Marshalls Grand Opening Brings Mixed Reaction

As of Thursday morning area shoppers will no longer need to travel very far to find discount fashion at bargain prices when Marshalls, a national off-price retailer, opens at the Boulder Run Shopping Center. 

The Wyckoff Marshalls is a 24,433 square feet store including a 5,000 square feet Shoe Megashop and the in-store boutique called the CUBE.  Anticipation was evident Tuesday afternoon when during a five minute span several patrons tried to enter the store, but were encouraged by an employee to return Thursday morning.  A Marshall’s mobile billboard was seen cruising the streets of Wyckoff in advance of the grand opening.

Local reaction has been mixed with the opening of Marshalls in the neighborhood.  “I was thrilled to hear they were coming to town especially since there will be a shoe department,” said Nancy Zanki.  Oakland resident Lauren Santaniello expressed similar excitement about the opening and its’ proximity to her home. “With the price of gasoline I won’t have to travel far to shop for great brands,” said Santaniello.

But not everyone is laying out the welcome mat. Wyckoff resident Barbara Cannizzo has been a vocal opponent of the store coming to Wyckoff. “It is unfortunate a store of that caliber and size is coming to Wyckoff. Wyckoff is about small, high-end, family owned businesses,” said Cannizzo. 

Cannizzo attended the April 5thTownship Committee Meeting and voiced her displeasure at length. “My husband grew up in town and we returned to raise a family here.  Marshalls changes the character of the town and I worry about my property value,”  she said.

Mayor Kevin Rooney told Patch the township has limited control over the types of businesses that set up shop in Boulder Run. “If a tenant or property owner meets current zoning code or land use we cannot dictate the type of businesses that can move in,”  Rooney said. “I'm glad to see a tenant coming into Boulder Run in a location that has been empty. As more of the space is rented it will provide additional tax revenue to Wyckoff.”   

 Jay Vlodockler, President of the Wyckoff Chamber of Commerce and owner of Chocolate Etc., plans to invite Marshalls to join the Wyckoff Chamber of Commerce. “Some of the chains in town have been supportive and others have not,” said Vlodockler.  “Our group is pro-business,” he added. Blue Moon Manager Dave Vazquez was also optimistic. “I think it will be a good thing and will bring more people to Boulder Run.”

Resident Lisa Breckenridge expressed concerns that larger chains like Marshalls might impact smaller local businesses in a negative way. “Wyckoff needs to plan for the future and not just the financial advantage for today," she said. "What kind of town do we want to be? The quaint town with smaller, niche stores that offer small business opportunities and draw in buyers for all those things a large corporate store does not OR the town that allows one larger business after another and pushes small business and our uniqueness into a thing of the past.”   

According to Marshalls spokesperson Thea Houghton, the chain will be making a $5,000 donation to the as part of their community outreach program.  The donation will be part of Thursday’s ribbon cutting ceremony. Marshalls is owned by TJX Companies which also owns Home Goods and TJ Maxx.  The opening of the Wyckoff store coincides with the closing of the Marshalls on Route 17 in Ramsey.   

The grand opening store hours are from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m on Thursday.