This is a test

 I have been writing about Evesham retail for about a year now, and when I post about new retail being built in town, one of the questions I frequently see in response is 'We have so much vacant retail already, do they really need to build more?'

I've been spending a lot of time driving through shopping centers taking pictures and perusing websites of site plans, it got me to wondering: do we have a lot of vacant retail in town?

Here is my attempt to answer that question.  To do that, I will divide retail in town into two categories - strip malls and freestanding buildings.  The dividing line between those two is a little fuzzy - if a building has two business in it, is it a strip mall?  How about three business?  I have put the dividing line at 5 businesses - if it has 5 or more businesses, it is a strip mall, if 4 or less, it is a freestanding building.  And I think the answer as to whether we have an empty retail glut is different depending on which category you look at.

(Just a note, this list will not be exhaustive.  While I think I have included all of the strip malls in here, I am sure that I missed some freestanding buildings.  Office buildings are not included in this list at all.)

Meeting House Square

While it has had some turnover recently, Meetinghouse Square has only 1 current retail vacancy, where the South Jersey School of Korean Karate had been until about 6 months ago, right next to Sushi To Go.

Retail space for lease in Meetinghouse Square

221 Greentree Road

I don't know what the name of this development is at the corner of Evesboro Medford Road and Greentree Road.  It is still a fairly new strip, having been constructed in 2009-2010.

221 Greentree Road, July 2009

With Tobacco Mart opening in June, replacing the Subway Restaurant, this strip is now full.

The Shops at Borders

I'm not quite sure how much longer I can safely call it by that name, as Raymour & Flanigan has purchased the entire center.  But the Borders sign is still up at the entrance from Route 73.  While this shopping center has seen better days, with the new ownership and the future Raymour  & Flanigan Outlet store opening in the near future, the center looks to rebound.  There are currently at least 4 openings, including room for a big box store at the former Borders location.  I think in actuality there are 5 openings, as 'Tranquility Spa' is shown on the map, but they closed and moved several months ago.

Renaissance Square

In addition to the 338 luxury apartments being built on the site of the old Kmart, there is also a lot of retail being offered.  There are current 3 vacancies(marked 1,2 and 3) in the existing structure, between Virtua and the future home of Children Of America Daycare.  In addition, the building indicated with a '4' is currently being built.  There are 4 additional vacancies in that new building.  The other occupants of that building will create additional vacancies in other shopping centers, as they are all relocating from existing sites already in Evesham.  Evesham Mortgage will move from Plaza 70, Gaetano's Steaks will move from Allison Shopping Center, and the Hair Cuttery will move from the Shops at Borders.  In addition, right next to building 4 is a new freestanding Dunkin' Donuts, which will relocate from Marlton Greene Shopping Center, creating a vacancy there.

Future home of Evesham Mortgage, Gaetano's, Hair Cuttery and more

Willow Ridge Plaza

While this shopping center has had a lot of turnover in the past, it currently has only one opening, where Annie Sez was located.  Rastelli's and Marshall's replaced Genuardi's, an addition was built to house Vision Works and 5 Below, and a new building freestanding building was built in the parking to house Carter's and Osh Kosh.

Marlton Square
No current vacancies

Marlton Crossing
This shopping center has had a lot of changes over the past year.  With the opening of new stores (Duck Donuts, Max Fitness, and Chickie n Petes', along with plans for a future Sprouts Farmer's Market), there is only one current vacancy, in the spot formerly occupied by Sears Appliance Center.  The vacancy is marked 3A on the map, just to the left of Burlington Coat Factory.  While the map does show two possible pad sites available, I think those may have been an option before Chickie n Pete's moved in.  I can't imagine they could fit in there now.

Marlton Commons
I didn't know the name of this center until they put a sign up about 6 months ago.

While the center is currently fully leased, there remains a 'For Lease' sign up on the property.  While I am not entirely certain why, I did find some interesting information on form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  In describing changes to the complex with the addition of Shake Shack and honeygrow, it notes "Kohl's will allow an additional 25,000 sf of new retail abutting its east side".

Kings Grant Shops

I didn't know these shops existed until about a month ago, when I was creating a map of everywhere to buy coffee in town.   There are currently two vacancies among the dozen or so shops.

105 Merchants Way, former home of Cornerstone Bank

123 Merchants Way, former home of Canvas Mixers

Plaza 70

Home of both Produce Junction and the Dollar Tree, Plaza 70 has seen some turnover in recent years.

Currently there are two vacanices

 In addition, there is a new building being built on site housing Atlanticare Urgent Care and

Future home of Atlanticare and Bacharach Rehabilitation

There will also be another vacancy by late summer when Evesham Mortgage leaves the center for their new home in Renaissance Square.

The Galleria
This shopping center was recently remodeled and has 3 current vacancies out of 11 shops.

Greentree Square

This is the large center that contains Whole Foods.  The current site plan lists only 1 vacancy, store number 6.  This is the former home of Pet Supplies Plus (and also the former home of Eckerd Drugs, which closed when the roof collapsed during a storm and never reopened).

It should be noted that the small store at the top right without a number is the former skate board shop.  It looks like it is currently being used for construction storage.  And the shop below that (above Chipotle on the map) used to the Hand and Stone, which moved to 21.  I'm not sure if Hand and Stone are still using the old location, and all the windows are blacked out so I can't see in.