EATONTOWN -‑ It appears that the Senior Citizens Activities Network will not be part of the future of the newly rebranded Monmouth Square said the organization was informed by the property owner Kushner Cos that it must move out by the end of the year due to its redevelopment plans Kushner is far along on its $415 million transformation of the property into a town center That transformation has seen considerable demolition which included knocking down the former buildings that once housed anchor tenants JCPenney and Lord & Taylor Kushner is creating an open-air shopping center with 1,000 apartments mostly located in the center of the property SCAN, which is a nonprofit that offers programming for senior citizens has been located in the basement of the mall since 1988 That programming includes wellness programs lifelong learning and community engagement The future Monmouth Square: Monmouth Mall owner lines up $415M for giant transformation; see demolition work so far it’s a lifeline,” Ciavolino wrote in a news release shared with the Asbury Park Press “Our space at the mall has been a vital gathering place for seniors to stay active Losing our home puts those connections and the well-being of our members and Monmouth County’s neediest seniors did not offer any comments on the record for this story from conversations with Ciavolino that the basement may be reconfigured or possibly sealed off Ciavolino told the Press that it hasn't been easy running their programming during the demolition as there have been internet interruptions among other issues that have popped up along the way Eatontown news: Big City Sandwiches in Eatontown offers taste of Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Chicago He said they have some leads on a new spot but SCAN is also calling on the broader community and turning to its many sponsors for help The nonprofit is seeking leads on new space financial support for the transition and public advocacy to ensure its vital programs can continue without interruption “SCAN has been a thread in the fabric of the Eatontown community for decades,” Ciavolino said in his press release When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor Reach him @danielradelapp; dradel@gannettnj.com Kushner has signed a flurry of retail leases to bring new food and beverage and fitness operators to Monmouth Square its landmark redevelopment of the Monmouth Mall site in Eatontown which is transforming the property into a mixed-use open-air destination as part of a $500 million project said its tenant lineup now includes Prince Street Pizza They’ll operate at the Route 35 complex alongside a previously announced Whole Foods Market noting that the new deals total nearly 50,000 square feet and bring Monmouth Square’s 990,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space to 75 percent preleased we are assembling a tenant mix that responds to the changing preferences of today’s consumers while enhancing the quality and variety of offerings for the area,” said Nicole Kushner Meyer “These leading retailers and restaurants reflect our commitment to attracting the best operators ensuring a destination that surpasses expectations and has a lasting impact on the community.” Kushner broke ground last spring on its long-awaited ambitious plan to de-mall the aging local landmark which it said was a community staple for more than 60 years The redevelopment will reduce its retail footprint by 40 percent and turn the traditional mall concept inside out creating a vibrant town center with a blend of freestanding dining and medical offices with an expansive public green pedestrian pathways and 1,000 luxury apartments Whole Foods will anchor Monmouth Square with a 40,000-square-foot store occupying a former Barnes & Noble space and offering its well-known selection of premium has already opened in a new location within the center with an updated B&N Café Kushner on Tuesday detailed its other newly announced tenants “We are excited to partner with Kushner and to join the outstanding businesses coming to Monmouth Square,” said Jack Campbell “We are committed to serving this incredible community and becoming an integral part of this transformative project This opportunity is an important milestone for our company and we look forward to contributing to the energy and success of Monmouth Square for years to come.” added: “We are thrilled of the partnership with Kushner to bring the STRONG Pilates brand to New Jersey and this exciting Monmouth Square project We are excited to join the STRONG Pilates brand as part of their US expansion with over 70+ locations coming to the US in the near future on top of their 75+ international operating locations.” Kushner also noted that substantial demolition of outdated spaces is well underway as are extensive infrastructure improvements continue to operate throughout the redevelopment “Monmouth Square’s transformation is advancing with purpose bringing together best-in-class retail and dining options that align with our vision for a vibrant “The construction and leasing progress reflects both our team’s expertise and the strong partnerships we’ve built to execute a project of this scale and significance We’re excited to see Monmouth Square take shape as a destination that sets a new standard for adaptive reuse and community development.” Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners leads architectural design for the project working alongside Benoy and the Dietz Partnership seeking to combine modern aesthetics with functional urban planning to meet the needs of today’s market BOND RP is leading the retail leasing program “With the commitment and vision of Kushner Companies the reimagined Monmouth Square will bring together a thoughtful mix of national retailers and restaurants coupled with best-in-class local partners,” sad Jess Bruner “We are excited to partner alongside Kushner with a goal of creating the community’s central cornerstone for shopping dining and living for generations to come.” Kushner breaks ground on $500 million redevelopment of Monmouth Mall, eyeing 1,000 new rentals and open-air community hub has been covering New Jersey commercial real estate for 13 years Many industry leaders view him as the go-to real estate reporter in the state a role he is eager to continue as the editor of Real Estate NJ He is a lifelong New Jersey resident who has spent a decade covering the great Garden State Greek Real Estate Partners has gained a seal of approval for one of its key divisions thanks to a new accreditation from the Institute of Real Estate Management All RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright 2023 Real Estate NJ 101 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland Our site uses cookies. