Jersey City Plans to Limit Chain Stores in Downtown

On April 7, 2015, the Planning Board of Jersey City approved Mayor Steve Fulop’s plan to limit chain stores in the downtown area in an attempt to protect small businesses and preserve the character of the area. The City Council must approve the proposed restrictions before they become final.

The proposal would limit chain stores with 10 other locations within 300 miles of Jersey City to 30% of the downtown commercial space. The affected businesses include those with “multiple locations within the region that exhibit standardized characteristics such as logos, menus, store décor” and the like. Grocery stores would be exempt and certain parts of the waterfront would be exempt.

The proposal has triggered debate and controversy among businesses and developers.