Stations get new dining

NJ Transit riders now have new places to eat at Secaucus Junction, Newark Penn Station and Maplewood Station after openings announced April 15. (njtransit.com) At Secaucus Junction, the new lineup includes Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Cinnabon and Carvel Ice Cream. At Newark Penn Station, Zaro’s Bakery added a Freshens menu with smoothies, grilled flatbreads, salads and rice bowls, and Home Slice Pizza opened in the main concourse. (njtransit.com) Maplewood Station added The Station, a new outpost of Maplewood General Store, serving Paper Plane Coffee from Montclair along with snacks and baked goods. NJ.com reported the three-station update on April 19 after the spring openings. (njtransit.com) (nj.com) The food additions are part of a broader NJ Transit real estate push, not a one-off station refresh. The agency said the tenants are meant to improve the customer experience while also bringing in revenue beyond fares. (njtransit.com) (roi-nj.com) NJ Transit rolled out that strategy in October 2025 under its LAND Plan, short for Leveraging Assets for Non-farebox Dollars. The agency said the plan could generate as much as $1.9 billion for NJ Transit over 30 years by using parts of its 8,000-acre real estate portfolio more aggressively. (njtransit.com) (roi-nj.com) Retail is one slice of that plan alongside housing, parking, advertising and other station-area development. NJ Transit said the LAND Plan could also support up to $14 billion in statewide economic impact and up to $1.6 billion in municipal revenue over the same 30-year period. (njtransit.com 1) (njtransit.com 2) The station upgrades land at a moment when NJ Transit is leaning heavily on its hubs to do more than move passengers. The agency says it provides more than 925,000 weekday trips across 12 commuter rail lines, three light rail lines, 264 bus routes and Access Link paratransit service. (njtransit.com) For commuters, the immediate change is simpler: more grab-and-go food inside stations where waits, transfers and delays already eat up part of the day. For NJ Transit, each pretzel, coffee or slice also fits a larger effort to make stations pay for more than the trains. (njtransit.com 1) (njtransit.com 2)