Your Brick Summer Just Got Louder: What's New at Brick Plaza, Windward Beach, and Route 70

You already know the Metedeconk. You already know which Wawa has the shorter line at 7:30 a.m. What you might not know is that the two anchors of a Brick summer, Brick Plaza and Windward Beach Park, are both in the middle of their biggest reshuffle in years. Here is what actually changed, what is opening, and how to plan a Thursday night in July that does not involve circling for parking.

The one thing to understand about Brick this summer

Brick Plaza is no longer a place you go to when you need something. It is turning into a place you go to eat. Federal Realty, the plaza's owner, is stacking four new restaurant concepts into the same footprint that used to lean on department stores and clearance apparel. That matters because it changes the gravity of a Brick evening. The Thursday night crowd that used to split between SummerFest at Windward Beach and dinner out on Route 70 now has a third option that sits three miles from the amphitheater.

That is the thesis. Everything below is evidence.

Brick Plaza, retooled around dinner

Brick Plaza has evolved from a typical strip mall into a lifestyle-centric shopping center with a mix of retail, restaurants and outdoor amenities in its "Boardwalk" section, and the owner said this week that a number of new businesses will be moving in. Here is the incoming lineup, in the order it will actually affect your dinner plans:

• Dae Gee Korean BBQ. Already open. Dae Gee is a small chain founded in Colorado that also operates restaurants in Texas, Indiana, Massachusetts and North Carolina, and Brick Plaza is its first New Jersey location. If you have been driving to Fort Lee or Edison for tabletop Korean BBQ, that trip is now optional.
• Cuzin's Seafood and Clam Bar. Taking over the old Rosalita's slot. Cuzin's third New Jersey location is opening at Brick Plaza, joining the chain's existing spots in Marlboro and New Brunswick, with fish and shellfish imported daily. The address is 100 Cedar Bridge Ave.
• Raising Cane's. Coming in 2026 to the Cedarbridge side of the Plaza, which means the drive-through line will start on the far side of the parking field, not on Route 70. Plan accordingly.
• J. Crew Factory and GAP Factory. Two new store brands are slated to open soon, said Amanda Cheslock, spokesperson for Federal Realty, which owns the shopping center; J. Crew Factory is the main brand's budget-friendly sibling. Not food, but relevant, because they change the pre-dinner browsing calculus.

Federal Realty's VP of Leasing Jeffrey Fischer said J Crew Factory and Gap Factory will help bolster fashion options while Raising Cane's, Cuzin's Seafood, and Dae Gee Korean BBQ strengthen the plaza's position as a family-friendly destination. Translation for a Brick homeowner: the plaza is being repositioned to keep you there for a full evening rather than a 20-minute errand.

Buzz Bird landed on Route 70

If you drive Route 70 with any regularity, you have seen the new signage. Buzz Bird has officially landed in Brick, family-owned and built around crispy chicken, stacked burgers, loaded fries, fresh wraps, and dirty sodas. The address is 519 New Jersey 70, Brick Township, open daily 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Two things make this worth knowing beyond the novelty. First, it is a family operation, not a franchise, so the menu is not identical to the fried-chicken chains it is competing with. Second, it sits on the Route 70 side of town, meaning it captures the traffic driving in from Lakewood and heading toward the barrier island. If your kids play sports at Angela Hibbard Park or Bicentennial, this is on the way home.

SummerFest 2026: the 31st year, and what actually changed

The concert series everyone shows up for is running its 31st season. SummerFest kicks off its 31st season on July 2 at Windward Beach Park. All concerts are held at Windward Beach Park and are free to attend thanks to title sponsor Pine Belt Cars, with each evening concluding in a fireworks display over the Metedeconk River.

Here is the full 2026 lineup in one place:

The Super Trans Am opener is not a fluke booking. The band returns for its sixth consecutive SummerFest opening night, helping kick off Brick Township's America 250 celebration weekend with arena rock favorites and a patriotic fireworks display. The Brit Pack makes its SummerFest debut on July 9 with a tribute to legendary British rock artists including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Oasis and Coldplay. Suit and Mai Tai returns after a successful debut last year, performing Yacht Rock favorites from artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, Toto and Christopher Cross.

Solve the parking problem before it starts

Windward Beach parking has been a headache since the concerts started drawing thousands. The workaround is baked into the event and most locals still do not use it. Complimentary shuttle bus service, sponsored by Brightview Senior Living, is available from Drum Point Elementary School, Veterans Memorial Middle School, Midstreams Elementary School, Lanes Mill Elementary School and Brick Township High School beginning at 5 p.m. Attendees may bring chairs and coolers aboard the buses, and children age 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Shuttles begin making trips to Windward Beach Park around 5 p.m. the night of each show and begin returning service to the pick-up points at 8 p.m.

Pick the school closest to your side of town, park in the lot, walk on. It is faster than fighting Princeton Avenue at 6:45.

What to bring and what to leave home

Each concert features a food court and a Beer and Wine Garden for guests age 21 and older with valid identification, and outside alcohol is prohibited. The free community event features four evenings of live entertainment, food vendors, and fireworks displays throughout July. Bring the chairs and the cooler. Leave the wine bottle at home.

Mayor Lisa Crate and the Township Council announced the return of the series, which SummerFest's own sponsorship materials describe as a multi-generational tradition. For many residents, SummerFest is now a second and even third generation event, with parents and grandparents bringing children back to the same concerts they once enjoyed themselves. That is not marketing. If you have been in Brick more than a decade, you have probably taken a family photo at Windward Beach that you will retake this July.

A Brick Thursday in July, sequenced

Here is how the pieces fit together if you want to make the most of a Thursday night this month:

1. 5:00 p.m. Park at Lanes Mill or Veterans Memorial and catch the Pine Belt shuttle toward Windward Beach Park.
2. 5:30 p.m. Concert starts. Grab a spot on the grass while the food court is still moving quickly.
3. 8:00 p.m. Shuttle service starts running back to the schools.
4. 8:30 p.m. Fireworks over the Metedeconk. If you skipped the shuttle and drove, this is when parking becomes a problem.
5. 9:00 p.m. Brick Plaza is still open. Dae Gee is still serving. Buzz Bird closes at 9, so if it is a Buzz Bird night, flip the order and eat first.

The old Brick summer routine was concert, drive home, eat leftovers. The 2026 version has better food between the fireworks and your driveway.

What this means if you own a home in Brick

You are not thinking about resale on a Thursday night in July. But the pattern here is worth filing away. When a shopping plaza gets four new food concepts in a single announcement cycle, and a family-run restaurant chooses your Route 70 corridor for its flagship, and a municipal concert series draws thousands for the 31st year running, those are the ingredients that keep a suburban market from going sleepy. Brick is investing in the reasons people stay.

That is the kind of texture that shows up eventually in listing photos, price per square foot, and how quickly a well-prepped home moves. Enjoy the summer first. When you are ready to think about what your house is worth in a town that is quietly upgrading itself, reach out to Alexis Fraistat and get a straight answer, fast. Get your free home valuation and let's talk strategy.