The official word that the Ocean County Mall's Sears is closing came at the beginning of this year, but the rumors had been out there considerably longer.

Now, new word is going around that there won't be a new tenant in the old store, but nearly a dozen newly constructed stores.

On Tuesday, jerseyshoreonline.com reported that plans to be presented to the Toms River Planning Board show that the former Sears building would be torn down in favor of more parking and 11 new stores.

According to the plans, there would be 5 new shops on the mall side of the new parking lot, and half a dozen newly constructed ones on the opposite side.

Earlier this year, we also heard that a new restaurant, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, is also being planned for a location outside of the mall.

The plans for the Sears redevelopment will be presented to the Planning Board in October.

 

More from WOBM:

 

More From 92.7 WOBM