Officials say that plans to revitalize a dilapidated shopping center near New Jersey’s Pine Barrens into a modern retail destination are still on the table despite a major supermarket pulling out of an approved deal.
In December 2024, Pemberton’s Planning Board approved an application to seriously revamp the Browns Mills Shopping Center. The mall, built in the 1960s, is officially vacant after a dry cleaner at the property closed down last month.
Pemberton had acquired the shopping center via eminent domain several years ago and selected Englishtown-based New Horizon Properties to redevelop the land. Dubbed Pemberton Commons, the approved vision included anchor tenants such as a Super Wawa store, a Taco Bell restaurant, and a Grocery Outlet location.
The development is slated to consist of four separate buildings, including a 16,000 square-foot grocery store, 11,700 square feet of retail, and 6,372 square feet for Wawa. But a Grocery Outlet supermarket has fallen off the tenant list because that company scaled back their expansion plans earlier this year.
Pemberton Mayor Jack Tompkins recently shared with the Courier Post details about the changes. New Horizon Properties is trying to interest other supermarket operators in taking the space, with Tractor Supply also being contacted about taking a spot.
The location of the property could also lead to some changes in the initial design of the shopping center. The land falls under the New Jersey Pinelands Commission’s planning review jurisdiction and supersedes local planning approvals. The mayor noted that some changes to the landscaping plan are already underway.
New Horizon has started advertising space for lease at the complex and publicly indicated that the project is still moving forward. Mayor Tompkins, for his part, told the Courier Post that “we’re still fairly confident that this (project) is going to happen.”
