ENGLISHTOWN, NJ—Continuing its rapid expansion, Jersey Mike's Subs has signed seven new leases in Central and Northern New Jersey.

“Jersey Mike's was named the fastest growing restaurant chain in the US for the last three years by Nation's Restaurant News,” says Gary Krauss of Pierson Commercial Real Estate, which represented the sandwich chain in its recent leases. “We're thrilled to be able to contribute our part to their success.”

“North Jersey has had some of the highest performing units in our company,” says Tim Lumpkin, director of real estate for Jersey Mike's Subs. “We've been aggressively opening stores in our home state, and turning out great sales numbers.”

Jersey Mike's Subs' latest New Jersey locations are:

• 3 Bayshore Plaza in Atlantic Highlands, a corporately owned and operated location that opened in June. The center, owned by Bayshore Plaza, is located at the intersection of Route 36 and First Avenue on the way to the beaches at Sandy Hook. “While this is a year-around market, there is a tremendous influx of beach traffic headed to Gateway National Recreation Area, which is the most northern of the Jersey Shore beaches,” says Krauss. “This was an off-market deal. We knew where we wanted to be, contacted the landlord, and they were excited by the prospect of having a Jersey-based national brand in their center.”
• Somerville Circle Shopping Center, 300 U.S. 202 in Raritan, owned by Somerville Circle. The store is expected to open in early 2017. Vanessa Fernandez of Levin Management represented the landlord. “This is really the southern end of the Bridgewater market which has tremendous daytime population and some of the highest food sales volumes in the state,” Krauss says. “We're happy with the co-tenancy of Panera two doors down, and that the center sits at the circle where routes 202, 206 and 28 meet.”
• 65-99 Old State Road in Spotswood. Jake Frantzman of Ripco Real Estate represented the landlord, Spotswood-Lowman, in the transaction. “This is a very busy ShopRite-anchored neighborhood center which rarely has a vacancy,” Krauss says. “Old Stage Road runs right into Highway 18, a major retail corridor that runs from New Brunswick to the Jersey Shore. Franchise operator Chris Rigassio also owns the Jersey Mike's store on Route 18 in East Brunswick. The Spotswood store is under construction and slated to open by November 2016.”
• Edison Woods Shopping Center at 1000 Route 1 in Edison. Nancy Erickson of Colliers International represented the landlord, Edison Woods Commercial Associates. The center is anchored by B.J.'s Wholesale Club and The Tile Shop. “We were able to demise this end-cap space out of a former tool store, and create a rare small-shop space with good visibility, ingress and egress to Route 1, and a traffic light directly in front of the store,” says Krauss. “We're also excited that a new Town Square development is coming across the street, putting Jersey Mike's in a prime position but at about half the operating costs.” The store is slated to open in January 2017.
• A new strip center at 269-298 US 46 in Little Ferry, where Jersey Mike's is the first signed tenant. CJ Huter and Lew Finkelstein from The Goldstein Group represented the landlord, 269 Rt. 46 West, Little Ferry LLC. “We had been looking at this corner for some time,” said Krauss. “it's rare to find new inventory in this market, we are happy that we literally got in on the ground floor.” Construction is planned for spring 2017.
• Toms River Center at 1 Route 37 in Toms River. Mike Testa and Bill Farkas of Jeffery Realty represented the landlord, J&L Realty Associates. “The center has a tremendous pylon sign that can be seen from the Garden State Parkway,” commented Krauss. “It also has back access to Main Street, which runs into the Ocean County Courthouse and all the businesses that surround it.”
• The Commons at Hooper Shopping Center at 1350 Hooper Avenue, also in Toms River. Jay Miller of CBRE represented the landlord, AC 1 Toms River. “The Commons is at the heart of the Hooper Avenue corridor of the Toms River market, but it also has back access to the local residents via Schencks Mill Line Road.”

Both Toms River locations are operated by New Jersey sports celebrity Chrissy Rampone, the three-time Olympic gold-medal winning captain of the US Women's soccer team and a spokesperson for Jersey Mike's Subs. Now she and her husband Chris will operate their own Jersey Mike's restaurants.