LeGrand Coffee House will open its first brick-and-mortar location in downtown Woodbridge, New Jersey, becoming the inaugural retail tenant at Prism Capital Partners’ Avenue & Green. Entrepreneur and Woodbridge native Eric LeGrand leased 1,800 square feet at the mixed-use, transit-oriented development currently under construction at the corner of Rahway Avenue and Green Street, next to the Woodbridge train station.
Ripco Real Estate’s Curtis Nassau and Deborah Stone brokered the transaction as exclusive retail leasing agents for Avenue & Green’s 12,000-square-foot retail component. The property also features 232 apartments, with the entire project expected to be ready for occupancy this summer.
“We are excited to welcome Eric and LeGrand Coffee House to Avenue & Green,” said Prism Capital Partners’ Robert Fourniadis, senior vice president, residential. “This property is designed to meet ongoing demand for transit-oriented multifamily, and to provide residents with upscale amenities and in-building conveniences. LeGrand Coffee House will be a perfect fit, offering great refreshments and an inviting gathering place for the entire Woodbridge community.”
LeGrand, a former Rutgers University football player who sustained a life-altering spinal cord injury in 2010, noticed the construction taking place at the redevelopment site last summer. “I lived in a two-family house on Green Street until I was four years old,” he said. “I thought, why not have my own coffee shop on the street where I was born?”
LeGrand called Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac, who put him in touch with Prism.
LeGrand Coffee House launched online in January, and LeGrand has been working with Belissimo Coffee Advisors to bring the storefront to life. In addition to serving beverages made from locally roasted coffee, the shop will offer traditional baked goods, premade sandwiches and salads and specialty items sourced from area businesses.
Serving the disability community has been integral to the design process for LeGrand Coffee House. The plan includes a larger space behind the bar to accommodate wheelchair-bound staff, as well as accessible seating for guests.
“I don’t know of many African-American, former Division 1 football players with a disability running a coffee shop,” said LeGrand. “Being in my situation, I’ve seen and experienced a lot, and we want to make this a welcoming place for everyone.”
