NUTLEY, NJ — More than 1,000 Ralph Lauren employees are coming to Nutley soon, and it could be a big opportunity for the township, the local chamber of commerce says.

On Monday, the Nutley Chamber of Commerce’s executive board announced its members are exploring ways to capitalize on the ongoing redevelopment at the former Hoffmann-La Roche campus on Route 3.

That redevelopment includes new tenant Ralph Lauren, who recently signed a lease to open a new facility at the ex-Roche site, now known as ON3. The company received a 10-year, $33.1 million tax break from the embattled New Jersey Economic Development Authority to move to its new location. About 225 new jobs were predicted to come along for the ride.

“As you may or may not know, commencing in October, Ralph Lauren will start to occupy 100 Metro,” the Nutley Chamber of Commerce wrote in an email Monday. “Before the end of that month, they will have in excess of 1,000 employees relocated to the Nutley building, half of which will be using company sponsored transportation alternatives.”

“Along with the other companies that are there and the future employees at the site, this would be a great opportunity to generate traffic to the Nutley businesses, as well as creating an inclusive climate for ON3 and the town of Nutley,” the chamber continued.

One possible step could involve leveraging the town’s shuttle bus system, the chamber’s executive board stated:

“We are currently trying to facilitate a meeting with Rick Margerison and the team at [Prism Capital Partners] regarding the ON3 site, along with [Commissioner Mauro Tucci] to discuss the feasibility of using the Nutley shuttle bus system. The buses would pick up and return employees at the ON3 site in order to access our businesses in Nutley.”

Other tenants at the reborn site include the Hackensack-Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University, Quest Diagnostics and biofabrication company Modern Meadow.

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