Freehold Twp Committee To Consider Raceway Mall Rezoning Plan

FREEHOLD, NJ - Township officials are slated to consider a proposed amendment to the approved uses of the Freehold Raceway Mall, according to committee documents.

A proposed ordinance aimed at updating zoning requirements in Freehold Township’s regional mall zone is expected to be heard at a meeting later this month. If passed, the mall will be redefined as a “regional mall shopping center” and thus may be able to establish modern recreational use areas such as movie theaters, performing arts facilities, arcades, indoor climbing gyms, bowling alleys, roller rinks and virtual reality centers.

Other possible uses include designated civic, cultural and senior citizen centers, as well as educational spaces, co-working spaces, breweries, health care offices and urgent care facilities.

The news comes as the mall faces several pandemic-related vacancies, including retail giants and mall anchors Lord & Taylor and Nordstrom. Other closures in recent memory include Sears, The Disney Store, Brio Italian Grille and Ruby Tuesday.

Just before the pandemic, the township’s planning board heard plans for the former Sears to be leased as a bowling alley - but nixed the plans, denying any variance to the town’s regional mall zoning rules, according to the Asbury Park Press.

"These changes open up opportunities for complimentary uses such as entertainment and fitness, grocery, office, co-working, medical and really other mixed uses which helps support our core retail business," the mall’s senior property manager Frank Lucia told the Press. "Our core business is retail and will continue to be retail but the vacancies and now the ordinance changes allow us to bring complimentary uses to the campus to support those retailers."

But that’s not to say that retail will be completely absent from the iconic mall anytime soon, even if the ordinance is passed. Recent stores that have moved into the Freehold Raceway Mall include athleisure line Offline by Aerie and pop culture merchandise retailer FYE. The mall touts dozens of popular retailers and eateries including JC Penney, Macy's, Chik-Fil-A, the Cheesecake Factory, Pacsun and Victoria's Secret.

The rezoning ordinance was introduced May 25, reviewed by the planning board and sent back with recommendations. The township committee will now consider the ordinance at the July 13 meeting.

You can read the full ordinance here.