BRICK – Route 88 is constantly changing with the latest additions of construction and renovations. Residents have been looking at abandoned buildings for years, but will soon be able to shop, eat and get their car washed with new work being performed.
Many have enjoyed the food of FINS – Tropical Cuisine, currently located at 2701 Route 88, Point Pleasant. The previous location was in Brick, near the road in the Laurel Square plaza. Since moving in March 2016, the FINS building sat vacant, with its Tiki statues and green and yellow exterior fading. But two businesses will soon be opening in that location.
The building pad is being renovated to become a Chipotle Mexican Grill and Quickway Japanese Hibachi, according to site plans by Brixmor Property Group. The Chipotle will be approximately 2,685 square feet in size with the Quickway Hibachi being approximately 2,230 square feet, according to the site plan.
This site, currently being constructed, is located near the Planet Fitness gym. Once completed both businesses will operate independently.
The nearest Chipotle to this new site is in Brick Plaza at 56 Chambers Bridge Road, near Trader Joe’s. The nearest Quickway Japanese Hibachi is located on the Temple University campus in Philadelphia.
Right next to the old FINS was a Provident Bank branch, also located in Laurel Square. The building was vacated in December 2020. This building will now be home to a Starbucks, currently being constructed alongside the new Chipotle and Quickway. Starbucks will encompass approximately 2,630 square feet in size and will offer a drive-thru.
The nearest Provident Bank from this previous location is at 105 Chambers Bridge Road in Brick. The closest Starbucks to the newest location is on Route 70 next to the Hilton Garden Inn Lakewood.
Maria Pace, spokesperson for Brixmor Property Group spoke about the additions to the plaza. “Laurel Square continues to evolve with the addition of several new dining options. We have signed leases with Starbucks, Chipotle and Quickway Japanese Hibachi.
“These additions build on the momentum created by Livoti’s Old World Market, which filled a longstanding grocery need in the community and helped drive additional leasing activity at the center. Together with existing anchors including Planet Fitness and Ashley Furniture, these new restaurants will further enhance the shopping and dining experience for local residents.”
Pace also said through email that Starbucks is anticipated to open first, perhaps by the end of the year. She also stated Chipotle and Quickway are slated to open sometime in 2027.
Also being constructed on Route 88 is a new car wash. This facility will be occupied by Flagship Car Wash and is located at the corner of Route 88 and Kenneth Place. The site was previously a wooded lot located near the Camp Mall plaza at 1905 Route 88. Flagship Car Wash is a full-service car wash offering unlimited plans as well as fleet and business perks. Many of their locations are in Maryland, Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area. The closest Flagship location is in Brooklawn, NJ.
No completion date was listed for Flagship Car Wash, Brick location.
St. Dominic School, located at 250 Old Squan Road in Brick, is also conducting some construction. The bell tower project, which consists of a bell tower, a gift shop, and a coffee shop, has been in the works for quite some time.
“We began in March of last year (2025) on the Feast of the Annunciation, which is very important to our faith,” said Father Brian Woodrow, pastor of St. Dominic Parish and School. “The idea was to break ground that day to ‘create a piazza;’ an environment that kind of harkens back to the old Italian, French, and German town center.”
Father Woodrow, who has been the pastor for over seven years, said they wanted to create the sort of feeling of the old city center.
“To build a bell tower was very important to us; the bells to bring and call people to prayer,” he said. “The bell tower has been built up and now we’re just about completed. In the base of the bell tower we are building a very high-end barista where we will have all sorts of coffee and espresso, frozen drinks, and smoothies. There is also a very large gift shop that will offer different religious goods. It’s going to have that sort of ‘lounge feel’ to it; to kind of create a space where people can gather and get together.”
Woodrow spoke about how this space will be used to unite people from the community. “This might be a great way to keep everyone together, to get to know each other and also bring other people who may not be comfortable coming to church just to come around to have a great cup of coffee.”
He said they are expecting the work to be completed around the first week of August 2026. “We are slated for the Feast of St. Dominic, which is going to be August 9, on a Sunday.”
For those interested in seeing the progress of the Bell Tower Project, please visit: stdominicpasrish.com/bell-tower-project/
