A local company and another with its base out of state are helping drive growth with new industrial acquisitions in New Jersey.

New Brunswick-based recycling company GDB International Inc. acquired a Branchburg industrial property for $13.97 million. Zimmel Associates brokered the deal for the 900,000-square-foot site located at 68 County Line Road, according to a Sept. 4 announcement.

The Somerset County building offers easy access to Routes 202 and 22 as well as Interstate 287.

The Edison-based firm previously sold the property to SKM 68 LLC in 2021, and was subsequently tapped to handle leasing. Despite an ongoing environmental remediation process, Zimmel said GDB expressed interest in purchasing the building within 30 days of its marketing.

The parties initially agreed on a lease with an option to buy. After three years of leasing, the sale to GDB was finalized July 1.

According to Zimmel, the transaction underscores its ability to handle complex transactions and fulfill diverse client needs. President David Zimmel played a critical role in managing the transaction, from the initial lease to the final sale. “We marketed the building for lease, but GDB International Inc. was determined to acquire it,” he commented. “We are delighted with the outcome and pleased to have facilitated a deal that benefited all parties involved.”

While a tenant, GDB made significant improvements to 68 County Line Road, Zimmel said, including installing a new roof and starting interior renovations.

An impending comprehensive update at the facility will establish a state-of-the-art recycling center.

Building features include:

• 18-foot to 30-foot ceiling heights
• 2,400 amps of power
• Six tailboard loading docks
• Drive-in door

In addition to New Brunswick and Branchburg, GDB has additional facilities in Florida, Illinois, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Ohio.

Garden State location key for global bakery’s growth

Meanwhile in Essex County, NAI DiLeo-Bram & Co. arranged the sale of a 30,000-square-foot industrial property that will now serve as a warehousing/storage facility for 85°C Bakery Café.

The global brand of hand-crafted gourmet pastries, coffee and tea acquired the property at 8 York Ave. in West Caldwell for an undisclosed price.

Taiwanese-based bakery 85°C Bakery Café has added more than 70 locations across the U.S. since 2008. It expects to debut two new retail locations in New Jersey this fall.

According to NAIDB Chief Operating Officer David Simon, the buyer will use the single-story light industrial/flex property as its primary hub to service retail store openings included in its East Coast push. An electronics parts and accessories distributor formerly occupied the building. Simon and Associate Vice President Kyle Gerace represented the buyer in the acquisition.

“Situated in a corporate park-caliber setting, 8 York Ave. is well positioned in the heart of Northern New Jersey, just about 25 miles west from NYC,” said Gerace. “The property posed a rare opportunity for a user/investor like 85°C Bakery Café to acquire an industrial asset within one of the area’s most sought-after commercial corridors.”

“Our client will be able to use the property as a commercial kitchen for baking fresh and storing finished products. Within minutes from I-80, I-280, U.S. 46 and Route 23, the property offers excellent transportation capabilities,” commented Simon. “This buyer’s in-house real estate and due diligence professionals, along with its third-party legal and consulting advisors, worked persistently to help conclude this transaction. We are fortunate to have partnered with everyone involved and it was a true collaborative effort.”

Based in Woodbridge, NAIDB is a member of NAI Global.