New Supermarket Coming To Essex County: Here's Where

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Get ready for a new grocery store in West Orange.

The West Orange Planning Board recently approved a developer’s proposal to build a two-story supermarket named “Leon Marketplace” at 262-270 Main Street.

The site is the former home of a Walgreens and the Americana Diner, which was one of the few remaining 24-hour diners left in the state before it served its final meal last year. Most existing improvements at the property will be demolished, except the rear and side walls.

The applicant, 262 Main Street LLC and 270 Main Street Realty LLC, was seeking preliminary and final major site plan approval with bulk “c” variance relief. See the site plan here, and view the developer’s final presentation here.

According to a planning report from the applicant, here are some highlights of the project:

SIZE – The two-story supermarket building consists of 13,934 square feet on the first floor and 5,810 square feet on the second floor, for a total of 19,744 square feet. The second-floor space will not be accessible to customers and will be used for storage.

PARKING – The plan includes 46 off-street parking spaces, including five electric vehicle space credits. The development is also proposed to be served by 10 on-street parking spaces.

ENVIRONMENT – The applicant proposes multiple rain gardens and shade trees within the proposed surface parking area in order to address stormwater management. The development will be illuminated via three dark sky compliant LED pole-mounted fixtures within the parking areas as well as via six shielded LED wall-mounted fixtures along the perimeter of the proposed supermarket. Utility connections are also proposed for gas, water, and sewer service… The requested variances will permit the creation of a supermarket building with sufficient roof space to accommodate the installation of multiple solar panels.

ACCESS – The primary pedestrian entrance to the proposed supermarket building will be along the northern façade, along where shopping carts are proposed to be located. Vehicular access to the proposed development is to be provided via two driveways along Main Street. Additional pedestrian access is proposed via two entry/exit points along Erwin Place. A driveway is proposed along Erwin Place to facilitate loading operations via one off-street loading space. A temporary loading space is also to be provided along Main Street between the hours of 7 to 11 a.m., Monday through Friday, which will otherwise be used as on-street parking.

LAYOUT – The interior of the proposed supermarket will feature two floors. The first floor will include various produce aisles and shelves, a deli and food preparation area, produce storage areas/freezers, restrooms, and sales kiosks. The second floor will consist of storage area which will be serviced by the proposed off-street loading area which ramps upward from Erwin Place. Additionally, the refuse area is proposed to be located within the terrace area of the building to the rear of the proposed loading area along the second floor, and the Applicant will handle the pickup/disposal of refuse. Access within the proposed supermarket is proposed to be facilitated via both a stairwell and service elevator. The roof of the proposed supermarket will be comprised of a screened mechanical area, solar panel arrays to be installed in the future, and skylights to facilitate access to light within the supermarket. The perimeter of the roof will be generally enclosed by a 3.5-foot-tall railing as a safety mechanism for workers.

Watch footage from the planning board’s Aug. 12 meeting here, or view it below:

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