HARRISON, NJ – PATH train commuters and residents of Harrison and the fully-leased Harrison Station rental building now have a new option for gourmet meals, groceries and convenience store items. Pronto Gourmet opened on Aug. 12th and is already a hit with patrons.
The 3,000 square-foot store is on the ground level of Harrison Station, the new mixed-use development located adjacent to the Harrison PATH Station which also features Five Guys Burgers & Fries, GNC and Park Avenue Cleaners. Pro-Cuts salon and Sakura Japan restaurant have also leased space at the development.
“People love it here so far,” said Pronto Gourmet owner Sam Awad. “We’ve had a lot of people come in just to check us out. They say this is something they’ve been waiting for. They want us here and we’re just as happy to be here in Harrison.”
Mr. Awad, who owns two similar businesses in Newark, chose Harrison Station because of its tremendous location. The foot traffic generated by PATH commuters and residents of the building boost his customer base. The other high-quality businesses around him also help draw more people to the area.
“We see the transformation in this area already,” Mr. Awad said. “We have good neighbors and that really helps to attract people. The area keeps growing. With more buildings coming soon, we look forward to growing along with the neighborhood.”
Pronto Gourmet offers high-end deli meats and cheeses, grocery staples, freshly-made sandwiches and a wide variety of prepared foods. A hot buffet features dishes such as meatloaf, roasted chicken, vegetables and pastas. Outdoor seating will be added in the near future and a delivery service for Harrison Station residents will also soon be available. At the request of many customers, Pronto Gourmet will also begin carrying a selection of Indian and Asian grocery staples shortly.
Pronto Gourmet is open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week and has 12 employees running the store. Mr. Awad said there may be more job opportunities if business goes well and he would be looking to hire Harrison residents.
Harrison Station is the first of several residential buildings being built as part of a plan to reenergize the former industrial town of Harrison.Ironstate Development (www.ironstate.net) and The Pegasus Group(www.thepegasusgroup.com) jointly developed the 275-unit luxury rental building with 12,814 square feet of retail space as the first phase of a plan that will ultimately bring 2,600 luxury residences, 80,000 square feet of retail space and an Element Hotel to a 27-acre site adjacent to the Harrison PATH station.
The development is part of an even larger revitalization effort in Harrison. A 25,000-seat stadium for the New York Red Bulls professional soccer team opened two years ago, a four story parking deck has been completed and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced in April that it will spend more than a quarter-billion dollars to upgrade the 76-year-old PATH station.
For more information on Harrison Station, visit www.HarrisonSTN.com. For more information on leasing retail space at the development, contact Michele Wilk at 732-528-8509.
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