Monmouth Mall Demolition Will Begin In March

EATONTOWN, NJ — The demolition of Monmouth Mall is scheduled to start this March.

That's according to Michael Sommer, chief development officer for Kushner, the real estate company that owns the mall.

Kushner Cos. was started by Charles Kushner, the father of former President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. The Kushners are also the developers of Pier Village in Long Branch, among many other real estate projects in New Jersey and across the U.S. (https://kushner.com/projects/)

Kushner is about to embark on a dramatic overhaul of Monmouth Mall, which has been operating at under 60 percent occupancy for the past several years. Kushner plans to tear down the mall's entire second floor, and turn the whole site into a residential complex, with retail and offices, to be called "Monmouth Square."

Kushner tried this conversion several years before, pre-pandemic, but was stymied in part by resistance from some Eatontown residents. Then the pandemic hit, and the entire project was tabled. Related: Eatontown TGI Fridays Now Permanently Closed (Jan. 5)

Monmouth Square will be an airy residential complex, with wide public walkways for strolling and luxury apartments built around a center green.

See the renderings above of how it will look. Kushner envisions Monmouth Square as a type of new "town center" for Eatontown.

Kushner plans to build 1,000 one- and two-bedroom apartments, with an outdoor pool and fitness center. Rental prices have not been released, but online chatter reports $2,000 - $3,000 a month. Walking and biking trails may be built around the perimeter.

Construction on the apartments will likely start later in 2024.

Kushner also envisions retail tenants moving in, such as a Whole Foods, the Barnes & Noble remaining, doctors' offices, restaurants and boutique shops.

For years now, Monmouth County residents have witnessed the slow but steady decline of Monmouth Mall. In a 2022 public presentation to the town of Eatontown, Kushner reported 500,000 square feet of stores at the mall were empty. Kushner has warned for years now that it is not sustainable to keep the mall open with such a high amount of empty stores.

Not only that, but Kushner filed multiple tax appeals for overpayment of taxes on Monmouth Mall. Eatontown Mayor Anthony Talerico said last summer Kushner would likely be successful on its appeals, because the value of the mall has plummeted "significantly" in the past 20 years.

Charles Kushner and his wife still live in Long Branch to this day.

Eatontown Will Propose A Tax Deal For Monmouth Mall Owner Kushner Cos. (August 2023)

First Look At Kushner's Plan For 1,000 Apts. At Monmouth Mall (August 2022)