Community Corner

Pine Brook Resident: Hanover Worth the Drive for Wegmans

Petition for Montville Wegmans reaches nearly 500 signatures.

It has been about three months since Pine Brook resident Brent Jerolimic to the township.

This week, Jerolimic's hopes have come closer to reality with the announcement that , pending township approval.

"I mapped it out on Google Maps. It's 15 minutes, which is about how long it takes me to get to Whole Foods in West Orange," Jerolimic said Monday.

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In April, Jerolimic said his family traveled on a weekly basis to two grocery stores out of town to be able to purchase the organic products his family eats. Having shopped at the Wegmans in Bridgewater before, Jerolimic said he is confident he could get all his shopping done in the one store.

"I plan on shopping there universally," he said.

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Jerolimic had originally hoped that he could help lure Wegmans to Route 46 in Pine Brook. The seemed like the perfect spot for the store, he said, and Montville Planning Board Vice-Chairman Gary Lewis said a Wegmans could fit the designated use for that area.

"The master plan for that location encourages a big retail use like that," he said.

Jerolimic said he had a goal to reach 100 signatures on his online petition before approaching Wegmans with his idea.

"I reached that so quickly, I bumped it up to 250 [signatures]," he said. "I was planning, when it got to 500, to reach out to them again."

The petition currently has 427 signatures, but Jerolimic said the Hanover Township Wegmans would satisfy him and he does not plan to further pursue the petition.

"That's close enough for me," he said.

Jerolimic said he is pleased to learn of the new Wegmans and looks forward to hearing more.

"I'm just excited to find out more details about exactly when it's coming," he said.

What do you think? Would the drive to Hanover Township be worth the trip to shop at Wegmans? Participate in our poll below and then leave your thoughts in the comments.


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