Get Ready For A Glaze Waterfall: Krispy Kreme Returning To Ocean County

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Krispy Kreme fans, rejoice: the popular doughnut company is returning to Ocean County, and it's bringing a glaze waterfall.

Krispy Kreme officials signed a lease Monday to fill the former McDonald's in the Town & Country Shopping Center on Route 70 in Lakewood, according to an announcement from JLL, a real estate company that brokered the deal. The shopping center is home to Home Depot and Value City Furniture.

Krispy Kreme, which bills itself as the home of the Original Glazed Doughnut, is set to open the restaurant in the fall, a news release said.

It will feature a "glaze waterfall" and conveyor belt where doughnuts are made fresh right in front of customers in the 4,000-square-foot factory store.

Krispy Kreme has franchise stores in Paramus, Springfield, East Rutherford and Jersey City. It previously had a location in Brick on Route 70 near Best Buy, but that store closed nearly 20 years ago.

"We are thrilled to bring this beloved doughnut shop back to the neighborhood after nearly 20 years," said David Townes, JLL managing director. "Krispy Kreme is a dynamic addition to Town & Country Shopping Center’s retail experience, which accesses a significant population from its location right off of Route 70."

Owned by development, management and leasing firm Steiner Equities, Town & Country Shopping Center totals 443,600 square feet, and is anchored by Home Depot and Value City Furniture.

Originally built in 1991, it is located just off busy Route 70, surrounded by a population of over 205,000 with an average of 41,000 vehicles passing the center every day.