Burlington grabbing old Bon-Ton store space at Brick Plaza

BRICK - Burlington Stores has plans to move into Brick Plaza, taking much of the space formerly occupied by Bon-Ton.

The retailer, still commonly known by its former name Burlington Coat Factory, already has a store on Brick Boulevard at Bay Harbor Plaza.

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Brick officials issued a permit in June to allow Brick Plaza owner Federal Realty Investment Trust to renovate the former Bon-Ton to make way for Burlington, according to a zoning permit application on file in town hall. 

Bon-Ton closed more than 200 locations in 2018 when it declared bankruptcy and liquidated its stores. The department store chain, which dated back to 1854, was stung by the decline of brick-and-mortar retail as more customers went online.

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According to marketing materials from Federal Realty Investment Trust, Burlington is leasing 43,290 square feet of the former Bon-Ton space, The remainder, 10,492 square feet, is available for lease, the plan states.

"I am happy to see another large empty space filled up here in Brick,'' Mayor John Ducey said.

A spokesperson for Burlington had no comment about the Brick Plaza location. Further details about what will happen to the existing store on Brick Boulevard were not available. (At Bay Harbor Plaza, a permit has been requested to allow Planet Fitness to move into the former A.C. Moore store space.)

Burlington is on the move. Last year, it opened stores in Hazlet and Toms River. Besides Brick, a new store is coming to Howell Commons on Route 9.

David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for more than 20 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There and Press on Your Side columns and can be reached at dwillis@gannettnj.com. Join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates.