Brick Life

What Kind of New Business Does Brick Need Most?

by
Daniel Nee
April 6, 2015

Brick Plaza (Photo: Federal Realty)

Some new businesses are opening in Brick in the coming months and years. On Route 88, Marriott has proposed the construction of a hotel to township officials, and up the road, Meridian Health and Fitness (full disclosure, they are a Shorebeat sponsor), featuring a state-of-the-art fitness center with a pool, is opening in the former Branch Brook site.

But Brick has also lost out on several businesses. The township was trying to lure a high-end supermarket chain to the former Foodtown site on Route 70, but Whole Foods Market has committed to a store one town north, in Wall Township, and there seems to be little interest from competitors Wegman’s and Trader Joe’s. Some residents also frequently complain about too few local restaurants, as most of the recent eating establishments that have come to town are national chains.

Over the weekend, a reader asked us if we could poll the township on what type of business they’d like to see open in Brick, and we thought it would be a nice idea to ask, and get everyone talking.

Nicole Bagnato asked if a video rental store could make it.

“Redbox offers a limited selections, a store would offer more,” she said.

Alternative, Bagnato asked if a coffee shop would be a good fit for Brick.

“Inexpensive coffee, some books and magazines, a few public computers free to use, free wifi, (no purchase necessary to lounge, do homework etc.) and locals playing music every Saturday,” she envisions.

So we pose the question to you: what types of businesses would make Brick an even better town in which to live – and, at the same time, could thrive financially.

Tell us in the comments, and let’s start a conversation about the future of our town!