Five Below coming to Shrewsbury; Trader Joe's close in Middletown?

Discount retailer Five Below will open a new store in Shrewsbury.

Construction work is underway at the former CVS Pharmacy space in Shrewsbury Plaza on Route 35. CVS closed its pharmacy there after it opened a new store on Route 35 at Tinton Avenue in Eatontown in 2019.

A spokesperson could not be reached for comment on when the new Five Below will open.

Five Below, which has 10 other stores in Monmouth and Ocean counties, touts itself as a value retailer with most items priced between $1 and $5. The company also in the midst of a plan to convert existing stores to its Beyond Five format, which features items priced over $5.

Out and about

It looks like workers have cleared out the inside of the old Moe's Southwest Grill on Route 35 in Middletown. The restaurant, located at Middletown Plaza, is getting a remodel for a new tenant: Shake Shack.

The new burger joint is one of two Shake Shack expects to open in 2024. The other is on Route 9 in Freehold Township at Pond Road Plaza.

There's more happening at Middletown Plaza. Workers at Trader Joe's have begun setting up the grocery store. A look through the window showed that items were starting to fill shelves. What's Going There asked Trader Joe's last week if there's an opening date to share. Not yet, a spokesperson said.

And there's more. Besides new signs at the edge of the center, Middletown Plaza is getting a facelift. Workers have begun putting in a new facade on the end of the center closest to Trader Joe's and Harmony Road.

Speaking of a Shake Shack, a reader noticed a fence has gone up around the former Santander Bank branch at Brick Commons, the ShopRite plaza on Route 70 at Chambers Bridge Road in Brick.

The space is being converted into two restaurants, Shake Shack and First Watch, a breakfast and lunch spot. They are the first locations for both in Ocean County.

Have a great week. Here's some other What's Going There news from last week that you might have missed.

David