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy Want to get a weekly summary of New Jersey news from dozens of trustworthy news sites and not just one who has five decades in the news business and now publishes local site 70and73.com Earlier versions of this article quoted the acreage total for the country club as stated in the Planning Board resolution The total size of the property appears to have been overstated in the document New housing and commercial development continue to devour New Jersey's open land with one of the latest major projects the planned demise of the Old Orchard Country Club in Eatontown The country club opened in the first year of the Great Depression and for the last 95 years the scenic golf course has been "sporting trees from the original apple orchard on which it was built...a natural oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the Jersey Shore," according to the club website But the borough Planning Board last month gave developer Surrey Equities LLC unanimous and final approval for a project that calls for the demolition of the country club and the construction of 145 age-restricted single-family homes and an 8,316-square-foot clubhouse The golf course will be divided into six lots with the residential subdivision on a 72.5-acre lot 101,340-square-foot CubeSmart self-storage facility will be built on another lot and a 7,694-square-foot CarMax used car and truck sales and service center on another The second-largest lot, 35.37 acres, will be set aside as open space and "remain wooded and undeveloped," according to the November 4 Planning Board resolution provided to acrossnj.com under an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request Public hearings and testimony on the project were held in June which granted preliminary and final major site plan and major subdivision approvals as well as approving zoning variances A PDF copy of the Planning Board resolution provided to acrossnj.com is here: there are no recent results for popular images there are no recent results for popular videos Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account It all started with a family vacation in Italy After retiring from a career in corporate sales John Bettigole of Colts Neck and his family went away he had a pork sandwich "that was to die for," said Bettigole who as a foodie and home cook always enjoyed seeking out local dishes while on business trips he decided his next chapter would be a sandwich shop serving popular sandwiches from Brooklyn plus New Jersey-style cold subs and the "fat" sandwiches made famous by Rutgers University — and an Italian porchetta sandwich Big City Sandwiches opened in March in Eatontown Bettigole filled the menu with sandwiches like John's Beef housemade mozzarella and brown gravy; the Yo Adrian provolone and broccoli rabe; Rico's Italian Beef with breaded steak fresh mozzarella and giardiniera; and the Cap-Bri a fried chicken cutlet sandwich with provolone "These are some of my favorite sandwiches," said Bettigole who shaped his menu around the idea of customers who craved regional specialties and thought but I don't feel like driving two-and-half hours." a 9-inch seeded semolina roll that is baked in house Rolls from Nino's Bakery in Long Branch also are available their children and their relatives chipping in behind the counter and designing logos and Big City Sandwiches' website eggplant and baked beans to creamy stovetop macaroni and cheese a recipe Bettigole threw together when his children were young that become a favorite of family and friends the Bettigoles plan to begin selling Boar's Head cold cuts by the pound They also will add a deli case showcasing house-roasted red peppers "Everything we make is homemade," Bettigole said Go: 115 Route 35 N., Eatontown; 732-343-9970, bigcityfoodz.com. closing all remaining stores in the United States This ends Party City's 40-year reign as the go-to party supplier in the country An employee at the Eatontown Party City on Rt 36 confirmed the store will close; she said it will remain open while supplies last and they are expecting to close sometime in February but stores will be open until supplies last," she said CEO Barry Litwin told corporate employees the company is "winding down" operations and Friday was their last day of employment according to CNN reporters who viewed a meeting of the company’s corporate employees Friday Several news outlets have reported the company was on the verge of collapse and had plans for its second bankruptcy filing in two years Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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EATONTOWN -- The school district has decided to change a bus stop after an 8-year-old child was hit by a vehicle on Monday But whether that will be a temporary fix or permanent is unclear as officials are still investigating the incident and options The child was attempting to cross Tinton Avenue by County Club Road when she was struck by a vehicle traveling westbound on Tinton Avenue The school bus was not at the stop when the incident occurred School officials said the child was treated at a hospital and released the same day The driver of the vehicle was not at fault in the crash and no motor vehicle summonses were issued said the district's transportation procedures were compliant with the law and regulations but they still changed the bus route as an additional safety measure The school district and the police department have been talking in the days since the accident about a permanent solution to the school bus drop-off and pick-up in that area Clancy said their traffic safety bureau has also been in touch with the Monmouth County Department of Transportation since Tinton Avenue is a county road This is a new breakfast/lunch restaurant located 133 Rt in the same complex as the Amazon Fresh grocery store it's located next to the Amazon Fresh and the Hackensack Meridian Urgent Care both of which just opened in the past two years This is First Watch's first location in Monmouth or Ocean counties another First Watch is currently under construction on Rt in part because they serve health-conscious vegan/vegetarian fare with lots of meals featuring fresh vegetables but also hearty egg and bacon breakfast scrambles First Watch has an indoor juice/coffee bar The Eatontown location says they will have "rotating seasonal offerings." December 20) will receive free coffee with their meal First report: Breakfast/Lunch Spot First Watch Is Opening In Eatontown (Jan EATONTOWN - Workers are putting the final touches on First Watch brunch and lunch chain that is opening its first Monmouth County location next month It is in front of Amazon Fresh at the Monmouth Plaza shopping center at the corner of Route 35 and Wyckoff Road The 3,950-square-foot restaurant seats more than 160 people and will serve house-made juices at an indoor bar Turning Point's turning point: Jersey Shore breakfast, lunch chain seeks franchise growth Spiked Lavender Lemonade and Million Dollar Bacon First Watch offers a revolving seasonal menu that follows the sun's position to source fresh ingredients Eatontown will start serving its first seasonal menu in early 2025 What's Going There? Sign up for our newsletters to get more local news! David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business, retail, real estate and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for 27 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There column and can be reached at dwillis@gannettnj.com. Please sign up for his weekly newsletter and join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates 2024 at 10:16 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Patch graphic)EATONTOWN Eatontown Board of Education; choose three: 9/9 districts reporting: Five people ran for Eatontown town council — Voters were asked to choose two: Voters were asked to choose three for Long Branch school board and final results will be certified by the Monmouth County Clerk after the election It is out with fried chicken and in with empanadas at the corner of Routes 35 and 36 in Eatontown Fuze Eatery Empanada House & Smoothie Bar is taking over the shuttered Cluck-U Chicken across from Monmouth Square, a new town center being constructed at the site of the former Monmouth Mall Brothers and co-owners Bryan and Stalin Larco who run the business with their mother Monica hope to open their restaurant in about three weeks "We're really excited about this location." More: From baking at home to a store of their own: Benchmark Breads opens in Little Silver the family-run business is not new to the area Fuze first opened in 2016 in the former Strollo's Lighthouse location at Seaview and Ocean avenues in Long Branch They moved to Monmouth Mall's food court two years later where