New Stores in Woodbridge Township - Say Goodbye to the GEM Motel!

Mayor John E. McCormac and Woodbridge Redevelopment Agency has announced today that
two new redevelopment projects are planned, to spur the Woodbridge Township economy – the construction of two new Wawa stores and an Aldi supermarket Coming Soon to Route 1 in Avenel (where the Gem Motel used to be) and Route 9 in Woodbridge (the old Woodbridge Dodge dealership.)

“Today marks the start-up of two major redevelopment projects on the Route 1 corridor in Avenel and Route 9 in Woodbridge that will spur the Township economy through the creation of more than 200 full-time retail and dozens of temporary construction jobs,” said Mayor John E. McCormac. “These projects will jump-start redevelopment in previously named redevelopment zones on the Route 1/9 corridor and will bring substantial tax ratables to the Township, not to mention that long-standing abandoned and under-utilized buildings will be demolished to make way for two new Wawa retail convenience centers and fueling stations and an Aldi supermarket.”

According to Mayor McCormac, the Route 1 Wawa store redevelopment project site is a 68,729 square foot corner tract on the northbound side of Route 1, north of West Smith Street in Avenel. The Gem Motel, the long-vacant Mom’s Diner, and a vacant masonry building currently populate the site and will be demolished for construction of a new 4,188 square foot Wawa retail store and convenience center. The gasoline center will include 12 double-sided gasoline pumps on six concrete islands under a 30’x 160’ canopy. The project includes a resurfaced parking lot, new lighting, fencing, and new landscaping. The project is part of the on-going redevelopment of the Route 1 corridor.

The second project includes construction of a new Aldis supermarket and food store and a Wawa retail store and convenience center. The site is situated on a 3.73-acre parcel located on King Georges Post Road , between Route 9 and the entrance to the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike. The site was previously the location of the Woodbridge Dodge dealership, which has been closed and vacant since 2007. The approved project will remove all existing structures from the site and construct a new 5,547 square foot Wawa convenience store and gasoline station. The adjacent Aldi supermarket will total 17,888 square feet of shopping space. The project includes a resurfaced parking lot, new lighting, and new landscaping.

 Joining Mayor McCormac to announce the redevelopment projects were: Wawa Area Managers Scott Kent and Steve Hasher and Mike Redel, Wawa Real Estate Project Engineer; State Assemblyman Craig Coughlin; Councilwoman Michele Charmello; Caroline Ehrlich, Executive Director, Woodbridge Redevelopment Agency; and Marta Lefsky, Woodbridge Township Department of Planning and Development.