R.J. Brunelli & Co. Announces Lease Signings for Muscle Maker Grill in Central and Northern New Jersey

OLD BRIDGE, N.J., May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- R.J. Brunelli & Co. LLC, the preferred broker for restaurant franchisor Muscle Maker Grill in central and northern New Jersey, has announced signed leases for two new locations.  

In the first deal, a Muscle Maker franchisee leased 1,500 square feet at the new 350,000-square-foot Bayonne Crossing, to be located on Route 440 and East 22nd Street in Bayonne.  The center, which will be anchored by Walmart, Lowes Home Improvement, New York Sports Club and others, will include Sally Beauty (a deal also brokered by R.J. Brunelli), Sonic, and more. Muscle Maker expects to open in the fourth quarter of 2010 in an inline location.  

In the second transaction, another franchisee leased 1,100 square feet of space in a high exposure strip center located at 200 Ocean Avenue in Long Branch. The center, located just south of Highway 36, includes a Windmill restaurant. Muscle Maker is projected to open in the second quarter of 2010, during the busy summer season in an inline space that formerly housed an Asian restaurant.

According to Danielle Brunelli Albrecht, vice president of lifestyle leasing for R.J. Brunelli,  leases are currently in various stages of negotiation for nine more locations in central and northern New Jersey, as well as Staten Island, N.Y.

Muscle Maker Grill typically requires 1,500- to 2,200-square-foot locations, preferably in former  restaurant spaces.  With its emphasis on healthy, low-calorie, low-fat foods, the fast-casual chain targets properties that include a health club or have one nearby.

The original Muscle Maker Grill opened in 1995 in Colonia, N.J. in a New York Sports Club- anchored center on Route 27.  A franchise program was launched just over two years ago, leading to the sale of over 100 franchises in New Jersey, New York and Florida.  Franchisees are currently seeking locations in Rockaway Township, Hoboken, Paramus, Eatontown, and Staten Island.

R.J. Brunelli & Co. serves as exclusive or preferred real estate representative in various New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania counties for more than 20 other retail, restaurant and service chains, including such major companies as Houlihan's, Toys 'R' Us/Babies 'R' Us, Trader Joe's, Ulta and Workout World. The firm also serves as exclusive leasing representative for 20 existing retail properties, one center under construction and three in the approvals stage with a combined gross leasable area (GLA) of 1.97 million square feet, along with 18 properties for sale or lease with approximately 270,000 square feet of GLA. The properties are located throughout New Jersey.

For additional information on the firm's services, contact Richard Brunelli, president, R.J. Brunelli & Co., LLC, 400 Perrine Road, Suite 405, Old Bridge, N.J. 08857. Telephone is (732) 721-5800.

SOURCE R.J. Brunelli & Co. LLC