they remained until construction began earlier this year The business also operated for a year at Menlo Park Mall in Edison Bryan was 3 years old when his family moved from Ecuador to New Jersey in the early 1990s He attended Long Branch High School and was a student at Monmouth University when Superstorm Sandy came ashore in 2012 Monica and Stalin invited college friends of Bryan's who lived far away to dinner and she made traditional Ecuadorian cheese empanadas there's a hot sauce that every family makes .. so they tried both the empanadas and the hot sauce and they were blown away," Bryan said of his friends More: Toast City Diner opens fifth NJ restaurant in Manalapan Something for everyoneThe menu at Fuze features a dozen flaky-crusted savory empanadas and half a dozen sweet empanadas all of which are filled and fried to order and Buffalo chicken; sweet varieties include guava and cream cheese he said "allows everyone the comfort to take a risk and do a traditional empanada they might not be able to pronounce — like arroz con pollo (filled with chicken rice and peas) — or they can go with something they’re comfortable with "The thing that we pride ourselves on is we want people to know about these hidden gems of foods that we grew up with but that most people wouldn’t know," Bryan said a tomato-based hot sauce that's served with Fuze's empanadas "It adds so much flavor to the empanadas." Fuze also will offer a mayo-based green sauce and pink sauce a traditional sauce made of mayonnaise and ketchup More: From sausage sandwiches to empanadas, good food awaits in Tuckerton, Little Egg Harbor The other half of Fuze's menu is fruit smoothies which are customizable and can be enhanced with ingredients like spinach whether its water- or fruit-based," Bryan said which is like a cross between an orange and a lime is another popular smoothie choice in Ecuador and South America "We've always been really excited to share our culture with everyone and we’ve tried to make it in the most approachable way as possible," Bryan said Go: 15 Route 36, Eatontown; fuzeeatery.com. This is the breakfast/brunch/lunch restaurant that's become popular nationwide And a First Watch will open in Eatontown very soon The First Watch Eatontown will be located at 133 Rt It will be located in the same complex as the Amazon Fresh grocery store It will open Dec. 3, the Asbury Park Press reported this week 2025 at 3:02 pm ETJersey Shore Blue in recent protests (Jersey Shore Blue)(Jersey Shore Blue)(Jersey Shore Blue)EATONTOWN NJ — There will be a protest outside the Eatontown Tesla dealership starting at 12 noon this Saturday The protest is organized by a progressive liberal group called Jersey Shore Blue and they are calling it a "Tesla Takedown." There have been other similar protests at Tesla locations across the state The group said they are rallying against President Donald Trump's policies in his first two months in office and Trump's appointment of Elon Musk to run the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce the size of the federal government reduce federal spending and lay off federal workers DOGE determines are unnecessary "No one voted for Elon Musk but he's using his wealth and influence to dismantle the government from the inside out," said Jersey Shore Blue in a statement Friday "The damage done to agencies such as NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) the Veterans' Administration and Social Security will severely impact folks across our nation in order to fund tax breaks for billionaires It’s time to let Musk know that the American people want him OUT of our federal government." The group says it has more than 120 people signed up to participate in the rally Saturday Jersey Shore Blue/Indivisible says this is their first time outside the Eatontown Tesla dealership but they've held protests outside the offices of Congressman Chris Smith (R) The Eatontown Tesla dealership is located at 269 Rt Simultaneously, but organized by different groups, there will be a Women's Day March in Red Bank Saturday. According to this document they are meeting at Booskerdoo coffeeshop in Red Bank from 9 to 11 a.m Speakers included Red Bank Councilwomen Kristina Bonatakis and Dr the League of Women Voters Monmouth County Garden State Equality and Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey EATONTOWN - As the new Burlington store prepares to open next month in the former Bed Bath & Beyond on Route 36 the building's owner has plans to expand the shopping center and ready it for Bob's Discount Furniture The borough's planning board has approved plans by 36 Monmouth Plaza LLC for a building canopy that will sit over the entrance to Bob's Furniture's next to Burlington which will add 19,965 square feet to the store The store features Burlington's new store layout which the company said "provides a better and more enjoyable shopping experience making it easier for consumers to discover deals and savings on their favorite brands." Burlington sells brand-name women's apparel and accessories gifts and pet products at prices that are up to 60% off Burlington on the move: Hobby Lobby coming to this Freehold Township shopping center "Our goal is to continue to offer area residents low prices on brand-name merchandise for the entire family and home,” said Michael O’Sullivan chief executive officer of Burlington Stores “We’re continuing to expand our footprint across the country and are excited to be opening a new store in Eatontown," he said "We look forward to giving local customers the chance to discover big savings on a wide range of products.”  What's Going There? Netflix will save this historic Fort Monmouth building for its movie studio campus the first 100 customers age 18 and up will receive a $10 bonus card that can be used towards their purchase customers will receive a free Burlington umbrella while supplies last 2025 at 1:47 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Jersey Shore Blue)EATONTOWN NJ — Approximately 200 people attended the anti-Trump/anti-Elon Musk protest March 8 outside the Tesla dealership on Rt Attendees held signs that read "Nobody elected Musk" and "D.O.G.E The protest was organized by liberal political group Jersey Shore Blue which is planning to hold another rally outside the Tesla dealership from noon to 1:30 p.m one of the people running for NJ governor this year gathered in Red Bank for an International Women's Day march criticized Baraka for attending the political march the day after two police officers were shot in Newark Jersey Shore Blue says they anticipate having more rallies at the Eatontown Tesla shop in the future "Over 200 folks came to show their disgust at the damage Elon Musk had done and continues to do to our country," said an organizer "We received overwhelmingly positive responses from passing vehicles." Here is video from the March 8 protest in Eatontown: Jersey Shore Blue will also hold a town hall with NJ 4 Republican Congressman Chris Smith this Saturday "He's been invited but we expect a no show," said the liberal group "Reps (Republicans) have been told by leadership to stop having town halls because the optics are horrible for the Republican Party There will be speakers from various organizations/labor unions whose members have been impacted by these arbitrary budget cuts." 2025 at 12:48 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Shutterstock)EATONTOWN NJ — Eatontown schools PTA is conducting a shoe drive fundraiser from February 10 - March 31 to raise funds for Eatontown public schools The donated shoes will be sold to Funds2Org which will issue a check to the Eatontown PTA based on the total weight of the pairs of gently worn Funds2Orgs works with small businesses in developing countries and proceeds from the