Washington Town Center Agent Expects 90 Percent Occupancy

John Azarian, the leasing agent for the Washington Town Center, said he expects to soon have the strip mall 90 percent occupied.

Azarian Realty Co. took over leasing duties for the mall at the beginning of 2012 when a large number of the mall's storefronts were vacant. So much of the mall was empty that rumors circulated the owner intended to replace it with condos, which both Azarian and Alex DiChiara, the owner's son, denied.

Since then they have signed five new businesses — including two which were previously in the mall and left — for a total of 7,671 square feet in new leases, according to Azarian. BK Tae Kwon Do was the first new business to come to the mall. This spring, both Original Pizza and Dunkin Donuts returned after having left the mall. A franchisee with Eye Level Learning Center is also preparing to open in the mall and the Washington Township Planning Board approved an application from Body Empathy Spa last week to open there as well.

The company is currently negotiating with more potential businesses that could fill another 5,700 square feet, Azarian said.