MONTVALE — A proposal that would bring Trader Joe’s and several popular fast-casual restaurant brands to the Chestnut Ridge Shopping Center is set for review by the Montvale Planning Board on Monday, Dec. 2, Mayor Mike Ghassali announced this week.
In a message to residents, Ghassali said the application includes renovating the current Fresh Market space to accommodate Trader Joe’s, which would “replace” the existing grocer. In addition, three new eateries — Shake Shack, CAVA, and Honeygrow — are proposed for a new pad site within the shopping center’s parking area near Drop Fitness.
The Planning Board will take up the use applications at its meeting on Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. Ghassali invited interested residents to attend, said he expects to provide an update once the hearing concludes, and expressed optimism that the businesses could soon be welcomed to town.
The mayor also hinted at another potential economic development announcement, noting that the borough is “hopeful” a major company will relocate to Montvale and fully occupy an office building now partially filled.
‘We Will Not Be Closing’
We called The Fresh Market for comment on Nov. 18. After hearing the reason for our call, store manager Melissa Boffa told us, “We will not be closing and I’m not willing to speak about it.” She referred us to corporate, which we called and from which we are waiting to hear back. There has been no announcement on such plans from The Fresh Market, which in September sold to Chilean retail giant Cencosud.
Ghassali told us later that the information is consistent with public information from the applicant’s attorney, Gail Price of Price, Meese, Shulman and D’Arminio, PC, of Woodcliff Lake — which also advised him to pull down his related post until after the Planning Board meeting of Dec. 2.
We prompted Ghassali, “So you are led to believe, confidently, that The Fresh Market is closing, and will be replaced by Trader Joe’s, according to this proposal, which you have seen.” He said, “Yeah, I was led to believe that’s the situation; that’s the information I had, and still have: Trader Joe’s is moving to a spot where Fresh Market is, and that means that Fresh Market is leaving.”
The Planning Board agenda has yet to be posted. We have filed a public records request for the application. We also left voicemail with Price asking her to comment on the proposal.
Founded in 1982 by Ray and Beverly Berry in Greensboro, N.C., The Fresh Market built its reputation on high-quality produce, prepared meals, baked goods, and specialty items. Today, the chain says it operates 172 stores across 22 states, with a particularly strong presence in the Southeast.
In October the company confirmed that two locations — in Naperville, Ill., and Framingham, Mass. — were to shut down once existing inventory was sold through. The decision reportedly followed a review of the chain’s full store portfolio, and Fresh Market officials said the brand remains focused on expansion and opening new locations in targeted markets.
This reporter worked at the Chestnut Ridge Road Fresh Market, in the deli section, in 2017, when employees were much concerned with the construction of the Whole Foods Market at 500 Chestnut Ridge Road in Woodcliff Lake.
Regional Discussion Follows Announcement
Ghassali’s announcement generated significant attention on Facebook, where hundreds of comments from Montvale residents and neighboring Rockland County communities quickly accumulated. While many local residents welcomed the news, the discussion soon broadened into a wider conversation about supermarket and retail development in the Lower Hudson Valley.
Several commenters from Rockland County expressed frustration that new grocery and dining options such as Trader Joe’s continue to open across the border in Bergen County, rather than in towns like Clarkstown and Nanuet. Some urged their own local officials to pursue similar retailers and rethink development strategies.
Others questioned why prior efforts to bring Trader Joe’s to Rockland have not resulted in a location there, pointing to shifting market conditions, site availability, and the company’s internal criteria for store placement. Longtime residents noted that petitions have circulated for years without success.
At the same time, many Bergen County commenters celebrated the prospect of additional shopping and dining opportunities in Montvale, citing the borough’s strong demographics, proximity to major highways, and history of attracting popular retail brands.
There is a Trader Joe’s in Westwood, at 20 Irvington St.
Next Steps
Residents interested in the proposal can attend the Dec. 2 Planning Board meeting at Borough Hall. Any approvals — including site plan considerations, traffic review, and architectural details — would advance through the standard local land use process.
Ghassali said he will share additional information after the hearing and expects to have more economic development news to report “in the coming days.”
Editor’s note: This web story was updated hours after posting to include discussion with Mayor Ghassali, and to note The Fresh Market’s ownership.