Center 18 Business Owners Seek an Anchor Store

It used to be a thriving shopping center that was home to party store, a furniture store and even, a long time ago, a movie theater known as Movie City 5.

But now, with three quarters of the “L” shaped strip mall empty, those businesses that still call Center 18 home—Shogun 18, a barber shop, Brothers Pizza, the Liquid Hair Salon, Bird House, Planet Bike, Quest Diagnostic and Noor Palace—have learned to adapt.

“It used to be very busy, and it used to be very nice,” said Lilly Distelcamp, owner of .

Since the salon opened six years ago, Distelcamp has had to rely on great service, “quality product” and a strong, loyal group of customers who keep coming back. But it would be nice, she said, to have an anchor store nearby that brought in even more customers.

“We were in Salon Today  as one of the best 200 salons in the U.S., that’s based on customer service and hard work. We have 4,800 regular clients we rely on, and we have six chairs and 900 square feet,” she said.

Distelcamp and other business owners say they would like to see an multi-purpose store such as a grocery store, or a Walgreens open in the strip mall as a way to bring in a regular flow of customers.

“It would definitely help if the mall didn’t look so rundown,” said her son, Francisco Distelcamp.

According to Barry Dicken, owner of , some business owners look to him as a sort of anchor store. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to see something open up in the mall that will bring in more customers.

“We need traffic with a more general clientele,” he said. “We need something that draws people in multiple times, and brings in a full breath of customers.”

Stores such as a Walgreens, a variety or convenience store would meet that requirement he said.

But, if your Tony Marciano, owner of Brother’s Pizza, there is one type of business that won’t help.

“As bad as it is, there are too many food places in the area", he said Wednesday, in between making pizzas for a busy lunchtime crowd. “We’ve got plenty of food. Too much food. We need something that will get people to come by and shop.”

Mayor David Stahl said the shopping center was once a thriving retail area and it is a testament to the owners there now that they are doing so well.

“It was once a thriving area,” he said. “There was Movie City, a deli, restaurants and a buffet. There have been a lot things there. But now you got businesses that have been there, like Brothers Pizza, the —that’s been there for as long as I can remember— Planet Bike and the steakhouse (). You’ve got these places that have been there for a number of years, so it shows that if you know how to run a successful business, you can be there.”

He said one problem with the mall could be it’s configuration, which doesn’t lend itself to high visibility.

“It's one of those malls that’s not configured, from a physical standpoint, to allow people to see the retailers. You have stores that, visibility wise, are hard to see,” he said.

As far as what can be done with the center, Mayor Stahl said the township is willing to work with the mall’s owner to resolve any issues they may have.

Representatives from Rosen Associates Management Company, the real estate company in charge of the mall, said they have no comment regarding the mall’s status.

“In years past it was a highly successful. Hopefully will be once again,” Mayor Stahl said.