sales of the shoes will be used to feed clothe and house families in developing countries "We know that most people have extra shoes in their closets," said Pilar Capuano we raise money for school activities and assemblies and we have the chance to help families in developing nations who need economic opportunities 2025 at 3:11 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Shutterstock)EATONTOWN NJ — A 36-year-old man was hit by a car Tuesday afternoon in Eatontown the man was struck by a car driven by an 80-year-old woman 35 north from Clinton Avenue when she struck the man who appeared to have been walking in the crosswalk area across Rt she started to turn and he was in the walkway and that's when he was hit," said the police lieutenant The force of the impact caused the man to fly up onto the windshield of her car The man sustained facial lacerations and head trauma and he was bleeding from his head He did not appear to have any broken bones and was conscious when police got there The woman remained at the scene and currently Eatontown Police are trying to determine who had the right of way Police did not identify the man nor did they know if he is a resident of Eatontown 2024 at 12:08 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The new Burlington is located in Eatontown Plaza at 92 Rt NJ — A new Burlington clothing store will open in Eatontown on Nov The new Burlington is located in Eatontown Plaza at 92 Rt the first 100 customers in line (age 18 and up) will be given a $10 bonus card to be used toward their purchase customers will receive a free Burlington umbrella Eatontown store hours are Mon-Thurs: 9 a.m To celebrate the grand opening of the new Eatontown store Burlington will be donating $5,000 to a nearby high-needs school shoes and pet needs at 60 percent off other retailers’ prices on brand-name merchandise is headquartered in New Jersey and there are 53 Burlington stores in the Garden State Burlington is a Fortune 500 company and its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “BURL.” There are Burlington stores in 46 U.S "We are pleased that the Eatontown Planning Board sanctioned plans for Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth’s first phase and we look forward to our continued collaboration with local officials and the community to bring this studio to life," said a Netflix spokesman in a statement released late Monday night just hours after the Planning Board gave their approval The state of New Jersey already granted Netflix millions in tax breaks if they keep the studios open and in operation for at least the next 10 years What is happening now is Netflix has to get a series of approvals at the local level Netflix has to get approval from the Monmouth County Planning Board No date is set for when the county will hear their application What Netflix plans to build first at Fort Monmouth is four soundstages each 22,000 square feet and about 70 feet tall Construction will not start until the fourth quarter of 2025 In November, members of the Oceanport Planning/Zoning Board raised a lot of concerns about Netflix running a 24/7 around-the-clock film studio at the former Army base: Oceanport said they were worried about noise outdoor filming and intrusive lighting glaring into residents' homes — especially during the overnight filming Netflix plans to do on site There seemed to be comparatively less pushback and drama at the Eatontown Planning Board meeting Monday night Netflix may develop all 200 acres of Fort Monmouth and turn Fort Monmouth into its East Coast filming headquarters Oceanport Planning Board Approves First 4 Netflix Film Studios (Dec You have successfully subscribed to the newsletter There was an error while trying to send your request 2025 at 3:22 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Current Eatontown Councilman Meir Araman and Councilwoman Virginia East NJ — Monday was the deadline to file to run for Eatontown town council the New Jersey governor's race and state Assembly seats Here is who is running in Eatontown in 2025: Current Councilwoman Virginia East and Councilman Meir Araman will be challenged by Republicans Kevin Gonzalez and Robert Berg Gonzalez used to be an Eatontown Republican councilman Eatontown is in New Jersey's 11th legislative district: Assemblywomen Margie Donlon (D-Ocean Township) and Luanne Peterpaul (D-Long Branch) will be challenged by Republicans Jessica Ford and former Neptune City Mayor Andrew Wardell The primary election is June 10; the main election will be in November Get great local news. Sign up to get Patch emails: https://patch.com/subscribe Contact this Patch reporter: Carly.baldwin@patch yellow ball - girls' youth softball is coming to the diamond this spring to a couple of Jersey Shore Little League organizations that will be fielding their first-ever softball teams It's part of trend of softball growth for Little League The organization says 1.7 million boys and girls participate in its baseball programs across the globe; softball has 300,000 players a number that's 8 percent higher than in 2018 making it the most-watched women's finals on record Eatontown Little League which had been sending its young softball players off to play in Tinton Falls or to a recreation team run by the borough's Recreation Department Brick Little League is the other local organization turning to softball More: 25 for 2025: Get to know these rising star Shore high school athletes "We have a lot of younger girls in our Tee Ball and Coach Pitch divisions They've played up to the level of the boys," Eatontown Little League President Joe Fritsche said More: How a Shore softball standout became an elite SEC recruit: 'Anything's possible' the girls either had to play baseball in the 9-12 age divisions or move on from the league Fritsche said they've been bouncing the idea around to start up softball for a while and had approached the Recreation Department to take over the program This year the department handed it to them If they want to continue to play baseball then by all means But if they want to switch over to softball because when it comes to high school sports a lot of girls are going to want to play softball at that level then I'd really like to get them accustomed to it earlier," Fritsche said Fritsche's 10-year-old daughter Molly is one of the first players signed up comes the fun part of the picking team names and colors Fritsche said they may chose names along the line of college teams Ocean County joins the Little League softball expansionThe situation in Brick is similar had a ton of girls sign up for Tee Ball and Coach Pitch divisions almost all leave to play softball in other organizations Brick is assigned to Little League's Ocean County District 18 and its softball program will be a welcome addition - only two of the district's 10 organizations - Toms River and Holbrook (Jackson Township) - have been fielding teams in the annual All-Star 12U (12 year olds and under) tournament “We have seen a drop off in participation with girls when they go up to our Minors and Majors Divisions starting at 9,” Brick Little League President Steve Gogal said with this new program the league will be able to give the girls the same Little League experience the boys get including the chance to raise All-Star tournament championship banners." Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com EATONTOWN - Macy’s department store was evacuated Thursday morning amid gas leak concerns the local fire department evacuated seven people prior to the gas company's arrival and the building was deemed safe by 11:41 a.m. EATONTOWN - Growing up in Long Branch and the Oakhurst section of Ocean Township Remsen “Rem” Hunnewell collected toy trains and loved operating them on the tracks he designed And now he helps people of all ages to experience that same joy thanks to his 2004 launch of The Train Doctor an Eatontown business that repairs all modern-era MTH and Lionel-branded trains as well as Atlas “My grandfather gave me my first train set “I loved the mechanics of running trains the way I wanted on tracks that I put together.” then joined the National Guard and served as a cavalry scout eventually retiring from the military in the late 2000s following 23 years of combined service Wonderful toys: Landscaper loved his own toy collection, so he and his wife opened Red Bank toy shop I also worked as a project manager for a New Jersey-based systems integrator that oversaw closed-circuit security and communication systems,” he said and sold them at train shows throughout New Jersey,” he said the head of the show suggested that I offer my train repair services at the show so I decided to give it a shot,” said Hunnewell began promoting his repair services at train shows in the early 2000s old and new trains have become increasingly popular and have grown in value as collectibles,” he said of a trend that proved to be a boon for his business trains have to be in perfect condition for collectors to be interested so there’s a big market for train repairs.” “Lionel dominated the toy train market prior to the 1970s because no other manufacturer compared to them Lionel has since changed hands several times but while the company isn’t the same as it was in the 1950s and 1960s including models with high-end engines that sell for upwards of $2,500 as well as classic trains from the 1950s with appealing operating characteristics like remote controls “Other players have also entered the industry and the market has shifted a bit,” Hunnewell continued “Instead of one group of people looking for Lionel trains for any reason there are now operators buying new trains of different brands with all the bells and whistles as well as collectors looking for old trains as they were originally made.” Handcrafted: Middletown man carves exotic trees from around the world into pens that are works of art working out of their new 5,000-square-foot facility in Eatontown (which they relocated to this October from their previous 3,200-square-foot shop in Tinton Falls) all of whom make three-rail trains equivalent to Lionel,” Hunnewell said “We specialize in purchasing and restoring trains from the 1900s to the 2020s back to factory condition and selling them with a warranty “single tier-one cars can sell for as little as $10 all the way up to a scale ‘Polar Express’ set from about five or six years ago for $3,100,” he said noting that the condition of toy trains is everything in the industry and dictates price a scale Lionel ‘Hudson’ locomotive from the 1950s in its original boxes in perfect condition could sell for $8,000 to $9,000.” take down all of the customer’s information and the train goes into our service department’s queue,” Hunnewell said of The Train Doctor’s process we prioritize holiday repairs because many customers want to set up their train set for Christmas or give it to a child or back to their father or grandfather as a special gift.” “it could take 45 to 60 days before we’re able to look at a customer’s train especially if it’s from the 1920s to the 1950s we likely have the parts in stock and can fix it quickly as many manufacturers use generic boards and other parts that we stock,” he said while some engines require two to three days of work," Hunnewell added we charge $95 plus parts to repair trains with no electronics; if electronics are involved we charge $125 plus parts and other time involved Sure plays a mean pinball: Jersey Shore pinball wizard has 25 machines in his house — and you can rent one While The Train Doctor’s customers include men “the rest of the year we serve mostly adult males who want the train they had as a kid who are typically repairing a train as a gift for their husband,” Hunnewell said “Of the thousands of trains we service every year most of our customers live within two to three hours of our facility," he said "but we have customers from as far away as Germany and we ship new and repaired trains all over the world.” “the outward appearance of trains is more detailed than ever and current models do a lot more than trains from the 1950s and 1960s did,” Hunnewell said And while modern trains are constructed of largely the same materials used years ago “manufacturers have swapped out former smoke pellets for safer and more environmentally friendly oil with various aromas.” Eatontown business: Earth Treasures owners aim to make landmark shop last another 50 years The Train Doctor maintains a good inventory of parts for older as well as current-production trains but Hunnewell said that parts for more recent models can sometimes be tricky to get “We might have more of a problem sourcing parts for trains made five to 10 years ago because we can’t get chips,” he said “we buy estates of trains and either rehab and sell them or scrap them for parts,” he said Hunnewell said that The Train Doctor competes with some providers who work out of their homes with no overhead “We don’t concern ourselves with them,” he said “though we often end up repairing their poor work when their customers eventually come to us.” With a total of eight full and part-time staff members many of whom have been with The Train Doctor since the shop’s early days “a lot of people don’t want to repair trains anymore but we have a great team and everyone who works here is a dedicated individual,” said Hunnewell who keeps his hand in many repairs and consults on others “we hope to continue to be the East Coast’s premier service center for all toy or scale model trains,” Hunnewell said “I love seeing trains restored to their former glory as well as the excitement on a kid’s face when they’re playing with a toy train for the first time and they see what it does,” he said “toy trains and Christmas are one and the same — it’s not a Christmas tree unless there’s a train under it,” Hunnewell said Website: www.thetraindoctor.com May 1, 2025 the Shore Regional High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame members L-R: Michael Gleason 2003, Russ Scalzo 1967, Wayne Jesel 1968, Walter J. O'Neill 1977, Alexis Tucci, Honorary, Kathy Perri 1978, Brian O'Brien 1983, and Dr. David LaPorta 1988. 2024 at 10:13 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Steven Zagha (Provided)EATONTOWN 5 there will be an election for Eatontown town Council and Eatontown school board Patch asked all the candidates running the same set of questions below Zagha used to be on the Eatontown school board and he is asking voters to put him back on the BOE Who's running for Eatontown school board this fall: Monmouth Regional High School Board of Education Attended all three Ocean Township Schools (elementary Went to Brookdale Community College for two years Started an importing business 25 years ago Do you have any children enrolled in the Eatontown or Monmouth Regional school district or used to be I do not have any children in the Eatontown school district Do you have any school board experience or experience in education?I have been on the Eatontown Board of Education before Where do you think the Eatontown school board needs to improve The Eatontown BOE has a much better chemistry than other school boards I believe the leadership (superintendent) is the key component that makes every board member's voice heard what are some of the biggest challenges facing the Eatontown and Monmouth Regional school district in the next 2 -5 years The biggest challenges I believe the Board of Ed will face is the constant budget cuts that the state of New Jersey consistently levies on the public school system These budget cuts result in less services and less teachers for the students pay a hefty percentage of our property taxes to the school system Related: Here's Who's Running For Eatontown School Board/Town Council This Fall The election will be Nov. 5. Here's where you can vote early in Monmouth County: https://www.monmouthcountyvote... 