Red Robin Closes Brunswick Square Mall Location Amid Redevelopment Plans

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - Brunswick Square Mall has lost another dining establishment, ahead of its planned transformation.

Red Robin permanently closed its East Brunswick location on June 22, marking the end of the restaurant's presence at the Route 18 mall.

The closure was part of Red Robin's broader corporate strategy to shutter 70 underperforming locations across the country.

The departure represents the second restaurant loss for Brunswick Square Mall in under a year. Bar Louie, which operated adjacent to Red Robin, closed its doors in March, leaving a growing number of vacant storefronts in the mall's dining area.

These closures come as Brunswick Square Mall undergoes preparations for a significant redevelopment project aimed at revitalizing the aging retail destination.

Earlier this year, the township unanimously designated Brunswick Square Mall and nine neighboring properties on Route 18 as a condemnation redevelopment area.

The township aims to revitalize the area, which has suffered from recession and the shift to online shopping.

The redevelopment plan aims to transform the Route 18 corridor from a traditional retail space to a more diverse area focused on recreation, entertainment, and services. Mayor Brad Cohen had emphasized that the current mall model doesn't work in the 2025 environment.

The redevelopment designation gives the township leverage to work directly with developers to ensure the final product meets the community's long-term strategic goals for the Route 18 corridor, rather than allowing property owners to develop independently within existing zoning laws.

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