I never thought that 'Retail Updates' would have to become a monthly thing, but there's a lot going on in town. If you read every thread on every local Facebook group, you may have seen these updates, but I wanted to collect them all in one spot.
honeygrow and Shake Shack Grand Openings
honeygrow will have its Grand Opening this week on Friday March 23rd. They will also have a 'Tasting Preview' on Thursday March 22nd, but tickets to that event are all gone. The first 100 guests on Friday will get free food and swag, and portions of the proceeds that first day will go towards Unforgotten Haven, a group dedicated to helping the 'Forgotten', anyone who has fallen on hard times: the homeless, Veterans, victims of domestic violence, housefires and cancer, and other worthy causes.
honeygrow is a make-your own stir fry or salad restaurant that is similar in concept to ordering a burrito at Chipotle - pick your protein, your vegetables and your sauces, but instead of walking down the line with metal bowls filled with different options like at Chipotle, everything is done through a touch-screen kiosk. You do not interact with a cashier at a register or anyone making your food. The food is cooked fresh and served piping hot - and I'd warn you that the spicy chicken is indeed very spicy. honeygrow has had a location in Cherry Hill at the Ellisburg Shopping Center for a couple of years, so many of you are already familiar with the concept.
honeygrow and Shake Shack Grand Openings
honeygrow will have its Grand Opening this week on Friday March 23rd. They will also have a 'Tasting Preview' on Thursday March 22nd, but tickets to that event are all gone. The first 100 guests on Friday will get free food and swag, and portions of the proceeds that first day will go towards Unforgotten Haven, a group dedicated to helping the 'Forgotten', anyone who has fallen on hard times: the homeless, Veterans, victims of domestic violence, housefires and cancer, and other worthy causes.
honeygrow is a make-your own stir fry or salad restaurant that is similar in concept to ordering a burrito at Chipotle - pick your protein, your vegetables and your sauces, but instead of walking down the line with metal bowls filled with different options like at Chipotle, everything is done through a touch-screen kiosk. You do not interact with a cashier at a register or anyone making your food. The food is cooked fresh and served piping hot - and I'd warn you that the spicy chicken is indeed very spicy. honeygrow has had a location in Cherry Hill at the Ellisburg Shopping Center for a couple of years, so many of you are already familiar with the concept.
Our local honeygrow has seating both outside and inside. While the view isn't very scenic from the outdoor seating, the restaurant is somewhat separated from the Kohls/Shoprite traffic, so it should be pleasant on a nice spring day to eat outside under their umbrellas.
Shake Shack will open on Thursday March 22 at 11 AM. Like honeygrow, a portion of proceeds that day will go to charity, with 5% being donated to the Food Bank of South Jersey
I have never eaten at a Shake Shack, so I can't provide much insight, but it does appear to have somewhat of a cult following. They serve mostly burgers and shakes, including a 'Concrete', which I've been told is similar to a Dairy Queen Blizzard. Shake Shack has current locations in Philadelphia and North Jersey, but this will be its first restaurant in South Jersey.
I do wonder whether this restaurant will have an affect on Friendly's, which is right across the parking lot. And with 5 Guys and Smashburger less than a 1/2 mile away, it should be an interesting fight for your burger dollars.
Like honeygrow, they also have some outside seating.
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| Friendly's is just across the parking lot |
Young Minds Toys
It was reported earlier in the month that Young Minds toys would be closing. It would appear that the owners had a change of heart and will remain open for the time being.
Young Minds is a specialty toy shop located at Crispin Square, so feel free to stop by for your toy and gift needs. Or visit their website.
Starbucks and Starbucks
Yes, another Starbucks! Plans were reported back in 2016 for a Starbucks that would be built at the old Papa Johns/DeBug It/gas station site, and last week I noted that an excavator had been moved on site.
This weekend, the Evesham Fire Department was on site training, as the building has been scheduled to be demolished. I have been told that demolition should begin this week and construction would begin shortly after that. Below is a picture from August 2017
And here is one taken on 3/18/18. The holes in the roof are new, as the Fire Department was training, using saws to practice the correct way to vent fires.
There is also yet another Starbucks opening at Target. I called on March 18th and they said they expect the Starbucks to open 'possibly by next weekend'.
Chickie & Petes
Still no opening date announced. The TVs are up on the wall and the tables and chairs are in. It looks close to being completed.
Renaissance Square
There hasn't been alot of progress here since the last update, but they did recently put in new windows at the old Superfresh.
The planned 'La Vez' and 'La Scala' were also approved at the Planning Board. Here are the conceptual drawings that were submitted.
I circled below where on the site plan they will be.
Burger King was demolished 3/19/2018.
JoAnn Fabric
JoAnn will be closing shortly. The sign says 'Last 10 Days.' Oddly, that sign is right next to a 'Now Hiring' sign.
Village at the Greens
The shopping center at the corner of Elmwood and Evesboro-Medford Road will soon have a new tenant. Made In Italy closed about 9 months ago. Before that, it was Montagnaro's. The sign below went up this week:
The rest
I have no updates on anything else. If you were curious about anything else being built, I have had a few other blog posts regarding construction. If they had no updates and I didn't write about them here, you might find it on one of these two old posts.
- Construction in front of Franco's/Produce Junction
- Casa Carolla
- Olga's / Reproductive Medicine
- GBoys
- Burns Honda
- Mission BBQ
- JoAnn's/Club Metro center purchased by Raymour and Flanagan's
On a side note, I can't believe how often the question 'What is being built in front of Franco's?' gets asked. The building looks like it is in the final stages of construction - I'm hopeful they put the sign up soon!