Business picks up in Voorhees
Mayor’s Message: Michael Mignogna
Voorhees has not been immune to the economic downturn, but we have also continued to be a desirous location in which to live and shop. Our Economic Development Office and Economic Development Committee have been working hard to attract new businesses and to help our current businesses thrive. Following are some of the new businesses that have just opened or will be opening in the near future.
Spoon Me, a gourmet yogurt shop, opened its second location in Voorhees within the last month. Their newest location is in the Voorhees Town Center and is already enjoying brisk sales. It is the newest business in the Voorhees Town Center and will be joined by a trio of new restaurants during the next few months. Voorhees was long home to Catelli’s Restaurant at Main Street. This well known and loved establishment is relocating to the Voorhees Town Center and will now be known as Catelli’s Duo Osteria and Wine Bar and is slated to open in the next few months. Also opening at the Voorhees Town Center is the Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant, which will be starting construction on its tenth location shortly. This local brewery chain is very popular and known for brewing all of its beers on site. A name that is always placed high on the restaurant list is the famous Elena Wu Chinese restaurant. They have just signed a lease at the Town Center and are expected to open in early 2013.
A few weeks ago, I attended the Grand Opening of Mirko’s — A Taste of Europe, a new restaurant in the Ritz Center that focuses on a different country’s cuisines each week, along with their regular menu.
The dynamic cultural diversity we are so proud of in Voorhees is reflected in the myriad of choices we have for eating establishments. Two new Indian restaurants will be opening soon. Nemit Palace will be opening in the Echo Shoppes on White Horse Rd. In addition, Voorhees will soon be home to the first Indian pizzeria, Bombay Local, which will be located in the Echelon Village Plaza on White Horse Rd.
A new hamburger chain, Jake’s Wayback Burgers, is now under construction at the Cedar Hill Plaza. Jake’s will complete the tenancy at this location which faces BJ’s on Rt. 73.
The new Dunkin’ Donuts store on Burnt Mill Road is now ready to open. This store will be a state-of-the-art Dunkin’ Donuts with a drive-through window behind the building. The design of this location optimizes safety and ease for the morning drive-through customers.
The Route 73 corridor continues to thrive. The new Genesis Healthcare Facility adjacent to Lakeside Avenue is getting its finishing touches and should start accepting patients later this summer. It is next door to the new Rite Aid Pharmacy that had its Grand Opening last month.
Further north on 73, the Brandywine Senior Living Facility has broken ground for their $28 million 100-bed facility. They are working closely with Virtua Hospital to ensure their patients have the best possible medical care and quality of life. An opening date of spring of 2013 is anticipated.
Physicians’ offices, along with medical imaging and other patient care facilities, are continuing to migrate onto our Route 73 “medical mile” as a result of the new state-of-the-art Virtua Hospital campus, which just celebrated its one-year anniversary.
The ground has been cleared and infrastructure improvements have begun along Voorhees Drive for the new 100- room SpringHill Suites. This Marriott facility, which recently purchased a liquor license, will include a restaurant. This project is located on the lot behind the Acme and across from the Ritz Center and should be open before the end of the year.
I attended the Grand Opening of the 30,000 square foot Ross Dress for Less in Eagle Plaza last Saturday and they are excited about their new store here in Voorhees. Celebrity Tanz, also located in Eagle Plaza, will be opening by the end of summer. Eagle Plaza has been a focus of our Economic Development Office for some time and the fruits of these efforts are starting to show results.
Thanks to the Economic Development Committee and the Voorhees Business Association for being great business ambassadors!
**The Voorhees Town Center Farmers’ Market will be held every Saturday through October 27 from 8 a.m. until noon at the Special Events Plaza outside the entrance to Town Hall. The market features Jersey fresh fruits, vegetables, pasta, honey, wine and much more from vendors throughout the Delaware Valley.
**The next show in our 2012 Summer Twilight Series is Thursday, August 2 (rain date August 3) when a group of local talented artists performs some new musical sounds. Cocktail Phenomenon is a band that includes a full horn section and mini-choir of incredibly talented vocalists. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at Connolly Park and is free.
