Downtown Princeton will see some changes this spring with a new Jack Wills store opening at 46 Nassau Street, the addition of the coffee roastery, Rojo’s, at 33 Palmer Square West, and the announcement that Hamilton Jewelers at the corner of Nassau and Witherspoon Streets will expand its range of merchandise when it closes its Lawrenceville store.

Not only that, Palmer Square Management has just launched a new free app for iPhone and Android as well as the first issue of an online magazine. New stores are opening at Quaker Bridge Mall as well.

The new Jack Wills will be a first in New Jersey for the British brand of home goods, clothing, and accessories for men and women. The store is scheduled to open at 46 Nassau Street on April 26, with a launch party on May 2. The company is described as “modern British prep with a hint of slightly off-kilter cool.”

Rojo’s, the Lambertville coffee roastery, will offer small batch artisanal coffee at its new location between The Bent Spoon and Thomas Sweet Chocolate.

In response to market research showing that customers prefer to see a larger selection in one location rather than small collections in multiple locations, Hamilton Jewelers will expand its offerings in Princeton to include new collections, new designers and speciality boutiques and close down its Lawrenceville Store at 2542 Brunswick Pike this June. Inventory will be sold off in a closing sale that begins April 18 and includes multi-million dollar fine jewelry and watches.

“As Mercer County has grown and changed over the last 100 years, Hamilton Jewelers has grown to become one of the premier jewelers in the nation and that is something we want to maintain,” said company President Hank Siegel.

“My grandfather wanted customers to experience the same level of treatment whether they are buying a $50 baby gift or a $50,000 diamond necklace,” said Mr. Siegel. “We think of ourselves as in the same league as Tiffany’s and Cartier even though we are more local and remain family owned while they are international corporations.”

Mr. Siegel’s grandfather bought the store from its original owners in 1927. It was founded in 1912 and celebrated its 100th anniversary last year.

The renovation on Nassau Street/Witherspoon is expected to begin this summer and be conducted in phases to minimize the impact on business. The store will remain open at all phases until the work is completed over a 12 to 18 month period. The floor plan of the approximately 6,000 square foot store will be reconfigured so as to devote more space for showroom and product display. A larger assortment of jewelry will be offered as well as an enlarged section for vintage and estate jewelry. Mr. Siegel said that announcements will be made at a later date of new in-store boutiques.

Hamilton specializes in fine jewelry of their own design and manufacture, and also offers premium designer names in jewelry and luxury timepieces. For more information, visit www.hamiltonjewelers.com.

Palmer Square

In Your Hands

Palmer Square Management has released two new digital products designed to enhance customer experience and promote the Square. The Palmer Square app includes shopping and dining directories, as well as information on store discounts available only to app users. It features a map and a calendar of events such as the upcoming promotion of the 7th Annual Girls Night Out on Thursday, May 16, from 4 to 9 p.m.

“Girls Night Out has grown into one of our signature events that up to 1,000 women look forward to,” says Anita Fresolone, marketing director at Palmer Square Management. “Expect to see percentage-off deals, gifts-with-purchase and give-aways.”

Newly opened stores participating for the first time this year will include The Farmhouse Store, Brooks Brothers, Urban Outfitters, and the new Jack Wills store.

For more information on the app and the Square’s new online magazine PSq, Palmer Square Magazine, call (609) 921.2853, or visit: www.palmersquare.com.

Quaker Bridge Mall

Three new stores and two new restaurants open at the Quaker Bridge Mall in the coming months. Time After Time, a watch store, will open on the upper level, next to Old Navy, in May. Body Central, a women’s clothing and accessories store, will open in June and The Walking Company in September.

In addition, Brio Tuscan Grill will feature food inspired by Tuscany while Sarku Japan will offer made-to-order teriyaki and sushi.

According to Mall Manager Lynda Benedetto, “more than 25 new merchants have opened at Quaker Bridge over the past year, including Michael Kors, Sur La Table, and Sephora. Additionally, we’ve had more than 15 of our current tenants reinvest in their location and renovate their stores.”

Other new retailers currently under construction at the mall include LUSH Cosmetics, the menswear shop Bachrach, sports retailer Vans, and women apparel retailers bebe and Ann Taylor. For more information, visit www.quakerbridgemall.com.

And More

In addition, B+B Hair Color Studio has just celebrated its grand opening at 190 Witherspoon Street. Owned by Tim and Kate Bricker, the salon won New Jersey Life’s 2011 Health and Beauty readers’ choice award. The salon was previously located on State Road and recently moved to the space next to the Princeton Soccer Experience, which opened in January at 290 Witherspoon Street where a wide selection of cleats, jerseys, and soccer equipment is available.