Coming Soon to a Strip Mall Near You (Near Me, Actually)

A new sign went up in the Park Plaza strip mall over the weekend. Persis Biryani Indian Grill will open in the space once occupied by Spice Rack restaurant. The new restaurant will add to the chain that already has 19 locations in the U.S., and will be the fourth in New Jersey. Persis's existing New Jersey locations are in Hamilton, Piscataway and Jersey City.

The company's website says each location is independently owned and operated and adheres to the Persis's guidelines and food standards. Other locations are in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, Florida and Nebraska.

Child Care...

A couple more sign changes occurred recently at Franklin Park Plaza (the shopping center that includes the IHOP). The Wonder Years Academy preschool and day care has changed to Greatstart Early Learning. (The Franklin Park Plaza sign still says Wonder Years, though). Greatstart has four sites in New Jersey and another in the Philippines, while Wonder Years only has two locations now. Greatstart offers programs for children from 6 weeks to 13 years old, according to its website.

The original building, built in 1909, was called Franklin Park School, but renamed the Phillips School in 1931 and was part of the Franklin Township public school system until 1976, according to Wikipedia. The township recreation department used the building until 1993, when it was closed due to structural problems. It was sold, renovated and re-opened as a private childcare and preschool facility in 1999.

.. And Kidney Care

A sign went up for DaVita Kidney Care Center in the strip mall behind the IHOP. The company operates 2,445 outpatient dialysis centers in the U.S. and  217 centers in other countries as of June 30, 2017. The company opened 27 centers in its fiscal second quarter and 24 in this year's first quarter.

Lots More Coming to Riya Plaza

Rita Dance Academy is moving from Finnegans Lane in North Brunswick to Route 27 (probably no more than 500 feet from its current location). The school teaches Kathak, a dance style prevalent in northern India, according to the academy's website. 

A brand known in India, Kwality Ice Cream, is also opening a store in Riya Plaza. Headquartered in Edison, the brand is available at 10 other locations in the U.S. The chain carries more than 57 gourmet ice creams and specializes in Cassta, Kulfi, eggless ice cream cakes and sugar-free ice creams.   

Five-minute pizza? Pie Five Pizza Co. is also opening up in the same strip mall. The  chain, based on the premise of preparing pizza in five minutes, stretches as far west as Nebraska and Texas and as far north as Minnesota. The company also plans to open a location on Route 18 in East Brunswick and another on Long Island.

Also coming to Riya Plaza is Les Delices Bakery and New Nail Time & Spa

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Let me know what's going on in your business on Route 27 between Finnegan's Lane and Route 518. Email me at lkiesche@gmail.com

Liz Kiesche
Liz, a business journalist, formerly worked for Bloomberg News in Princeton and New York.