New headline: Mission BBQ Lights Up Marlton Pike — A Welcome Pit Stop for Cherry Hill and the I‑295 Corridor
If you’re driving along Marlton Pike (Route 70) through Cherry Hill, you’ve probably noticed the steady churn of activity at the MarketPlace at Garden State Park. Now there’s another reason to pull off: Mission BBQ has opened its Cherry Hill location in that shopping center, bringing its patriotic décor, smokehouse menu, and first‑responder support to the heart of Camden County’s retail strip.
What Mission BBQ brings to Marlton Pike
Mission BBQ is a national casual‑dining chain built around classic American barbecue, a menu of smoked brisket, ribs, pulled pork, chicken, sandwiches and sides, and a heavy emphasis on honoring military members, veterans and first responders. The brand’s stores are known for streaming Flag‑friendly music, veteran‑focused events, and fundraising partnerships — a community‑centered model that’s as much part of the brand as the smoked meat.
Google Maps places the new Cherry Hill spot inside the MarketPlace at Garden State Park along Route 70 — the Marlton Pike corridor that is Cherry Hill’s retail backbone. That stretch already supports big‑box shopping, mid‑size restaurants and steady commuter traffic coming off I‑295. For people who work, shop or commute along the I‑295/Route 70 corridor, Mission BBQ is a convenient addition: easy for pickup, quick lunch stops, and a catering option for nearby offices and community groups.
Why this matters to Cherry Hill, the shopping center, and neighbors
– Foot traffic and midday business: A recognizable national brand can help keep more customers in the center later into the evening, benefiting neighboring retailers and restaurants. For the MarketPlace at Garden State Park — part of the long story of redeveloping the former Garden State Park racetrack site — an incoming tenant with broad appeal helps validate that continued retail investment along Marlton Pike.
– Jobs and local hiring: New restaurants mean new hourly jobs — useful for Cherry Hill residents and students — and another place for part‑time work in the township’s economy.
– Catering and community events: Mission BBQ often does fundraising events and offers catering for schools, veteran groups and first‑responder ceremonies. That civic focus lines up with Cherry Hill’s active nonprofit and veterans communities and gives a local venue for charitable activations.
– Traffic and parking: Any new draw to a busy shopping corridor nudges the conversation about pedestrian access, parking turnover and peak‑hour traffic on Route 70. Neighbors and drivers who use the Marlton Pike exit off nearby roads will want to watch how the center manages deliveries and dinner‑rush congestion.
What customers are saying
Local reaction on review sites suggests the usual mix of enthusiasm for the brisket and pulled pork, appreciation for the friendly or veteran‑minded staff, and the predictable early‑days notes about wait times and parking. Yelp reviews for Mission BBQ locations in the region usually highlight good portions and a family‑friendly atmosphere; Cherry Hill’s location seems to be drawing the same sort of comments in its opening weeks (search “Mission BBQ Cherry Hill” on Google Maps and Yelp to see recent customer photos and feedback).
How this fits broader Cherry Hill development trends
Cherry Hill’s commercial spine along Route 70 has steadily shifted from standalone strip centers and the racetrack era toward mixed retail that aims to capture both local shoppers and highway traffic. The Garden State Park marketplace — once a wider redevelopment conversation — continues to attract national chains alongside local businesses, reflecting a trend toward consolidation of retail in well‑located corridors near major highways. For residents who live off the Marlton Pike exits or use I‑295 to commute, that concentration means more one‑stop options for errands and dining, but also ongoing discussion about traffic flow, transit access, and how to balance chain tenants with small local businesses.
Practical notes for readers
– Where: Mission BBQ is inside the MarketPlace at Garden State Park along Marlton Pike/Route 70 in Cherry Hill — an easy pull‑off for drivers in the I‑295 corridor.
– What to expect: Full menu of smoked meats, sandwiches, sides, to‑go and catering; strong community and veterans‑oriented programming typical of the chain.
– Want local perspective? Check Google Maps for directions and parking, Yelp for customer reviews, and local outlets like NJ.com or Patch for coverage of how new openings are changing Cherry Hill’s retail landscape.
Bottom line
For people who live near the Marlton Pike corridor or regularly use Route 70 and the I‑295 exits that feed into Cherry Hill, Mission BBQ is more than another chain restaurant. It’s a neighborhood amenity with an eye on community events and catering, a potential boost for the MarketPlace at Garden State Park’s foot traffic, and another piece in the ongoing redevelopment puzzle of Cherry Hill’s commercial spine. If you’re headed home from the highway or picking up dinner after a day on the job, it’s worth a stop to see how it fits into the local scene.
