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Columbia Park Center recently signed more than 53,000 square feet in new leases to family-focused retail experiences — Burlington, Aqua-Tots Swim Schools, and Five Below.The shopping center is anchored by ShopRite, and signing of the junior anchor tenants reflects a sustained surge in demand for quality, community-oriented offerings and helps solidify the center’s role as a regional retail destination.“The recent leasing success at Columbia Park Center highlights the center’s appeal to both national brands and local families alike,” said Sunny Choi, director – head of leasing at Madison International Realty, the owner and operator of Columbia Park Center. “We’re seeing retailers prioritize locations that offer built-in foot traffic and neighborhood connectivity — trends that have only accelerated in markets like North Bergen post-pandemic.”RIPCO Real Estate’s Jake Frantzman, Vice President, and Florian Suserman, Executive Vice President, are the exclusive leasing agents for Columbia Park Retail Center representing the property in all the new lease signings.“The recent additions of Aqua-Tots, Five Below, and Burlington reflect the growing demand for family-friendly retail options that provide both value and a sense of community. Columbia Park’s prime location and strong anchor tenants position it as a key destination in the North Bergen area,” said Jake Frantzman, vice president at RIPCO Real Estate.Among the newest additions is Aqua-Tots Swim Schools, which opened in April. The 9,064-square-foot facility boasts a 90-degree, 68-foot-long pool with 18 swim zones, and 15 changing rooms. Bobby Antonicello Jr at Grid Commercial Real Estate Advisors represented Aqua-Tots Swim School.Also joining Columbia Park Center is discounter Five Below, which has signed a 10-year lease for an 11,527-square-foot space and is expected to open later this year. Tom Rettaliata and Jeffrey Howard, vice chairmen at RIPCO Real Estate, represented Five Below.Burlington, a nationally recognized value retailer, marks another 10-year lease at the shopping center with a 32,645-square-foot space

Discount retail chain Five Below reportedly suspended cargo shipments from China due to the trade war between the country and the U.S.A shipping company used by the retailer told suppliers that Five Below suspended its cargo shipments, that no containers should be delivered to the yard starting Thursday (April 10) and that containers already loaded should be unpacked and returned to the carrier, Bloomberg reported Friday (April 11), citing a letter sent by the shipper to suppliers.It is not clear if the letter went to all Five Below vendors, or only some, according to the report.Five Below did not immediately reply to PYMNTS’ request for comment.The most recent tariff increases announced by the U.S. likely pose costs of 90% to 95% for Five Below, the Bloomberg report said, citing an estimate from Oppenheimer analyst Brian Nagel.Five Below Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Kristy Chipman said in March that 60% of the retailer’s total cost of goods are imported from China, either directly or through its domestic vendors, PYMNTS reported at the time.“We are dealing with the tariffs that are in place today and our mitigation initiatives are well under way,” Chipman said March 19 during the retailer’s quarterly earnings call. “These initiatives include vendor collaboration, selective price adjustments primarily within our $1 to $5 price points, diversification of sourcing and increasing our focus on product newness.”Global container bookings dropped 49% when the period of April 1-8 is compared to the previous week, March 24-31, the Bloomberg report said, citing an estimate from Vizion.In a blog post announcing that finding, Vizion said that data shows how global shippers are reacting to changes in tariffs.“This dramatic drop aligned with two key developments: the April 4th U.S. tariff announcement, followed by China’s retaliatory measures announced on April 5th,” the post said. “The result? A widespread booking freeze, as shippers paused mid-shipment cycle to reassess costs, timelines and broader trade strategy.”The biggest drops have been seen in discretionary or seasonal categories, the post said.It was reported April 9 that Amazon canceled orders from multiple vendors in China and other Asian countries after President Donald Trump’s April 2 announcement that the U.S. planned to levy tariffs on goods from more than 180 countries