Lidl To Fill Supermarket Void At Lackawanna Plaza In Montclair

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair’s planning board approved a longstanding application to redevelop Lackawanna Plaza on Monday, a crucial step to filling a gaping grocery store void in the township’s 4th ward.

At the board meeting, it was revealed that Lidl, a German supermarket chain, is trying to bring a new store to the property, which is located near the historic Lackawanna train station.

The Lidl grocery store is part of a larger mixed-use project at Lackawanna Plaza proposed by its developers: The Hampshire Companies and The Pinnacle Companies. In addition to 111,726 square feet of retail and office space, there are plans to build 154 units of residential housing on site, with 31 of those units reserved for affordable housing.

• Learn more about developers’ vision for the project here
• See the project’s land use applications with Montclair here

The area was designated as an "Area in Need of Redevelopment" in 2015. The previous supermarket to occupy the space, Pathmark, shut its doors that year to the dismay of many nearby residents.

A representative with Lidl said one reason the company chose Montclair for a new store was because of its pedestrian-friendly layout. Watch a video of the Feb. 11 meeting below.

• See related article: Supermarket At Montclair's Lackawanna Plaza? Plans Moving Along

The Lackawanna Plaza application – which was approved by a 5-2 vote – didn’t pass muster without opposition. Planning board members Martin Schwartz and Carmel Loughman provided the dissenting votes, with both criticizing the plan to demolish a historic train shed on the property to expand the parking lot, Baristanet reported. (Read the full article here)

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Artist rendering via lackawannaplaza.com