Fast-Growing Grocery Chain Could Be Headed to Ocean County
You know those shopping centers that used to feel like they had everything, then slowly started losing some of their spark over the years? This is one of those spots that could be getting a serious second life.
A proposal going before local planners later this month could completely reshape a well-known Ocean County retail property in a very high-traffic area. Right now, the plaza still has a few businesses hanging on, but it is pretty clear the site is not what it once was. Like so many older shopping centers, it has had to deal with the changing retail landscape, including big-box struggles, online shopping, and longtime tenants moving out.
Redevelopment Plan Includes New Stores and Drive-Thrus
This is not just a case of filling one empty storefront and calling it a day. The proposal is much bigger than that.
According to Shorebeat, plans call for a full redevelopment of this Toms River shopping center, including new standalone buildings, additional business space, site changes, and a fresh layout designed to accommodate modern shopping and dining habits better. There would be room for several new businesses, and two of the proposed buildings are expected to include food-and-beverage spots with drive-thru service.
The plan also includes parking lot modifications, updated traffic flow, landscaping, lighting, signage, waste storage areas, and the demolition of some existing parts of the center to make room for the new setup.
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Sprouts Could Make Its First Big Move Into the Jersey Shore Area
The headline-grabber here is the grocery store expected to anchor the project. The proposal would bring a Sprouts Farmers Market to 1220 Hooper Avenue in Toms River, right across from the Ocean County Mall.
That would be a pretty nice addition for the area. Sprouts has grown fast across the country and has built a reputation around natural and organic foods, fresh produce, meat, seafood, deli selections, baked goods, frozen foods, vitamins, and household products. Even with that growth, its footprint in New Jersey remains fairly limited, and Ocean County does not currently have one.
The project still needs approvals, including several variances tied to lot layout and existing site conditions. The application is scheduled to be heard by the Toms River Planning Board on March 18, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the municipal complex on Washington Street. If approved, this could turn an aging shopping center into one of the more talked-about retail projects in the area.
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