The latest tenant signing comes as the property's owner, the Purchase, NY-based National Realty & Development Corp., has launched a renovation of the façade, canopies and landscaping of the 22-year-old shopping center. The center had been known as Holmdel Plaza until Kohl's replaced the defunct Bradlee's as the department store anchor several years ago.

And in addition to bringing Stein Mart into the property, NRDC has also just signed Floris Nail & Spa to a 4,000-sf lease. Stein Mart is slated to open for business in early 2008, and Floris is expected to be up and running by the end of this year. Terms of the two leases were not disclosed.

"We're committed to increasing the consumer appeal of the shopping center by seeking national tenants that will be an immediate and lasting draw for the area's attractive and growing consumer demographic," says John Orrico, president of NRDC. "The additions of Stein Mart and Floris, combined with our renovation project, will provide increased momentum at this retail property."

Located at the intersection of Route 35 and Union Ave., Kohl's Plaza has a tenant roster that currently includes 7-Eleven, Avenue, EB Gameworld, Spare Pair Vision Center, Villa Restaurant, Wachovia Bank and the Bayshore Academy of Dance, among others. The 22-slot shopping center is currently listed with four vacancies ranging in size from 1,000 to 7,500 sf.

The Jacksonville, FL-based Stein Mart currently operates 268 stores in 30 states. When it opens, the local outlet will be just the company's third in the Garden State, joining existing stores in Ocean Twp. and Cherry Hill.