NJ Business and Retail News

J&J faces two new trials related to its antipsychotic drug Risperdal for the first time since late 2019. A  court ordered testimony from CEO Alex Gorsky in one.  By Dave Schatz New Brunswick, NJ - Alex Gorsky, Johnson & Johnson's chairman and chief executive was ordered to provide  a  deposition regarding the antipsychotic drug Risperdal  in a case scheduled for trial October 4.   Risperdal is J&J's brand name for the powerful antipsychotic medicine risperidone, which allegedly causes   gynecomastia ,  a condition of overdevelopment or enlargement of the breast tissue in men or boys. The p laintiffs in the case, Somerville et al v. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. et al  argued that Gorsky's  role in the marketing and sale of the antipsychotic medication was significant enough that he "should be compelled to provide testimony regarding his unique knowledge," according to court papers. ( Frederick Somerville, 28, a Missouri resident, sued J&J in 2017 w

Some video footage of the meeting is  here .  By Dave Schatz    Cranbury – The township held an Office of Emergency Management (OEM)  meeting  on August 24. It could take months for Tropical Storm Henri damage assessments to be reviewed by The Middlesex County Office of Emergency Management, but Governor Murphy may declare a state of emergency if a certain threshold is met, Lieutenant Ryan P. Dworzanski, Cranbury Township Police Department, who serves as Deputy OEM Coordinator, told attendees. Township officials, including Mayor Michael Ferrante, met with residents and business owners. Following the meeting they toured damaged properties, on request, and helped those facing losses mobilize resources.  But during the meeting, with a clipboard in hand, the mayor added to the small list he said he’s been maintaining. It contains the information to contact any locals with issues.   “Just want to make sure we have a single place we can go to… Please do get us a list if you know of a

Bubbakoo's Burritos is building-out a restaurant in Spotswood's Renaissance Square mall on Main Street, just North of the Post Office. The shop space was formerly a Subway franchise that closed more than a year ago.  The center's main sign board, along Main Street, already displays a Bubbakoo's sign.   Franchise News Spotswood - A Bubbakoo's Burritos is "Coming Soon" to the township's Rennaisance Square strip mall on Main Street.  It came as a bit of a surprise to this reporter that a new Bubbakoo's is opening only about 8 miles from an existing outlet in Monroe Township. But  Bubbakoo’s Franchise Systems, LLC, which is located in Wall, New Jersey, could even open more units in-between, according to its Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).  That's because the territory granted to each franchise in the system and spelled out in the franchise agreement is typically only a two mile radius, unless for instance, the franchised unit is located in a

A Five Below is being built out at the Seaview Square Shopping Center. By Dave Schatz Ocean Township - Five Below is opening a store on June 28th in Seaview Square Shopping Center on Route 66, according to window signs at the site. The 10,000 square foot outlet, which is being built out right now, is next door to the A.C. Moore on one side and a Hand & Stone franchise on the other.  “Hiring Party!" signage states that the retailer held all day long “on the spot interviews” from May 31 to June 2, and on May 25. The Five Below is a brief walk from the Target in the center, walking toward the front of the adjacent, now vacant, Sears building. But the freestanding Sears structure is not owned by Wharton Realty Group, the owner of Seaview since 2012. Presently there is an 18,000 square foot space available for lease on the left hand side of Jersey Strong Gym (facing the front of the fitness center). As Ocean's largest strip-mall, Seaview in 2019 could represent a