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The basics:

• Sprouts Farmers Market to anchor Bey Lea Plaza redevelopment in Toms River
• Boot Barn, Skechers, Cava, Paris Baguette, Just Salad, First Watch joining tenant mix
• Paramount Realty plans major site upgrades with work starting late summer 2026
• Project reflects strong demand for national retailers in Ocean County corridor

Big changes are coming to Bey Lea Plaza in Toms River. Amid an overhaul from Paramount Realty taking place at the retail site, RIPCO Real Estate has secured grocery-anchor tenant Sprouts Farmers Market.

In its April announcement, the commercial real estate brokerage also revealed Boot Barn and several other occupants due at the center located at the intersection of Hooper and Bay Avenues.

The slate underscores leasing momentum at the 79,000-square-foot Ocean County property and demand from national retailers across the Toms River corridor, RIPCO said. It also continues RIPCO’s involvement with the asset. In 2023, the team brokered the off-market sale of Bey Lea Plaza to a joint venture between Paramount Realty and Cayre Equities, CS Paramount Hooper LLC.

Executive Vice Presidents Steven Winters and Mike Horne handled that sale. They also represented both Sprouts Farmers Market and Boot Barn in securing their space at Bey Lea Plaza.

Catering to current customers

Beyond refreshing the tenant mix, redevelopment work at the property aims to introduce updated design elements and improve site functionality. The Toms River Township Planning Board issued preliminary and final major site plan with variances approval at its March 18 meeting.

Paramount Realty says the updates will deliver a dynamic destination blending national names, health-focused concepts and experiential uses.

Winters said the work reflects a broader evolution in the retail sector in “strong suburban trade areas like Toms River,” noting, “We’re seeing continued demand from national tenants looking for well-located, high-visibility centers …”

According to Paramount Realty, adding Sprouts to the mix at Bey Lea Plaza signals a larger shift toward more health-conscious and specialty retail options in the region.

Boot Barn and Skechers will occupy space in the center’s main retail corridor. Meanwhile, an outparcel development at the property will serve up Cava, along with Paris Baguette (which has its U.S. headquarters in Moonachie), Just Salad and First Watch.

Existing occupants include PetSmart, DXL, Encore Dental, Lane Bryant, Wells Fargo and a nail salon will also continue to operate.

Paramount Realty CEO and President Maurice Zekaria told NJBIZ via email the company expects work to start the end of summer 2026, which expects to last approximately a year. Tenants will remain open throughout.

Sprouting up in NJ

Describing RIPCO’s role at the property as “fortunate,” Horne noted, “Sprouts and Boot Barn are exactly the type of high-performing retailers that resonate with today’s consumer and will drive long-term success for the landlord.”

In March, Winters and Horne represented Sprouts Farmers Market in its lease at Somerset Shopping Center. It marks the latest location from the specialty grocer in New Jersey since sprouting up locally in 2019.

Meanwhile, the duo has also played a part in marching Boot Barn out across the state.

Winters and Horne serve as exclusive broker for the brand in North and Central Jersey. In fact, Boot Barn will also join the lineup in Somerset County. The Western and work-apparel retailer is targeting aggressive national growth to reach 900 stores by 2030.

In Toms River, Bey Lea Plaza benefits from a position along one of the area’s busiest commercial corridors — providing visibility as well as accessibility.

Ownership notes limited space remains, ranging from 2,531 square feet to 4,604 square feet.