2024 at 2:52 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Shutterstock)LONG BRANCH NJ — Looking for a unique way to ring in 2025 Patch rounded up an eclectic mix of things to do in the Long Branch-Eatontown area and throughout North Jersey have kids in tow or are looking for something in between: Here are some NYE events happening around Long Branch-Eatontown: New Brunswick is a prime one-stop destination to ring in the new year New Brunswick City Center is the perfect location for a full evening of celebration starting with New Year's Eve dinner specials at a variety of our upscale restaurants take in a comedy show at the Stress Factory or performance at the State Theatre or listen to some live music Ring in the new year singing and dancing with friends on Livingston Avenue and watching the fireworks light up 2025 Stay the night in one of New Brunswick's hotels Prebooked drink package includes($75 tax and tip will be added) - first hour passed hors devours Regular door admission ($25) - comes with one drink ticket (10pm-2am) The city’s primary celebration returns with New Brunswick's Fine Restaurants and Bars bringing you New Year's Eve, New Brunswick-style. The Restaurant Guys present their well-renowned Fireworks Spectacular at midnight at Monument Square Park, across from Catherine Lombardi and Stage Left Steak. See all those who made it possible at NewBrunswickNewYearsEve.com Stay at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick or The Heldrich Hotel And fireworks will also be at Pier Village in Long Branch: Ring in the new year in style with a trip to the city by the sea Pier Village will be fully decorated for the holidays with a 24ft Illuminated Tree and plenty of cheer for your New Year’s getaway Special New Year’s Eve events include live music See the Pier Village Firework Spectacular beginning at 9 p.m NYE Dinner and a Firework Show | Maya at Wave Resort Celebrate the New Year with a fabulous dinner at Maya. Included in your dinner is a special prix fixe four-course meal from 5PM – 10PM and Acoustic Music Talent from 5PM – 9PM. Reservations: Reserve your table in advance 5PM – 10PM Price: $120 includes a four-course dinner and 9pm Fireworks Show The Bar NYE Party | Wave Resort 9PM – 1AM Dance the night away at The Bars NYE Party and enjoy live DJ music and a cash bar NYE Celebration | Avenue Live Music, Dancing, a delectable 5-Course Menu, Open bar and champagne toast is what Avenue is serving up this year for NYE. Come Celebrate in Style! Reservations: Reserve your table in advance Two Seatings available 8PM and 9PM Price: $200 includes a five-course dinner NYE Party at Pier Pins - Free Table Games, Cocktails, Bowling and Music. Music by DJ Izik. 9PM Reserve your lanes today. Dinner and Music with Carl Gentry and Friends at McLoone’s Pier House 8PM – 12AM A La Carte Dinner, Live Music and a Champagne Toast at Midnight Reservations: Reserve Your Table Rockin’ Into The New Year Party at McLoone’s Pier House | 8PM – 12:30AM Open Bar, Cocktail Reception and Live Music with Jillian Rhys McCoy, Tom Seguso, John Conte, Ralph Notaro & Arne Wendt Reservations: Reserve your Table Price: $135PP Robinsons Ale House NYE Party | 8PM Open Bar But New Jersey has its own twist on the big ball drop: For the second year in a row The transition from one year to the next is often marked by the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” a Scottish folk song whose title roughly translates to “days gone by,” according to Encyclopedia Britannica and History.com The tradition of New Year’s resolutions dates back 8,000 years to ancient Babylonians who made promises to return borrowed items and repay debts at the beginning of the new year which was in mid-March when they planted their crops the pagan gods would grant them favor in the coming year they would lose favor with the gods.Many secular New Year’s resolutions focus on imagining new The failure rate of New Year’s resolutions is about 80 percent but a big one is they’re made out of remorse — for gaining weight for example — and aren’t accompanied by a shift in attitude or a plan for coping with the stress and discomfort that comes with changing a habit or condition EATONTOWN − An early-morning blaze broke out Friday at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen on Route 35 in the borough Eatontown patrol officers smelled smoke and tracked it down to the fast food restaurant at 25 Route 35 they saw heavy smoke billowing from the roof  No one was injured in the blaze and the cause has not yet been determined and Special Officer II Corey DeFeo worked to find the source of the blaze Assisting Eatontown Fire Department were firefighters from Tinton Falls First aid squads from Eatontown and Wanamassa also turned out The Monmouth County Fire Marshal and Eatontown building officials are investigating Ken Serrano covers breaking news, crime and investigations. Reach him at 732-643-4029 or kserrano@gannettnj.com. Left chair is Todd Roffman, Owner Highline Group; Lonnie Judge, Supervisor; Joseph Sirianni, General Manager; Preeti Bhandare, Director of Sales; Melissa Galesky, Assistant General Manager; Jeni Radish Sales coordinator; Steven Phuvasitkul, Owner Highline Group; Right chair is Matt Dixon, Regional VP AVION Hospitality. EATONTOWN, New Jersey—Officials of the 131-suite Homewood Suites by Hilton Eatontown announced the completion of a $5 million renovation, updating the guest experience with refreshed accommodations, public spaces, and amenities. Managed by Avion Hospitality and owned by Highline Hospitality Partners the all-suite hotel has contemporary design elements that blend comfort with functionality “This renovation reflects our dedication to long-term value and quality in our hotel portfolio,” said Chuck Pomerantz “We are proud to partner with Avion Hospitality in creating an elevated experience for our guests while strengthening our presence in the market.” The renovation includes fully updated suites with new furnishings providing a home-like atmosphere for extended stays and meeting spaces also were redesigned to offer a more functional environment Additional upgrades include a revitalized fitness center “We are excited to unveil the newly renovated Homewood Suites Eatontown which aligns with Avion Hospitality’s commitment to delivering best-in-class guest experiences,” said Robert Burg “This investment enhances both the comfort and functionality of the property ensuring guests enjoy the highest level of hospitality in the Eatontown area.” the Homewood Suites by Hilton Eatontown provides all-suite accommodations with fully equipped kitchens we’ve created a refreshed and welcoming environment that caters to the needs of today’s travelers,” said Joseph Sirianni “We look forward to continuing to provide exceptional service in a newly enhanced setting.” We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns A couple weeks ago, I posted an eyewitness account of a mountain lion or cougar sighting in New Jersey Soon after, another report of an animal. This report from Mantua, New Jersey even included photos of what the witness thinks was a mountain lion cub These are just the latest of a number of stories I've written over the last couple of years, sparked by sightings reported by residents throughout the Garden State. You can check out many of these stories here we have an animal report - and photo - from a resident in Eatontown I went to check my photo and I saw a big animal in the background and if it was a dog it would have chased the other deer it must have been stalking this deer.  