Lakeland Bank Officially Opens Offices at Old A&P Building

Operations and Training departments have relocated to a site in Jefferson Township, according to Thomas J. Shara, president and CEO of Lakeland Bank.

“The opportunity to relocate our staff to a facility near our headquarters was a win for our colleagues and the Bank as well as the Jefferson community,” said Shara. “The Bank’s executive team was pleased the relocation would have minimal impact on our colleagues while helping to improve the appearance and business activity in this commercial zone.

Lakeland Bank colleagues and the Board of Directors joined Jefferson Mayor Russell Felter, local dignitaries and landlord John Azarian at a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Aug. 8. Once the teal ribbon was cut, Shara invited guests to tour the new office space and enjoy light refreshments with the bank staff.

Lakeland Bank purchased rights under the A&P lease to occupy the space at 5716 Berkshire Valley Road, which had been vacant since the A&P moved about 10 years ago. The Bank finished extensive renovations to 27,000 square feet of the facility in June, and completed the relocation of staff to the new center in July. The Bank is currently seeking a sub-tenant for the remaining 7,500 square feet.

The renovation of the former supermarket space into an office environment included the installation of environmentally friendly day lighting. The use of day lighting will direct natural lighting to the center of the building. Studies show that natural light makes workers feel and work better, prevents eye strain, and boosts productivity. It’s also good for the environment. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program reports that day lighting can significantly cut lighting energy use for lighting building interiors, sometimes by up to 75% or 80%.

Lakeland Bancorp, the holding company for Lakeland Bank, has an asset base of approximately $2.9 billion and 47 offices spanning six northern New Jersey counties: Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren. Lakeland Bank offers an extensive array of consumer and commercial products and services, including online banking, localized commercial lending teams, and 24-hour or less turnaround time on consumer loan applications. For more information about the bank’s full line of products and services, visit their website at lakelandbank.com.

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