Rapidly expanding national chicken wing chain Wingstop has officially signed a new retail lease at Rutgers Plaza in Somerset, locking in a prime location within the 268,000-square-foot shopping center.
The fast-casual giant secured a 1,848-square-foot storefront within the dominant commercial hub, which sits at the heavily trafficked intersection of Easton Avenue and JFK Boulevard in Franklin Township. Levin Management Corporation (LMC), serving as the exclusive leasing and managing agent for the complex, finalized the transaction. Ed Vasconcellos of LMC spearheaded lease negotiations for the property owners, while Marta Villa of CBRE represented Wingstop.
The signing marks a steady Northeast expansion for the Texas-born brand, which now operates more than 5,000 locations globally, including over 50 operating restaurants across New Jersey.
“Wingstop is a great addition to Rutgers Plaza’s tenant mix,” Vasconcellos said. “The brand has strong consumer recognition and delivers exactly what today’s diners are looking for — quality, value, and convenience. That’s a win for the center and for the community it serves.”
“Fast-casual operators in particular are targeting high-traffic suburban centers where daily-needs anchors drive consistent foot traffic — and Rutgers Plaza fits that profile well,” explained Matthew Harding, CEO of Levin Management Corporation.
Wingstop’s entry is part of a broader leasing hot streak at Rutgers Plaza, reflecting a distinct retail trend favoring dining and active entertainment options over traditional storefronts.
In addition to Wingstop, LMC recently completed a lease agreement with MAWJ, an upscale coffee and espresso shop concept. The retail plaza is also preparing for the grand opening of Bounce Air Adventure Park, a major experiential indoor entertainment complex currently under construction.
These new experiential and dining tenants join a fully established roster of national and local brands at the shopping plaza, including Crunch Fitness, Dollar Tree, Chase Bank, GNC, McDonald’s, and Venus Jewelers. Following this string of successful deals, LMC reports that it is currently marketing the property’s final remaining 3,000-square-foot vacancy to prospective commercial tenants.
