Five new shopping options are coming to downtown Westfield.

JLL Retail recently announced it closed leases totaling 11,153 square feet along one block in the New York City “bedroom community.”

The Union County municipality will welcome:

• 2nd Street, which leased 5,812 square feet at 167 E. Broad St. The Tokyo-based consignment brand plans to open its 22nd U.S. location by this fall.
• National health and wellness concept Stretchlab signed a 10-year lease for a recently opened 2,091-square-foot space at 161 E. Broad St.
• Mochimoly, a locally owned Asian treats concept, leased 1,100 square feet of space at 131 E. Broad St. for its third location, which opened this spring.
• Tea drink franchise Gong Cha – which has opened several N.J. locations recently – leased 350 square feet at 129 E. Broad St. and is open for business, according to its website.
• Fast casual concept German Donner Kebob leased 1,800 square feet at 125 E. Broad St., which is expected to open soon.

A JLL Retail leasing team led by Managing Director David Townes and Vice President Alana Friedman represented the landlords in all of the transactions.

2nd Street was represented by Newmark’s Jake Siegel and Andrew Connolly; Stretchlab was represented by Francisco Lugo of Christies International Real Estate; and German Donor Kabob was represented by Zach Diamond of Katz NYC.

According to Townes, retail is thriving in suburban New Jersey.

“We are thrilled to contribute to the community of Westfield by bringing these exciting new retailers to the downtown area and look forward to continuing the suburban renaissance with many more new tenants,” he said in a prepared statement.

Freidman said that Westfield is one of several towns in New Jersey that is benefitting from the rise of hybrid work.

“With an established affluent population, educated workforce and connectivity that supports flexible commuting, Westfield is a highly desirable market for retailers seeking growth opportunities where shoppers live rather than work,” she commented.

The owner of 161-167 E. Broad St., developer James Ward, pointed to the contrast of Westfield’s pre-COVID downtown with its present-day momentum. Before, he said, “about one-third of the downtown was vacant and that creates a very negative impression. JLL has been a great partner as the community embraces the type of smart growth that is contributing to a vibrant downtown area that bolsters the economic strength of the whole town.”

And Westfield has intentions to keep growing. Recently, entrepreneur Marc Lore’s Wonder Group debuted the first Garden State spot of its revamped, brick-and-mortar concept in the city. On the horizon, an even bigger transformation awaits, following approval for the One Westfield Redevelopment project from HBC | Streetworks Development, which includes plan for office, residential and retail options; parking improvements; updated public spaces; and more.

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