Retail on Route 17 in Mahwah has been a big topic of discussion in the township since the proposal for the Crossroads Town Shopping Center came up in 2011. The controversial proposal is seeking to build a 600,000 square foot shopping center, which includes a movie theater and two big box stores, near the Sheraton Mahwah Hotel.

More recently, the township’s newly approved Master Plan suggested big box stores not be built along Route 17. Instead, the document recommends improving the landscaping, aesthetics, and signage at future retail developments along the highway. It also suggests enhancing the visual impact of Route 17 by creating a unified design theme.

And, according to a new survey released this week by the Goldstein Group, Route 17 in Mahwah and Ramsey is one of the healthier retail corridors in Northern NJ. The survey found the local stretch of highway has about a 5% vacancy rate.

According to the survey, some of the most popular shops that opened in 2012 across the state include:

Some of those chains opened in Ramsey as recently as last year.

So, Patch was wondering, if you could fill the vacancies on Route 17, what stores would you open? Would you choose one from the list above, or bring something else to northern NJ?

Tell us in the comments below.