MANAHAWKIN — The opening date has moved more than once — first December 10, 2025, then possibly January — and now it looks like the new and improved location for the Manahawkin ShopRite will be opening on February 4.
Signs posted on Facebook led Jersey Shore Online to call the store, currently at the Stafford Square shopping plaza. The phone operator said she learned of the February 4 date, today, January 8.
The store is moving from its longtime home to a new 116,000-square-foot space at Manahawkin Commons Plaza, replacing the existing location. The ShopRite is operated by Saker ShopRite, a fifth-generation, family-owned business with New Jersey roots dating back to 1947. The company owns and operates 40 supermarkets, mostly across Ocean and Monmouth counties, and expanded locally in 2021 with the purchase of seven Perlmutter-owned ShopRite stores, including Manahawkin.
“We’re excited about moving the ShopRite of Manahawkin into a new location and look forward to continuing to serve the local community,” CEO and President Richard Saker said in a prepared statement.
Plans to redevelop the old Kmart site were first introduced last fall, marking a major step toward revitalizing a property that sat dormant for years. The new ShopRite will be located near Michaels, Staples and T.J. Maxx, and just steps from the Regal movie theater.
Attention has also turned to what will replace ShopRite’s current space at Stafford Square. Pasbjerg Development Co., the exclusive broker for the property owner, has removed its “for lease” sign, though marketing materials still list the space for a new tenant.
For many residents, this news it’s a sign of change — and a chance to imagine what comes next for Manahawkin’s evolving retail landscape.
Some locals have expressed concerns about traffic in and out of the shopping plaza, something that we’ve been told is another phase of the project. No word yet on when that will be worked out.
