A&P Shopping Center in Foreclosure

Ever since A&P in Woodbridge closed last October, people have been wondering what is going to replace the empty 57,000 sq. ft. storefront that has stood vacant for almost a year to the day it was shuttered.

There will be a change, though not one obvious to passersby: the company that owns the A&P shopping center is in the process of having it foreclosed.

A foreclosure judgment for the St. Georges Ave property was entered on June 21 by the US District Court, according to Richard O'Halloran, a real estate attorney for Burns White in Cherry Hill which is handling the case for U.S. Bank National Association, the holder of the mortgage.

"There is a strong likelihood" that the foreclosure will be finished by the end of this year, O'Halloran said.

The property is owned by Woodbridge Realty Associates LLC, which is based in Melville, NY. The attorney of record with the firm, Myron Vogel, could not be reached for comment.

Woodbridge Realty Associates purchased the A&P anchor store and its satellite stores, situated on a 7-1/2 acre parcel of land, in 2005 for $17.7 million. 

The A&P was originally erected in 2000. The stores in an adjoining strip mall, part of the shopping center property, are all rented and include: Bottle Giant Discount Liquors, Dollar Surplus, Hollywood Tan, Super Cuts, Chinatown, HFC Chicken, Papa John Pizza, Subway, and Rita's Italian Ice, among others.

Since A&P closed shop in Oct. 2010, a cost-saving move by the Montvale-based parent company to shut non-performing stores, it has stood vacant. Recently, huge "For Rent" signs disappeared from the store's windows, causing some to wonder if a new business would soon be moving in.

Nothing - at least, not yet.

Robert Dembling, who is serving as the rental broker for the property, said that the store "is still for rent." 

Upon closer inspection, one small sign near the store exit still advertises that it is on the market.

But even if the store were rented in a last minute move, it would probably have little effect on the foreclosure, O'Halloran said.

"It's much different on the commercial side than the residential side. Loans don't have to be reinstated," he said.