Two highly visible development sites near Macy’s at Ocean County Mall are being marketed for new commercial uses as the Toms River retail corridor continues to evolve.
Toms River, NJ – Ocean County Mall’s ongoing transformation appears poised to continue with additional outparcel development opportunities now being marketed along Hooper Avenue. According to commercial real estate listings, one of the available sites is a 1.2-acre parcel adjacent to Macy’s on the western side of the mall property, offering potential for new restaurants, retail businesses, medical offices, financial services, and other commercial uses.
Key Points
• Additional Ocean County Mall outparcels are being marketed for development.
• The sites are located near Macy’s along Hooper Avenue on the mall’s west side.
• Developers are seeking restaurant, retail, medical, hotel, and service-industry tenants.
The available parcel at 1231 Hooper Avenue is being offered for ground lease or build-to-suit development and is positioned within one of Ocean County’s busiest commercial corridors. Marketing materials highlight a trade area population of approximately 150,000 residents within five miles of the site.
The property sits directly adjacent to Macy’s and enjoys visibility from Hooper Avenue, which remains the primary retail artery through Toms River.
Continued evolution of Ocean County Mall
The marketing of additional outparcels reflects the ongoing shift occurring at shopping centers nationwide. While enclosed malls continue to face changing consumer habits, many operators have found success by converting excess parking areas and peripheral land into standalone restaurants, entertainment venues, medical offices, and mixed-use developments.
Ocean County Mall has already seen several outparcel developments emerge around its perimeter over the years, creating destinations that generate traffic independent of the enclosed shopping center.
The west side of the property surrounding Macy’s remains one of the largest remaining redevelopment opportunities on the site.
Prime location along Hooper Avenue
The available land benefits from immediate access to Hooper Avenue, one of Ocean County’s most heavily traveled commercial roadways. The corridor includes major retailers, healthcare facilities, restaurants, and professional offices stretching from downtown Toms River through the Route 70 interchange area.
Commercial developers often target mall outparcels because they provide built-in traffic from existing retail destinations while maintaining direct road frontage and separate access.
What could be built?
According to the listing, preferred uses include:
• Restaurants and quick-service dining
• Specialty retail stores
• Medical offices and healthcare providers
• Financial institutions
• Hotels
• Service-oriented businesses
Given recent development trends in Ocean County, restaurants and healthcare-related projects could be among the most likely candidates for the site. However, no specific tenant or development plans have been announced.
A sign of broader retail changes
The listing comes as regional malls continue adapting to a changing retail landscape. Across New Jersey, mall owners have increasingly turned to outparcel development as a way to maximize underutilized land and diversify revenue streams.
For Ocean County Mall, the addition of new standalone businesses along Hooper Avenue could further strengthen the property’s role as a commercial hub while bringing new investment to one of Toms River’s busiest shopping districts.