Government

Smoothie King Proposes Brick Location Across From Shop-Rite Plaza

by
Daniel Nee
November 23, 2021

The residential home at 129 Chambers Bridge Road proposed to be demolished in favor of a Smoothie King restaurant. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

The international chain Smoothie King has proposed a location with a drive-through lane in Brick Township, though its location in one of the town’s most congested traffic bottlenecks may draw scrutiny from regulators.

Smoothie King operates more than 1,000 locations worldwide, selling smoothie drinks with an eye toward fitness enthusiasts. The company is based in Texas, though owned by a South Korean investor. It has locations throughout the United States as well as South Korea, the Cayman Islands and Singapore.

The Brick location is being proposed for 129 Chambers Bridge Road, directly opposite the traffic signal that allows vehicles to turn left into the Shop-Rite parking lot. The lot is currently occupied by a residential home that was sold in June. According to a filing with the township’s planning board, the company’s proposal for the site includes demolishing the existing residential dwelling and wooded area and constructing the Smoothie King restaurant with a drive-thru facility, plus the addition of landscaping, lighting and accompanying site amenities.

The residential home at 129 Chambers Bridge Road proposed to be demolished in favor of a Smoothie King restaurant. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

The application requires variance relief and design waivers from the planning board, though the relief being sought consists of “bulk” variances – not the more stringent use variance. The variances are required for lot depth (100-foot proposed where 125-foot is required), minimum floor building area (1,169 square feet is proposed while 2,000 square feet is required) and various setbacks. The setbacks, however, are proposed to be brought more in line with the township’s code than what current exists on the property. Permission is also being sought to post seven facade signs where one is allowed, and to mark 9-foot parking spaces instead of the required 10-foot spaces.

A hearing on the application is scheduled for the Dec. 8, 2021 meeting of the planning board, which will be held at the township’s municipal complex on Chambers Bridge Road.