At 1st thought it might be a coyote but now I'm thinking a mountain lion." If you have had an encounter with a mountain lion in New Jersey Photos or video also welcomed.) Reach out to me via email: joe.kelly@townsquaremedia.com Thanks to everyone who's already submitted their stories We hope to publish more news about mountain lion encounters in New Jersey very soon Gallery Credit: Elena Kadvany Now, we have an animal report - and photo - from a resident in Eatontown, New Jersey.\nRead More A couple weeks ago, I posted an eyewitness account of a mountain lion or cougar sighting in New Jersey Soon after, another report of an animal. This report from Mantua, New Jersey even included photos of what the witness thinks was a mountain lion cub These are just the latest of a number of stories I've written over the last couple of years, sparked by sightings reported by residents throughout the Garden State. You can check out many of these stories here Hula Valley in Northern Israel is a recently restored ecosystem drawing hundreds of millions of birds through the valley. The common cranes are one of the most notorious migratory birds arriving in the tens of thousands during the fall months on route to Africa Feed is placed out to by the Agamon Hula Ornithology and Nature Park to deter the visitors from harming the local crops EATONTOWN - The demolition of parts of Monmouth Mall is set to begin this week several businesses will remain open throughout the mall's redesign The Knockball arcade will stay open until Dec Kushner is demolishing 600,000 square feet of feet of brick and mortar open-air town center called Monmouth Square The work will take about four to five years to complete and will be a total investment of $500 million More on the plans: After eight years, Kushner starts $500M transformation of Monmouth Mall to Monmouth Square The new look will feature 900,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space 1,000 luxury apartments complete with a 40,000-square-foot clubhouse and pool The first two buildings to be razed were the former homes of Lord & Taylor which left the mall in 2018 and filed for bankruptcy which departed in 2022 following a restructuring after it too had filed for bankruptcy but was saved after being acquired by new owners Kushner had already begun work on Barnes & Noble's new location as it is moving from its corner spot to a location that was previously occupied by Firebirds Wood Fired Grill and La Maison Fine Furniture The Whole Foods grocery chain will then take over Barnes & Noble's spot started down the road to redesign the mall in 2015 faced with increasing retail competition from e-commerce as the 600,000-square-foot open-air Monmouth Shopping Center 900,000 square feet were added and the mall was enclosed Monmouth Mall memories: Bamberger's, Bun N' Burger and more live on in photos, stories residents have had to sit and watch Howard Commons rot but the days of the former Army housing site looking like post-apocalyptic wasteland could be over soon The borough and Lennar Corp.'s parent company entered into a developer's agreement on Wednesday for the construction of 275 new homes The plan received Planning Board approval last year hasn't completed the purchase of the former military housing will close on the property in the next few months the director of real estate development and marketing for the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority the body charged with converting the former Army fort property to civilian use including the planned sale of 292 acres to Netflix to build a movie studio Latest of Netflix: Oceanport stamps approval on Netflix's first four studios at Fort Monmouth The abatement and demolition of the property Lennar Corp.'s plan is to demolish the 475 townhouses there now and build a new community called Liberty Pointe The community will feature 32 detached single-family houses and 188 for-sale townhouses In the community's northeast corner will be 55 affordable housing rental units Want to live next to Netflix? More Fort Monmouth housing plans in the works Lennar is then giving the borough a seven-acre park at the southeast corner of the property where A sidewalk will connect the park to the middle school Howard Commons has been one of the most challenging Fort Monmouth properties to redevelop Several developers have walked away from it in the past dashing the hopes of the borough to put an end to the eyesore but have sat vacant and rotting and surrounded by a chain-link fence since 1999 Army to level the homes after the fort closed in 2011 RiverWalk construction underway: Restaurants, brewery, racket courts come to Fort Monmouth while others bottleneck as connecting pipe diameters don't match and reduce the impervious coverage there now by three acres 2025 at 10:16 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Shutterstock)LITTLE SILVER state aid figures were released for New Jersey school districts The amount of aid districts receive from Trenton is very important as it helps districts prepare their budgets determine which classes and extracurriculars to keep The money will be used for the upcoming 2025-'26 school year Here are the figures for state aid for local school districts: Here are all the amounts in state aid New Jersey school districts will receive this year: https://www.nj.gov/education/s... This will be the final budget Murphy will prepare in his time as New Jersey governor To make it more equitable as to how state aid is determined this year the state put a three percent cap on how much a district could lose and a six percent cap on how much more aid it could get 2024 at 12:16 pm ETKushner plans to convert Monmouth Mall back into an open-air mall and shopping plaza (Kushner Companies)A rendering of how Monmouth Square will look The pool and gym would only be open to residents (Kushner Companies)How Kushner envisions Monmouth Square in winter They may even open a public ice skating rink in the winter months NJ — Barnes & Noble is here to stay in Eatontown Even though Monmouth Mall is currently in the midst of an unprecedented demolition —currently being torn down to be re-birthed as "Monmouth Square" town homes shops and restaurants surrounding a public center green — the Barnes & Noble is not leaving the area Barnes & Noble closed their existing location at the mall but will re-open in their new home (180 Rt Barnes & Noble has relocated into what it calls "a beautifully newly built space a few hundred yards away, next to Macy’s." The Barnes & Noble in its new home will officially open to the public at 9 a.m. next Wednesday, with author James Murray cutting the ribbon and signing copies of his books The bookstore will also have an updated B&N cafe A Whole Foods will move into the space formerly occupied by Barnes & Noble but they are not scheduled to open there until 2026 The AMC movie theater will remain in the new Monmouth Square Macy's and Boscov's are also still slated to remain open The Anne Vogel Family Care and Wellness Center a two-story medical building geared towards women is currently open next to the Boscov's and will be an anchor of the new Monmouth Square construction on the apartments will start in 2025 Mall owner Kushner Companies plans to build 1,000 one- and two-bedroom apartments around a center public green with an outdoor pool and fitness center in the middle but online chatter reports $2,000 - $3,000 a month Kushner is tearing down the mall's entire second floor Walking and biking trails will be built around the perimeter and the center green will be open to the public Kushner's plan is to return Monmouth Mall to be an open-air mall similar to the way it was in the 1960s the father of