Carteret, NJ – Mayor Reiman joined was joined today by representatives from Chick’s Holiday Time, Inc., to announce that construction has begun on the highly anticipated Burger Express. The new business has been relocated from its former home on upper Roosevelt Avenue, where it was shut down through eminent domain by the N.J.T.P.A., in order to make room for the $130 million Turnpike Interchange 12 improvement project. The new Burger Express will be located at 211 Roosevelt Avenue.
The restaurant has been immensely popular among locals since its opening in 1973, and has been missed by residents since its closing in January 2007;
“I was among the many residents who were disappointed to see Burger Express shut down,” Mayor Reiman stated. “It had earned itself a place in our local history, and was a popular staple among our shops and restaurants. Residents were quite vocal about its displacement by the N.J. Turnpike Authority.”
Last October, the Carteret Planning Board approved plans to build a new Burger Express at the corner of Roosevelt and Washington Avenues. The approval came after the board reviewed proposals to raise 5 abandoned or underutilized properties to be redeveloped for commercial use.
According to the Borough’s Engineering Department, the foundation of the building has been completed, and work has begun on its footings and skeletal framework.
The new Burger Express will feature 22 off street parking spaces, with aesthetic buffering and landscaping around its perimeter, and enough seating for 96 patrons. The exterior façade will adhere to improvements being made along the neighboring Washington Avenue business corridor. New design features include an enhanced exhaust system as well as a refrigerated garbage disposal unit, both of which will mitigate cooking and waste odors for neighboring properties. It will also host a enhanced drive-through providing access for more cars than the previous restaurant.
The restaurant is expected to reopen by the end of 2008.
“We’re very excited to be a part of the Carteret Community,” said Gary Roccaro, President of Chick’s Holiday Time, Inc., “and sharing Mayor Reiman’s vision for redevelopment. We should see you by the end of November!”
“This represents the beginning of a major revitalization,” Mayor Reiman added. “I’m sure Burger Express will receive a warm welcome from our residents with whom it has always been popular. Its modernized design concepts promise a more inviting facility, and the continuation of the success it has always enjoyed. It’s a great pleasure to have Burger Express returning to both our town and our business community.”
