, grill items, loaded fries and salads.
Kenny’s Meals is preparing to open a new location in Ewing Town Center on Parkway Avenue. The business, founded by Ewing resident Kenny Garcia, offers prepared meals focused on healthy, whole-food ingredients and affordable options.The new storefront will add to the brand’s existing locations in Lawrence Township, Marlton and Newtown, Pennsylvania. Garcia, who developed the concept after facing kidney failure and adopting a healthier diet, has said the business is centered on providing nutritious meals to the community.Meanwhile, plans call for a Starbucks with a drive-thru at Suburban Square shopping center in Ewing. Planning documents describe a proposed 2,313-square-foot store at the site. The site is currently under construction.
APRON: See West Windsor listing.
The Lady and the Shallot has opened a new brick-and-mortar restaurant in Campus Town at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. The vegan concept, founded by Kate Wnek and Francesca Avitto, previously operated for several years as a popular stand at the Trenton Farmers Market.
The new sit-down location offers the business’s established plant-based menu along with new dishes, expanding on a following built during its time at the market.
A boutique offering global fashion has opened on North Olden Avenue in Ewing. International Cotoure, founded by Lola Atunrase, features clothing and accessories inspired by a range of cultures, along with custom design services tailored to individual customers.
A new laundromat has opened at 1750 N. Olden Ave., Unit A6, in Ewing Township. SuperSudz Laundry offers self-service machines as well as wash-and-fold and drop-off services in a large, modern facility equipped with high-efficiency equipment. The business features commercial-grade washers and dryers, along with customer amenities such as free Wi-Fi and on-site attendants.
Hopewell
Bre’s Baked Bites has launched in Hopewell as a home-based cottage bakery operated by Breonna Rios. The business offers cupcakes, mini cakes, cookies and brownies, with products sold through custom orders, local events and farmers markets, including the Hopewell Farmers Market.
Rios, a Hopewell resident, started the business in 2025 under New Jersey’s cottage food laws, allowing her to produce baked goods from her home kitchen while building a local customer base and exploring wholesale opportunities.
Pennington
A home and garden store has opened at 10 N. Main St. in Pennington. The Green Trellis, owned by Liz Laughlin, offers orchids, topiaries, home décor and curated gifts.
Robbinsville
Harpoon Willy’s opened last year at 2360 Route 33 in Robbinsville Town Center, bringing the Jersey Shore restaurant group’s contemporary American cuisine and pub-style atmosphere to Mercer County.
The location, which celebrated its grand opening in early 2025, features more than 300 indoor and outdoor seats, including a 70-seat bar with televisions and a seasonal patio, and serves familiar favorites along with signature items such as truffle tater tots, honey bacon shrimp and edamame dumplings.
Porto by Chef Jason, at 1111 Route 130 North in Robbinsville, brings back local chef Jason Dilts, formerly of Zinna’s Bistro in Cranbury and other area spots, with new business partners Elizabeth Porto and her husband.
The BYOB restaurant, which opened last October, serves customer favorites including Boom Boom Chicken, short rib mac and cheese, Brussels sprouts and bread pudding, along with rotating seasonal items.
East Windsor
In East Windsor, Eggmania celebrated a ribbon-cutting for its Route 33 location, adding another food option to the Route 33 and Route 130 commercial area.
Plainsboro
Beyond Mercer County, nearby Central Jersey communities also have logged several confirmed openings that add to the broader regional picture.
Big Bazaar opened as an Indian grocery and specialty store at 660 Plainsboro Road in Plainsboro, stocking produce, spices, frozen foods, snacks, paan and home decor. The retail destination operates as a one-stop cultural marketplace with extended hours Tuesday through Sunday.
South Brunswick
In South Brunswick, Manzil Cafe opened in Kendall Park at 3010 Route 27 as a cafe and brunch spot.
Tacobee’s Mexican Grill held its soft opening in January at 3059 Route 27 in Franklin Park. It offers Mexican favorites including burrito bowls and other grilled items.
Olé Craft Kitchen & Bar opened last year at 3010 Route 27 in Kendall Park, serving the South Brunswick area with Mexican cuisine and fusion elements. The location offers a full bar and a menu suited for date nights and casual dining.
Bordentown City
Abyssal Brewing Company recently opened in Bordentown City on Farnsworth Avenue. The new microbrewery, founded by Hamilton High West graduates Daniel and Meagan Knowles, serves locally made ales.
MarketFair in West Windsor is one area shopping center that is adding new retail and dining tenants. Their additions are part of a $5 million investment and renovation effort.,