President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner The Kushners are also the developers of Pier Village in Long Branch Barnes & Noble says it is "enjoying a period of tremendous growth as the strategy to hand control of each bookstore to its local booksellers has proven so successful The bookseller is experiencing strong sales in its existing stores and has been opening many new stores after more than 15 years of declining store numbers." Barnes & Noble opened more new bookstores in a single year than it had in the whole decade from 2009 to 2019 The bookseller expects to open over 60 new bookstores in 2024 “We are very pleased to be opening this beautiful new bookstore here in Eatontown,” said James Daunt “The Eatontown booksellers have gone above and beyond to have this new space ready so soon after closing the previous location and just in time for the height of holiday shopping.” Goodbye, Monmouth Mall As We Knew It: Demolition Underway (March 2024) 2024 at 4:59 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Shutterstock)EATONTOWN but also local school board elections as well plus town council elections in some towns in Monmouth County July 29 was the filing deadline for candidates to submit their names to run for school board Here is who filed to run for Eatontown town council: It wasn't that long ago we were able to head to the Monmouth Mall for a nice day of shopping and to just hang out the mall was still open in its former glory Part of the redevelopment is going to reshape the shopping experience at the property And although we've lost many of the stores that called the Monmouth Mall home (for now at least) a handful of them aren't going anywhere Macy's is among the retailers that's staying put throughout the entire project Another retailer that's sort of staying put is Barnes & Noble I say sort of because although it'll be part of the future at the mall site it's not staying put at its old location If you haven't been by the mall for a while you'll notice the old Barnes & Noble store is no longer open for business Thanks to the redevelopment of the property Author James Murray will be coming to Eatontown to cut the ribbon at the all-new Barnes & Noble store which is still located at the Monmouth Mall The ribbon cutting is taking place on Wednesday with James Murray also signing copies of his book as part of the celebrations The timing is also ideal as it means the new store will be open just in time to kick off the holiday season for 2024. Find out more by following @bnmonmouthmall on social media Gallery Credit: Mike Brant The above post reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 Sunday morning host & content contributor Mike Brant The grand opening comes just in time to kick-off the 2024 holiday season in New Jersey\nRead More The above post reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 Sunday morning host & content contributor Mike Brant 2024 at 10:14 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Exxon at 150 Rt NJ — Stores in Eatontown and Hazlet sold lottery tickets that won sizeable prices in the past week: This was announced Monday by the NJ state Lottery On Dec. 30, the NJ Lottery released the full list of winners from Dec. 23 through Dec. 29; you can find all the winners here on the NJ Lottery website By: 7:30 am on March 12 Kushner has announced the addition of several new tenants to Monmouth Square, a $500 million redevelopment of the Monmouth Mall in Eatontown Designed in collaboration between Minno + Wasko and retail architects Benoy and the Dietz Partnership bringing the pre-leased retail and restaurant space to 75 percent of the development’s 990,000 square feet will significantly reduce the mall’s retail footprint by 40 percent and introduce a more pedestrian-friendly town center concept The updated design includes freestanding retail and dining spaces Whole Foods Market will serve as a major anchor tenant with a 40,000-square-foot location less than a mile from Exit 105 of the Garden State Parkway offering easy access to the surrounding areas Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews “DEI need not apply” even though white women have benefited THE MOST from DEI and affirmative action Start educating yourself on what DEI ACTUALLY IS ga('send', 'event', 'beautyofblock', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Standard_336x280-100-2.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ADVERTISEMENT ga('send', 'event', 'PCRichards Builders Division', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/PCR_Beko_Compact_YIMB_336x280.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ga('send', 'event', 'yimby+', 'Impression', 'https://newyorkyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/image.png', { nonInteraction: true }); Follow on Instagram var sb_instagram_js_options = {"font_method":"svg","placeholder":"https:\/\/www.newyorkyimby.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/instagram-feed\/img\/placeholder.png","resized_url":"https:\/\/www.newyorkyimby.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sb-instagram-feed-images\/","ajax_url":"https:\/\/www.newyorkyimby.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php"}; © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY® LLC YIMBY IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF NIKOLAI FEDAK / NEW YORK YIMBY LLC Editor's note: The Old Orchard Country Club remains open and operational The owners of the country club are under contract with Surrey Equities to sell the property but ownership will not change until final approvals from state officials including the New Jersey Department of Transportation EATONTOWN - CarMax and self-storage facility CubeSmart on Route 36 along with 145 age-restricted single-family homes off Monmouth Road is proposed to replace the links at the Old Orchard Country Club the borough Planning Board is set to finalize its approval of a proposal by Surrey Equities LLC to redevelop the 18-hole golf course a 136-acre plot that was designed by famed architect A.W The project culminates years of efforts to build on the property a proposal to build 700 homes and 535,000 square feet of retail disintegrated after opposition from Eatontown officials West Long Branch and Monmouth County freeholders In 2013, Eatontown Ventures sought to purchase the property to build 175 age-restricted townhomes plus 450,000 square feet of commercial space on the Route 36 boundary A second proposal was to build a 450,000-square-foot commercial complex on 60 acres of the property and preserve the remaining 75 acres Those plans were denied because commercial uses are not permitted on the property What's Going There? Burlington ready to open in Eatontown, and an addition will bring this neighboring store The township's zoning rules only allowed 129 single-family homes or a golf course Last year, the Borough Council approved new zoning to allow commercial development along Route 36 but would secure 100-foot buffer zones between existing residential homes that border the course and 145 new age-restricted single-family homes that a developer is planning to build later filed a plan to build its project: 145 age-restricted single-family homes and an 8,316-square-foot clubhouse a CarMax used car and truck sales and service facility A 35-acre parcel on the property will remain wooded and undeveloped as dedicated open space Eatontown: While parts of Monmouth Mall get smashed, this group offers lively times in the basement According to documents filed in Borough Hall the CarMax will be 7,694 square feet and include a 936-square-foot associated carwash Plans call for a 33,780-square-foot three-story building for CubeSmart self-storage It will have 101,340 square feet of floor space and 1,200 square feet of office space