Fort Lee Towne Center Broker: Response Positive From Prospective New Tenants

The realtor and exclusive broker for Fort Lee Towne Center says he hopes to replace the Fort Lee Borders, which is scheduled to close by the end of April as part of the chain's bankruptcy restructuring, with tenants “that are more relevant to the community,” reports NorthJersey.com.

That means possibly doctors’ offices and restaurants, says John Choi of Sandbox Realtors in the article, which quotes him as saying he is “getting lots of positive response.”

The article highlights Choi’s a track record of attracting Asian—especially Korean—businesses to the shopping center when other chains have moved out, noting the Korean chain restaurant BCD Tofu House, which now occupies the space formerly used by Mutual Bank, and reporting that Choi already has a Korean bakery lined up to move into what used to be a Blockbuster.

All such moves would be pending municipal approval, according to the report, which also says the potential of Barnes & Noble buying Borders’ unexpired lease—it expires in 2018—in Fort Lee at least is unlikely and that it would more likely be surrendered to the owner of the facility, Ashkenazy Acquisitions.

A recent “question of the week” feature on Fort Lee Patch yielded plenty of ideas about what Patch readers might like to see move in to the facility when Borders moves out, but few of the many responses said doctors’ offices or restaurants—Asian, Korean or otherwise.

Here are some of the more interesting suggestions from Patch readers in case you haven’t been following along:

• Barnes & Noble
• A gym, we need a gym in Ft Lee!!!
• Annex the building to use for classrooms. The new Fort Lee recreation center has a huge gymnasium. Our town needs space for basic educational programs.
• I would like to see Barnes & Noble moving in. And it would be dream come true if Fort Lee Main street will look like Ridgewood ave in Ridgewood or Palisade ave in Englewood!
• Another book store would be great, even one that isn't a large chain. I think a key to having an active Main St would be to see more independent businesses open up.
• Fort Lee Borough Hall...they should move out of that 100 year old relic on Main street and become more accessible to the public....Funds could be obtained by selling 309 Main street.
• Bounce U. or a similar place for kids to socialize, get exercise and have fun in a safe venue
• I would like to see a small independent movie theater.
• I just hope it is not another bank.