STAFFORD – The sign appeared in the window almost as abruptly as the first cold snap of fall: a bold red proclamation taped to the entrance of the Manahawkin ShopRite that stopped shoppers mid-stride: “WE’RE MOVING!” For longtime customers, it felt like the close of a familiar chapter. For others, it sparked a natural question: What comes next?
The message announced that ShopRite will reopen in its new home at Manahawkin Commons on December 10. Whether that timeline holds remains to be seen, but the date has already ignited a flurry of excitement, skepticism, and a surprising amount of creativity from residents imagining the future of the soon-to-be-vacant Stafford Square space. The sign was removed a few days later and no one knows if the December 10 date is still happening.
A Race Against The Calendar
A short drive across Route 72 reveals the reality behind ShopRite’s promised debut. The former Kmart building, once symbolic of retail decline, is now a hive of construction noise and scaffolding. Work trucks spill into the fenced-off lot, and the shell of the building echoes daily with the sounds of drills, saws, and the movement of heavy equipment.
Some days, crews can be spotted perched on the roof. Other days, sparks flash from workers shaping the new façade. And while the exterior tells only part of the story, it’s not hard to picture the organized chaos behind the boarded-up glass. Think electricians weaving through aisle frames, refrigeration mechanics huddled around future dairy cases, and flooring specialists transforming concrete into walkable aisles.
The project is ambitious but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done.
“We’re working closely with the developer,” Stafford Township Administrator Matthew von der Hayden said. “But whether everything aligns by December 10 depends on construction progress and final approvals. The certificate of occupancy is the big milestone.”
Richard Saker, CEO and President of Saker ShopRite, struck a similar tone of cautious optimism. “We’re excited about moving the ShopRite of Manahawkin into a new location and look forward to continuing to serve the local community,” he said in a prepared statement. “While we are eager to open, an official date has not yet been finalized.”
The move to Manahawkin Commons was originally detailed in planning documents and redevelopment discussions starting last fall, when Saker first presented its concept for transforming the old Kmart site. Much of the building’s original framework remains, a reminder of how long the property sat dormant, and how dramatically it’s being reborn.
If the construction itself has attracted curiosity, the bigger wave of engagement came from residents responding to the question of what should replace ShopRite’s soon-to-be-empty space at Stafford Square. Pasbjerg Development Co., the exclusive broker for 72 Associates that owns the current location has removed its “for lease” sign but still has an active advertisement for a new tenant starting February 2026.
An informal poll by this newspaper quickly filled with responses, some deeply nostalgic, others ambitious, others humorous enough to earn a second read.
“We need something for the kids!”
That was by far the most common refrain. Parents, grandparents, and even teens called for a return to family-friendly entertainment that once defined the area.
“Would love to see an indoor roller skating rink with an arcade area – something for families to be able to do,” wrote Tori Lynn. “We used to have Frogger and it was awesome.”
Her comment prompted a wave of memories from older residents, including one from Barbara Corlis-Capozzoli, who reflected on a beloved piece of Manahawkin history. She recalled the days of Bill’s Skating Rink where the flea market is now.
“When I was a kid, we had Bill’s Skating Rink where the flea market is now,” she said. “We all spent a lot of our weekends skating. They also had celebrity singers there on Friday nights.”
Corlis- Capazzoli reminisced about seeing Danny and the Juniors, Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles, and the Flamingos played at the skating rink.
“We were lucky kids back then,” she added. “ Honestly, there was more to do here 60 years ago than there is now.”
Others wished for something even bigger.
“I wish I had the money to open an iPlay America,” wrote Jenna Trail. “We need more for the kids.”
And perhaps the most heartfelt plea came from resident Lissette Davies, who described the struggles of keeping energetic children busy through winter months.
“My son wants to be in motion 24/7 and can’t” she said. “He loves parkour, gymnastics, dirt bikes and he can’t do anything for six months. I know I’m not alone.”
Retail Dreams Vs. Reality
Suggestions poured in for Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Wegmans, and Uncle Giuseppe’s, but commercial realities may complicate those dreams.
Supermarket leases often include restrictions that prevent direct competitors from moving in, and major chains rely on demographic modeling, not wish lists, to choose new markets.
Still, the public had no shortage of ideas. Burlington, Boscov’s, Old Navy, Hobby Lobby, Harbor Freight, and Ollie’s were mentioned with enthusiasm. And there was equally strong consensus on what the plaza does not need. Readers dissed the idea of more furniture or mattress outlets, auto parts shops, or dollar stores.
Southern Ocean County locals don’t seem to shy away from asking for more restaurants. Rather than fast food or chicken places, they’d like to see more dining options. Suggestions ranged from a steakhouse to a Chickie & Pete’s to a Hooters.
Traffic concerns sparked a great deal of passion, particularly for Shop Rite’s new location.
“They need to reopen that entrance and add a light,” said one commenter. “A left turn from Martin Truex would help too.”
Another reader took the suggestion to an entirely new level. “Build a tunnel under the Parkway and connect Newell Avenue to Route 9,” wrote Armand J. Castelli Sr., with the kind of ambition that would make an engineer blush.
Not to be outdone, Kevin L. O’Brien offered a solution many found amusingly relatable. “Whatever goes there, you must pass a special driving course before you’re allowed to park within a mile of the store.”
A New Chapter
As construction barrels forward and residents continue adding to their collective wish list, what’s clear is that the ShopRite move has become more than a retail shift. It’s a spark for community conversation, memory-sharing, and a renewed desire to shape what Manahawkin becomes next.
The new location sits near Michaels, Staples and T.J. Maxx. It’s also footsteps away from the Regal movie theater, which a number of residents say could use some refurbishment of its own.
ShopRite’s move may breathe new life into the former Kmart building, but it also turns a fresh page in Manahawkin’s ever-changing commercial landscape. The soon-to-be-vacant store at Stafford Square now stands at the edge of possibility, its future unwritten but far from forgotten. And if one thing is certain, it’s that the community has no shortage of ideas. Residents have already made their wish list loud and clear – hoping the space won’t slip into the kind of long-term limbo that too many big-box stores have faced, but instead becomes something vibrant, useful, and unmistakably local.
