By Sunayana Prabhu
SHREWSBURY – Bigger and brighter, Harmon, the health, wellness and beauty retailer, is set to reopen in the area nearly two years after closing all of its stores, including one that previously occupied a spot in The Grove West.
On Saturday, Aug. 16, the store with a cult following will open in the Shrewsbury Plaza on Route 35, filling the space left vacant by the former Joann Fabrics and Crafts.
Harmon – previously known as Harmon Face Value – stores were shuttered by its parent company, Bed Bath & Beyond, during bankruptcy filings. It has been revived under new ownership.
“We bought it out of bankruptcy, but Harmon was never bankrupt. It just was Bed Bath & Beyond,” a spokesperson for Harmon said, clarifying the company’s status, which is now independent and under new ownership.
Jonah Raskas, a private investor headquartered in New York, purchased Harmon in 2023, breathing new life into the beloved retail brand. The decision to return to Shrewsbury was strategic and customer-driven. “The Shrewsbury Grove was a best performing location,” he said. Loyal customers “keep requesting Harmon to come back in Shrewsbury and for those reasons… it’s coming back.”
The store will maintain much of its original product lineup in its new approximately 15,000-square-foot retail space, selling soap, makeup, hair care and skin care products from big brand names, as well as Harmon’s private labels, including Face Values, Core Values and Smart Values, according to the company spokesperson.
Although Harmon’s shelves feature items similar to pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, the retailer earned a cult-like following for its wide assortment, low prices and particularly extensive travel-sized products collection – a “fan favorite,” the spokesperson said. The new store will have “an amazing product selection” and “competitive pricing.”
The store plans to feature seasonal offerings, including summer specials like sun care products, beach accessories and insect repellent, among other products. While declining to specify exact employee numbers for the new store, the spokesperson indicated it is actively hiring.
Customers can expect special deals and a familiar shopping experience when Harmon opens its doors this weekend. According to Harmon’s website, the store reopened across several locations in New Jersey and New York, including New Rochelle, New York, and West Caldwell and Bridgewater. Another location is planned in Garwood.
The value-driven retail chain of over 50 years first opened in the 1970s across New York and New Jersey.
Harmon’s will mark its grand reopening this weekend in the Shrewsbury plaza with special promotions, giveaways and prize raffles.
Shoppers who join the store’s VIP membership program will receive a free gift and access to exclusive discounts. A special one-time sign-up price will be offered during the reopening weekend.
A daily raffle will be held throughout the event, and all customers visiting the store will be entered for a chance to win prizes.
The new Harmon “is as good or better than it was before,” the spokesperson said.
The article originally appeared in the August 14 – 20, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
