By Allison Perrine
EATONTOWN – “A whole new Boscov’s” is coming to the Monmouth Mall, chairman and CEO Jim Boscov announced Jan. 30, as he described plans to put $10 million into renovation work at the department store this year.
The move marks the kickstart of a major redevelopment at the Eatontown mall, which currently has several empty storefronts. At a press conference held in front of Boscov’s cosmetics department at the mall last Thursday, the chairman of the retail franchise reviewed the plans that lie ahead.
“With the news of the redevelopment at the mall, it was only natural that people started to ask…‘What about the future of Boscov’s?’ ” Boscov said in front of store employees, reporters and members of the public. State Assembly members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey (D-11) were present as well. “There was never, ever, any consideration that we’re closing the store or we’re moving it. We’re here to stay.”
The store will remain open throughout the renovation work. Shoppers can expect to see the project completed sometime this fall, he added. But in the meantime, department locations will be changing. “Things will change every day,” said Boscov. A date for the grand reopening will be announced later this year.
Three major changes are coming as part of the renovations. According to the company, that includes the elimination of the third floor, consolidating departments currently there to levels one and two; remodeling with modernized fixtures; and the introduction of new brands that have never been offered at the Monmouth Mall Boscov’s.
Store lighting will be converted to high energy-efficient LED lighting to help improve the appearance of the store and to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and a 83-kW roof-mounted solar array will be installed this year. That will help the store reduce its energy consumption by about 1.5 million kWh/year, the company stated, “the equivalent of powering 150 homes annually.”
Some of the construction work has already begun. That’s why the junior department is currently in another storefront in the mall outside the regular department store, across from Forever 21.
Boscov’s is based in Reading, Pennsylvania, and has 48 operating stores in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Ohio. It is a family-owned operation and is celebrating its 106th year “as a full-line, full-service department store.”
“As a family business, it’s only natural for us to be involved in the community. We’re really proud of the partnerships that we’ve developed within the community, organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, the ASCPA,” and others, Boscov said last Thursday.
The Monmouth Mall was built in 1961, according to county records. It is managed and operated by Brookfield Properties. According to its website, the commercial space leaders envision the future Monmouth Mall to be “a modern, state-of-the-art hub that not only caters to a dynamic lifestyle, but celebrates community gathering.”
That means a complete reinvention of the shopping center and bringing it into the 21st century. It will have a “host of new retailers, restaurants, a medical facility, a residential community, public space for special programming and events, as well as convenience of walkability and bicycle access,” the website states. “The new Monmouth Mall will capture a renewed sense of engagement for the community and residents alike.”
