A new 4-unit building has been rising at the former site of a Friendly’s restaurant in Marlton, with the two end-units slated to become home to popular Cava and First Watch restaurants.
The location is in the Marlton Commons shopping center where Kohl’s and ShopRite are located.
Local Facebook Page “A View From Evesham” has been following this story through approvals and construction. Some aspects of this story come from AVFE, with writer Neil’s permission.
The shopping center where this new construction is taking place sits at the intersection of Routes 70 and 73, which prior to 2011 were connected by the Marlton Circle. Back in 2011, NJDOT opened a new bridge overpass for Route 73 which effectively signified the end of the Marlton Circle.
The former Friendly’s building was located in the front corner of the parking lot actually very close to the interchange (Marlton Circle). The Friendly’s building was demolished ahead of the construction of the new 4-unit strip mall.
First Watch is a breakfast/brunch restaurant with many of the traditional brunch menu items but in a premium presentation using only the healthiest of ingredients. They have locations in Cherry Hill, Washington Township, and another location is being developed in Sicklerville/Gloucester Township.
Cava is a Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant which today is the largest Mediterranean category restaurant operator in the US. In 2018 they purchased Zoe’s Kitchen which has helped catapult them to over 309 locations. Locally they have an existing location in Moorestown at the East Gate Square shopping center.
For Marlton, the new building (and two restaurants) will be located very close to another pad site building in the shopping center, with that other one featuring Shake Shack and honeygrow. The four restaurants in one connected parking lot area should make for a nice premium fast-casual restaurant destination.
Additionally, not too far away is a Bank of America branch building (which has a shopping center entrance driveway between the two buildings).
This project was initially proposed with a second building on the north side of Shake Shack but the Zoning Board initially denied that plan. According to Township meeting minutes, the board stated difficulties with traffic flow within the shopping center.
According to local website 70and73.com, the developer quickly filed a lawsuit stating the denial was improper. The Township and the developer soon came together to work on a compromise agreement which led to the development of just the one building at the Friendly’s property
According to the Township of Evesham’s Zoning Board meeting minutes, the single building is 10,800 square feet with space for four tenants.
With its development focused in the area of the Friendly’s property and parking spaces, there are no changes to the parking lots for the significantly larger Kohl’s and ShopRite stores.
Links and Locations
Marlton Commons – First Watch and Cava (under development)
101 W Rte 70
Marlton, NJ 08053